Fort Knox, Ky. – As the bright streetlamps illuminate the winding road ahead, Cadets from 7th Regiment stretch in preparation for their 12-mile foot march, July 30th, 2025. While enduring the struggle, Cadets often look to their leaders for an encouraging word and motivating mindset.

As Cadet Summer Training has continued, Cadets have experienced constant challenges every day. The 12-mile is the final push before their Advanced Camp graduation.

Cadet Jordan Pai, Georgetown University, assigned to 7th Regiment, recalls where he found experience back at home with his mentor in ROTC, Second Lieutenant Mack Johnson.

“We had a lot of weekly syncs and meetups,” he said. “Through that I was able to see his leadership style, and the way that he was able to (use) people to get things done.”

Pai was appointed the position of first sergeant by his company commander after his first full year of ROTC, being placed in a big leadership position so early on meant that he had a lot of new expectations.

This was a big change for Pai, but instead of giving in to fear or anxiety, he took on those responsibilities with a humble, adaptive mindset.

He quickly found interest in the other side of leadership and soon after taking the position, he gained a lot of insight and exposure to a new set of skills. Facing certain challenges, he felt grateful that he was put in that position early in his career, finding that he will continue to grow further as a leader as time goes on.

Pai didn’t only find a meaningful mentor in his ROTC program at school, but he also had a consistent example of leadership back at home with his parents.

“My dad always coached all my sports teams,” he said. “Seeing the way that he was able to build up me and my friends, not by being like brash or harsh in his coaching, but by being understanding and then trying to bring out the potential that he saw in all of us is something that I keep instilled in me.”

He found similar motivation with his mom, being inspired by the devotion she keeps with her work, consistently giving her all in everything she does.

Working off the values instilled by his parents, Pai intends to pursue a career as a doctor, prioritizing service to others.

“Becoming a doctor (means), you have that level of expertise that not many people do,” he said.

“You’re being able to perform these life changing operations that bring joy into people’s lives.”

Pai took every piece of advice from his mentors and applied them in the challenges of CST, pushing the people around him and seeing similar improvement in himself. Resulting in a closer team bond and completion of the 12-mile foot march.