A Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet died Thursday at Fort Knox during training.
U.S. Army Cadet Command said 22-year-old Neil Edara, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, died July 24 on the Land Navigation site at the military base in Kentucky.
Cadet Command said Edara became unresponsive while conducting land navigation training.
He received immediate medical attention and was airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The cause of death is under investigation.
Due to the ongoing investigation into Edara’s death, U.S. Army Cadet Command said it was unable to provide additional information at this time.
Edara joined ROTC at Rutgers University in Sept. 2021 and was attending Cadet Summer Training as part of 9th Regiment Advanced Camp.
“Cadet Edara was one of the most dedicated and promising young leaders I’ve had the privilege to know,” Lt. Col. Timothy Sorensen, professor of military science at Rutgers University, said. “His calm, collected demeanor and unwavering commitment to excellence left a lasting impact on everyone around him. His loss is deeply felt across the entire ROTC and Rutgers community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Cadet Summer Training is the U.S. Army’s largest annual training event, with more than 7,000 ROTC cadets attending Advanced or Basic Camp from colleges and universities nationwide.
The 35-day Advanced Camp serves as Army ROTC’s capstone course and is a requirement for commissioning as a second lieutenant, testing cadets’ leadership and soldiering skills.
The U.S. Army Cadet Command emphasized that the safety of cadets and cadre remains a top priority. Counseling and spiritual support are available for cadets as needed.
A private memorial service for Edara is scheduled for July 28 for cadets attending Cadet Summer Training.
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