Fort Knox, Ky, – When’s the last time you thought about how hard it would be to travel somewhere new without a GPS? In an age of rapidly-developing technology, Cadet Summer Training takes Cadets back to the core of navigation with a compass, map and their own two feet.

Alpha and Bravo Company, 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at the training site for land navigation on June 12, 2025, the clouds overhead blocking out the early summer sun.

Land navigation is a training exercise that challenges Cadets to find four points across Fort Knox’s rolling plains ranging from tall grasses to deep woods in just three hours.

While most Cadets have practiced land navigation through their ROTC programs, they come to the course with no knowledge of the terrain. Out of over 100 points, Cadets must locate seven total points between their day and night land navigation to receive credit for CST.

2nd Lt. Elizabeth Caldwell, a graduate of Indiana University, Pennsylvania, is the officer in charge of the terrain model Cadets see before starting the land navigation exercise. Not unlike many of CST’s events Cadets have seen thus far, Caldwell calls land navigation a mental game.

“This is a critical event here at CST and in your Army officer career because it tests self-confidence and competence,” said Caldwell. “Competence that you’re able to find your point and that you’re able to trust yourself to successfully find your points with the given resources.”

Some Cadets battle nerves while others find entertainment in the task, thinking of it like a game.

Cadet Brandon Stubbs, University of Hawaii, fell among the latter. A former enlisted Soldier selected for the Green to Gold program, now a college student on the path to becoming an Army officer, Stubbs has over 10 years of military experience, specifically with land navigation.

“I used to be a basic leadership course instructor at the NCO Academy Hawaii,” said Stubbs. “I helped build and create the land navigation course for the East Range in Hawaii.”

Stubbs joined the Army as an alternative to jumping into college after graduating high school in 2013. Leaning into his competitive spirit he carried as a teen, Stubbs brought a fresh sense of competition to the field.

“My goal was to be the first,” said Stubbs. “I’m never satisfied, I always just try to better myself.”

Upon reflection, Stubbs admitted his competitive spirit in high school was based on wanting to outperform rather than improve himself or motivate his peers. But, it was through his journey in the Army that Stubbs learned to mold his strong spirit into one of his greatest strengths.

“I am extremely competitive, but not in terms of being better than anyone else,” said Stubbs. “Once I joined the Army I realized it’s a team effort.”

Friendship alongside camaraderie makes up part of Stubbs’ explanation for his enjoyment of the Army. Regardless of his experience as a teacher, now working with Cadets from diverse backgrounds allows him to be a lifelong learner. He is constantly striving to grow.

Stubbs entered this training with a goal to win, and he didn’t fall short. He returned to the starting point in just 55 minutes. Not only was he the first Cadet back, but he also located all four of his points.

As a former land navigation teacher, Stubbs has experienced all points of view. According to his past observations, this exercise creates a well-rounded, confident Cadet in more scenarios than just navigation.

“I noticed a lot of Soldiers would go through with confidence issues,” said Stubbs. “But after they (Cadets) were trained and actually went through the course and found their points, their confidence level boosted up in almost every other aspect of being a Soldier.”

His advice for incoming Cadets – think of the basics.

Like Caldwell, Stubbs credited self-confidence as a pillar of this exercise. In an operation that prohibits communication with others, Cadets must rely on themselves and their training.

High-pressure situations are quick to reveal internal strength and belief in one’s self.

Giving his all even with time to spare, Stubbs’ leadership shined bright as he sprinted to the finish line.

“Even if I come in first place, I’m already thinking about night land navigation and trying to figure out how I can be successful,” said Stubbs. “The Army’s old motto, and now the new model is ‘be all you can be’, I’ve taken that to heart.”

As Cadets continued to make their way to the finish, not all would return with four targets located. Night land navigation will be these Cadets catch-all, returning to the course one final time to locate their seven total points before time is up.