FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets, assigned to 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, sat on the concrete ground of the engagement skills training center as they received instructions for the exercise they were about to conduct. 

For Cadets Jordan Alston, North Carolina A&T, and Kimberlyn Raab, Western Illinois University, what they were hearing June 9, 2025, was nothing new. Alston spent eight years as an enlisted active duty Soldier, reaching the rank of staff sergeant. Raab has been in the Reserve Officer Training Corps for three years. They both have completed EST many times before. 

“The primary focus for today here at EST is just being able to identify the errors that you have now, in a low-threat environment,” Alston said. 

EST is a simulated training exercise that allows Cadets to practice qualifying with their rifle before the live fire range. 

 “It’s basically a computer program, almost like a video game,” Raab said.

The event provides the chance for Cadets to go through the motions of qualifying in a setting that is more intense than just practicing during preliminary marksmanship instruction, but not as rigorous as actually being on the range. Some Cadets have little experience firing a weapon before coming to Cadet Summer Training. Their practice at EST provides them another opportunity to become comfortable with their M4 Carbine before they begin firing real rounds.

“No matter how many times you shoot a weapons system,” Raab said, “it’s always nerve wracking when you pick it up for the first time again.”

Alston and Raab both found that EST provides Cadets time to refine marksmanship fundamentals. They are able to take their time finding a steady position and sight picture. They are able to relax, control their breathing more and squeeze the trigger gently. 

“This is the place and location to do that perfectly,” Alston said. 

Cadet Shamya Fleming, South Carolina State University, has only had the chance to complete EST three times with her ROTC program. She struggles with finding a steady kneeling position. Today gave her one more chance to practice before she heads to the range. 

“Using the barrier is hard for me in general,” she said. 

Fleming explained that she struggles with making sure her body weight is in her front foot and not kneeling on her back leg. With EST being a calmer environment than the real range, she found she could relax and get that movement down.

“Doing it (qualifying) in a low threat environment,” she said, “really allows you to focus and practice the fundamentals.”

Alston, Raab and Fleming all apply the fundamentals of marksmanship to their Army careers off the range as well. They find themselves able to stay calm and relaxed under pressure because of their experiences training for the range. Alston and Fleming hope to commission into medical services and Raab hopes to commission into the signal branch. 

Using the breath control he needs on the range, Alston is able to relax himself in other high pressure situations, like ones he may face if he commissions into the medical services branch.

“Breathing is one of those things that kind of supports everything, it calms your nerves, it allows you to have a clear understanding of what’s going on,” Alston said.

Fleming thinks that being able to control her nerves, like she’s learned to do on the range, will apply to her career in the medical field. 

“Staying calm is a really big thing,” she said, “Especially at the range.”

Raab has learned from the range that she will make mistakes sometimes. As a self-acclaimed perfectionist, that is something she struggles with, but is working on.

“It’s OK to make mistakes because you have 40 shots,” she said, “you only need 23 to pass.”

She’s learning to keep that in mind in all aspects of her life, her future career and her personal life.

“You’re allowed to make mistakes and still be able to do a good job,” Raab said.

Whether they’ve done EST countless times in the past as a prior enlisted Soldier, or just once a year with ROTC at their college, Cadets continue to learn new things from the exercise and find ways to use them off the range. 

“I truly took this as a learning experience,” Alston said.“ There’s never a day where you’re not learning something.”