Welcome to the RPI Army ROTC website. Bravo Company is located at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institue and is a part of Mohawk Battalion at Siena College.

For RPI cadets, check the battalion site often for updated announcements, documents, calendars, and photos.

For incoming students and potential cadets thinking about joining Army ROTC at RPI, take a look through this website and come back every couple of weeks to follow the activities we are doing. Next to living the life of a cadet for several weeks, this is the best way to become familiar with what we do!

Check back every couple of weeks for updates on our training events.

Spring FTX

Spring Field Training Exercises (FTX) are a demanding weekend event where cadets participate in Squad Training Exercises (STX) Lanes and solidify their knowledge on how to operate effectively as an Army squad.

From Friday April 13Th 2012 to Sunday April 15TH 2012 the Mohawk Battalion participated in the Spring 2012 joint FTX with the University of Massachusetts (UMASS). The lab Began on Friday at 1300 when Cadets loaded into two buses and began movement to Ft. Devens Massachusetts. Once Cadets arrived they separated into three sections (two squads) and used the time to set up and occupy their patrol bases until night land navigation (NLN) began around 2000. At the conclusion of NLN the Cadets occupied the patrol base until Saturday morning.

Saturday consisted of STX lanes in the morning and one patrolling lane at night. Sunday continued with two patrolling lanes. The STX lanes were at the squad level and were led by MSIIIs; the lanes included varying battle drills such as ambush, knock out a fortified position, react to an IED, attack, etc. The patrolling lanes followed STX training, patrolling is done at the section level so at the completion of STX the squads returned to their sections and prepared for patrolling. Again led by MSIIIs, the patrolling lanes included three battle drills, recon, raid and ambush. These patrolling lanes allowed MSI and MSII Cadets to be introduced to the difficulties of leading more people in tactical situations but also the effectiveness of economy of force; with more people to complete a mission the leader has more assets to produce greater success. The MSIIIs were introduced to the coordination of a larger element, the necessity for time management and the strength of communication.

The training at the spring FTX is the last tactical training for MSIII Cadets prior to attending Warrior Forge, it is the final assessment that they can utilize to improve. The weekend was very successful; Cadets received a great amount of training and feedback while enjoying the great weather.

March Cadet of the Month: CDT Isaac Park

Cadet Park is Bravo Company's Cadet of the Month for March 2012. CDT Park has made tremendous improvement with his academics this semester, and continues to place incredible effort in all ROTC activities, from PRT to Tactical Training. He has been an excellent Mentor to CDT Chaisson, continuously volunteers for training, and has been a role model for his squad and the Company. An avid athlete and active fraternity member, Cadet Park studies Mechanical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and hopes to commission as an Active Duty Army Officer. His pursuit towards bettering himself and those around him reflects great credit upon him, Bravo Company, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Mohawk Battalion

CDT Matthew Somma Receives Prestigious Theinert Memorial Scholarship

1st Lt. Joseph Theinert was leading his platoon on a mission in the Kandahar Province when they came under hostile fire and were forced toward an area mined with IEDs. He disabled one IED and started to disarm a second one when the trigger mechanism sounded; however, he was able to warn the 20 men under his command to get back before the device exploded. 1st Lt. Theinert's final heroic and selfless act epitomizes the responsibility of an officer to keep his men safe and in the fight. CDT Somma was chosen to receive the annual Theinert Memorial Scholarship because he emulates the unfaltering moral and honorable characteristics of 1st Lt. Theinert

STX 2 & NLN

On March 26TH 2012 the Mohawk Battalion conducted STX 2. STX 2 was a continuation of the squad situational training exercises from March 10Th-11TH 2012. STX 2 is used to re-evaluate and build on the knowledge learned from the previous events. Again MSIII Cadets led squads through STX lanes that included common battle drills. STX 2 however added "variables" in the lanes that caused the MSIII leadership to be adaptive and agile when commanding their squads. Variables included a sudden change in the mission, civilians in the area of operation, counterattacks when on the objective, etc. MSIIIs learned how to react accordingly, using their knowledge and mental agility to keep their squad safe and complete the mission.

All Cadets were able to complete the training and receive great training and feedback throughout the Day, once STX 2 was completed Cadets prepared for night land navigation. Although night land navigation was not a mandatory event for all Cadets, a majority of the basic course Cadets stayed to received further training.

STX1 and TTB Ops Lab

On March 10-11, 2012 the Mohawk Battalion conducted Squad Training Exercise 1 (STX) and Tactical Training Base (TTB) Operations lab. The lab began at 0700 with STX lanes. The lanes included an area recon, an ambush, squad attack, and knocking out a fortified position. These lanes were led by the MS3s and they were evaluated on their performance. This gives them a good chance to test their leadership skills and domain knowledge before Warrior Forge 2012. The MSI and MSII Cadets got to practice carrying out Battle Drills and got a chance to see what is like to carry out a Squad level mission.

Upon completion of the STX Lanes the Battalion was split into two Platoons and took several round robin classes that apply to TTB Ops. Some of the classes included vehicle searches, manning an entry/exit control point, escalation of force, and quick reaction force. Then the Battalion went into the first iteration of operating a TTB. Upon completion all Cadets got some sleep.

All cadets were awake at 0500 and continued their TTB Operations for the rest of the morning. Cadets came into heavy contact from enemy forces who were building fortifications across from one of the entry control points. Most of the enemy forces for the weekend were volunteering Cadets and Midshipmen from the RPI Air Force and Naval ROTC. All cadets took something away from the weekend of training and will apply it in future labs and their Army career.

Cadet of Month - Feburary

Cadet Macklin Hebert is Bravo Company's Cadet of the Month for February 2012. Cadet Hebert, born 18 May 1993, hails from Apex, North Carolina. Cadet Hebert is consistently one of the most motivated Cadets in Bravo Company and serves as an exemplary role model to his peers. He arrives at every workout session and training event ready to work. An avid Swimmer, Triathlete, and paintball enthusiast, Cadet Hebert studies Mechanical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and hopes to receive a commission to U.S. Army Engineer Corps upon graduation. Cadet Hebert's work ethic, volunteerism, and warrior spirit reflect great credit upon him, Bravo Company, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Mohawk Battalion.

61st Joint Service Military Ball

The practice of dining in began in 16th-century England. During the 18th century, the British Army incorporated the practice of formal dining into their regimental mess system. Customs and rules of the mess were soon institutionalized rules. The mess night became a tradition in all British regiments. The Americans, taking many of their traditions from the British military, held mess nights in the 18th and 19th century, but the tradition began after the Civil War.

Since 1951 Bravo Company has had the tradition of holding an annual Joint Service Military Ball with Mohawk Battalion. On February 25th, the Bravo Company of Siena ROTC Mohawk Battalion conducted its 61st Annual Joint Service Military Ball for 2012. In attendance were all of the Rensselaer, University of Albany, and Siena Army ROTC Cadets, the Rensselaer Naval ROTC, and Air Force ROTC Detachment 550, and many distinguished guests including the guest speaker, Lieutenant General George J. Flynn from the Marines, he is currently serving as the Director for Joint Force Development. Nearly 300 Cadets, Midshipmen and Cadre were in attendance for the ball, which was at the Albany Marriot hotel. Throughout this event everyone in attendance is able to mingle and form relationships that they otherwise would not be able to. Thus everyone leaves this event with a greater since of camaraderie with not only the people of their own branch of the military but with people of other branches as well.

Patrol Base/Battle Drills/Combat Lifesaver Lab

On February 18, 2012 the Mohawk Battalion conducted the Patrol Base, Battle Drill, and Combat Life Saver lab. The lab began at 0700 with round-robin classes for Combat Life Saver (CLS) skills. These skills ranged from simpler ones like controlling bleeding and buddy carries to more complicated ones like treating a patient while under fire and treating hypertension pneumothorax. These skills are extremely important for an individual Soldier to know because with these skills a Soldier can save his buddies life.

Upon completion of the CLS round-robin classes all Cadets were split up based on their year. MSIs and MSIIs, first and second year Cadets, conducted a Patrol Base class while the MSIIIs, third year Cadets, conducted Battle Drill classes. The Patrol Base class gave the MSIs and MSIIs a basic understanding of the procedures and priorities of a Patrol Base. A Patrol Base is something like a camp that is set up by a Platoon sized unit in areas where the enemy may be present. Thus it is very important to know and understand the procedures and priorities of a Patrol Base in order to not give away your position. The Battle Drill classes instructed MSIIIs on the basic procedures for attacking or reconnoitering an enemy unit. These Battle Drills are universal but flexible which gives a leader a foundation on which a plan can be made while still giving room for innovation and ingenuity when conducting a mission.

After these classes all Cadets were brought back together to conduct a small practical exercise on setting up a Patrol Base. Once these Patrol Bases where completed the Cadets were broken up into Squads to perform Situation Tactical Exercises (STX). These are exercises in which a squad of Soldiers is given a specific mission to conduct in a certain amount of time. These STX lanes force all of the Cadets to utilize all of the knowledge that they gained from the earlier classes. At 1300 all Cadets are released from this lab having gained a wealth of knowledge on basic military tactics.

CDT Andrew Cronin is Awarded SAME Scholarship

        02/04/2012 - Bravo Company Cadet Andrew Cronin was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Society of Anmerican Military Engineers (SAME). Cadet Cronin is a full time student majoring in Electrical Engineering at Rensellaer Polytehnic Institute which made him eligible for the award. SAME is dedicated to "actively pursue the educational aspects of the engineering profession, with emphasis on mentoring, student scholarships, high school and college outreach programs, and continued professional development of its membership". Hopefully in the future more Bravo Company Cadets will have the honor of receiving this scholarship.