FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Summer Training is a merging point for Cadets across all walks of life and is just one stop along the road to military careers. For some Cadets, CST was just the next step in ROTC, while other Cadets might have been previously enlisted and have chosen to pursue the officer route. However, for Cadet Young Nam, Pennsylvania State University, CST has been a goal in which he was building towards.

From his experiences, Nam considers that much of his personal growth had come from his experiences within the military, aiding him in becoming a well-rounded military soldier.

“I think it’s a great experience to join the military, whether it be the ROTC program as an officer, going the enlisted route, going to a cadet school, just everything in general involving military,” he said. “It really builds upon your skills and your communication, teamwork, and I think everyone can or should do something related to that as well.”

This ideal was rooted in him from a young age as he traveled around the world with his parents. Before joining the Army, Nam first volunteered as a “Blue Helmet,” also known as a “Blue Cap” with the United Nations and trained with the Korean Military.

“I just helped out like it was a volunteer work where I would run supplies so if they needed some morphine or anything like medical supplies wise,” he said. “I would just bring them, carry them over. I just run back and forth about like a medical tent where there’s some like impoverished areas.”

To help with his missions, Nam attended several classes geared towards helping these volunteers safely and swiftly traverse rural areas, as well as learning the foundations of ballistics and bullet trajectories. From his time working with the United Nations, Nam built the foundations of his military career.

In 2022, Nam took the next step in his career path and enlisted into the Army. He went through basic training and Advanced Individual Training and worked as a financial management technician. Prior to his service, Nam knew that he wanted to follow the ROTC route and become an officer. To do this, he decided to serve so he could understand the Soldiers he wanted to lead.

“I wanted to do it, because after learning about the ROTC program, I heard that we had to lead the enlisted,” he said. “And because of that, I wanted to just learn what they go through. So, because of that, I joined the enlisted program and then now I’m in ROTC.”

Nam’s past experience working with the UN and his prior enlistment has given him a plethora of skills to fall back on as he progresses through CST. Nam is assigned to Alpha Company, 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp and is currently majoring and wanting to branch in finance, saying he wants to stay on the same career path as his prior enlistment.

Finance has always been a clear career path for Nam due to his love of math. The lure of breaking down complex equations and devising a successful formula captivates him, bringing him a sense of joy and satisfaction. Nam wishes to incorporate his problem-solving skills as he refines his military leadership qualities.

For Nam, the road leading to CST has been winding and challenging, however with each challenge, he perseveres and learns how to adapt and grow in his skills and qualities to become the best leader and solider he knows he can be.