FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Hannah Kang, from Syracuse University, recently opened up about her experiences and the family support that has guided her through the rigorous Cadet Summer Training (CST) program. As she navigates the challenges of CST, her family, especially her grandmother and father, plays a crucial role in her perseverance and motivation.

Today, Kang was engaged in Phase Two of the 9th Regiment Advanced Camp’s Field Training Exercise, Panther. Here, Cadets are evaluated in various practical situations and leadership roles. “If we reach contact with the enemy, we just basically get down and fire back at them,” she said.

The intense training is designed to test and prepare Cadets for real-world scenarios. “The cadre definitely like to put us in stressful situations to help prepare us mentally and physically,” Kang said. “Bringing those skills into the field, where we combine various individual warrior tasks while working alongside other Cadets in our platoon, is what makes it such a culminating experience.”

However, CST isn’t the only challenge Kang has faced recently. Two weeks before arriving at CST, she lost her grandmother, a significant and close family member. “Losing her and then coming straight to CST was mentally challenging,” Kang said. “Coping with that loss while entering a tough training environment, even one that I had prepared three years for, was difficult.”

Her grandmother was aware of Kang’s commitment to CST, and their conversations stay with Kang throughout her training. “I asked her for a lot of advice on how to maintain composure. She would always say, ‘What needs to be done will get done.’”

Kang shares that even though she doesn’t always know what is coming, her grandmother’s words remind her of her training and mental capability to do anything.

This family wisdom, coupled with her father’s experiences, has strengthened Kang’s determination. Her father, formerly in ROTC, has been a guiding force. “Everything that I’ve been going through, I tell my dad, and he’s like, ‘Yes, I know exactly how that feels,’” she said. 

Their shared ROTC background has created a special bond between them. “I like that I get to ask my dad for advice that might not be typical for most people, like marksmanship or land navigation; it’s kind of funny, and I think that makes us unique,” Kang said. 

That said, Kang points out that “it’s a new era,” and her experiences are not an exact replica of her father’s. “He definitely said the stressful situations are the same as when he went through the program, but CST has changed so much, even from last year to now,” she said. 

Despite CST’s evolving nature, its core values and training challenges remain consistent, bridging generations. Kang’s journey through CST, with the memory of her grandmother and the support of her father, illustrates the enduring strength derived from family connections.

As she continues through the final phases of CST, Kang remains focused and resilient, armed with the wisdom of her loved ones and her own determination. “I know things will be hard, but at the end of the day, what needs to be done will get done,” she affirmed, reflecting on her grandmother’s words and embodying the spirit of perseverance that CST seeks to instill in every Cadet.

Kang’s story is a testament to the power of family support and the strength it provides in overcoming life’s challenges, both in and out of uniform.