FORT KNOX, KY.- More than 400 second lieutenants received their equipment for Cadet Summer Training (CST) on May 25 at the Central Issue Facility (CIF).
“My role here is to ensure that the cadets have all the equipment they need to perform their duties out in the field,” said University of Tennessee Cadre Member Randolph Graves.
Cadet Summer Training (CST) supply technician and University of Tennessee ROTC cadre member Randolph Graves, speaks to CST cadre member 2nd Lt. Abdulquawwiyyu Oyebamiji, commissioned from Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, N.C., during equipment layout at Central Issue Facility (CIF) on Fort Knox, Ky., May 25. CIF issues all Cadets and cadre equipment for use during CST. (Photo by Mattie Cook)
The second lieutenants get their equipment before the Cadets to ensure the lieutenants know the equipment. It’s the lieutenants’ responsibility to make sure the Cadets have the proper supplies before CST.
“It’s more of a personal check as a second lieutenant compared to as a Cadet,” said 2nd Lt. Abdulquawwiyyu Oyebamiji of the 25th Infantry Brigade. “As a second lieutenant, you have to make sure you have all your equipment. As a cadet, the cadre has to make sure of that.”
2nd Lt. Tristan Shuler, commissioned from Morehead State University, Morehead, Ky., Cadet Summer Training (CST) cadre member, packs his poncho liner during equipment layout at Central Issue Facility (CIF) on Fort Knox, Ky., May 25. CIF issues all Cadets and cadre equipment for use during CST. (Photo by Mattie Cook)
Second lieutenants are briefed about the supplies, issued it and get a receipt for everything they received. If any of the equipment is unserviceable or missing, the lieutenants can immediately exchange their equipment before leaving CIF.
“Once they walk out this door from CIF, that’s it,” Graves said.
All of the second lieutenants got equipment from the CIF before. They were Cadets last year and went through the same process to get their equipment.
“CST was a good training environment to learn how to be a leader in the army and even outside of the army,” Oyebamiji said.
Second lieutenants mentor Cadets throughout CST to ensure the army’s future leaders are well equipped for their future role as second lieutenants.
“My advice for Cadets it to always be ready,” Oyebamiji said. “Because they are aspiring leaders in the army, they always need to develop themselves.”
