FORT KNOX, Ky. – As Cadets make their way through the trials and tribulations of Cadet Summer Training, one Cadet in particular is very familiar with the events and is now experiencing them with a different perspective than most.

Cadet Victor Jeronimo, University of Florida, 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, worked as an intern for the CST public affairs office during the summer of 2024. Now as a Cadet, he is experiencing everything he saw during that time.

“It’s kind of crazy seeing all the events that I covered for the PAO internship and now I’m here participating in them,” said Jeronimo.

After his time as an intern, Jeronimo took the skills he learned here back to his school and helped start a PAO committee with help from his professor of military science.

“Our professor of military science really enjoyed the content that we made (during the internship),” said Jeronimo. “We even started a PAO committee after the internship.”

Now back on Fort Knox as a Cadet, Jeronimo is completing the events that he was writing about last summer, such as the confidence course.

Just like many other Cadets, Jeronimo relies on his squad-mates and other Cadets in his platoon to help push him through certain aspects of training.

“I’m not going to lie, I was very unmotivated (at the start of) the six-mile ruck,” said Jeronimo. “Thankfully I had a couple of my battle buddies with me, and they were telling me stories to pass the time, boosting my morale.”

Jeronimo also plays his own part in boosting morale for his platoon as well.

“I actually brought a Polaroid camera here too,” said Jeronimo. “I’ve been taking pictures of my squad and my platoon to help boost morale.”

Jeronimo, initially enlisted as a public affairs mass communication specialist during the Covid-19 pandemic and was assigned to the 107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment based in St. Augustine Florida.

“I joined because I didn’t really know what to do with my life,” said Jeronimo. “I wanted to help my family and also help myself.”

Since enlisting, Jeronimo has achieved that goal of helping his family and himself through the opportunities provided by the Army. He applied and was accepted to the University of Florida, where he discovered and joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and has been able to help his mother advance on the path to citizenship. For Jeronimo, the opportunity to pursue a college degree is the biggest benefit.

“Education is the biggest thing,” said Jeronimo, “I’m able to pursue my bachelor’s and master’s since (the Army) pays for my board and tuition.”

After graduating and receiving the diplomas he is working towards, he hopes to commission as an officer, climb the ranks to major or lieutenant colonel and become the commander of a mobile public affairs detachment.

“Public affairs is my world and (is part of) every aspect of my life.”