Cadet Hailey Gregor likes challenges.

"The training during Operation Warrior Forge has been great," the psychology major from the University of Oregon said as she and her fellow cadets in the 9^th Regiment, Alpha Company, 3^rd Platoon, ate a quick lunch.

"If you get into the moment, if you pretend the training is real, you really learn a lot about yourself and what it is to be a leader.  The challenges are real."

Gregor, who wants to serve as a medical service corps officer, is one of more than 6,000 Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets attending Operation Warrior Forge's Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).

The mission of LDAC is to train cadets to Army standards and to develop leadership skills while evaluating officer potential.

The development and evaluation is accomplished through a tiered training structure using light infantry tactics as the instructional method.

This year's LDAC began June 11 and concludes Aug. 3.

During the 29-day training cycle, cadets from around the country experience everything from land navigation (day and night), confidence training, field leader's reaction course to chemical, biological, nuclear, explosives training, weapons familiarization and tactical patrolling.

"The training has been good," Cadet David Sunleaf from Baylor University said.  "I've kept a positive attitude through the whole experience."

For 2^nd Lt. Wesley Wood, watching the cadets as they prepared to move on to another training objective brought back memories.

"A year ago I was standing where they are right now," said the recent Pacific Lutheran University graduate. "I worked for a year with our cadets, and it is rewarding to be here, working with cadets from other schools and knowing that the cadets I trained are getting the best training the Army has to offer."