Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets assigned to 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, practiced how to save a life in or out of the field during tactical combat casualty care training on July 2, 2025.

The TCCC is a medical exercise that teaches Cadets how to respond quickly and efficiently to life-threatening emergencies. They practice assessing injuries, providing care such as applying tourniquets or CPR as well as safely moving injured persons away from a high-risk environment.

Cadet Grace Dietrich, University of Kentucky, has no medical background but approached this event with her usual mindset – you show up no matter what.

“I feel like this environment is helping me react quickly and get the repetitions in,” said Dietrich. “Regardless of what branch you go into or what officer role you’re in you need that speed.”

Throughout the event 4th Regiment could be seen helping peers in line before they were tested and cheering on their teammates dragging 160-pound manikins away from ‘danger’. Like others, this meant Dietrich had to drag 30 to 40 pounds over her body weight.

Additionally, this medical lane was located on a hill, forcing Cadets to drag the manikin down and back up all while battling the hot sun. It created a challenge for many.

Dietrich overcame this task by relying on her self-confidence, a technique she claims applies to all of CSTs tasks. From physical to mental challenges she repeats ‘I can and I will do it’, and she does.

“As soon as I tried to go up that hill, my body just stopped moving and I couldn’t move him,” she said. “But I knew I would be able to get him up, I just had to focus, dig my feet into the ground and push as hard as I could.”

Dietrich has always considered herself an athletic, strong and hardworking individual. Stamped on her skin as a constant reminder, she carries a tattoo on her arm that reads ‘self-discipline is the key to freedom’. A reminder to always strive to be better, and keep showing up.

From a passion for exercise to spending her past summers as a horse trainer and competitor seven days a week, she’s used to exertion. Dietrich transferred the care and effort she puts into her animals to her perspective here at CST.

“When you’re working with horses, you can’t not show up, they have to eat,” she said. “Now, I know I need to be here for these people, I need to be smart enough to be able to protect any person in my platoon.”

Heading into the field shortly, she reflected on her capabilities as a leader, citing the Army leadership model to do so. Dietrich doesn’t just approach leadership as a tool to improve herself but a way to truly develop those around her. She focuses on trust just as much as authority.

Dietrich always knew she wanted to join ROTC, heavily supported by her cousin, a prior member of the US Marine Corps and now a Chicago police officer.

“He inspired me. He taught me bad things can happen to you, but you can always turn it around,” she said. “All of my family supports me but he’s always told me I can do it, he’s so proud of me and that makes me feel so happy.”

Dietrich has looked up to her cousin her whole life. From sharing letters when she was 15 and he left for training to already choosing him to pin her when it comes time to commission. His journey influenced her decision to join the Army, and she loves it.

“I love being here, I love doing this stuff, when I first went to college I felt like something was missing and it was the Army,” said Dietrich. “It’s everyone from everywhere, they all have different experiences, and you can learn from each person here.”

Dietrich hopes to branch into military intelligence, currently studying psychology with a minor in criminology. Maintaining her GPA to meet her own standards as well as the rigorous requirements for military intelligence, she credited the ROTC program for keeping her on track and motivated to keep showing up.