Fort Knox, Ky. – Battle march and shoot training is no easy task. Cadets assigned to Alpha and Bravo Company, 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, marched 6 miles up wet, hilly terrain with all of their essential gear in a rucksack before transitioning to the shooting range, June 30, 2025.

The march is intended to simulate a stress response within the Cadets, preparing them to hit targets while under pressure.

Feet sore and drenched in rain, they faced the feat and earned their breakfast.

The key to triumph: motivation from those around them. Often with those they have never met, many of the Cadets spent their time encouraging each other.

Cadet Ethan Ferrara, University of California Los Angeles, assigned to Bravo Company, said the rain made the march even more challenging.

“It was nice to have other people around you (telling you to) keep it up,” Ferrara said. “I saw other people struggling and I was giving them a pat on the back to try and keep everyone motivated.”

Cadet Christian Coipel, Georgia Military College, assigned to Bravo Company, was another strong voice empowering others to keep pushing.

He cheered on his company as they faced a hill together.

Outside motivation was prevalent among the group but self-motivation helped Coipel significantly.

“Just keep going,” is the phrase he used to empower himself. He developed this mindset from the death of a friend.

“(It) was a really hard time and moment for me, I didn’t really know how to move past that. I kind of shut everybody out, but the thing is that when I kept moving through my life,” said Coipel. “I was like, you know what? I can’t stop here. I can’t just stop moving.”

Despite the tragedy, overcoming his past struggles helps him take on the ones ahead.

“Resiliency is definitely one of my main characteristics,” he said. “When I start something, I’m not going to stop and that’s always been my mindset.”

His friend’s death has helped him grow not only mentally, but socially and emotionally.

“I had to learn how not to shut people out,” said Coipel. “(It) is only going to make me feel worse as a person. I learned that it’s also better to grieve with others than alone, because grieving alone, it’s probably going to be 10 times harder.”

Many could say the same about the ruck march. But Coipel was there for his fellow Cadets to the end and ultimately became closer with everyone he endured the march with.

“I just feel like these people I’m with right now, I’ve known them forever,” he said. “(As) long as you continue pushing through those (hard) times, you can do it.”

Coipel hopes to set an example for others as he continues down the path of leadership in the Army.

“I just want to be a role model, for my family, but also for others, especially in the future when I become an officer,” said Coipel. “(I want) to help others, because I know how it can be (to) struggle.”