A U.S. Army ROTC cadet has died while training at Ft. Knox.
Cadet Neil Edara, 22, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, died on Thursday during land navigation training, according to the U.S. Army Cadet Command.
Edara was at Ft. Knox for the annual Army ROTC Cadet Summer Training program.
He was airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The cadet’s cause of death remains under investigation.
Edara was a student at Rutgers University. He joined the ROTC program in 2021 and was scheduled to graduate next year, according to Task and Purpose.com.
“Cadet Edara was one of the most dedicated and promising young leaders I’ve had the privilege to know,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Sorensen, a professor of military science at Rutgers University. “His calm collected demeanor and unwavering commitment to excellence left a lasting impact on everyone around him. His loss is deeply felt across the entire ROTC and Rutgers community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
The ROTC Cadet Summer Training Program is held over several weeks where cadets learn basic combat skills, land navigation and participate in small-unit exercises.
(Photo: U.S. Army Cadet Neil Edara, courtesy of Task and Purpose.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
