FORT KNOX, Ky. — For Cadet Jose Leon, Arizona State University, leadership is not defined by rank — it’s measured by the ability to inspire others. 

“I joined ROTC to become a more influential leader within the Army’s institution, to be able to leave my mark on it and influence the upcoming generation,” Leon said.

Before arriving at Cadet Summer Training, 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Leon served active duty in the United States Marine Corps until 2015, then transitioned to the reserves. He later worked as a police officer before returning to military service in the Army as an explosive ordnance disposal Soldier. In 2015, he entered the Green to Gold Active Duty Option, bringing years of enlisted experience into his journey toward becoming an Army officer. 

That experience has shaped the way he approaches both challenges and leadership. One of the things that continues to draw him to the military is the opportunity to overcome challenges as part of a team — a dynamic, he says, that makes every obstacle more rewarding.

At CST, Leon says prior-service cadets bring more experience — they help develop those around them. 

“The skills that are being taught are all stuff your basic soldier or basic service member has already gained over the course of their career,” Leon said. “So the goal coming here for a lot of prior enlisted isn’t necessarily just to be assessed, it’s to take the experiences that we have and try to give them to the Cadets that have no exposure to this.” 

Whether through sharing personal stories or offering advice on what to bring to a training exercise, Leon uses his experience to help build confidence in fellow Cadets. 

That mentorship extends to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training, where prior-service Cadets play a unique role: helping ease concerns for those experiencing the event for the first time. 

CBRN training teaches Cadets to respond in a contaminated environment by mastering mission-oriented protective posture procedures before being evaluated on each step. They then enter the confidence chamber, where they briefly break the seal on their protective mask before removing it to experience the effects of CS gas and build confidence in their equipment. 

“They tell you it’s a live chemical agent and there’s a lot of fear going into that,” Leon said, “But the agent itself is just an irritant, it’s not going to hurt anyone, but what it is going to do is exactly what the name said: build that confidence.” 

Whether enduring CS gas, navigating rugged terrain or training in Kentucky’s summer heat, Leon believes every challenge at CST is an opportunity to develop future Army leaders. 

Leon suggested exposing Soldiers to physically and mentally demanding conditions builds confidence and prepares them to react more effectively under stress. While they may never become comfortable with discomfort, they learn to perform through it.

As Cadets work through those challenges, leadership becomes just as important as technical proficiency. Leon believes adversity does more than build resilience; it creates opportunities to lead.

“Leadership to me is inspiring your team and sometimes those teams are subordinates, sometimes it’s peers and sometimes you’re the lowest ranking person on your team, but you can always find a way to encourage your leadership and be a leader in that way,” Leon said. “Just inspire others.