­­­FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the warrior skills training event during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 25, 2023. The warrior skills training event consists of different exercises that teach Cadets about basic military tactical operations in combat environments before beginning their field training exercises.

Warrior skills training includes troop-leading procedures, setting up claymore mines, throwing hand grenades, and other essential tasks. The purpose of this training event is for Cadets to work on their individual skillsets while the observer-controller-trainers assess the quality of Cadets’ leadership abilities.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Van Meter from Eastern Washington University is the certified officer in charge of the warrior skills training event and explains what Cadets should take from it.

“Here, they’re seeing what doctrinal training looks like,” Van Meter said. “Task condition standards straight from the manual, as you’re supposed to do it, and that gives them a sense of what good, structured training looks like.”

Van Meter explained that the warrior skills training event will give Cadets a better understanding of what they are supposed to do as individuals on the team, and the upcoming FTX will explain more in-depth what the whole team should do together.

Akalah Burns from University of Central Arkansas said that the warrior skills training event and CST in general has challenged her in the best ways, both physically and mentally.

“It makes you dig deep into yourself,” Burns said. “It shows you certain things you thought you couldn’t do, and you end up doing them.”

Burns plans on following in the steps of her aunt and great-great-grandfather by branching logistics quartermaster. She initially served as a unit supply specialist at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., before joining the ROTC program three years ago.

Cadet Faith Odegbami from Norwich University was originally an information technology specialist for the Army for three years before she joined the ROTC program four years ago.

“[The Army] has made me a structurally sound person who is able to capitalize on my confidence, strengths, and my physical ability,” Odegbami said.

When asked what advice she’d give to future Cadets, Odegbami said to just be themselves when they arrive at CST.

After completing the warrior skills training exercise, the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets will advance to Wolverine, the first phase of FTX.