FORT KNOX, KY. – Fingers covered in combat face paint, Cadet Caleb Trinidad dragged his hand down his cheek, coating it in camouflage. Cadre joked with Trinidad that he could get extra points if he put the face paint on his head too. With extra time left of the allotted five minutes Cadets had to camouflage themselves, and a very short buzz cut, Trinidad covered his head in face paint. 

“I feel like it’s been a great experience so far,” Trinidad said.

Cadets assigned to 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp were making their way through the “Warrior Skills” stations. The various stations tested Cadets on their leadership skills as well as their knowledge on certain tasks. 

“All of the things that are encompassed within being a soldier,” Trinidad said. 

So far Trinidad, a student at California State University Sacramento, had completed the call for fire, camouflage and hand signals lanes. 

“I think I did phenomenal,” Trinidad said. 

Trinidad already had experience with most of the warrior skills tasks having attended basic training in 2023. Though it was training for enlisted Soldiers, Trinidad learned a lot to help him be a good officer. He thought it was important to know what Soldiers go through if he is going to lead them one day. 

“I think doing even just the little things,” Trinidad said, “like just knowing how to put on face paint helps you become a better leader.”

Drill sergeants forced him to develop his leadership skills while at basic training by placing him in a leadership position for the entire cycle. Because of that and all the other basic Soldier skills he learned there, Trinidad never regretted choosing to go, no matter how tough it got. He knew he was being built into a better Soldier.

“I feel like it just propelled me forward in understanding the Army,” he said, “and understanding how to be a leader.”

Trinidad joined the Army because he wanted to give back to his country. His parents immigrated from the Philippines before he was born. They came from a poorer area of the country and wanted more for themselves, so they came to America.

“Migrating here and having a fresh start,” Trinidad said, “I just want to give back to the country that’s given us so much.”

That was not the only reason he joined the Army; he was also following his father’s footsteps. Trinidad’s father served in the Air Force and was a huge inspiration for Trinidad. When the time came to enlist, he researched what branch to join. Ultimately, he decided to forge his own path and join the Army. 

“As a kid,” he said, “I knew I wanted to serve in the military.”

Growing up, his father taught him the importance of some core principles in the military. He learned the importance of  discipline, communication and leadership throughout his childhood. 

“Those are all things that make you a better person and a better leader,” Trinidad said.

Trinidad is looking forward to teaching those same things to his own son. He’s not even quite one year old yet, but Trinidad is already thinking of how he can teach his little boy the same things his father taught him. 

“Passing that down to my son is something that I want to develop,” Trinidad said, “and keep that going down the bloodline.”

Then, the blast of an airhorn rang out across the field, signaling for Cadets to rotate warrior skills stations.