Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets assigned to 7th Regiment eagerly go from table to table during Branch Day, exploring the different parts of the Army while having the freedom to ask questions and dig deeper into a particular branch they take interest in, Aug. 3, 2025. Branch Day is an opportunity for Cadets to learn more about a variety of different branches, such as armor, field artillery, logistics, and more.

With such an influx of information, Cadets leave branch day with a good feeling for what they want to pursue in the future. They are also able to make connections with people in a branch they’re interested in.

Cadet Antonio Duchesne, Georgia Mason University, assigned to 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, had the opportunity to explore a few different career paths, starting with engineering in college, but eventually pivoting into the medical field as his education moved forward.

“I decided to stick primarily with (the Army Medical Department), I’m trying to go to medical school as a physician for rheumatology,” he said.

Duchesne has his future planned out, wanting to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a job that requires hands-on time with patients, allowing a deeper connection.

He found the idea of switching majors through studying with a close friend at college.

“She would basically quiz me on all of it because she was a clinical tech, and it all came easy to me,” he said. “She was like, hey, why don’t you look at medicine?”

Duchesne picked up a lot of information about medicine from his father, who also participated in a ROTC program. His father originally branched logistics and eventually moved into AMED.

“My father found videos like a podcast that (Lieutenant Colonel Mary Noel) was in, he set up a call with her where I was able to get some good information on things that would help me become AMED,” he said.

Duchesne uses the resources available to advance his career, but there comes a time when hands-on experience is necessary.

“I’ve actually got a sort of internship, it’s this coming January, which is where I can actually work to get my clinical hours, which will help me a lot for medical school,” he said.

This opportunity will allow Duchesne to essentially shadow medical specialists with the possibility of getting hands-on experience as the internship continues.

Reflecting on his experience in Cadet Summer Training, Duchesne feels that it is an essential steppingstone to further advance to his future.

“Without CST, I’m not going to be able to become a doctor,” he said. “If I can get through this, then I can make my way to the (training) for AMED.”

Throughout his entire journey in his ROTC program, Duchesne’s driving factor has stayed the same.

“I just really enjoy helping people. Whenever I see people are down, I want to try to help lift them up,” he said.