FORT KNOX, Ky. – The soaking wet boots of Cadets assigned to 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, trudged through the mud as they completed the day land navigation exercise on Fort Knox, Ky., June 18, 2025.

The land navigation event tasks Cadets with finding four pre-determined points using nothing but a compass, map and coordinates. This exercise ensures that Cadets will be able to navigate unfamiliar terrain which will be a vital skill for leading a team in the field both after commissioning as officers and during the field training exercises that are part of Cadet Summer Training.

Cadet Brycen Shepherd, Morehead State University, faced many challenges while completing the land navigation exercise, only finding one point.

Shepherd described the point as “deep in the swamp, like gator land.” Ultimately, he was happy with his performance considering how challenging the point was.

“There was nothing to associate with that point,” said Shepherd. “It was just me and my compass, and I was really happy to find that point.”

Other Cadets such as Emily Bryan, University of Tennessee Martin, did not face the same challenges as Shepherd, and were able to find all four of the points assigned to them. While the land navigation exercise is a solo event where Cadets are not allowed to talk to each other, Bryan says they still found ways to motivate each other in the same way they do during every other event.

“Like even today when you see (fellow Cadets) on the road, they’re just smiling at each other,” said Bryan. “Like yeah, this kind of sucks, but we’re all in it together.”

Bryan also spoke about her career goals that she hopes to achieve after commissioning, wanting to become an active-duty nurse while focusing on always improving.

“I just want to be better than I was yesterday,” said Bryan.

While Cadets with Alpha and Bravo Company completed the land navigation test, Cadets with Charlie and Delta Company practiced land navigation, honing their skills before completing the actual test the following day.

Cadet Omar Rivera, University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, was one of the Cadets practicing land navigation and was confident in his teammates and his own ability to find all their points.

“For day land navigation I am just hoping to find all my points because I am really confident about it,” said Rivera. “I just really trust my peers and specifically my partner, and I am hoping to do really well.”

The land navigation event is an essential component in building the Army’s future leaders. It is not only an exercise in navigating unfamiliar terrain, but a test for Cadets’ confidence in their own abilities. The confidence gained during this event and the other various events at CST will help mold these future officers into the Army’s next generation of great leaders.