Cougar Strike
The SIUE campus provides an excellent arrangement of diverse terrain that is perfect for an annual event know as Cougar Strike. Cougar Strike is an FTX typically held in the once in the Fall and Spring and lasts an entire weekend. The event is a unique opportunity for MSIII cadets to enhance their patrolling and teamwork skills. Select individuals are evaluated in leadership positions as they set-up traffic control points, encounter civilians on the battlefield, react to an IED, or a host of other variable training lanes. The event participants also learn basic skills such as patrol base operations, link-ups, and tactical movement techniques. Cougar Strike is a fun and exciting training opportunity held on SIUE’s campus that provides cadets with necessary leadership and tactical skills. In the past cadets have flown in Blackhawk helicopters and used a variety of US weaponry to include the M60 machine gun. The scenarios developed for this event are as true-to-life as they can be with the enemy forces dressed in foreign attire and speaking unique languages. Cadets are constantly challenged during Cougar Strike and many have some of their fondest ROTC memories during this event.
