By: Mattie Cook
Fort Knox, Ky.,- The 556 Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp finished Cadet Summer Training with Graduation on Brooks Field.
Nine Cadets of the regiment received the RECONDO (Reconnaissance Commando) certificate from Maj. Gen. Hughes, Commanding General of Cadet Summer Training and Fort Knox. Regimental Awards were given to twelve Cadets for outstanding performances at CST.
Cadet Emily Gallagher, Duquesne University, Armed Forces Services Corporation Award recipient, with her parents Ed and Laura Gallagher. Photo by Mattie Cook
Cadet Emily Gallagher, Dequesne University, received the Armed Forces Services Corporation Award for achieving the highest female score on the Army Physical Fitness Test. Her parents, Laura and Ed were there at graduation waiting to congratulate her.
“We’re extremely proud of her. We’ve been watching all the photos to see what they’ve been doing at training, anxious not to here from her for awhile but proud. She’s very resilient so we knew she could do it,” said Ed.
Laura added, “We were so excited to see she was getting an award, we knew she had it in her.”
Guest Speaker, Col. Sean Barnes, Commandant of Cadet Summer Training, spoke to the Cadets and their family members about their experience at CST and gave them a few words of advice.
“Over the past 31 days these Cadets representing nearly 1,000 ROTC programs across the country engaged in military training including physical fitness, testing, ruck marches, land navigation, basic rifle marksmanship and concluded with two field training exercises.,” Barnes said. “Not only finding and fighting an opposing force but also the insects, the critters and the poison ivy. Lots of poison ivy.”
Barnes’ advice to Cadets was short, sweet and relevant.
Commander of Troops for 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp Graduation Ceremony, Cadet Nicholas Abraham, Colorado State Unviersity, salutes during the Cadet Cannonade August 11. (Photo by Mattie Cook)
“Enjoy today, reflect on your accomplishments, return to your campus proud of what you have done this summer and the path you are choosing,” he said. “As your time at Fort Knox closes I will leave you with the following thoughts. Communicate, preferably without your phones. Listen, ask and provide the reason why you are going to do something. Knox your craft. Be technically proficient and study. Take time to learn from your soldiers. You are not the smartest person in the room. Finally, love your soldiers and the ones that serve for or with you. Congratulations.”
9th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets will return to their respective universities to develop and hone their leadership attributes, complete their degree programs and then commission as Second Lieutenants in the Army; proud and determined.
