One with the Pack


"To lead, you have to lead from within," said Maisy Borden, MU Army ROTC cadet. "Be one with the pack."


At the University of Missouri, Army ROTC cadets meet every Thursday to train. The MSIII's — cadets in their third year of the program — run missions in land navigation, ambush, attack and defense, in preparation for the spring semester's Joint Field Training Exercise. The event, referred to as the JFTX by the cadets and cadre, is a weekend-long training done alongside cadets from other universities wherein they run missions at Baker's Acres, a Missouri National Guard training in Macon, Mo. While the MSIII's run missions, the MSIV's — senior cadets who are about to commission as officers — operate as opposing forces and grade the performance of MSIII platoon leaders. 


All of this, from the weekly training to the JFTX, is in preparation for Advanced Camp, a 37-day long training camp the MSIII's will attend over the summer to prepare to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Army. 


This story was written and photographed for The Columbia Missourian. 

A group of people in soldiers' uniforms walk through a snow-covered woods.
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The MSIII platoon rucks into the woods to begin the day’s mission on February 21, 2019. Mostly made up of third-year students, the platoon is training for their advanced camp and eventual commission as officers.

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The MSIII platoon rucks into the woods to begin the day’s mission on February 21, 2019. Mostly made up of third-year students, the platoon is training for their advanced camp and eventual commission as officers.

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A young man in a helmet peaks out from behind a log.
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Cadet William “Ross” Duncan peeks out from behind cover while waiting to trigger an ambush during a drill on February 28, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium. Duncan was part of the team that set up the platoon’s prop Claymore mine, an antipersonnel mine that can be set off by tripwire or remote detonator.

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Cadet William “Ross” Duncan peeks out from behind cover while waiting to trigger an ambush during a drill on February 28, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium. Duncan was part of the team that set up the platoon’s prop Claymore mine, an antipersonnel mine that can be set off by tripwire or remote detonator.

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Three people dressed as soldiers hand prop guns while standing in a parking lot.
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From left, MSIII cadets Abe Drury, Shade Bullock and Kobe Smith watch a walk-through of an ambush mission on February 21, 2019 in a parking lot behind Memorial Stadium. It was the platoon’s first day going through an ambush, so cadre decided to have them do it once before they rucked into the woods for the full mission.

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From left, MSIII cadets Abe Drury, Shade Bullock and Kobe Smith watch a walk-through of an ambush mission on February 21, 2019 in a parking lot behind Memorial Stadium. It was the platoon’s first day going through an ambush, so cadre decided to have them do it once before they rucked into the woods for the full mission.

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A man dressed as a solider grimaces and grabs the hand of another person.
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Cadet Patrick Seeling, right, helps haul Cadet Lukas “Ziggie” Ziegler, left, up a muddy hill during a mission drill on March 7, 2019 at East Field. Seeling is in the Green-to-Gold program, where enlisted soldiers can become commissioned officers. Originally a sergeant, Seeling decided to become a commissioned officer after witnessing times where an officer’s actions put people in danger. “I decided I should try to be the one in charge of distributing info so I could do a better job,” Seeling said.

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Cadet Patrick Seeling, right, helps haul Cadet Lukas “Ziggie” Ziegler, left, up a muddy hill during a mission drill on March 7, 2019 at East Field. Seeling is in the Green-to-Gold program, where enlisted soldiers can become commissioned officers. Originally a sergeant, Seeling decided to become a commissioned officer after witnessing times where an officer’s actions put people in danger. “I decided I should try to be the one in charge of distributing info so I could do a better job,” Seeling said.

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A man's glasses are fogged over. His face is painted green.
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Cadet Blake Willoughby awaits orders during a tactical defense drill on April 4, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium. In addition to Army ROTC, Willoughby is enlisted in the National Guard through the simultaneous membership program. After commissioning, he hopes to go active duty as an intelligence officer.

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Cadet Blake Willoughby awaits orders during a tactical defense drill on April 4, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium. In addition to Army ROTC, Willoughby is enlisted in the National Guard through the simultaneous membership program. After commissioning, he hopes to go active duty as an intelligence officer.

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A trio of people dressed as soldiers run through some grass. The image is blurry.
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MSIII cadets run from the cover of one tree line to the next on April 4, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium. The training mission terrain included a series of woodland, hills and open field the cadets had to traverse before setting up their defensive position.

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MSIII cadets run from the cover of one tree line to the next on April 4, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium. The training mission terrain included a series of woodland, hills and open field the cadets had to traverse before setting up their defensive position.

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One woman wearing a solider's uniform hands a gun magazine to another woman, who is holding a gun.
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Cadet Maisy Borden, left, helps cadet Sydnie English reload her rifle during a defensive mission April 14, 2019 at Baker’s Acres. Borden acted as the platoon sergeant during the mission, in charge of all platoon personnel, equipment and ammunition. “You’ve got to take a lot of pride in (leadership) and take care of your ‘Joes,’” Borden said. “But the hard work pays off when the mission is done and complete like your commander wanted.”

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Cadet Maisy Borden, left, helps cadet Sydnie English reload her rifle during a defensive mission April 14, 2019 at Baker’s Acres. Borden acted as the platoon sergeant during the mission, in charge of all platoon personnel, equipment and ammunition. “You’ve got to take a lot of pride in (leadership) and take care of your ‘Joes,’” Borden said. “But the hard work pays off when the mission is done and complete like your commander wanted.”

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In the background, a helicopter is in the sky. In the foreground, silhouetted people look up at the helicopter.
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Cadets from Missouri and Lincoln ROTC programs look to the National Guard helicopter that is to take them to the JFTX on April 12, 2019 at East Field. The helicopter made four trips, transporting the two platoons from Columbia to Baker's Acres, a National Guard training site in Macon, where the JFTX takes place.

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Cadets from Missouri and Lincoln ROTC programs look to the National Guard helicopter that is to take them to the JFTX on April 12, 2019 at East Field. The helicopter made four trips, transporting the two platoons from Columbia to Baker's Acres, a National Guard training site in Macon, where the JFTX takes place.

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A group of people dressed as soldiers unload things from a black pickup truck.
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Cadets unload gear and prop weapons from the car of Capt. Patrick Hughes before their training mission on April 4, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium.

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Cadets unload gear and prop weapons from the car of Capt. Patrick Hughes before their training mission on April 4, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium.

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A woman dressed as a soldier laughs. Around her on a muddy road are a trio of cars.
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MSIII cadet Katia Newell laughs after a completed mission on March 7, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium. The day’s training mission took place in a slightly different location than usual, across terrain the cadets were not familiar with.

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MSIII cadet Katia Newell laughs after a completed mission on March 7, 2019 in the woods behind Memorial Stadium. The day’s training mission took place in a slightly different location than usual, across terrain the cadets were not familiar with.

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A woman dressed as a solider holds a Starbucks drink. Around her men dressed as soldiers point at the drink.
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Fellow cadets give Maisy Borden a hard time about her Starbuck Frappuccino on April 11, 2019 at Crowder Hall on the University of Missouri campus. The group worked together to finish the drink before their lab officially started.

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Fellow cadets give Maisy Borden a hard time about her Starbuck Frappuccino on April 11, 2019 at Crowder Hall on the University of Missouri campus. The group worked together to finish the drink before their lab officially started.

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A trio of men in green shirts are reflected in a vertical mirror.
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From left, Ross Duncan, Jared Weece and Sam Thompson stand in line to give urine samples on April 11, 2019 in Crowder Hall. Cadets were packed into the narrow hallway the tests were being handed out in, before going into the nearby bathroom to carry out the test.

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From left, Ross Duncan, Jared Weece and Sam Thompson stand in line to give urine samples on April 11, 2019 in Crowder Hall. Cadets were packed into the narrow hallway the tests were being handed out in, before going into the nearby bathroom to carry out the test.

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A young man leans over a table. Around him are several other people all looking at each other.
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William “Ross” Duncan, center, fills out forms to accompany his urine test on April 4, 2019 in Crowder Hall. The day before the JFTX was spent packing, being issued rations and taking urine samples from the cadets in the platoon.

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William “Ross” Duncan, center, fills out forms to accompany his urine test on April 4, 2019 in Crowder Hall. The day before the JFTX was spent packing, being issued rations and taking urine samples from the cadets in the platoon.

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The disassembled parts of a trio of guns are laid out on a metal table while people dressed as soldiers sit around them.
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MSIII cadets clean their rifles after their final mission April 14, 2019 at Baker’s Acres. The guns used for the JFTX are National Guard-issued weapons, including M16 rifles and M249 machine guns, firing blanks. Once their rifles are cleaned, they are inspected by MSIV cadets. Any carbon residue found during the inspection means the MSIII must clean the rifle again, and again, until it passes inspection.

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MSIII cadets clean their rifles after their final mission April 14, 2019 at Baker’s Acres. The guns used for the JFTX are National Guard-issued weapons, including M16 rifles and M249 machine guns, firing blanks. Once their rifles are cleaned, they are inspected by MSIV cadets. Any carbon residue found during the inspection means the MSIII must clean the rifle again, and again, until it passes inspection.

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In the foreground, a man grins. In the mid ground, a woman looks out of frame. In the background, a man rests his head in his hands.
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MSIII cadet Jin Lee rests his head in his hands on the night of April 13, 2019 at the shelter cadets will sleep in at Baker’s Acres. The cadets’ day began at dawn and ended well after dusk. To Lee’s left, cadets Sydnie English and Nicholas DeLoach also rest.

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MSIII cadet Jin Lee rests his head in his hands on the night of April 13, 2019 at the shelter cadets will sleep in at Baker’s Acres. The cadets’ day began at dawn and ended well after dusk. To Lee’s left, cadets Sydnie English and Nicholas DeLoach also rest.

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A man shaves his face while holding a metal tin. To his right, another man fills up a water bottle.
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MSIV cadet Tate Kitchell shaves the morning of April 14, 2019 at Baker’s Acres. ROTC cadets are expected to maintain a military standard of dress and appearance. During the JFTX, having water to shave with can be a luxury, and most cadets are left to dry shave without a mirror.

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MSIV cadet Tate Kitchell shaves the morning of April 14, 2019 at Baker’s Acres. ROTC cadets are expected to maintain a military standard of dress and appearance. During the JFTX, having water to shave with can be a luxury, and most cadets are left to dry shave without a mirror.

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A silhouetted man stands in the doorway of a metal building. The interior lighting of the building is yellow. The exterior light is tinted a dark blue.
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A cadet steps out of the building the MSIII cadets slept in on April 14, 2019 at Baker's Acres. After expecting winter weather, leadership had the cadets sleep inside, instead of in their patrol base in the woods. When cadets arose for their morning mission, no snow had come.

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A cadet steps out of the building the MSIII cadets slept in on April 14, 2019 at Baker's Acres. After expecting winter weather, leadership had the cadets sleep inside, instead of in their patrol base in the woods. When cadets arose for their morning mission, no snow had come.

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