A 22-year-old Army ROTC cadet died last week after becoming unresponsive during a land navigation exercise at Fort Knox in Kentucky, military officials announced.
Neil Edara, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, was participating in Cadet Summer Training as part of the 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, when the incident occurred on Thursday, July 24. According to a statement from U.S. Army Cadet Command, Edara became unresponsive while conducting land navigation training and was immediately given medical assistance.
He was airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The cause of death is still under investigation, and no further details have been released.
Edara had joined the ROTC program at Rutgers University in September 2021 and was widely regarded as a promising and committed young leader.
“His calm, collected demeanor and unwavering commitment to excellence left a lasting impact on everyone around him,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Sorensen, a professor of military science at Rutgers. “His loss is deeply felt throughout the ROTC and Rutgers community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Before joining ROTC, Edara volunteered with the Ridgewood Ambulance Corps in his hometown. Ridgewood Mayor Paul Vagianos praised Edara’s selflessness and service, saying, “Neil lived to serve his country and community. He was a very special young man who showed us the true meaning of service. Though I didn’t know him personally, I will never forget him.”
Advanced Camp is a rigorous 36-day training course designed to test and develop cadets’ leadership, decision-making, and field skills in challenging environments. One of the key components is land navigation, which requires cadets to demonstrate their ability to navigate varied terrain during both day and night conditions.
Officials emphasized that cadet safety remains a top priority. Counseling and spiritual support services have been made available to fellow cadets and staff at the camp.
