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CST 2023 is on the way

By Amy TurnerMay 18, 2023

3rd Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets complete several rope courses at the Forest Hills Climbing Complex at Fort Knox, Ky., July 20, 2022. This course allowed Cadets to gain confidence while trusting their peers and the equipment provided. | Photo by Cristina Betz, CST Public Affairs Office
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets complete several rope courses at the Forest Hills Climbing Complex at Fort Knox, Ky., July 20, 2022. This course allowed Cadets to gain confidence while trusting their peers and the equipment provided. | Photo by Cristina Betz, CST Public Affairs Office (Photo Credit: Cristina Betz) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Cadets complete the field leadership reaction course at Fort Knox, Ky., June 22, 2022. The course, which is part of Cadet Summer Training, helped Cadets learn better teamwork and leadership skills. | Erinn Finley, CST Public Affairs Office.
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Cadets complete the field leadership reaction course at Fort Knox, Ky., June 22, 2022. The course, which is part of Cadet Summer Training, helped Cadets learn better teamwork and leadership skills. | Erinn Finley, CST Public Affairs Office. (Photo Credit: Erinn Finley; CST Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, participate in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Fort Knox, Ky., July 17, 2022. The Cadets conducted reconnaissance before they moved toward their objective. | Photo by Julia Galli, CST Public Affairs
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, participate in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Fort Knox, Ky., July 17, 2022. The Cadets conducted reconnaissance before they moved toward their objective. | Photo by Julia Galli, CST Public Affairs (Photo Credit: Julia Galli) VIEW ORIGINAL

The days are getting longer but the wait for Army ROTC Cadet Summer Training (CST) is getting much shorter.

May 31, the first Advanced Camp Cadets will arrive to Fort Knox, Ky. They will be the first group of approximately 6,300 Cadets that will complete the 35-day training event required to commission as a second lieutenant through Army ROTC. Cadets are given the opportunity to develop and demonstrate leadership skills for their future Army careers.

“Advanced Camp is the capstone event that challenges [Cadets’] leadership skills by placing them in ambiguous and complex environments, requiring them to use critical thinking and problem solving to succeed,” Brig. Gen. Amanda Azubuike said, CST 2023 commandant and deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command.
A Cadet from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp prepares to throw an M69 practice hand grenade during Cadet Summer Training on Fort Knox, Ky., June 8, 2022. Cadets threw six grenades in total only four of which contained an explosive fuse. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kaden D. Pitt)
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Cadet from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp prepares to throw an M69 practice hand grenade during Cadet Summer Training on Fort Knox, Ky., June 8, 2022. Cadets threw six grenades in total only four of which contained an explosive fuse. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kaden D. Pitt) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Kaden D. Pitt) VIEW ORIGINAL
The Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, undergo chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 10, 2022. The Cadets were trained on how to properly put on protective gear before they entered the CBRN confidence chamber. | Photo by Julia Galli, CST Public Affairs Office
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, undergo chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 10, 2022. The Cadets were trained on how to properly put on protective gear before they entered the CBRN confidence chamber. | Photo by Julia Galli, CST Public Affairs Office (Photo Credit: Julia Galli) VIEW ORIGINAL

June 26, the first Basic Camp Cadets will arrive to Fort Knox for the 32-day training event that acts as an introductory course to the Army. Approximately 1,000 Cadets will learn basic soldiering skills and prepare to take Army ROTC courses at their university campuses.

“Cadets come to Fort Knox to train and be evaluated by professional Cadre assembled from across the Army,” Azubuike said. “In addition to the world class training they receive, [Cadets] will receive detailed feedback and assessments that are aimed at their continued growth and development.”

The mission of CST is to inspire, challenge, train and assess Cadets in order to develop leaders of character who can fight and win in a complex environment.​

Cadets won’t be the only ones rolling through Fort Knox this summer. More than 5,000 Soldiers from U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) and U.S. Army Reserves (USAR) will support the training efforts. Cadre members from across U.S. Army Cadet Command will also be on the ground to train Cadets.

“I want the Cadre to be professional and provide world class, well-rehearsed training, with standardized events across the different phases of training,” Azubuike said.

Though there are no major changes this year, some changes from last year are sticking around.

This will be the second summer Cadets completing Basic Camp will go through the Night Infiltration Course (NIC). During the course, Cadets must low crawl 100 meters over and under obstacles with live rounds being fired overhead.

Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp complete the night infiltration course during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 14, 2022. Cadets had to crawl 100 meters while live ammunition was fired over their heads and simulated explosions could be heard throughout the course. | Photo by Cristina Betz, CST Public Affairs Office
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp complete the night infiltration course during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 14, 2022. Cadets had to crawl 100 meters while live ammunition was fired over their heads and simulated explosions could be heard throughout the course. | Photo by Cristina Betz, CST Public Affairs Office (Photo Credit: Cristina Betz) VIEW ORIGINAL
A flare is fired over the night infiltration course (NIC) as Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, advance through the course, Fort Knox, Ky., July 27, 2022. Cadets low crawled approximately 150 meters in the dark with the sights and sounds of a simulated battlefield all around them, overcoming obstacles in their path, such as logs and barriers. | Photo by Kyle Crawford, U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A flare is fired over the night infiltration course (NIC) as Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, advance through the course, Fort Knox, Ky., July 27, 2022. Cadets low crawled approximately 150 meters in the dark with the sights and sounds of a simulated battlefield all around them, overcoming obstacles in their path, such as logs and barriers. | Photo by Kyle Crawford, U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs (Photo Credit: Kyle Crawford; U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL

Once the Cadets’ training is complete, they will have the opportunity to celebrate with friends and loved ones the day before their graduations. For more information on family days and graduation ceremonies visit https://futurearmyofficers.army.mil/graduation-information/.

To keep up with CST this summer follow @ArmyROTC on social media and visit https://futurearmyofficers.army.mil/.

About Army ROTC

Army ROTC is one of the best leadership courses in the country and is part of your college curriculum. Through classes and field training, Army ROTC provides you with the tools to become an Army Officer without interfering with your other classes. ROTC also provides you with discipline and money for tuition while enhancing your college experience.

Army ROTC offers pathways to becoming an Army Officer for high school students, current active-duty Soldiers, and for current National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers through the Simultaneous Membership Program.

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