Last weekend, Bison Battalion – comprising cadets from Bloomsburg University, Bucknell University, Lycoming College, Penn College and Susquehanna University – conducted its first training of the new school year. The event, at Cowan Conference Center in Lewisburg, was organized to teach basic soldiering skills to young future leaders of the U.S. Army. Its goal was also to prepare junior cadets for the Leadership Develop and Assessment Course, which they must complete before advancing to senior year. For returning cadets, the exercise built upon their knowledge of Army techniques and tactics. The event has been more focused on team-building in the past, more toward camaraderie than skills. “The training this year was more pertinent," said junior Cadet Tokgozoglu, from Lycoming College. "Everything was broken down into an introductory level, which helped in understanding each class.” Sophomore Cadets Gorgone (Bloomsburg) and Chiappone (Susquehanna) agreed their favorite part of the event was sleeping in a bivouac, an improvised shelter created with ponchos and rope. While upperclassmen improved their skills, freshman cadets had their first experience of training in ROTC. Until the event at Cowan, freshmen had no physical training outside their respective schools. Freshman Cadet Kempf, of Bucknell, said, “I didn’t know what to expect, but it was fun and a good way to start learning about military tactics, first aid, and drill and ceremony.”Last weekend, Bison Battalion – comprising cadets from Bloomsburg University, Bucknell University, Lycoming College, Penn College and Susquehanna University – conducted its first training of the new school year. The event, at Cowan Conference Center in Lewisburg, was organized to teach basic soldiering skills to young future leaders of the U.S. Army. Its goal was also to prepare junior cadets for the Leadership Develop and Assessment Course, which they must complete before advancing to senior year. For returning cadets, the exercise built upon their knowledge of Army techniques and tactics. The event has been more focused on team-building in the past, more toward camaraderie than skills. “The training this year was more pertinent," said junior Cadet Tokgozoglu, from Lycoming College. "Everything was broken down into an introductory level, which helped in understanding each class.” Sophomore Cadets Gorgone (Bloomsburg) and Chiappone (Susquehanna) agreed their favorite part of the event was sleeping in a bivouac, an improvised shelter created with ponchos and rope. While upperclassmen improved their skills, freshman cadets had their first experience of training in ROTC. Until the event at Cowan, freshmen had no physical training outside their respective schools. Freshman Cadet Kempf, of Bucknell, said, “I didn’t know what to expect, but it was fun and a good way to start learning about military tactics, first aid, and drill and ceremony.”