ROTC warrior run at Mount Rushmore

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing public affairs
ELLSWORTH AFB, S.D. --  Nearly 400 Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets ended their field training with a graduation run from Keystone, S.D., to Mount Rushmore's amphitheater July 25. 

This is the first time ROTC students have marked the end of their four-week training course at the national monument. 

Col. Joe Abbott, ROTC field commander, said the grueling up-hill run culminated a month's worth of intense training designed to mold college students into Air Force officers. 

"They started at 5 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m. every day," he said. "My staff worked even longer than that." 

Colonel Abbott said this type of training is mandated by Congress, which occurs between the cadets' sophomore and junior year of college. 

The cadets have been doing intense physical training, team building exercises and leadership drills, Colonel Abbott said. 

"The future of our Nation is in good hands, I can tell you that," he said.
"I'd go to war with (these cadets) anytime." 

This ROTC field training encampment was the second of three scheduled at Ellsworth. 

The final field training corps of cadets arrives here Aug. 1.