Lost Cadets

Jcleppe

10-Year Member
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Feb 10, 2010
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6,714
Well, this happened.

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your...escued-after-getting-lost-on-land-nav-course/

Glad they were found safe, Son did get some extra flight time looking for them.

These two poor guys have been crucified on the internet. Had they simply been to CTLT they probably would not been sent out on that land nav course by themselves. Since they were participating in the Jungle Operations Training Course I guess it was different, I'm not sure I would have paired them together but I would imagine the active duty personnel in the course didn't jump to volunteer to go out with a cadet, they all needed to pass the course.

I wonder how soon they'll send cadets to this course again.
 
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At least they didn't cheat.

Operational land nav is usually easier than training land nav.
 
These two poor guys have been crucified on the internet.

OK - They are safe right? I can laugh at this without guilt because the event is over?

This is comical. The way I read it, they were not participating in the Jungle Operations Training Course but rather a Land Navigation course. Its just that they ended up trying to traverse the Jungle Course area. Bottom line is that they got so lost they had to be rescued. That will be hard to live down.

I do wonder if the instructors who taught them land navigation, the OIC of the course they were on, or anyone else is going to take heat for their lack of skill? Losing trainees is never good for the leader.
 
Yes safe and no injuries, so you're free to laugh.

From what my son told me the two cadets were part of the Jungle Operations Course.

I'm sure there are some that are not in a laughing mood after this.
 
Jcleppe: sorry if I missed the confirmation your son provided about the course. My bust.
 
Son said it was quite the ordeal. They had Apaches and Blackhawks with FLIR flying trying to locate them. He was saying that the FLIR didn't help much since the area is already so hot on the ground. At one point they had a Hands across America type search going on, solid lines of soldiers, police, and firefighters all walking across the course, there were over 200 people involved in the search. Still couldn't find them, they must have really been sheltered in place. Guess they finally walked until they found a road and then someone found them walking. "Leave no Cadet behind"

I had to laugh, in one article it said the the LTC declined to say what schools they were from, but made sure to say they weren't from Hawaii.

For their sake, I hope this is something they live with in obscurity.
 
I just wanted to comment that as much as it's tempting to joke about a situation like this, (myself included) it's important to remember that there have been several soldiers that have lost their lives during Land Nav exercises over the past few years, one just a couple months ago. Land Nav in rough terrain and high heat can be dangerous. Very glad that these two were found safe.
 
Same here. My comment about snakes was completely serious. Heat, sun exposure, clean water availability, bug bites, scorpions, are part of the situation, but at least no snakes of the nastiest kind found in jungle areas elsewhere in the world.
 
In the summer of '76, back when USAFA had SERE as a summer program, three cadets (now '79 grads) with the last names starting with "P", were trying to accomplish land nav during the evasion part of their trek.

Well after a couple of days of not making in to a designated check point, the search was on.

They were rescued just south of Denver.

The funny thing is, they didn't know they were lost.

This is per my DH, '79 USAFA grad.
 
I've heard it through the grapevine that AROTC is sending a small number of cadets to SERE-C school this summer, I wonder after the 2 lost cadets in Hawaii if they may reconsider.

Both my son's commented "Why the Hell would anybody volunteer to go to SERE-C if they weren't required to go". Older son was asked if he wanted to go again as part of the CA training, he said he couldn't say NO!! loud or quick enough to make sure they heard him clearly.
 
Wow! Glad they're safe. Hope they can live it down.... and once the worst is past, that one day they can laugh at it as they tell the tale over a beer or two.
 
Both my son's commented "Why the Hell would anybody volunteer to go to SERE-C if they weren't required to go". Older son was asked if he wanted to go again as part of the CA training, he said he couldn't say NO!! loud or quick enough to make sure they heard him clearly.

Best training hands down I've received from the Army that I will never, ever volunteer to go through again.
 
I guess my earlier response on this thread might have seemed flip or an attempt at humor but I was serious. Cheating at land nav is not uncommon and occasionally it shows up in the news and officers get bounced from the service.

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/ne..._term=Editorial - Military - Early Bird Brief

"The old military stereotype that lieutenants are inept at land navigation has circulated for ages.
But a recent incident at The Basic School — a course for newly commissioned officers aboard Quantico, Virginia — may be giving it added credence.
Six officers are now facing expulsion from the Corps following allegations of cheating during the land navigation portion of training at The Basic School, or TBS."
 
@DevilDoc: I saw that article yesterday and was pi**ed. Glad to see them bounced out of the Corps. Even worse was the excuses offered by previous cheaters in defending their actions.

I didn't care for the flippant tone of the author but I guess that's on me.
 
@DevilDoc: I saw that article yesterday and was pi**ed. Glad to see them bounced out of the Corps. Even worse was the excuses offered by previous cheaters in defending their actions.

I didn't care for the flippant tone of the author but I guess that's on me.

Ballard (previous cheater, 2010) was a football hero at Annapolis. One of many heroes though and his status should not overshadow his obligation to the country. Several before him (non-cheaters) fulfilled their obligation and went on to greatness such as #12, the Admiral David Robinson the son of a Senior Chief, Joe Bellino, and Napolean McCallum. I'm sure my list is incomplete but the point is the opportunity to be educated and play sports at the service academies carries great responsibilities. It is fortunate for the taxpayer and especially for the enlisted personnel who will not have to follow the lead of these people of low character, will not have to endure their sloppy performance for the next five years.
 
If any of these six were on Scholarship through ROTC or Academy Grads, I wonder if they will be required to make any repayment.
 
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