Fort Knox, KY — At approximately 4 p.m. on August 3rd , 1973, Richard Spencer raised his right hand and recited the oath of an Army Officer after graduating from Jacksonville State University and completing the Army ROTC program. This newly commissioned lieutenant was heading to Airborne School that afternoon full of excitement. Little did the then 2nd Lt. Spencer know what the next 50 years would hold. Spencer began serving in the Active Duty Army in January of 1974 as a Military Police Officer. “My first duty assignment was very unique since I had a college degree, which was very […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in the Military Blood Drive at Fort Knox, Ky., August 3, 2023. The Military Blood Drive allows Cadets to have their blood drawn which is tested and collected to be given to service members, Department of Defense employees and civilian families in need. Cadet Melissa Esswein from the University of Michigan shares her thoughts pertaining to the blood drive. “I think the blood drive is important because it’s a great way to give back to the community,” Esswein said. “In a military setting, accidents happen, people get injured, and it’s […]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, completed their daytime land navigation exercise on Fort Knox, Ky., July 30, 2023. Land navigation acts as a tool to teach Cadets to maneuver through various terrains while locating the intended checkpoints. “Land navigation is the practice of finding where you’re going from your current location,” said Cadet Robert Esgro, Penn State. “We don’t know where we’re going, so every step is a step into the unknown.” This exercise exists so that Cadets can develop their planning skills as well as learn to think more critically about the situations they are […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from the 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their Warrior Skills training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 30, 2023. The Warrior Skills training is an event that teaches and improves Cadets’ tactical skills for the field. Cadets learn about the fundamentals of munitions and practice what they have learned in a hands-on environment. Cadet Elena Oliver from Pacific Lutheran University shares her thoughts on the Warrior Skills training. “I think I did pretty well, and it was nice to refresh our skills in the field,” Oliver said. “It was good to interact with everything, and see how […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.,–Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp completed their Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear training on Fort Knox, Ky., July 29, 2023. CBRN is seen as major obstacle for Cadets to complete their training, and Cadet Keaton Silver, Ole Miss, shares his knowledge from prior experiences with the confidence chamber. “The first time I ever went through the chamber, I thought to myself, ‘Oh wow this is easy, I’m never going to have a problem with CBRN’. I’d been in one of the earliest groups so I barely felt it,” Silver said. “The next FTX we went on I was […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from the 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their Tactical Combat Casualty Care training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 29, 2023. The TCCC is an event that teaches Cadets important life-saving strategies during a battlefield scenario. This training is crucial to becoming a well-rounded leader and Commissioned Officer in the likelihood of a battle-related injury. Cadet Robert Carr shares his thoughts on the process of TCCC. “We learned about how to use radios, about formations, and how to move injured soldiers on a stretcher to the casualty collection point and get to a medevac,” Carr said. “This […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their land navigation qualification at Fort Knox, Ky., July 28, 2023. Armed with a compass, protractor, pencil, map, and a list of coordinates, the Cadets set out, fueled by determination, to find each of their points in under 4 hours. “Today we’re conducting a day land nav., where we are supposed to find three to four points on the course,” said Cadet David Nevarez, Middle Tennessee State University. “When I first got my points, my goal was to make some type of plan to get from my first point to […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from the 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their Rappel Tower training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 28, 2023. The 64-foot Rappel Tower teaches Cadets to trust in their equipment and themselves to descend the tower. Cadets learn to be confident and brave when faced with the challenges presented at this training event. Cadet Kade Blackwell from Tarleton State University in Dallas, Tx, shares his thoughts on the Rappel Tower. “I was pretty confident at this event, and I knew most of the process for the rappel tower,” Blackwell said. “It is exciting to jump off the […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Confidence Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 28, 2023.  The Confidence Course consists of ten obstacles that are designed to physically and mentally challenge Cadets. Despite how intimidating the obstacles may look, the purpose of the Confidence Course is to build confidence in Cadets.   One of the obstacles from the confidence course was named the belly over. It’s where Cadets have to get their stomach on top of a log, then roll over to the opposite side. Cadet Alexis Rivera from Central Michigan University talked about her personal experience […]

FORT KNOX, Ky., — Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, entered the second stage of their Field Training Exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., July 26, 2023.  Spending a total of 12 days in the field, Cadets complete groups of exercises, which are divided into 3 parts: Wolverine, Panther, and Grizzly. The Cadets are challenged mentally and physically before their skills are graded on the last day.  “We’re on our second mission, on the first day of Panther, and we’re completing an area defense,” said Cadet Phillip Jones, Alabama A&M. “Leadership is still processing the last few parts of our plan to […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—When you don’t know where you want your story to lead, pursuing a path in the Army can provide a place to start. Whether looking for a way to give back to the family that’s dedicated themselves to providing you with opportunities or to carry on a legacy of service, the Army can provide that foundation. For Cadet Alex Park, University of Pittsburgh, 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, the Army gave him the tools he needed to begin writing his own story of gratitude through his service. “My journey started back in high school. I graduated pretty young, so I […]

 FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from the 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Situational Training Exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., July 23, 2023. STX is an event that focuses on squad communication and tactics in a combat-like setting in order to qualify and become future U.S. Army leaders. Multiple scenarios test Cadets on their ability to work as a team and carry out their responsibilities in a timely manner. Cadet Trey Crow, from Harding University, shares his thoughts about the process of the STX. “It just helps you to learn teamwork with the new group of soldiers that you have just […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Armed with only their wits and a gas mask, Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, faced the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear chamber at Fort Knox, Ky. July 24, 2023. Many Cadets go into the chamber to challenge themselves in a different environment by preparing them for possible encounters with toxic substances in the future. “CBRN is the process and the description of being able to defend yourself from chemical warfare or any attack,” said Cadet Taylor Randazzo, Texas State. “We’re learning how to don a pro mask and how to protect ourselves against that chemical warfare […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the confidence course training where they rappelled off a 64-foot tower at Fort Knox, Ky., July 23, 2023. Cadets learned how to properly rappel, the safety of rappelling, and how to tie a rappel seat, called a Swiss Seat, before rappelling off the rappel tower. The purpose of the rappel training is to have Cadets gain confidence in themselves and overcome their fears. Cadets made their way to the slant wall to practice rappelling before walking up the stairs to the rappel tower. Cadet Amy Beaden from Northern Arizona University, […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, completed their training at the Forest Hills Climbing Complex on Fort Knox, Ky., July 22, 2023. The FHCC is a series of high obstacles that focuses on confidence and having trust in the climbing equipment for each course. It is composed of the Alpine Towers, The Rudders Ropes Course, and a rock-climbing wall. Cadet Lydia Sleeman, Allegheny College, shares her thoughts on the ropes course portion of the training. “I liked it, even though there were some scary parts of the course,” Sleeman stated. “I think the worst part for me […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Working together in teams of two and three, Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp completed the Forest Hills Climbing Complex at Fort Knox, Ky., July 21, 2023. The FHCC is made up of three parts, the Rudder’s Rope Course, the Alpine Towers, and the rock wall. It challenges Cadets physically and mentally to overcome their fears and become confident in themselves, their peers, equipment and their Cadre. “You’re really learning to trust your equipment, being able to know it all works, and then trusting your peers because they’re the ones that are helping you get up and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, completed the Team Development Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 21, 2023. TDC is designed to challenge Cadets as they complete various obstacles in order to strengthen their teamwork skills. “This is a part of our training because the military is not an individual thing,” said Cadet Janyah Robinson, South Carolina State University. “Everybody is a team, everybody is working together. We all represent one thing.” During their time at Cadet Summer Training, Cadets are given many opportunities to get to know each other and grow together. “We all knew each other’s weaknesses […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Engagement Skills Trainer at Fort Knox, Ky., July 21, 2023. The EST is a simulated training event that teaches Cadets important marksmanship skills in several environments. Cadet Kevin Kirby, Pennsylvania State University, shares his thoughts on the training. “My favorite part of the EST was the shooting simulation,” Kirby stated. “I really enjoyed that because I was able to actually see myself improve each round.” The EST includes virtual firing ranges to test Cadets’ accuracy and improve their marksmanship skills. This simulation allows each person to become familiar with […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Battle March and Shoot at Fort Knox, Ky., July 21, 2023. The BMS consisted of a four mile tactical road march to the Schroeder Range. When Cadets arrived, they fired two rounds at ten targets to zero at different differences.  The purpose of the BMS is to train Cadets on how to shoot accurately while under stress and maintaining their fundamentals of shooting.  Cadet Rachel Oliva from University of Pittsburgh, talked about her experience during the BMS while having her battle buddies by her side.  “Once we stepped off […]

Special Awards Recipients AUSA Leadership Excellence AwardCadet Benjamin L. Greer, Virginia Military Institute First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Grayson A. Rosa, East Carolina University USAA Warrior Spirit AwardCadet Virginia A. Howard, University of South Carolina Armed Forces Bank Performance AwardCadet Noble D. Dodge, Virginia Military Institute ARNG Minuteman AwardCadet Ryan D. Fischer, State University of New York at Geneseo Reserve Organization of America AwardCadet Biance C. Klepper, Norwich University Military Officers Association of America AwardCadet Tyler C. Murray, South Dakota State University Military Order of the World Wars AwardCadet Kirsten L.B. Cooper, Fayetteville State University Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Christian T. […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Warrior Skills training event at Fort Knox, Ky., July 20, 2023. Warrior Skills introduces Cadets to many procedures that focus on the fundamentals of munitions and range finding. The Cadets have hands-on experience that allow them to understand important Soldiering tactics. Cadet Brandon De La Rosa, from East Stroudsburg University, shares his thoughts on the importance of Warrior Skills. “I was successful in throwing today because the grenade was like a baseball,” De la Rosa said. “A lot of kids grew up playing baseball, including me, so it was […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.– Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, spent the first half of the day learning the basics of first aid, radio usage, and squad formations at Fort Knox, KY., July 20, 2023. Knowing how to communicate and assist battle buddies is crucial for the Cadets to learn before beginning a Field Training Exercise. “We’re learning things like T-Triple C, which is Tactical Combat Casualty Care, or how to tactically care for someone who’s been wounded in combat,” said Cadet Eric Truong, University of Central Florida, “We’re also learning about radios, [Advanced System Improvement Program] radios, how to load and […]

FORT KNOX, KY. — Cadets from 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp complete their Cadet Summer Training journey by setting out on a 12-mile ruck at Fort Knox, Ky., July 18, 2023. The 12-mile ruck is the last event Cadets must finish before they graduate from Advanced Camp. It allows Cadets a time to reflect on their experiences at CST, the lessons they learned, and the connections they have made along the way. “The 12-mile ruck is basically a battle march from our last phase of the field, the Grizzly phase,” said Cadet Meghan Shelatz, Liberty University. “We walk as a whole entire […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Field Leader Reaction Course on Fort Knox, Ky., July 17, 2023. FLRC is a teamwork-based course in which Cadets complete challenging scenarios with the purpose of growing leadership and team building skills. “We’re given challenges and obstacles to get across,” said Cadet Katrina Thoms, Stephen F. Austin State University. “Some are impossible, some just take a lot of planning, but as a team, we work together to accomplish the task at hand.” In preparation for the various obstacles, Cadets are given a scenario as well as a series of rules they […]

FORT KNOX Ky. — During Cadet Summer Training, the U.S. Army Cadet Command partners with universities to train, educate, develop, and inspire Cadets to commission as officers. These Cadets come from around the world, to the same organizations to reach the same goal – learning how to help others. Similarly, while Cadet Zyra Brigette Dew, Carson-Newman University, and Cadet Jeremy Acheampong, Capital University, may both belong to the 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, they entered CST having experienced different journeys, holding differing cultural influences. “I was originally born in the Philippines, but then we moved,” Dew said. “My family and I moved […]