Fort Knox, Ky – Cadets assigned to Bravo Company 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, are ready to face chemical attacks after completing Chemical biological and radiological training on July 2, 2025.

They donned their masks and learned their protective gear before enduring 15 seconds of tear gas in the confidence chamber.

Cadet Hailey Puccinelli, Texas Technical University, said the experience was shocking.

“It felt like I was getting pins and needles in my chest,” she said. “It really stung on (my) skin, and then (my) lungs felt like they were just full of a sunburn or something.”

Many were apprehensive to the chamber, but Puccinelli says her fellow Cadets helped her get through the challenge.

“It made me feel a lot better to go in with people that I trusted and people that have my back out here,” said Puccinelli.

During 36 days of Advanced Camp, the prospective lieutenants eat, live and persevere through every obstacle together as they work to commission as Army officers. Many of them agree that this has only made them build stronger bonds between each other.

Her squad values her high energy and positive leadership.

Cadet McKay Burnside, Utah State University, is on the same squad as Puccinelli. He echoed this idea saying that their leaders do well at balancing humor and authority. Overall, he says this keeps morale high.

Whether growing up with a father in the Air Force or participating in JROTC, Puccinelli’s lifetime of military exposure has given her a strong understanding of leadership.

“My instructors showed me how to take care of my peers and take on those leadership roles,” said Puccinelli. “Watching (my dad) in that role growing up showed me how to take on those roles as well.”

She has only refined this understanding at CST.

“I’m definitely one to always put others in front of myself,” said Puccinelli. “I’ve learned to have that individual soldier discipline and being able to take care of myself before taking care of others, because I always do the opposite.”

This mentality extends to Puccinelli’s plans after commissioning. One of her plans after graduation is to use her background in psychology to be a therapist for those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“To be the standard, you have to set the standard and in order to do that like you have to make sure you are squared away before you’re able to take care of others.”

Gaining valuable skills every day, Puccinelli is putting it all together now to be a helping hand in the future.