FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY – After rucking six miles in the early morning and shooting under stress, Cadet Christ Noel, 8^th Regiment, Advanced Camp, from The City College of New York reflects on his past experiences of being enlisted, as well as a student athlete and starting ROTC in 2019. Noel’s well-rounded background helped him to be more than prepared for today’s exercise.

Noel, alongside his peers from 8^th Regiment, Advanced Camp, woke up early in the morning to conduct the Six-Mile Battle, March and Shoot. Cadets ruck six miles around Fort Knox and out to Steeles range, then shoot under stress. A ruck is a walk with added weight from a Cadet’s backpack. Rucking is a test of a Cadet’s toughness and pushes them to get past mental and physical obstacles. After these six miles, not only are the Cadets’ morale high, but so are their heart rates, making shooting immediately after a bit of a challenge. While shooting in these conditions, a Cadet must control their breathing to ensure they have a good shot.

Noel’s Platoon Leader, Cadet Abigail Dulmage from Georgia Southern University, describes today’s training, “It was a six-mile ruck with 35 pounds dry followed by shooting off 40 rounds at the target.”

Dulmage goes on to mention some of the challenges Cadets faced, such as the steep hills found on base, but this was not a problem for Noel given his background leading up to CST.

The Army Reserves is where Noel found himself at the beginning of his military career. His job was a 92G, or a culinary specialist. As a Culinary Specialist in the Army, a Soldier supervises, prepares, and serves food in field or garrison operations.

In 2019, Noel joined Army ROTC at Medgar Evers College. ROTC was a great opportunity for Noel, but unfortunately the program ended at Medgar Evers during his time there. Noel, being a student-athlete, decided to focus on athletics and academics rather than immediately transfer to a school with an ROTC program.

“I was on the cheerleading and volleyball teams at Medgar Evers College, then transferred and played volleyball at City College in Harlem, New York. I also wanted the highest GPA out of my teammates and ended up getting a 3.8.”

Noel would continue playing on his teams while also serving in the Army Reserves until being approached by one of his good friends who was in ROTC at another school.

After this conversation, Noel decided to come back to ROTC with The City College of New York. Being well into ROTC and CST now, Noel acknowledges his growth.

“I had the option to either be an MS3 or MS2. I chose MS2 because at that time I didn’t feel prepared for CST, but now here I am.”

Now being an MS3 and participating in Cadet Summer Training, the Six Mile Battle, March and Shoot is a training Noel is more than prepared for. His current ROTC program conducts several rucks throughout the school year.

“We do four-mile, six-mile, eight-mile, and twelve-mile rucks,” Noel states as he explains his school’s preparation for CST.

With each mile, Noel is more and more excited to be back with Army ROTC and credits a lot of his preparation to the experiences he has gained through being a culinary specialist, being a student athlete, and his two ROTC programs. The Six-Mile Battle, March and Shoot is yet another experience making Cadet Noel into the well-rounded Soldier he is working to be.