New freshmen learn teamwork, leadership, and basic soldiering skills at Incoming Cadet Orientation

August 2008

Incoming Cadet Orientation (ICO) is an effective way to teach prospective students a few things about the cadet life at Marquette and begin to develop their leadership and military skills.  ICO is a developmental tool and it is a great wayfor the new freshmen to meet new people and participate in fun activities that most college freshmen never experience.

This year ICO began with an introduction to the Military Science Faculty and Cadre.  The freshmen moved into their permanent dorms with the help of their parents and other cadets.  But the real fun started with uniform issue.  Each cadet was issued an Army Combat Uniform (ACU), a new pair of combat boots and their Class A dress uniform.  For most of the freshmen, this was the first time they ever put on an Army uniform.  That night and for the remainder of ICO, the new cadets stayed in Schroeder dorm, meeting their peers and building friendships.

The new cadets were put into the full ROTC experience right away on the second day.  The morning began with the Army Physical Fitness Test at Valley Fields.  Next came a few hours of paperwork, customs and courtesies classes, and drill courses in marching and saluting.  The cadets, cadre members, and senior cadet leadership then got on buses and vans and drove to Volk Field, an Air Force base in Camp Douglass, WI.  The evening was a fun night of barbecue and ultimate Frisbee/football.  However, before all the fun, the cadets learned how to utilize a compass.  They were taught how to shoot an azimuth and walk a pace count.  Then the new Warriors went out with an experienced MSIV to test out their newly learned soldiering skill.

Tuesday morning the new cadets were up early for breakfast, given the opportunity to eat their first Meals Ready to Eat (MREs).  Everyone was bussed to the Leadership Reaction Course (LRC) training facility0.  The LRCs are obstacle courses, some on land and some over water, each one having a missions to complete. The cadets were divided into four squads along with one or two MSIVs.  This was the first opportunity for the freshman cadets to learn about squad leadership and how to make effective decisions and complete a mission safely and efficiently.  In order to succeed the cadets developed cohesion and unity.  After the course training was over, all orientation members enjoyed the afternoon at Chula Vista Waterpark at Wisconsin Dells.

More Photo's from ICO 2008: