Cadet Anthony Orkiolla spoke to 60 fellow Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets in a clear and confident voice as they stood at the base of a 40-foot rappelling tower last Sunday morning.

"Lock it up," he said as he brought the University of Washington's Kennear Husky Battalion to attention as the season's first snow gently fell.

The UW cadets traveled to JBLM-North to complete a three-day field training exercise (FTX).  Along with physical training, land navigation and facing the challenge of a confidence course, rappelling bulked large.

"This is very important training; it will definitely help those of you who attend LDAC this summer," continued Orkiolla.

Every summer, JBLM hosts the Leadership Development and Assessment Course, or LDAC.

The course is how the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps trains and assesses the next generation of officers prior to their being commissioned second lieutenants.

Generally, ROTC students attend the LDAC between their junior and senior years.

The training consists of physical training, land and water confidence courses, land navigation, multicultural awareness, basic rifle marksmanship, and tactical training with an emphasis on squad and patrolling exercises.

Orkiolla placed in the top two percent of all cadets who completed the LDAC last summer, serves as the cadet battalion commander.

With his goal of serving in the infantry already met, Orkiolla hopes to soon attend Ranger School.

When Orkiolla finished speaking, the cadets broke into small groups, listened to seasoned instructors and prepared to rappel off the tower.

"The training has been great," said cadet Zach Archer as he used a length of rope to create a Swiss seat to make the descent.

Once the cadets' had finished making their seats, they were double-checked for safety and then sent to the top of the tower.

At the top awaited Maj. Steve Frank.

A former Marine and retired Army officer, Frank is a cadet instructor at the university.

"The training these cadets are receiving is great, and they have been doing a wonderful job," he said as he waited.

As the future officers made their way to the top, Frank welcomed them with a word of confidence.

Once he made sure a cadet's ropes were secure and that they were ready to go, he helped them lean out from the side of the tower and into 40 feet of air.

"Now, get off my tower," Franks would say with a tone of pride.

As the cadets made their way down, cadet Jeremiah Crowley commented, "We know our stuff, and we're only getting better."