FORT KNOX, Ky., – The 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets started their morning soaked in rain during the Army combat fitness test at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023.

 The first physical requirement that Cadets completed was the ACFT, which measured their physical fitness. The ACFT consists of six events: the three-repetition max deadlift, the standing power throw, hand-release pushups, sprint-drag-carry, plank and two-mile run.

Cadet Alexander Bradley, Texas A&M University Central Texas, is one Cadet who completed the ACFT.

“Fitness is one of the most important things that the military looks for,” Bradley said. “It’s essentially a baseline for being a Soldier.”

Bradley enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 2018 as an intelligence analyst.

“My first duty station, I worked as an analyst at the 10th Air and Army Missile Defense Command in Kaiserslautern, Germany,” Bradley said.

Bradley gained experience working with air defense and other intelligence units in the area to help the mission to conduct joint and combined air missile defense operations.

In August 2022, Bradley went back to college to get his master’s degree in information systems and joined the Green to Gold program as an active-duty Cadet.

“I wanted to serve my country in a higher capacity as an officer,” Bradley said. “I wanted to lead enlisted and NCOs [non-commission officers] as an officer, so I decided to go the Green to Gold route so I can further my career.”

Bradley has participated in ACFT events before, and he hopes to build on his skills.

“I’m just looking forward to improving on previous scores that I’ve had,” Bradley said, “and trying to gain knowledge and techniques that will help me better my finish score.”

Bradley is hoping to get experience and advice from Cadre to help develop his leadership skills to develop Soldiers in the future.

“Most of my school is active duty, but we also have regular Cadets that haven’t been prior enlisted,” Bradley said. “It’s just been good getting experience from those other active-duty Cadets as well as just learning life lessons and leadership skills from all Cadets and Cadre.”

While Bradley has enjoyed getting to meet new people and learning the stories of his fellow Cadets, Cadet Ezra Silverburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, has gone through ACFT events prior to Advanced Camp and reflects on how he did today.

“I think I did alright, but I’ve done better in the past,” Silverburg said. “The rain was a nice refresher, though.”

Silverburg is a first-generation college student. He decided that getting a degree was his best option, and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps would help him achieve that.

“My friend and I were talking about universities, and I told him I wanted to go to one of the academies,” Silverburg said. “He laughed at me and told me I couldn’t get in; well, I didn’t get in, but it sent me down the path of wanting to join the military.”

Silverburg’s goal is to get commissioned as an infantry officer.

“I hope to spend as much time as I can leading Soldiers,” Silverburg said.

Cadet Theo Miller, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, reflected on the why it is important for future Army leaders to complete the ACFT.

“It is important to know where your Soldiers stand physically,” Miller said, “and, to make sure that everyone is physically and mentally prepared to go out into the field.”

Growing up, Miller decided he wanted to serve in the Army. Although his grandfather served in Vietnam, neither of his parents have served.

Both of Miller’s parents went to college, so Miller decided the best route for him would be to go to college, as well, and become an officer.

“My parents knew I’d be most successful going that route,” Miller said. “I figured the best way I could serve was joining the Army to help improve the units and make sure that the people protecting our country are safe.”

The next event for these Cadets will be the shooting exercises, which is what Miller is most excited to participate in over the course of camp.

“I don’t get to do a whole lot of it when I’m back home,” Miller said, “so I’m looking forward to shooting targets.”

Tomorrow, 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets will take part in the preliminary marksmanship instruction where they will get their hands on M4 rifles for the first time this summer.