FORT KNOX, Ky. – When a battle buddy is wounded in the heat of battle, every lost moment can mean the difference between life and death. To take rapid and proficient action is critical. How to respond in such a manner is what the Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, are at their First Aid Training to learn, July 24, 2024.

Stepping off of the Medical Evacuation Medical Lane, Cadet Melanie White, University of South Carolina, finds a sense of familiarity in these lanes. 

Prior enlisted since 2019, White attended Advanced Individual Training School to become a 68S, Preventative Medical Specialist. This Military Occupational Specialty involved White performing health inspections for the facilities on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The close attention to detail to pick up on possible medical hazards required for her prior MOS is a skill White believes Cadets are partially training to acquire at their medical lanes.

White’s background goes further than training up the soft skills for medical response. While stationed in Fort Bragg, White participated in various competitions, such as Soldier of the Year, which involve medical lanes similar to those conducted by Cadets during Cadet Summer Training. This includes using an Advanced System Improvement Program Radio to call a MEDEVAC, transporting a casualty, and performing immediate care with a tourniquet.

When comparing the experience of these competitions and the medical lanes at Cadet Summer Training, White found that being held in direct comparison to her peers as opposed to a standard goal is what made the difference mentally.

“It was tougher. I was competing against other soldiers and you know, they were just as good as me,” White said. “When you have NCO’s that take their job seriously, and they really want to pick the best of the best, You have to come with your A game. I was fortunate enough to have a good NCO at that time, that taught me everything that I needed to know. So, by the time I got to the competition, I was able to kick butt, but it’s not always easy.”

Despite no longer being in a competition setting, White considers performing well in an independent setting to hold its own unique challenges.

“I like to think that I’m always competing against myself, despite being surrounded by so many of my peers and encouraging them as well,” White explained. “But I like to come in with the focus that it’s just me out there. Because anytime I start to think about my peers, I get nervous.”

To face this type of mental roadblock, White attempts to look inward for guidance to persevere.

“I lock in, and I say ‘You know what, Melanie? You’re the only one out here. You got it. You’ve done it before. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Just perform the steps, get it done’.”

White aspires to make change as an officer, bringing about success for both herself and the Army in the future. Looking at what she has accomplished in her career and at Cadet Summer Training, White emphasizes the need for mental toughness while looking towards the future.

“The biggest thing is just being prepared to win that mental battle. Winning that mental battle will allow you to win the physical battle as well,” White concludes.