Cadet Justin Grey McBride graduated the ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC,) "Operation Warrior Forge" at Fort Lewis, Wash. during a ceremony held Saturday, July 22.

LDAC is the most important training event for an Army ROTC cadet. The 33-day training event incorporates a wide range of subjects designed to develop and evaluate leadership ability. The challenges are rigorous and demanding, both mentally and physically.

Warrior Forge tests intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and stamina. These challenges provide a new perspective on an individual's ability to perform exacting tasks and to make difficult decisions in demanding situations.

Warrior Forge places each cadet and officer candidate in a variety of leadership positions, many of which simulate stressful combat situations. In each position, cadets receive evaluations from platoon tactical and counseling (TAC) officers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs.).

In addition to proving their leadership ability, cadets and officer candidates have to meet established standards in physical fitness, weapons training, communication, combat patrols and they must demonstrate their proficiency in many other military skills. Cadets and officer candidates must excel at Warrior Forge to be considered competitive for a commission as an Army officer.

All ROTC cadets must complete LDAC, prior to receiving a commission. The course is the single most important block of training in the career of an Army cadet. It is often the first exposure to the active Army.

The cadets spend five weeks applying the leadership and tactical skills they have acquired on campus. LDAC is the only arena where cadets from various college campuses undergo a common, high-quality training experience.

Cadet Command's mission is to commission the future leaders of the U.S. Army. Within that framework, the camp mission is to train cadets to Army standards, develop leadership and evaluate officer potential.

The LDAC course is intentionally tough and introduces stress. The days are long, with considerable night training and no days off - in short, it is a tough camp. Throughout the five-week course, cadets encounter physical and mental obstacles that challenge them as a person, soldier and leader. Cadets gain self-confidence through the accomplishment of tough training.

Training covers basic military skills in individual and squad levels needed for the tactical exercises. Training culminates with tactics instructions at the platoon level.

Evaluation is constant, and it begins shortly after the cadet arrives. The tactical officers and NCOs advise, coach, and ultimately render an official evaluation of the cadet's potential to serve as an officer.

Cadet McBride plans to continue his education at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville in the fall.