FORT KNOX, Ky – Choosing a career can be daunting, but for Cadet Elisabeth Rich, Coastal Carolina University and Cadet Carson Clayton, the University of Texas Arlington, joining the army was always the first choice. At the engagement skills trainer (EST) during Cadet Summer Training, Clayton and Rich explain why they joined Army ROTC. 

“I think It was just always embedded in me to serve,” Rich said.

Growing up in a household with her drill sergeant sister and her enlisted dad she says, “It’s kind of just been a family business.” 

Encouraged by her family, she plans to commission and wants to go to law school and eventually be a lawyer. “I think it’s the best way that I can serve soldiers and other human beings,” Rich said.

Similarly, for Cadet Carson Clayton he says family was a driving factor.

“My biggest motivation was definitely my grandfather,” Clayton said.

“Sergeant first class in the reserves and serving as a military police and an aviation unit, he was always telling me this would be a great path for you,” Clayton said.

Clayton’s love for the outdoors and leadership grew from being in the boy scouts at a young age. He began to look for this environment and aspects of leadership and found this within the army. Doing this as his job seemed close to perfect.

“I’ve always been drawn to leadership so, I’m like ROTC’s the way to go,” Clayton said. “This is the place to be.”

A long term goal for Clayton is to be in the infantry. He says during his military science three year is when he began to be put into leadership roles and fell in love with Army ROTC labs and seeing the result of how standard operating procedures can make an operation.

As CST continues, Rich  says, “really show up and be a team player. you ‘re gonna have your time to be that leader, but you also have to be able to be that follower so finding that balance is important.”