Cadet injured after struck by lightning
A Cadet training with Co. A 2/321st IET was struck by lightning Tuesday. The Cadet and others in her company, the sixth at the Leader’s Training Course this summer, were at a training site on the northern end of Fort Knox when a field exercise was halted because of a pop-up storm.
The Cadet is at University of Louisville Hospital, where her family is by her side.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cadet and her family during this trying time,” said Col. David Hubner Sr., commander of the Leader’s Training Course.
No other Cadets were injured in the incident.
The Cadet who was struck was immediately taken by an on-site medical vehicle to Fort Knox’s Ireland Army Community Hospital. She was then flown by MEDEVAC to University of Louisville’s trauma center.
Safety officials with the Leader’s Training Course are continuing to collect data about the incident.
The Leader’s Training Course, or LTC, is designed to qualify college students without ROTC experience for the advanced senior ROTC program on their campuses — and ultimately commission as an Army officer — while giving them a glimpse at the life of a soldier.
Over the intense 29-day course, cadets learn a great deal about the Army, as well as themselves. They are placed in a variety of roles that test their ability to lead others, and the course instills participants with discipline, motivation, physical conditioning, self-confidence and initiative.
In all, more than 1,400 men and women in seven groups are going through the course. The course ends Aug. 7.
Our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of cadet Carmela Kirkland of Dothan, Ala.
Would love to hear an update on the Cadet’s progress. Look forward to Monday and Tuesday!
Prayers to this young lady and her family. As a mom of one of these young cadets, I feel solidarity for her recovery.
Our son was at the site during the incident, and though he was not allowed to talk about the initial strike, he did assure me that the DI’s were very proactive and got all the cadets to the ground immediately, so all were safe during the remainder of the storm. Thank you for the quick thinking and training these leaders exhibited toward our children. God Bless
My heart aches for this cadet and her family. I will keep her and her family lifted up in prayer.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cadet and her family.
Thoughts and prayers are with this cadet, her family, and friends.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Cadets family and to the other cadets at Fort Knox. Our son is in the same company and we haven’t heard from him tonight; just happened to catch a news report on the weather channel then came to this website.