When most people think of Fort Knox, they think of the gold at the U.S. Bullion Depository located next to the base. However, the real treasures at Fort Knox are the 10,000 cadets who come every summer for their basic training. They are the future of the U.S. Army, and I am proud to have this important program in my congressional district.
Every year, thousands of young Americans answer the call to serve their country. Many join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, which gives them the opportunity to train throughout their college years and join the military as an officer after college graduation. ROTC is a great program that allows soldiers to get an education while also preparing to serve our country.
Fort Knox has a long history of training soldiers. When the installation we know today was built in 1918, it was used as an active training center for soldiers leaving for World War I, and the base housed our brave soldiers when they came back from defending freedom abroad. Among many other award-winning programs, Fort Knox is now home to the U.S. Army Cadet Command, which is responsible for training our future Army officers.
Fort Knox took over the responsibility for all ROTC basic and advanced training in 2014. This summer, thousands of ROTC students from all over the country will come to Fort Knox for their first real taste of Army life.
As a West Point graduate myself, I’ll never forget my first summer of basic training, and I am honored that the future of our Army is coming to Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District to prepare to defend our country. The young men and women go through an intense month of training, and at the end of each summer training session, their families from across the country gather at Fort Knox to see the cadets finish the program and get one step closer to becoming a commissioned officer.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to visit the basic training program at Fort Knox with Army Secretary Mark Esper, and I attended the Commissioning Ceremony for the Army’s newest second lieutenants. As I met with the students who have signed up to defend our country, I was incredibly impressed and moved by their willingness to serve.
We live in an era of evolving threats around the world. When I went to West Point, the Cold War was just ending, and we now face Russia as a threat to our democracy yet again. New technology has enabled terrorists in all corners of the globe, and our military is still bravely fighting overseas.
I am very grateful to the young Americans who, in the face of many threats around the world, are still answering the call to serve. When I met with our ROTC cadets at Fort Knox last summer, I was filled with hope for our nation.
As we honor National Military Appreciation Month, I want to thank the future of the U.S. Army who are about to spend their summer at Fort Knox here in my congressional district. You are the reason why America is the greatest country in the world.
Rep. Brett Guthrie, a Republican, has represented Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District since 2008. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1987.
