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University of North Georgia (¹û¶³´«Ã½) rising senior Nataleigh Ryan expected to be tested on her military skills and knowledge at Advanced Camp, but she remembered the unexpected lessons the most.

"Some of my instructors taught me about the coolest things that I had never heard of," Ryan said.

For example, one instructor introduced her to "Army field craft."

University of North Georgia rising senior Nataleigh Ryan applies camouflage during her Advanced Camp experience in summer 2018.

"It's basically arts and crafts for the Army," said Ryan, who is pursuing a sociology degree. "He taught me how to use branches and bushes to make my own cover. And he showed me how to do laundry in the field using your helmet."

These unique experiences are some of the benefits of at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Held every summer for 6,500 cadets from around the nation, the rigorous, 12-week training is a program cadets must complete to be commissioned in the military. Cadets in their third year are tested on rifle marksmanship, buddy-team live fire, hand grenades, first aid, Army physical fitness, land navigation and much more.

¹û¶³´«Ã½ senior Avery Adams will be one of 124 cadets from ¹û¶³´«Ã½ scheduled to attend Advanced Camp this summer. The 22-year-old from Dawsonville said he's looking forward to it.

"I will get to meet a lot of new people I will see throughout my career," said Adams, who graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in strategic and security studies and will commission as a second lieutenant in August.

CPT Kattie Neujahr, assistant professor of military science at ¹û¶³´«Ã½, said the cadets form unique bonds during the experience with their peers from other institutions. That helps them learn to deal with different personalities in the military environment.

¹û¶³´«Ã½ cadet Alex Chastain, from Blue Ridge, Georgia, climbs down to finish the 'Tough One' obstacle at Fort Knox, Kentucky. This obstacle is a part of the nine obstacles of the Confidence Course meant to challenge Cadets physically. Photo by Kyle Crawford, CST Public Affairs Office

The training program also allows the U.S. Army Cadet Command to assess the cadets' proficiency as future officers. This evaluation helps determine the cadets' rank in the Order of Merit List (OML). Historically, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ cadets have earned high ranking in the OML with 21 ¹û¶³´«Ã½ cadets in the top 20 percent in fall 2018 and two in the top five cadets in fall 2017.

Neujahr said 22 percent of cadets' OML is based on their total performance at Advanced Camp. Other factors are the cadets' performance in the Army physical fitness test at Advanced Camps, their leadership in ROTC, and GPAs.

"GPA is 31 percent of the overall OML," Neujahr said. "Advanced Camp is a great place for cadets to pick up an extra point that they lost in GPA."

Advanced Camp is not the only summer opportunity available to cadets. They may learn from active-duty soldiers in different training programs. Neujahr compared cadets' training programs to summer internships for civilian students.

"They get to see it before they have to do it as a commissioned officer," she said. "It also helps them make a more informed branch preference choice for their future profession in the military."

An example of specialty training is the new Cadet Professional Development Training event with Combat Training Center Operational Forces. Five ¹û¶³´«Ã½ cadets will train alongside active-duty soldiers in support of preparing units for combat operations.

Other summer training opportunities for ¹û¶³´«Ã½ cadets include:

• program at Army Schools has special courses. ¹û¶³´«Ã½ will send nine cadets to air assault; eight to Airborne; and one each to mountain warfare, jungle operations, cadet field training at the U.S. Military Academy, and cadet leadership development.
• sends cadets across the globe for up to three weeks to become immersed in the culture and learn how others around the world view the U.S. Three ¹û¶³´«Ã½ cadets will trek separately to missions in Peru, Senegal, and Estonia.
• (CTLT) provides cadets the opportunity to experience leadership in Army units during a three- to four-week period. Cadets serve in lieutenant-level leadership positions in active-duty units. ¹û¶³´«Ã½ has 22 Cadets participating in CTLT.
• (NSTP) assigns cadets to Army medical facilities in the continental United States and outside the country. The program allows cadets pursuing nursing degrees to develop and practice leadership in a clinical environment. Two ¹û¶³´«Ã½ cadets will participate in the NSTP.