Fort Knox, Ky – Cadets assigned to Alpha Company, 5th regiment, Advanced Camp, put their teamwork to the test during the field leader reaction course, July 5, 2025.

Faced with obstacles like minefields, moats and broken bridges, each squad had 20 minutes to reach the other side safely with all their supplies.

While they may have been working hard to overcome each obstacle, that was not the objective of their evaluation.

Teamwork and leadership amidst adversity were the true skills on trial that morning.

Cadet Ralicia Brown, Fayetteville State, and her squad struggled early on due to a lack of communication. Becoming more open-minded throughout the process allowed them to triumph with the rest of the obstacles.

“After we sat down and had the (after action review) and talked about it, I feel like it got better those next lanes,” said Brown. “We communicate better now.”

Cadet Ella Melcher, Gannon University, is on the same squad as Brown. She agrees that communication played a vital role in their success.

“Communication is what seals those relationships and fortifies them,” she said. “You could get the best of the best of people and put them all together, and if they don’t communicate, they’re not going to succeed.”

Melcher says the people in her squad possess an array of skills that can be beneficial in a range of situations. Though they may have different backgrounds, she says they are united by their values.

But overall, listening helped them conquer each challenge. She says Cadet Frank Haskell, Pittsburg State University, brought an open mind to their squad.

Haskel was previously enlisted in the Army for 11 years and served as a staff sergeant. Open-mindedness is an essential trait to him both in and out of training.

“I think if we get stagnant and comfortable in where we are, and we think we’re just the subject matter expert, then we are no longer learning,” Haskell said. “I’m always learning, these cadets around me have taught me a ton.”

Haskell is a lifelong learner; he did rodeo in high school before enlisting in the Army and pursuing a degree in biology. The Army has allowed him to continue down a studious path while broadening his skillset.

With leadership being a core value to Haskell, he wants to apply this open-mind and range of knowledge to every Soldier he comes across.

“(Through leadership) I can provide the best opportunity, lifestyle and work environment for every Soldier that I come in contact with,” said Haskell. “I believe it’s like the ripple effect. I throw a pebble on the water and it’s going to ripple, and hopefully those ripples turn into other ripples.”

Ultimately, he is using his resources to provide a better life for his family.

“I always want to be better for them and set an example for my children,” he said. “Don’t ever get comfortable, always push for more,”