Jacks Valley (also written as "Jack's Valley") is a training complex on the grounds of the
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academy in El Paso County, Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs. It educates cadets for service in the officer corps of the United States Air Force and Uni ...
in
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...
. It is used for military
field training
A field training exercise, generally shortened to the acronym "FTX", is a coordinated training exercise conducted by military units for training purposes. These are often military simulations conducted in open areas instead of training faciliti ...
.
Jacks Valley is used year-round by different military units and some civilian groups. However, its primary use is during the second half of Basic Cadet Training (BCT) each summer. During BCT, the new cadets (or "basic cadets") train in a field encampment environment. The basic cadets march to and from Jacks Valley. While in Jacks Valley, they undergo one of the most physically demanding parts of their training at the Academy.
While at Jacks Valley, basic cadets complete several courses.
*The Obstacle Course
*The Leadership Reaction Course - small groups of basic cadets solve problems and cross obstacles;
*The Confidence Course - basic cadets must overcome high obstacles and particularly challenging obstacles that are not normally completed for time;
*The Assault Course - a physically and mentally strenuous course where basic cadets are put through combat like situations with simulated
small arms
A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions).
The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes c ...
fire,
artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
explosions, and obstacles.
*Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense (
CBRNE
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN defence) are protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present. CBRN defence consist ...
) - information on CBRNE and tear gas training.
*Self Aid Buddy Care (
SABC
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations ( AM/ FM) as well as six television broadcasts to the general public. It is one of the largest of South Africa's state ...
) - basic first aid.
*Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (
CATM) - small arms training.
References
United States Air Force Academy
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