PRC - Paul Revere Challenge

The fall semester kicks off with the annual Paul Revere Challenge as part of the new cadet orientation. MSIIIs lead teams on an exciting and competitive scavenger hunt across an expansive map, completing PT challenges and Army trivia quizzes at each station.

During the PRC, cadets get to explore the beautiful Boston area where they will be spending their next few years. It is a great bonding opportunity that integrates new cadets into their chain of command and the greater battalion.

FTX - Field Training Exercise

Each fall, the Paul Revere Battalion heads to the field for a weekend of training and leadership exercises. Cadet Leaders (typically MSIIIs/MSIVs) plan the weekend, coordinate food and resources, and lead the events.

During the weekend, cadets break up into smaller squad and platoon-sized elements and conduct a number of training exercises including patrols, Basic Rifle Marksmanship, land navigation, team-building exercises, obstacle courses, and rappelling. In the Spring of 2019, the battalion even got to train alongside an Army aviation unit, learning how to infiltrate and exfiltrate objectives via helicopter and putting those skills into action across a full-day FTX.

STX - Situational Training Exercise

In November of each year, Paul Revere conducts more field training with a special twist - cadets are equipped with paintball guns to simulate live rounds.

Similar to FTX, the day begins with smaller, squad-level missions that become larger in scope as the day goes on. The event typically culminates in a large-scale paintball fight that includes all members of the battalion, even cadre. Previous simulations have included platoon-sized missions where cadets must compete against one another to capture a simulated downed drone and return it to safety before the other platoon can reach it.

Tactical paintball is almost always the highlight of every cadet’s ROTC fall semester.

End of Semester Events

The end of the semester is marked by a 13-mile foot march where cadets carry a 35lb ruck and test the strength and resilience they have worked to build throughout the year. This is a battalion-wide event but aimed towards the MSIIIs who will be conducting a ruck of the same distance on rougher terrain when they attend Cadet Summer Training (CST) the following summer.

As the cadets begin looking forward to winter break, the battalion’s semester training winds down with the final squad PT challenge — battalion-wide dodgeball. Cadets always have a great time during this friendly competition after all of the hard work they have put into the semester.

CFTX - Combined Field Training Exercise

In April, Paul Revere conducts its CFTX, where it joins with other Army ROTC units in the New England area to execute larger-scale training scenarios. Cadets operate in platoons, conducting raids, ambushes, defenses, recons, and patrol bases, putting the knowledge gained during LLABs to use. The OPFOR (simulated opposing force) at CFTX is also much more formidable, having smoke grenades and artillery simulators on hand to create a more realistic field environment. This intensive training event allows MSIIIs to understand what they may experience when they attend CST in the summer.

CWST - Combat Water Survival Training

The annual Combat Water Survival Training (CWST) is a crucial but fun event for cadets. CWST allows cadets to become comfortable maneuvering as they practice donning and doffing equipment in deeper water. Cadets gain confidence in their water survival skills as they conduct the submerged equipment ditch, 15-meter swim with equipment and weapon, 3-meter drop, and trouser flotation exercises.

Senior Commissioning Ceremony

As the senior MS class level graduates in May of each spring semester, they are also officially commissioned as second lieutenants into the U.S. Army. This is the crowning achievement of all cadets as they complete their time with the Paul Revere Battalion. Friends and family gather to celebrate the transition the new lieutenants make into the next chapter of their Army careers.

LLAB - Leadership Labs, MS Classes

PRB meets every Wednesday to conduct Leadership Labs (LLAB) at the MIT unit. Each week presents a new lesson taught by the MSIVs, ranging from TCCC, Radios, and Land Navigation to Attacks, Raids, and Area Defenses. The first half of LLAB is instructional, while the second half is more hands-on as the MSIIIs lead MSIs and IIs in exercises to further their understanding.

Each MS level also has a weekly class with cadre members as their military science instructors. Cadets learn more about military processes, the study of warfare, and the foundations of officership as they train to become second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

Physical Fitness

Fitness is a top priority for PRB cadets. Maintaining good health allows leaders to stay sharp and perform their best. Sticking to a diligent Physical Training (PT) regimen establishes discipline and provides opportunities for leadership as older cadets lead by example.

Cadets conduct campus PT sessions 3 times a week with other Army ROTC cadets from their school. Many cadets have their own individual workout schedules in addition to the regular weekly PT. Throughout the year, the battalion conducts squad challenges at the end of each LLAB as a fun way to stay fit, motivated by friendly competition. The Army Combat Fitness Test is conducted each semester to ensure cadets are within the standard fitness expectations.

PRB cadets also traditionally participate in the Army 10-Miler and the Tough Ruck, a 26.2-mile marathon-length ruck march to honor Fallen Military and First Responders.

Summer Trainings

Beyond the training events that occur during the academic year, ROTC offers many opportunities to go above and beyond over the summer and other breaks.

Trainings include learning to jump out of airplanes at Airborne School, learning how to rappel and fast-rope from helicopters at Air Assault School, seeing how real army units function by being attached to them for several weeks through CTLT, going abroad to every part of the world to train with foreign military units through CULP, and much, much more. Paul Revere has sent cadets to nearly every kind of training there is.

All cadets are required to go to CST (Cadet Summer Training) the summer before their MSIV year. At CST, cadets work with peers from all across the nation to solidify their leadership and officership abilities in the field before they commission.