2024 Encampment Day 7
Encampment Day 7
This week has been an exciting roller coaster as the encampment staff prepared for the new arrivals, helped them settle in, and motivated each cadet in every flight to strive for excellence while growing in friendships that will last a lifetime. The hours spent laughing and enjoying each other's company created memories they will never forget. However, all of this was made possible through the rigorous planning that had to happen a year before the encampment. Cadet Lt. Col. Emma Vaughn, the Cadet Commander, discussed the planning process she and the command team went through.
“I think I spent an hour a day just working on planning for the encampment from the time I got selected (October 2023) up until now,” she said.
Vaughn also discussed the many weeks she and the command team spent interviewing the possible candidates for staff positions, which took hours each day.
Planning for encampment takes up an incredible amount of time, but it also creates the opportunity to see leadership growth in each of the staff members. Vaughn said it was amazing to see the staff work hard throughout the week to overcome the challenges they were facing to become better for their students.
“To see it all pay off, and watching their hard work continue helping their people succeed, has been incredible,” she said.
There is so much behind the scenes planning that people don’t know about. It takes a committed group of people to sit down hours a day for months and keep the big picture in mind. Encampment staff has shown that through dedication, and a lot of planning, something really extraordinary can come about. From long interviews, virtual meetings, in-person training, and many stressful days, encampment became a resounding success! Three hundred cadets thrived in an exciting environment, and had one of the best weeks of their lives.
Written by Cadet Second Lt. Krisyann Brown
