FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Summer Training kicked off May 25. 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets arrived for in-processing at Fort Knox, Ky. In 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company we met Cadet Jacob Cochran, Virginia Military Institute (VMI), from Medford, Oregon.

Cadet Jacob Cochran from Virginia Military Academy, hometown Medford, Ore., has his belongings double checked by a cadre member during the arrival of Advance Camp 1st Regiment May 25 at Fort Knox. Cochran is a memeber of 1st Regiment, A Company, 3rd Platoon. (Photo by Amber Vincent)

When the Cadets start the check-in process, they dump out their bags. The cadre ensure that the Cadets do not have items; that are not allowed at camp. The cadre then have the Cadets pack it all back up and have them move into the barracks.

We met up with Cochran to get his experiences with ROTC. Cochran is going into his senior year at VMI for economics and business.

Cochran has been associated with the military for a while. “I want to be a pilot or go into aviation,” said Cochran.

Cadet Jacob Cochran from Virginia Military Academy, hometown Medford, Ore., reads over the Advance Camp Cadet Handbook as a part of his in-processing for Cadet Summer Training (CST) May 25 at Fort Knox. Cochran is a memeber of 1st Regiment, A Company, 3rd Platoon. (Photo by Amber Vincent)

VMI is one of the senior military colleges that host ROTC programs. Cochran believes that he has been given the best knowledge and tools to help him with summer training and also his military career.

“VMI has set us up pretty well,” said Cochran. “It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be hard, it’s defiantly going to be hard. But the knowledge that I have been given has prepared me. It’s a learning experience for all.”

U.S. Army Cadet Command has changed the advanced and basic camp course. They have added different evaluations and have made the course harder than in the previous years.

The new training regime provides the Cadets a challenging environment to create our Army’s future leaders.