Lander ROTC cadet from Murrells Inlet completes grueling Army training at West Point, Fort Knox

GREENWOOD, S.C.— Lander University senior August Darden, of Murrells Inlet, spent his summer preparing for a future that is defined by leadership, service and a career in the U.S. Army.

That preparation took Darden to two of the most demanding experiences that ROTC cadets can face. First, at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, he pushed his physical and mental abilities to earn the prestigious wing-shaped pin, known as the Air Assault Badge.

The badge is only awarded to cadets who complete rigorous training in helicopter operations, sling-load procedures for helicopters and rappelling exercises.

From there, Darden traveled to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for an intensive ROTC program designed to challenge and train future Army officers and sharpen the leadership skills they will need to command and serve.

With little time to catch his breath between training and his senior year, Darden returned to Lander just hours before classes were beginning for the fall semester – ready to confront new academic courses after having mastered some of the many challenges he will face to become a future Army officer.

“Ever since high school, I wanted to go into the military to serve my country,” said Darden, an exercise science major from Murrells Inlet and a cadet in the Scottish Highlander Battalion, comprising students from Lander, Presbyterian College and Newberry College. “The commitment to service was the driving factor in my decision.”

Introduction to Air Assault Training
A lifelong athlete, Darden came to Lander to play baseball. After his sophomore year, he stepped away from the baseball diamond to focus on his life as a ROTC cadet. “As a junior, you get more experience in your ROTC program,” he said. “I knew that I needed to focus on academics and the training requirements for an Army officer.”

At the end of his junior year, Darden headed to the Sabalauski Air Assault School at West Point, a 10-day rigorous course in which cadets learn about the operations associated with air assault operations. For those familiar with Army training, this experience is called the “toughest 10 days in the Army,” Darden said.

After the first phase of physical training and a written test, Darden moved on to the second phase of training, known as “sling load operations,” in which he learned how to inspect and rig external loads for helicopter transport.

“This is where most of the course failures will occur,” he said, explaining that cadets are required to learn about different types of cargo loads and find the “deficiencies” that would make transporting loads, such as a Humvee, ineffective or unsafe.

“This is where you are put under a lot of pressure,” Darden said. “There is a practice test required, too, that is a hands-on test. The pressure really gets to you at this point.”

By successfully completing the second phase, Darden progressed to the third phase, which he described as the “fun phase.” During this portion of his training, he was required to master the skills necessary to rappel from a tower and ultimately to rappel out of a Black Hawk helicopter.

“The heat in New York was brutal. The hills at West Point are horrible for running. By Day 10, my body was not working,” he said.

Of the 265 cadets who began the course, approximately 120 graduated. Darden was in the graduating class.

On to Fort Knox
Leaving West Point behind, Darden traveled next to Fort Knox for Cadet Summer Training, which brings thousands of cadets from throughout the United States together for officer training.

The 31-day camp, Darden said, “prepares you to become an officer in the Army.”

The training included fitness tests, grueling physical challenges on obstacle courses, learning to fire different types of weapons and walking miles upon miles with ruck sacks. The mental and physical demands can be overwhelming. But for those who meet the challenges of the “shared trauma,” the rewards are great, Darden said.

“Coming out of Cadet Summer Training, I know that I will be a better leader,” he said. “I’ve had the opportunity to develop leadership skills that I will take into my senior year and then into my career in the military. These experiences showed me what life is like in the Army. I’ve had the chance to talk to military officers, including generals. They’ve inspired me to take my training more seriously.”

Called to Lead
Upon his return to Lander, Darden was named the Battalion Commander for the Highlander Battalion.

“Cadet Darden was hand selected as one of only two cadets given an opportunity to complete Air Assault School from the Highlander Battalion this summer and the only one to successfully complete it,” said Adrian M. Chen, Senior Military Science Instructor, Contractor Highlander Battalion.

“He demonstrated incredible resiliency and then he rolled directly from AASLT school with no break into Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox,” Chen said.

“He has now been selected as our Battalion Commander which means he will be responsible for more than 70 cadets across three campuses as they all train to become Army officers,” he said. “He also has been tasked with leading our Ranger Challenge Team to compete against all the schools in our brigade in November.”

For Darden, his military training continues. “I’m still learning how to give orders. My Cadet Summer Training helped with that, and my experience as Battalion Commander will enhance my training this year.”

When he is commissioned as a U.S. Army second lieutenant after graduating from Lander in May, Darden will begin his career as a military officer. “Serving in the Army means being part of something bigger than myself,” he said.

“It’s about putting others first and accepting responsibility. It’s also about being willing to lead when people are counting on you. I want a career where I can make a difference. I know there will be challenges and sacrifices along the way, but that is what makes this path meaningful to me.”