Taylor Smith among select group of ROTC cadets to attend seminar at Fort Knox

Cadet Sgt. Major Taylor Smith

Taylor Smith, a senior business management and finance major at Henderson State University, was among a select group of ROTC cadets from across the nation who attended the 2024 Gen. George C. Marshall Leadership and Awards Seminar at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Feb. 14-15.

Each year, U.S. Army Cadet Command recognizes the top-tiered cadets from Senior ROTC programs and the United States Military Academy by inviting them to the seminar. Cadets experience challenging physical training events, hear professional military leaders, and take part in numerous networking opportunities.

“It was an honor to attend this prestigious conference,” said Smith, who serves as a battalion sergeant major at Henderson. “We did very intense physical training events early in the day, and I learned a lot about leadership from the military professionals who spoke to us.”

Smith said she decided to join the ROTC program while a freshman at Henderson. She enlisted in the military and attended basic training before becoming an ROTC cadet her sophomore year.

“Cadet Smith is one of the top cadets in our program and the nation. There was no hesitancy for me to select her for the seminar,” said Capt. James Flowers, assistant professor of military science at Henderson. “She was among the top three percent across the nation to be selected to attend. It will certainly help her with her future career.”

Smith, who is from Guy, Arkansas, said she will “go active military” after graduating from Henderson this spring.

“I feel called to serve my country,” Smith said. “I plan to be an AG (adjutant general) officer. It’s sort of like the human resource aspect of the Army.”

Flowers said, “It has been an honor to have Cadet Smith, who has a 4.0 GPA, as one of the top cadets in our program. She has helped the underclassmen by mentoring and coaching them through the process. I know she’ll provide great leadership for the Army.”

For more information about Henderson State’s ROTC program, go to hsu.edu/rotc.