FORT KNOX, Ky. –When one thinks of camping, they may imagine a cozy tent and the smell of smoke wafting from a campfire, but for the Cadets assigned to 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, this is no ordinary camping experience.

Field training exercises are meant to combine warrior tasks and leadership skills in a simulated combat environment.

The first of these exercises is the “Wolverine” phase, a Cadre assisted training meant to introduce Cadets to the basics of FTX.

“We start out the night by setting up a patrol base and going through operating procedures,” said Cadet Raul Noda, Texas Tech University. “That way we all have the same mindset and everything will run smoothly.”

Noda, originally from Brazil, moved to Texas in order to attend medical school. It was here that he found out about ROTC through his brothers, something that immediately sparked his interest.

“I always loved the United States,” Noda said. “(And) I always wanted to serve my country in some way.”

Drawing from his own experience, Noda understands that everybody on a team contributes something valuable to an operation.

“There’s no such thing as a one-man army,” Noda said. “You become a better leader just by trusting your team and always listening. See what makes each person special, because we’re all individuals.”

Cadet Celeste Gaskell, Olivet Nazarene University, echoed this advice.

“We’re all different people from all very different lifestyles and countries,” Gaskell said. “But we all have the same goal in mind. We all want to be leaders.”

Gaskell shares a goal with her fellow Cadet Noda, wanting to join the Army medical specialist corps in order to work with veterans in the hospital.

She attributes this goal to her grandfather, a purple heart recipient who served in the Army.

“He was my main motivation,” Gaskell said. “I’m here in ROTC right now to kind of follow in his footsteps because, ultimately, it was not about the money or the scholarships, but because I wanted to be a patriot.”

With long days of planning and heat ahead of the Cadets, both know that relying on their teammates and the bonds they’ve formed can carry them through it all.

“If we continue to work together, the days will fly by,” said Gaskell. “We’re out here with our battle buddies. We’re laughing, making jokes and having a good time.”

“Grit,” Noda said. “The key aspect is grit. Once you start feeling down, you think, ‘I want to give up’, but there’s nothing wrong with saying, ‘hey, I’m a little tired’ and just relying on your battle buddies.”

Another major motivator is the knowledge that all of their hard work will pay off in two weeks.

“This is what makes it all worth it,” said Gaskell. “Reminding ourselves of the reward (in the end) of being able to lead and serve our country.”

As Cadets complete the final phases of their ROTC training and head toward graduation, there is one word they use to describe the emotions they feel and that is “Victorious.”