AUGUST 19, 2025 – More than 20 cadets assigned to the Puerto Rico Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) graduated Basic Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Aug. 6, 2025.
Basic Camp is a 30-day training that introduces cadets to the Army, building leadership and critical thinking skills through hands-on tasks while reinforcing the Warrior Ethos and Army Values.
“I was motivated to join the ROTC at the age of 16 while attending the Youth Challenge Academy, a quasi-military program that gave me the structure, discipline, and leadership skills,” said Cadet Kirstey Gonzalez, a student at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico at Ponce, assigned to ROTC, Lion Company.
For Cadet Eduardo Gonzalez, also a student at the PCUPR, the opportunity to commission was his primary reason for joining. “I joined the ROTC to achieve my goal of being an officer in the U.S. military and my main motivator for attending Basic Camp was to push myself to achieve greater things.”
The training is divided into 5 distinct phases: in-processing and progressing through physical training, confidence courses, land navigation, tactical leadership, and a six-mile foot march. Every step is meant to shape the Cadets into adaptable, capable leaders at the squad level.
“I built strong bonds, some of them, the strongest connections I’ve made in my life,” said Cadet Kirstey Gonzalez. “At Basic Camp, we all share the same goal and go through the same process, although each of us handles it differently and shines in our own way.”
Confidence-building exercises like rappelling from a 37-feet tower, navigating obstacle courses and completing the Slide For Life, push cadets beyond their comfort zones.
During Individual Task Development, cadets learned basic soldiering skills such as rifle marksmanship and field craft, and then applied those skills during a Field Training Exercise, planning and leading tactical missions in a simulated combat environment.
Cadet Eduardo Gonzalez specified that a moment that transformed his mindset as a leader was the moment he was assigned to be a platoon sergeant accountable to 50 other cadets. “Being in charge made me realize how important it was to lead by example and ensure we completed our daily tasks together”, said Gonzalez.
“For me, the most challenging part for me was adapting to the fast-paced, high-pressure environment while staying calm and focused,” said Jaimelee Velez, a student at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico – Bayamon Campus, assigned to the ROTC, Taino Warriors Battalion. “I had to learn quickly how to stay mentally strong and to trust the process and myself. I overcame it by reminding myself of the reason I was there, leaning on my battle buddies for support, and taking each day one step at a time.”
Basic Camp concludes with a recovery phase focused on reflection, peer feedback, and personal goal-setting. Cadets graduated with the confidence and experience to succeed in the upcoming ROTC academic year.
Story by Senior Airman Gisselle Toro Caraballo
156th Wing