Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets Caden Klein, University of Utah, and Britton “Brick” Janet, University of North Carolina State, Charlie Company, 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their respective lanes on the hand grenade assault course together, June 22, 2025.

The HGAC features lanes containing seven obstacles designed to prepare Cadets to engage targets with grenades in tactical environments.

They must be able to accurately throw their grenades from several positions while taking cover behind barriers.

Klein and Janet pushed each other to the end, offering encouraging words along the way.

This wasn’t their first time motivating each other during their training.

Sharing a room together, the two quickly became close friends and have developed a relationship that helps them push through each challenging day at Cadet Summer Training.

Both former athletes, competition is what keeps their bond so strong.

“After the army fitness test, we both realized we were still in RECONDO, and it was almost unspoken that we made it our goal to push each other,” said Janet. “I’m pretty sure Klein shot the highest in our company on the qualifier, everything motivates me, I see him doing something and I have to one up him.”

The RECONDO badge is awarded to Cadets who display superior skills at Advanced Camp. They must exceed the standards in AFT, confidence courses, land navigation, marksmanship, first aid, CBRN, and the 12-mile foot march.

The badge continues to be a goal for Klein and Janet as they strive to be leaders among their peers. Having integrity, being reliable and leading by example are core values shared between the two.

“You have to be able to trust your leader,” said Klein. “You have to lead by example and do the stuff you want other people reciprocating.”

As a duo, they are constantly leading each other. When one is succeeding the other is working hard to catch up.

Janet reflected that Klein was ahead of the pack during their company’s 12-mile ruck march while Janet was just in front of the pacer. Aiming to stay in RECONDO, Janet powered past his peers in the last two miles.

“I couldn’t let Klein be the last one in RECONDO, I had to push through, so I dug really deep,” said Janet. “I saw him do it and I didn’t want to be out of contention because of that. That’s what leadership is.”

Though the rivalry is competitive, at the end of the day they’re always rooting for the other to win.

“We both want to see each other exceed our standards,” said Klein.

Klein’s words fit well within Janet’s idea of leadership.

“Leadership is about making sure the people underneath you succeed by any means necessary,” said Janet. “You have to show up, that’s the biggest thing. You have to always be 100 percent in case they can’t.”

Though successful in training, their lessons in leadership are reaching further than their military lives.

“Joining ROTC has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, because it’s taught me how to be a leader,” said Janet. “I’ve used those skills not only here, but outside of the program. I’ve become a lot more extroverted, I understand what to say and when. It’s all carried over into my life.”

As the two get closer to graduating, their motivations remain at the forefront of their minds; leadership, spreading knowledge and serving their country.