FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cadets assigned to 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, squeezed the triggers of their carbines at George Blair Range. While the majority continued to learn new skills, others refamiliarized themselves. Through the tempo of gunfire, they worked to calibrate their weapons for their upcoming M4 qualification.

Andrew Osagie-Erese, John Carroll University, knows what it means to keep the pace. A former running back and athlete at JCU, he enjoys the speed of the Army.

After high school, Osagie-Erese enlisted, following in his mother’s footsteps, before joining the ranks of the Ohio Army National Guard. Basic training showed him that the Army is a place for growth.

Each day is an opportunity to learn a new skill and forge new connections. No bond is temporary, and no 24 hours are the same.

“In basic, you had to band together because it’s easy to want to quit,” said Osagie-Erese. “If you have those people to rely on, you don’t want to let them down.”

During his sophomore year, Osagie-Erese decided to join ROTC. At first, he was hesitant. His enlistment had already given him experience that Cadets in his program did not have. Eventually, the competitiveness and promise of a fulfilling leadership career enticed him.

At Basic Training, Osagie-Erese attempted to get to know as many people as possible and build trust. He knows firsthand what it takes to step up as a leader. At Cadet Summer Training, he continues to hone his skills.

“I’m going to find a middle ground between being very stern, but also approachable,” said Osagie-Erese. “I’ve learned that as long as you back off and give your guys some space, it works better that way.”

Learning to effectively communicate within a group is a vital part of leadership development. In the Army, an officer needs to understand their Soldiers. Sometimes leadership is about reconnecting. In his regiment, Osagie-Erese spotted an old friend from Basic Training.

“The army, really, is a small place,” said Osagie-Erese. “You never know when you’re going to see these people again, but the possibility of seeing them again is so high.”

He remembers his friend as a strong leader and the fond memories created at the beginning of his military career.

“Once I see someone from Basic Training again, all these old memories come flashing back,” said Osagie-Erese. “It’s a wonderful thing.”

Some lessons remain the same, but Osagie-Erese adjusts more than his iron sights as he becomes an officer. Within himself and his squad, his biggest priority is bridging the gap between levels of responsibility.

“CST is a big game changer,” he said. “The hardest adjustment is knowing it’s ok to do things on our own.

After commissioning, Osagie-Erese hopes to stay in the Ohio Army National Guard and bring his wealth of knowledge to a career as a police officer in Painesville, Ohio. With 26 days remaining in his time at Advanced Camp, he hopes to use each day to create new bonds that will last throughout his new career.