FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cheers and whoops echo from the packed bleachers 30-feet below the top of Thunderbolt Tower on Fort Knox, Ky., July 18, 2025. Cadets assigned to 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, shout out encouragement to their platoon mates as they prepare to rappel down the tower with only a harness and a pulley.

Waiting in the line to don her safety gear, Cadet Montana Williams, Fort Valley State University, yells out encouragement to her platoon mates as they rappel down the tower.

“I think it was it was helpful for the people coming down,” she said. “I’m sure they could hear us. We were making a lot of noise, but I think it gave them some courage.”

As Williams was shouting encouragement, she could see a change overtake the Cadets.

“I definitely saw like their aura change as they were coming down. Then you could see some of them start to move faster or start to like straighten out their form. I think that it was helpful.”

Williams is currently pursuing a master’s in animal science and is wanting to pursue a military career involving research in biomedical technology. Williams goes on to explain the importance in retaining and investing into a positive perspective while at Cadet Summer Training.

“We’re going through a lot of physical and mental strain here,” she said. “It’s definitely taking a toll on us. And my lieutenant, this morning, he told us he was like, ‘You guys are family, like all you have is each other. So, you know, hold each other accountable. Lean on each other when you need to do and make sure you give everyone a lot of encouragement.’”

Cadet Noah Womack, Grand Canyon University, also shares Williams’ outlook using his mindset to actively inspire other Cadets to run rather than walk during a two-mile exercise.

“I’m like, come on dude, like I know you got more in you, you think you don’t, but I know you do,” he said. “You don’t necessarily have to sprint, but you can still keep going and jog a little bit faster.”

Womack continues to push the Cadet by encouraging them to match his pace all the way until the end of the exercise.

“By the time we finish, I’m like see you had a lot more in you and you were just choosing not to push yourself,” he said. “So, putting like I don’t think anybody should ever put limits on themselves, because as soon as you do that, you can like go so far.”