Fort Knox, Ky. – Maneuvering down the steep hillside, Cadets fire their M4 carbines in a simulated training amidst the dense forest during Cadet Summer Training on Fort Knox, Ky., Aug. 12, 2025. As one of the last events of CST, the grizzly phase of the culminating field training exercise works to test Cadets on everything they have learned over the course of Advanced Camp.

Throughout their training, 10th Regiment has grown close through all of the challenges faced, building a strong team dynamic.

Cadet Liam Smith, Virginia Military Institute, explains the necessity of trusting your teammates.

“We’re being graded individually on (for example) a squad leader position, but you can’t be in those positions without your people,” he said. “Building trust early on is important.”

The last part of every mission is the after-action review, an opportunity for Cadets to reflect on their performance. Smith takes this time to intentionally assess teamwork and dissect the difficult moments.

“Every decision you make here has a trade-off,” he said. “You’re not always going to make the right call, but it’s about a risk assessment and deciding, what’s the right call in the moment.”

Learning from mistakes after the mission is over is a pivotal part of succeeding in the grizzly phase, allowing a better, more efficient experience for their next mission.

“When you’re in that position and it’s time to go, you just jump right into it,” he said.

In high stress situations, it’s important to have secure team dynamics, but sometimes the best way to build relationships is outside of training.

Smith finds that even after camp is over, he wants to continue to maintain these relationships made through hardship.

“Last night I was talking to the guys, and we want to keep in contact after (CST),” he said. “Going through something like this, through shared suffering, that’s what brings people together.”

Smith further finds the importance of teamwork from looking toward his father, a retired master sergeant, and the friends he found after twenty years in the Army.

“Back at home, he’d have his friends over from his work, different peers, same rank,” he said. “I just grew up seeing people from all different ways of life, but they’re all doing the same thing.”

With that inspiration, Smith pushes through the remainder of Advanced Camp, remembering what motivates him.

“A quote that I live by is, sic parvis of magna. It means greatness from small beginnings,” he said. “No matter where you come from, what you’ve done, no matter how small, you have greatness in you.”