FORT KNOX, Ky. – In the Army, the situation can change at a moment’s notice. When lives are in jeopardy, missions demand that Soldiers act fast and adapt quickly. Tasked with evacuating a simulated patient during the Team Development Course at Cadet Summer Training, Cadets assigned to 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, needed to think on their feet, July 15, 2025.

The TDC had Cadets complete six lanes, and each presented its own obstacles. Over 45 minutes, fourth squad adjusted their plan and gathered feedback from each other to meet their goal. While the course is designed to challenge these future officers, it is not far from the realities they will face.

Capt. Kendall Kelly, a Cadre member on scene, works as part of the CST training division. He feels the TDC is an essential part of exposing Cadets to stress in a controlled environment.

“Pressure is the main driving factor with these lanes,” said Kelly. “It’s the same thing when they get to the real-world Army.”

Even as wooden planks swayed on the elevated obstacle, Cadet Taylor Hawe, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, continued to press forward. Communicating with her team from above, she was determined to get them and her patient across.

Growing up with her three siblings, Hawe enjoyed playing lacrosse. As a goalie, she used the view of the field to defend her team and developed her voice to lead her fellow players.

As her love for sports grew, so did her curiosity for understanding movement. Inspired by her mother, a physical therapist, and father, a chiropractor, Hawe decided to step into the healthcare field.

“All of it combined made me want to learn more about how we move and also how to heal,” said Hawe. “When something’s wrong, especially when we’re playing sports and you rolled an ankle, how do you fix it, how do you do better and how do you keep getting back up?”

Fourth squad cheered as she landed on the opposite side of the course. Now, she had to think quickly. Raising a medical litter from the ground, her squad needed a way to transport the 100 pound manikin without “injuring” it further.

Much like emergency scenarios, Hawe understands that the Army requires flexibility. In both environments, she believes it is essential to remain calm, absorb as much information as possible, and make decisions promptly.

Wanting to know how to make an immediate impact in someone’s time of need pushed Hawe to begin learning emergency medicine. It was her experience taking an EMT class that pushed her to explore ROTC as a career possibility.

“We had battle buddies everywhere we went, we took accountability, and we stuck out for each other,” she said. “I really enjoyed that sense of pride and community, and it made me interested to see what (ROTC) was about.”

Having completed a full academic year in ROTC, Hawe plans to contract in the fall. However, as she breaks into the seventh day of Basic Camp, she continues to foster the community and trust needed for fourth squad to succeed together.

“I’m learning something new every day, if not every hour,” said Hawe. “I hope that we can come to rely on each other, and that they can come to rely on me.”