By: Meghan Sawitzke and Kristopher Fister

Fort Knox, Ky. –  Army ROTC Advanced Camp is a 36-day training event designed to develop a Cadet’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and to forge them into tough adaptable leaders who can thrive in ambiguous and complex environments. Throughout the Cadet’s training, they are expected to go beyond their limits, push themselves out of their comfort zone and become leaders.

Cadets go through multiple courses to learn leadership skills, critical thinking, problem solving, safety strategies, and understand their weapons.

Brig. Gen. Steven King, Commandant of Cadet Summer Training and the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Cadet Command, often attends training events to observe, teach and participate.

“Not all the Cadets come with the same background,” said King. “They don’t all have the same ability to train on the warrior tasks we put them on.”

To ensure all Cadets can learn, CST implements the “crawl, walk, run” strategy. When they first get to Fort Knox, Ky., the Cadets have a lot of company training officer time. This is extra time for Cadets to learn from their Cadre, work on specific skills, and prepare for the next day.

As training continues, Cadets teach each other how to complete something as a studying technique. This often occurs during preliminary marksmanship instruction, hand grenade assault course and engagement skills training.

A member of the Cadre, Staff Sgt. Shaquille Burden, 2nd Brigade, 1^st Infantry Division, is a big believer in showing up to set an example for the Cadets. For them to learn and be motivated, he must be positive.

“I tell them to be a sponge and just soak up all that knowledge,” said Burden. “We are here to help, we are here to advise, we are here to guide and get to greater success.”

The halfway mark of CST is Warrior Skills training, which is designed to teach all Cadets basic Soldier battle drills regardless of where they branch. During this training, Cadet’s practice proper camouflage techniques, hand signals, how to operate several weapon systems, and tactical combat casualty care.

During the 1st Regiment’s warrior skills training on Fort Knox, Ky., June 17, 2025, the Honorable Dan Driscoll, the 26th Secretary of the Army, visited to observe and participate with Cadets during training.

Cadet Madison Miller, Baylor University, assigned to Delta Company, was surprised by his attendance, but also excited to see his initiative.

“It was a humbling experience to see him come out here, in not the best conditions, just to show that we are more than a number,” said Miller. “He genuinely cares about us as future leaders.”

Following Warrior Skills training, the Cadets continue to prepare for the field training exercise as their final test.

Throughout their 12 days in the field, Cadets are graded on their ability to carry out simulated missions. They are expected to utilize all their previous training to successfully complete each exercise with little to no help from the Cadre.

From the basic understanding of a weapon to being in the field conducting simulated missions, the Cadets are growing into their position as future leaders.