A Delta Company Cadet sloshes through mud during squad tactics training. Photo by Sammy Jo Hester/LTC PAO

By Noelle Wiehe
Staff writer

Delta cadre have done it all before, from the tedious in-processing to the intense final field exercise. The day for squad tactical training, however, Sgt. 1st Class Ben Rugg referred to as “drill sergeant appreciation day.”

The Cadets train as if exposed to real combat situations — a chance for them to “appreciate” what the drill sergeants have faced in combat.

In making that connection, Cadets understand that combat often is dirty work — literally.

The tactical training is meant to prepare Cadets for the most extreme situations in the woods, water and mud. To ready themselves, they must get down and dirty.

“It will be the dirtiest you will ever see a human being,” Rugg said.

Delta Company’s first and second platoons moved to the dirt pit where they learned to crawl as though hiding from enemies and live rounds being fired during combat.

The first crawl, the low crawl, Cadets kept their head down against the ground, pushing themselves along the dirt while they pushed their bodies forward with their feet and pulled themselves with their arms while keeping their weapon from dragging. The high crawl involved Cadets using their elbows to pull their bodies forward along the dirt. The last one, called the rush, required Cadets to cover a battle buddy as he ran in about three seconds to a new position before being seen by the “enemy” and dropping to the ground.

“I’m up, he sees me, I’m down,” squad tactical officers instructed the Cadets.

It hadn’t rained for a few days, but by 9:30 a.m. the temperature had climbed into the mid-80s. The heat and humidity caused the dirt in the pit under each Cadet to become muddied and stick to their faces and clothes. Some Cadets’ glasses were smothered in mud, while others who nearly swallowed some spit it out of their mouths after dragging their faces along the ground.

“It’s tiring, but you’ll be proud of yourself,” urged on the squad tactical officers walking alongside the crawling Cadets.

Delta Cadet Jonathan Birdwell of the University of Texas at El Paso played soccer and football in high school and thought he would be prepared for all the training and strenuous exercise he would experience at LTC.

“I expected it to be somewhat similar,” Birdwell said.

But by the end of the run through trees where Cadets practiced the rush while the sound of gunfire echoed in the air, he decided he under-estimated the course.

Among the third and fourth platoon Cadets sitting on the bleachers after the rush exercise, two Cadets had ripped their uniform pants from the constant dragging along the grass and mud.

Before the rush exercise, Cadets went to a trench and got as muddy as they could to try to blend in with their surroundings.

No Cadet was left clean.

Delta Cadet Morgan Bobinski of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise wasn’t bothered by the mud and strenuous training.

“I got a couple bruises, but it’s OK,” she said. “It was cool to go down there” in the trenches.

Charlie Company Cadets who tackled the training a week earlier said the left scratched badly as well.

The Cadets finished the training by the afternoon and were taken back to the barracks where they experienced appreciation of a different kind: cleanliness. Still wearing their uniforms, they were hosed off by drill sergeants in an attempt to get as much mud off as possible.

Even with the spray-down, Charlie Company Cadets said they still trampled mud through the barracks. But, in the end, it was worth it to many.

“It was all like nothing I’ve ever done before,” Birdwell said.