A 22-year-old U.S. Army cadet from New Jersey died during a training exercise on a military base in north central Kentucky, officials said.
Neil Edara of Ridgewood, New Jersey, became unresponsive at Fort Knox, according to a statement from the Army Cadet CommandPost (ROTC). Fort Knox is located about 40 miles southwest of Louisville.
According to the command, Edara received “immediate medical attention” during the July 24 training and was transported by medical helicopter to the University of Louisville, where he was pronounced dead.
A Rutgers University cadet, Edara had been attending land navigation training, which tests cadets on their ability to read a map and navigate unfamiliar areas, according to the ROTC’s website.
As of Monday, Edara’s cause and manner of death remained under investigation, the command said.
“Safety of cadets and cadre remains U.S. Army Cadet Command’s top priority as training continues,” officials said in their statement, noting counseling and support were being offered at Fort Knox in connection to the cadet’s death.
It was not immediately known whether foul play was involved.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Fort Knox command for more information.
Edara was enrolled at Rutgers in New Brunswick, where he was majoring in biology and slated to graduate in 2026, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He was described as a man with a calm, collected demeanor and an “unwavering commitment to excellence” in the military statement. Edara left “a lasting impact on everyone around him,” said Rutgers University professor of military science Lt. Col. Timothy Sorensen.
“Cadet Edara was one of the most dedicated and promising young leaders I’ve had the privilege to know,” Sorensen said. “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.
The U.S. Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox, is a highly secure facility dedicated to storing the nation’s gold reserves.
The vault at the base in Fort Knox holds about half of the country’s gold, according to the U.S. Mint. Officials have only allowed a handful of visits from outsiders, including politicians and journalists, over the years.
Contributing: Stephanie Kuzydym and Joshua Jongsma, NorthJersey.com; Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Army cadet dies at Fort Knox during training in Kentucky – USA Today
