By Mallory Hall, Andrew Fuhrman

FORT KNOX, Ky.– A year ago, Cadets started their Advanced Camp training at Fort Knox. A year later, one Cadet returns as a Cadre, ready to teach the next generation of Officers in the Army.

The Cadre headed to the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC) to strengthen their skills in Cadet assessment to ensure proper and fair results at Cadet Summer Training (CST). Specifically, Cadre practiced conducting their Facilitated Action After Review (FAAR) to develop consistency in their grading techniques and facilitation of group discussions. Cadre split into three groups, ran through the courses, and got some practical experience prior to their time with the Cadets.

For Cadre member Ian Martinez, leadership at Cadet Summer Training is a new experience. The previous year, Martinez went through the program as a Cadet, getting first-hand experience of the challenge in becoming an officer.

It’s rare that a Cadet returns so quickly back to Fort Knox; Martinez uses his recent experience to level with his mentees, providing reassurance with his knowledge and empathy.

“I remember as a Cadet, I was really scared,’ Martinez remarked, ‘so I just want to reiterate to the Cadets that I was once in their shoes.”

As Cadre, he works to provide as much assistance as possible while also acknowledging that Cadet success is a combination of teamwork and perseverance. With his prior leadership experience in his Army ROTC program at Northeastern Illinois University, Martinez mentored his peers in a local sense.

“Talking to them one-on-one on a personal level, making sure their head is right, getting to know them,’ Martinez added, ‘to be a good leader, you have to develop those good relationships, so that way you can build trust”

Martinez works to build effective, essential relationships between teammates with his leadership style, so that when the time comes, they are able to act on their own and trust each other.

With that trust, his mentees have a clear vision and confidence in their abilities, allowing them to take on adversity one day at a time.

“There’s so many things that you want to think ahead [on], but let’s just focus on the now and focus on what’s going to come tomorrow.”