FORT KNOX, Ky. – A hint of spice lingers in the air as Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, begin to slowly recover from the physical shock from their time within the Confidence Chamber, July 29, 2024. For this exercise, Cadets test the efficiency of their M51 Protective Masks within the chamber before removing the equipment to feel the unpleasant sensation that could occur if it is not properly secured.

This event, marking the halfway point of Cadet Summer Training, is considered a milestone for many Cadets. Most Cadets are never given the opportunity to practice for the Confidence Chamber at their ROTC programs the way they are often given the chance to do so with events such as M4 Weapons Qualifications or the Army Combat Fitness Test. 

The anticipation surrounding this event made many Cadets more eager to try, curious to see how much of the talk was real. To Cadet Aryan Sarin, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, this effect that anticipation for the Confidence Chamber had on Cadets was immediately evident as they entered.

“As soon as we walked in, the aura in every Cadet immediately became a lot more tense because those who had been in there were telling their stories and you kind of knew what was going to come,” Sarin recalled. 

Enlisted in the National Guard, Sarin is one of many Cadets enrolled in the Simultaneous Membership Program at CST. An initiative between the National Guard and Cadet Command, SMP allows Cadets to stay actively enlisted while learning and preparing to become an officer in the ROTC.

“It’s definitely a little challenging, but I feel like they go hand in hand very well,” said Sarin. “Just being a part of the National Guard unit gives you more experience when it comes to ROTC and everything else related to the military. The program better prepares you for CST.”

Sarin believes that having a good quantity of prior enlisted at CST creates a valuable dynamic within the regiments. He observed that particularly during the CBRN exercise, they were able to guide other Cadets through their anticipation-driven fears with the knowledge gained from their prior experience. 

“Going into the gas chamber, a lot of people got extremely nervous or scared,” Sarin explained. “It was prior enlisted people who had been through the gas chamber before that could best talk people down to slowly get them to calm themselves. Having prior enlisted people is extremely important because not only are they just such a great source of knowledge, they’re also a great source of learning as you always have someone to model yourself after.”

Once Cadets exit the chamber and recover, Sarin observed that there was a new bond built between all of them. Those prior enlisted and not were able to begin reflecting on this experience that they had shared together.

“It’s a nice feeling for everyone involved. In that sense, it brings everyone closer together and it definitely brings a feeling of accomplishment for the entire regiment,” Sarin concluded.