the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ – The U.S. Army is investigating the tragic death of Cadet Neil Edara, a 22-year-old Ridgewood native, who passed away during Army ROTC Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky on July 24.
According to Army officials, Edara became unresponsive during Land Navigation Training, a physically demanding exercise designed to test cadets’ ability to navigate varied terrain under both day and night conditions. He received immediate medical attention and was airlifted by helicopter to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The cause of death remains under investigation, and no further details about the time of day or specific portion of the training were released.
Land Navigation Training is a key component of Cadet Summer Training (CST), where future Army leaders learn essential survival and combat skills, including terrain analysis, range estimation, mounted navigation, and call-for-fire exercises.
Edara, a Rutgers University ROTC cadet, was training with the 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, part of a program that involves more than 6,000 cadets across 10 regiments.
The Army ROTC shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, expressing condolences to his family, friends, and fellow cadets.
Edara’s death is a profound loss to both the Ridgewood community and the Rutgers ROTC program, where he was known as a dedicated and promising future Army officer.
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My heart breaks for this family! My child recently completed this and told me several times that the electrolyte packets were being rationed this summer. Cadets receive discipline if they remove any part of their uniform, and are under pressure to complete it in a certain amount of time. There was a heat dome this day causing dangerous temperatures. The Army should never ration electrolytes during summer training. During extreme conditions they should use a buddy system or an alternative way to train and evaluate. This death could’ve been prevented and the Army needs to learn from this.
I went to Army ROTC Basic Training at Ft Knox in 1982. I originally went for the first cycle in May and the Army lost my documents from my physical that cleared my status for a heart murmur. I got in just for the last (6th cycle) in July so that’s how important ROTC was for me and many other college students. I am sad to hear of Cadet Adara’s death and I give my condolences to his family, Rutgers University and the people of Ridgewood, NJ. I know there is a hospital on Ft Knox so I am a bit confused why he was transported to the University of Louisville.
My son was good friends with him throughout RW schools. Always a sweet respectful boy with a great family. Our sincerest condolences to his family and friends. Heartbreaking!