Earlier this year, for example, the Cardinal Battalion Ranger Team finished in the top 10 at the in West Point, New York.

And, over the summer, UofL sent 21 juniors to Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. There, 48% of the class earned an overall rating of “outstanding,” which means that 48% of our cadets are ranked in the top 15% of cadets in the nation, according to Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Dargavell, Department Chair and Professor of Military Science.

The Fort Knox event is the largest exercise the Army conducts every year, with about 6,000 cadets competing from May through August.

Dargavell said our cadets always do well, but this year was exceptional.

In addition to the “outstanding” ratings, seven cadets earned the title of “RECONDO,” awarded for overall physical and mental testing performance. The RECONDO badge is awarded to cadets who exceed the standards in physical testing, confidence courses, land navigation, marksmanship, First Aid, and the 6-mile foot march. They must also compete in a litany of tasks to standard – the 12-mile foot march, 8-mile foot march, hand grenade assault course and more.

Further, five out of 21 cadets were ranked No. 1 overall in their platoon, with one cadet ranked No. 1 in his regiment, which includes 640 cadets.

Seven cadets were ranked No. 1 in peer evaluations.

“I’m prouder of this accomplishment than the others. These are peer evaluations, not just what you are physically capable of doing or the intellect you have. It’s a whole-person assessment and it shows you have the character we’re looking for. It speaks to who you are,” Dargavell said.

Dargavell is a part of and said such peer evaluations align with those principles – community of care, accountability, respect, diversity/inclusion, integrity/transparency, noble purpose, agility and leadership.

Aspiring toward those Cardinal Principles is just part of what makes UofL’s Army ROTC program so successful.

“It is a totality of things associated with the University of Louisville. We have a lot of support from the administration, we have really good cadets and we have really good instructors focused on realistic training,” Dargavell said. “We also have support from the Kentucky National Guard and we’re right next to Fort Knox, so our cadets get the chance to experience a real-life environment before they’re tested on it.”

He expects this success to continue. For the past two years, one-third of UofL’s Army ROTC class has been labeled a distinguished military graduate and Dargavell projects that number to grow.

“I’ve charged our seniors with training our underclassmen on being better than them and they take that very seriously,” he said. “They are training how to be officers of character and better leaders.”

Some of UofL’s biggest highlights from Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox include:

• Jeffrey Newton: No. 1 overall cadet in 5^th Regiment (approximately 650 cadets in a regiment); No. 1 overall cadet in his platoon, earned the performance rating of Outstanding (top 15%); No. 1 on peer evaluations, earned the RECONDO Badge and scored a 600 on the Army Combat Fitness Test.
• Kendal Covington: No. 1 overall cadet in his platoon; earned the performance rating of Outstanding (top 15%); No. 1 on peer evaluations. Additionally, he graduated for The United States Army Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
• Andrew McHale: While at Cadet Summer Training he earned No. 1 overall cadet in his platoon, earned the performance rating of Outstanding (top 15%).
• Olivia Jerolaman: No. 1 overall cadet in her platoon; earned the performance rating of Outstanding (top 15%); No. 1 on peer evaluations; earned the RECONDO Badge.
• Emily Bleska: No. 1 overall cadet in his platoon; earned the performance rating of Outstanding (top 15%). She was also selected to be the Cadet Battalion Commander (top ranked cadet) for this semester within UofL Army ROTC.  Additionally, she graduated from the United States Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
• Paul Kotarski: Earned the performance rating of Outstanding (top 15%); No. 1 on peer evaluations; earned the RECONDO Badge. Additionally, he attended Cadet Troop Leader Training in Grafenwöhr, Germany.
• Steve Beza: Earned the performance rating of Outstanding (top 15%); No. 1 on peer evaluations; and earned the RECONDO Badge.

The team had a chance to go through an Army Field Leaders Reaction Course designed to strengthen leadership, team building and communications skills as small groups complete a series of physically and mentally demanding obstacles.  

One of the obstacles required the small group to “destroy” an enemy Command Post. In order to accomplish this mission the team had to figure out how to cross a double fence, bringing all team members and a 30-pound can of nitroglycerin with them, using only equipment provided. The group only had five minutes to plan and twenty minutes to complete the task.

Soldiers from across Fort Knox served as observer/controllers at each obstacle, guiding and evaluating the small groups based on how well they were able to complete the obstacle and how long it took them. In addition, each obstacle had members of UofL’s coaching staff on-site observing to see how the student-athletes performed.

After completing the Field Leadership Reaction Course the team had an opportunity to hear from a wounded warrior veteran, Justin Lane. Lane an Army veteran and double amputee as a result of an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, delivered an inspirational message about resiliency and “never giving up, never surrendering.”  

The team also had the opportunity to compete against the U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s E-Sports Team, comprised of soldiers who are nationally-ranked gamers. The football team’s offensive unit was able to nominate five players to compete against three E-Sports Team soldiers in “Call of Duty.” This competition produced one of the loudest cheers of the entire visit when the football team scored a “kill” against the soldiers.

One of the other highlights of the visit was the team’s engagement with fans at the Patton Museum. Hundreds of Cards fans turned out for an opportunity to get autographs and take photos with the players and coaches. The fans ranged in age from young children, to soldiers of all ranks, to veterans, to a woman in her mid-80s who was getting autographs for her grandson.

The visit concluded with Major General John Evans, Jr., commanding general of the U.S. Army Cadet Command and Senior Mission Commander for Fort Knox, addressing the team. Evans spoke to the team about tuning out distractors and focusing on the critical mission or task at hand facing a team, whether that be on the football field, in the classroom or in the boardroom. Evans also recognized the winning group from the Field Leadership Reaction Course competition, Team Watkins, led by Freshman Wide Receiver Jordan Watkins.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Evans was surprised by a presentation recognizing him as adopted alumni of the University of Louisville. The University of Louisville’s Alumni Association established the Adopted Alumni program in 1982 to recognize those who, although not graduates, have demonstrated interest in or love for UofL and made contributions to the enhancement, enrichment, and improvement of the university.

The award was bestowed by the University’s Alumni Association in recognition of all Evans has done over the past three years to strengthen the relationship between Fort Knox and UofL. The relationship between UofL and Fort Knox was established in 1918.

Story written by Kyle Hurwitz, director of UofL’s Military and Online Initiatives.

“We cannot say we really value the students at Fort Knox and not give them the best,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi as she officially opened the new space with a ribbon-cutting Sept. 19. She was accompanied by Major General John R. Evans, Jr., Commanding General, U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, other Fort Knox administrators, and administrators from the College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Human Development (CEHD).

One person on hand who had been with the Fort Knox campus through five moves around the base was Mark Casey, UofL program coordinator. Casey is retiring after 39 years.

Bendapudi joked that the ribbon-cutting was really a surprise retirement party for Casey, but then got serious about the significance of the new facility.

“This is really about the team,” Bendapudi said, adding that allowing UofL to serve those who are in service to our country is “a gift that you are bestowing on us.” 

The new space is on the second floor of the Army łÉČËÖ±˛Ą Center at Fort Knox and brings UofL into the forefront of schools represented there. The latest technology installed there includes: 

• Wireless internet with guest access
• Eight wired MAC computers for student use
• Sixteen Surface Pro laptops for classroom application and student use
• A large screen display wired to hardware to support classroom presentations from students and faculty, and  
• A solstice hub to support up to 200-plus simultaneous log-ins by students/faculty for collaboration and presentations in the classroom.

The Fort Knox campus is for military personnel and their families, as well as community members.

It promotes all UofL programs (on campus and online) but focuses on three: the bachelor of science in organizational leadership and learning; the master of science in human resource and organization development; and the master of arts in higher education administration. It will be under the direction of Jeffrey Sun, professor and interim associate dean for innovation and strategic partnerships.

Since its founding in the early 1970s, the Fort Knox Center has awarded more than 600 degrees to soldiers, their family members and civilians. The center also serves as the National Testing Center for Fort Knox, where more than 200 tests are offered from high-stakes certification to college-level equivalency exams.

Check out the unveiling ceremony: 

More than 400 educators — mostly military science instructors for ROTC programs — have completed or are currently enrolled in the College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Human Development’s Cadre and Faculty Development Course. The Fort Knox-based program is attracting students from across the U.S.

UofL presented the Army with an innovative model of learning drawing on education sciences, higher education administration, and leadership theory and practice. CEHD professor and chair Dr. Jeffrey Sun, who is spearheading the Cadre and Faculty Development Course, said the grant is designated as a pilot project.

said the idea behind the program is to help the Army revamp its ROTC program to provide tomorrow’s soldiers with a more holistic education.

“The future of war and battle is not just through physical fighting but through cognitive dominance,” Sun said. “Skills like creative solutions, problem solving and leadership are more important than ever.”

The CEHD kicked off a preliminary version of the course in 2015 through its łÉČËÖ±˛Ąal Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development Department. Administrators used feedback from those first participants to hone the curriculum. Sun said course content leans heavily toward team-based learning and use of technology instead of traditional lectures.

Capt. David Edwards, who teaches military science at University of Houston, took part in the CFDC this summer.

“I like learning about strategies so I can keep students engaged, said, during a June visit to the Belknap Campus.

Edwards, like many of the course participants, has decided to continue his UofL education by earning a master’s degree in organizational leadership and learning.

Participants in the program begin with an assessment of their skills in areas such as critical thinking, problem solving, writing, technology and more. The idea, said Sun, is to see improvement in all of those benchmarks.

There is also a heavy focus on pooling expertise and experience so the group can learn military best practices from each other. Sun said course content leans heavily toward team-based learning and use of technology instead of traditional lectures.

“For example, when we teach leadership, we tap into what they are already doing well and then we clarify and distill that information so it becomes tangible and teachable,” he said.

UofL will compete for another DOD grant in 2017 in hopes of continuing the program.

Then the UofL employees, connected by a harness to a member of the U.S. Army’s elite , floated down to the ground under bright yellow and black parachutes.

Huge grins filled with jubilation and relief spread across their faces as they landed on Brooks Field at Fort Knox.

For some of the 15 UofL employees who participated in the June 9 tandem jump, the accomplishment meant they marked one more item off their bucket list. For those whose lists never included jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, it will become a great story to tell at the next family gathering.

“The most wonderful adrenaline rush ever!” said Sharon Duffy, deputy director of the Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, shortly after she landed.

The UofL staff members were guests of the U.S. Army ROTC’s 7^th Brigade. The ROTC set up tents and grilled hamburgers for the staff members, many who brought their children. Renee Finnegan, executive director of military initiatives and partnerships, and Kevin Finnegan, director of military outreach, assembled the UofL participants.

Kerri Remmel, professor and chair of the Department of Neurology, said the experience was moving both for the sightseeing and as a celebration of UofL’s strong commitment to the U.S. military. “It was just beautiful,” she said.

Mark Casey, the Fort Knox program coordinator for the College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Human Development, said he has been wanting to skydive his whole life.

“It was great,” Casey said. “You cannot explain it.”

Each jumper was also accompanied by an airborne videographer who got footage of them every step of the way, from sitting in the airplane to jumping out. Each jumper went home with a certificate and a DVD from their jump.

The jumpers said the Golden Knights did an excellent job of distracting them by talking to them; on the way down, the Knights pointed out Fort Knox landmarks.

“He was keeping me busy talking up there,” said Neville Pinto, UofL’s interim provost. “Before I knew it, I was out of the plane.”

Sara Karlsson, a graduate student who works in IT for the Office of the President, said she had been on the list of alternates for the jump, but hoped she’d get a spot. She did – but she decided not to tell her parents in Sweden until after it was over.

“I couldn’t breathe at first,” Sara said, adding that “all you’re doing is just trying to take everything in.”

The rest of the UofL jumpers were:

• Ken Lolla, men’s soccer coach
• Jeff Walz, women’s basketball coach
• Jason Dierking, swim team performance coach
• Vickie Frank, men’s baseball executive assistant to the coach
• Joe Elliott, assistant director of special projects in the Office of the President
• Ryan C. McDaniel, director of information management in the Office of the President
• Gary Gregg, director of the McConnell Center
• John Usher, interim dean of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering
• Mary Taposky, director of tech transfer and program administration for Nucleus
• Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, dean, College of Arts and Sciences

More photos are .

Watch the UofL video below:

To celebrate UofL’s ties with Fort Knox, more than a dozen University of Louisville faculty and staff members will participate in a tandem jump with the Army’s elite Golden Knights skydiving team.

Weather permitting, the jump is scheduled or June 9 beginning at 9 a.m. at Fort Knox.

“UofL and Fort Knox have strengthened their ties over the past few years, working together on leadership programs, research activities and special events,” said Renee Finnegan, executive director of UofL’s Office of Military Initiatives. “Jumping with a prestigious Army unit such as the Golden Knights is a great way to solidify our partnership.”

Fifteen UofL staff and faculty members are planning to participate, including Interim Provost Neville Pinto, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, School of Public Health and Information Sciences Dean Craig Blakely, J.B. Speed School of Engineering Interim Dean John Usher, men’s soccer coach Ken Lolla and women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz.  

, otherwise known as the United States Army Parachute Team, is one of three Department of Defense-sanctioned aerial demonstration teams, along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

Watch this website for multimedia coverage of the day’s events.