A 22-year-old Army cadet from New Jersey has died while participating in a summer training exercise at Fort Knox in Kentucky.
Cadet Neil Edara, of Ridgewood, was conducting Land Navigation Training on Thursday, as part of the U.S. Army’s Cadet Summer Training program, when he became unresponsive, according to a statement from the U.S. Army Cadet Command.
The collapsed cadet then ‘received immediate medical attention’ and was later airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Army says Edara’s cause of death remains under investigation.
‘Cadet Edara was one of the most dedicated and promising young leaders I’ve had the privilege to know,’ Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Sorensen, professor of military science at Rutgers University, where Edara was enrolled in ROTC, 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.’
A private memorial service for Edara is scheduled for Monday, July 28 at the Army installation in Kentucky – about 40 miles from Louisville.
Edara joined ROTC at Rutgers in September 2021 and was attending Cadet Summer Training as a member of the 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, according to the ROTC’s statement.
The annual program at Fort Knox draws more than 7,000 ROTC cadets from across the country and is considered the largest training event hosted by the U.S. Army each year, WDRB reported.
Land Navigation Training is a core part of the program, designed to test cadets’ ability to navigate terrain using map and compass skills during both day and night conditions. Advanced instruction includes range estimation, terrain analysis, and mounted navigation, according to the military’s website.
The Army says cadet safety remains a top priority.
‘Safety of cadets and cadre remains U.S. Army Cadet Command’s top priority as training continues. Cadets have access to religious affairs or spiritual counseling and support as required,’ the statement concludes.