FORT KNOX, Ky., – Most college professors hope their students will take all their lectures to heart and apply what they learned to the real world.  At Cadet Summer Training, students apply their college experiences and teach those same lessons to each other to improve their leadership skills.

Cadet Mariah Langley, Colorado State University, assigned to 1st platoon, Alpha Company, 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, is a senior studying anthropology because of her fascination in how people interact and interpret different cultures and communities.

“The Army is a people business,” Langley said. “Understanding and learning how to interact with people from different backgrounds is key.”

Knowing this, she came to Fort Knox, Ky., with an open mind as she prepared to meet people from all around the world. Langley’s platoon clicked almost instantly with genuine respect for each other.

Several community-focused leaders in their platoon led team bonding exercises with challenging activities and questions to get to know each other on a deeper level.

Cadet Emma Knack, Washington University, assigned to 1st platoon, Alpha Company, 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, has been enlisted for the past 12 years, but came to ROTC to work on her leadership in a different atmosphere.

“You see shadow leaders at every level, even while she was enlisted,” Knack said. “I see it in an expedited way here in Cadet Command, because we’re given that actual title to help us step into that role and really embody what we’re learning.”

During her time in service, Knack realized that you never stop learning leadership skills regardless of your position.

Canadian writer, Robin Sharma once said, ‘Leadership is not a title, it’s a behavior.’ You do not need to be in an authoritative position to be a good leader.

“I think being a good leader is having empathy and being adaptable,” Langley said. “You really need to know people and understand where they’re coming from.”

Langley embraces kindness as a leader by listening to other people’s experiences without judgement. Although these skills are well oriented, she continues to learn by submerging herself in new learning opportunities.