Photo By Sgt. Kelvin Johnson | Class of 2025, Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy salutes the American flag fduring...... read more read more
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Story and photos by
Spc. Kelvin Johnson Jr.
40th Public Affairs Detachment
At the end of a long, challenging month, the Class of 2025 cadets finally completed Cadet Field Training on June 12 with a CFT
graduation and awards ceremony at Landing Zone Owl at Camp Buckner.
The members of the Class of 2025ʼs path to complete the CFT training, as part of their graduation requirement, and earn their
“Yearlingˮ (sophomore) moniker was not easy.
Throughout CFT, cadets had to complete a variety of events such as land navigation, team live-fires, the Army Combat Fitness Test
(ACFT), confidence courses, night-vision familiarization, a three-day field training exercise and more.
For Class of 2023 Cadet Yousef Koborsi, a member of the cadet cadre in charge of training, some events proved more challenging
than others.
“These trainings really hit the cadets,ˮ Koborsi said. “These trainings are back-to-back and they are meant to put stress on the body.ˮ
With stormy weather and the damp wetness, the cadets were also challenged mentally.
Koborsi stated that some days, rain and thunder would last an entire day, which would shut the training event down or make
navigating the terrain much more challenging. The cadets also had to adjust to the blazing heat and damp humidity. However, they met
the challenge head-on and learned to adapt and train through the hardships.
Pushing through the rough weather conditions came with team camaraderie as cadets learned to rely on each other.
“The (cadets) started off staying to themselves,ˮ Koborsi said. “Later on they started to build friendships to get through it. That is
what these summer trainings are all about, building cohesive teams through a shared struggle that will last a lifetime.ˮ
Koborsi added that each cadet had their own challenges to overcome. Some cadets endured harsher challenges than others. However,
through teamwork and unity, cadets buckled down and supported one another, ensuring every cadet would graduate from CFT.
“I lost my eyesight this summer and during that time (my team) kept me going,ˮ Class of 2025 Cadet Jonathan Segujja said. “Even
though I could not see, they made sure I continued to look forward to our goal.ˮ
He added that being able to lean on fellow cadets was an experience that Segujja would never forget.
“Meeting new people was the best experience Iʼve had...ˮ Segujja said. “They mean the most to me and we have built a strong bond
throughout this training.ˮ
Not only did the cadets learn and bond with each other, but they also learned something new about themselves through the events they
went through.
“The confidence courses were my favorite events,ˮ he said. “They actually give you confidence and the realization that if you believe
in yourself and have others believe in you, then you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.ˮ
He also stated the courses gave one a sense of happiness for completing something outside of your comfort zone and realizing that it
was not as bad as it seemed.
With his eyesight coming back slowly, Segujja realized that CFT had given him a skill he could use in the future when he
commissions as a second lieutenant.
“This made me a stronger person, and I learned how to be a leader of people older and younger than me,ˮ Segujja concluded. “In the
future, I will have to lead people from a range of ages and being at (West Point) teaches me and will help prepare me.ˮ
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.23.2022 16:57 |
| Story ID: | 423493 |
| Location: | WEST POINT , NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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