2026-08-31T11:01:02
(BPT) – Key takeaways
- As entry-level jobs grow scarcer and AI reshapes which skills matter, the U.S. Army’s new marketing campaign, “Field Tested,” shows how real-world training builds the kind of adaptability and confidence that hold up no matter what young adults face next.
- “Field Tested” follows real Soldiers in the field as they build leadership, problem-solving skills, and camaraderie, forging the confidence that prepares them for any challenge ahead.
- Field training is a recurring test throughout a Soldier’s career that sharpens technical skills and instills resilience that carries far beyond a Soldier’s time in the Army.
Young Americans are navigating a pivotal moment in time as the traditional paths to success continue to feel uncertain — entry-level jobs are harder to find, AI is reshaping which skills matter, and the age-old promise of working hard and being rewarded hasn’t held up. Many are ready to take the next step but are unsure where to go.
To answer this uncertainty, the U.S. Army has launched “Field Tested,” a new campaign built around a simple idea: real-world experience is the best teacher. According to the World Economic Forum, skills like critical thinking, resiliency, and agility will be essential as the workforce evolves into the next decade. In the field — the Army’s unmatched training environment — Soldiers work together to gain these skills through hands-on experience and real-world training scenarios that prepare them to conquer any challenge that comes next.
“Field Tested” is the latest chapter in the Army’s “Be All You Can Be” brand story. Where earlier chapters showed audiences the possibilities of Army life, “Field Tested” shines a light on how those possibilities are actually built, immersing viewers in the training, discipline and teamwork Soldiers rely on every day.
Soldiers across the Army experience this ultimate training environment, but the stories of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana, are brought to life in this latest campaign. Here are just a few of those Soldiers who have future-proofed their careers with essential capabilities learned in the field:
Embracing discomfort
“Every field exercise puts you in a new, unpredictable situation — you have to adapt,” says Staff Sgt. Kenneth Garcia, an Infantryman and scout team leader. “That’s where real confidence comes from: getting comfortable with discomfort and proving to yourself that you can handle it.”
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Garcia, Infantryman and scout team leader, joined the Army seeking stability. After quickly rising through the ranks, he now helps to train the next generation of Soldiers for the battlefield and beyond.
Garcia enlisted in the Army alongside his cousin through the Buddy Team Enlistment Option, which allowed them to enlist and attend Basic Combat Training together. He joined seeking guidance and stability in his life, and in less than five years, he has risen in the ranks and completed four of the Army’s most prestigious schools: Expert Infantryman, Air Assault, Airborne, and Mountain Warfare. Now his role allows him to mentor and train the next generation of Soldiers, which he says is the most fulfilling part of his career. Garcia wants to continue progressing through the ranks and pushing himself out of his comfort zone, including goals to attend Pathfinder and Ranger Schools in the next year.
Sharpening technical skills
But the real confidence comes from doing the work in the field — not just the classroom. Soldiers sharpen technical skills critical to their specific roles, from land navigation and marksmanship to operating advanced equipment in the field to medicine. “I’ve treated real injuries out in the field, not in a classroom,” says Army Combat Medic Pfc. Will Wright. “The first few times, I second-guessed myself — like, do I actually know what I’m doing? But the more reps you get, the more that goes away, and you start trusting your training.”
Army Combat Medic Pfc. Will Wright proves that the most impactful training happens in the field, where he develops hands-on skills needed to keep his fellow Soldiers in the fight and ready to take on whatever challenge comes next.
Wright started his career by pursuing a nursing degree, but the financial burden ultimately led to his decision to enlist in the Army as a Combat Medic. This fulfilled his desire to work hands-on with patients on the front lines, and through his Army training, Wright has worked alongside leaders and peers who have helped build his medical abilities and his confidence. Wright is looking forward to the future of his Army medical career, whether that means working to become a flight medic, pursuing the Interservice Physician Assistant Program, or commissioning as an Army nurse.
Becoming physically – and mentally – stronger
Field training tests Soldiers in ways they never expected, pushing them to discover physical and mental strength they didn’t know they had. “I never thought I would be able to do something like that, or spend weeks out in the field and learning new skills like that has helped me a lot in becoming more disciplined and becoming stronger in a way, mentally and physically,” says Infantryman Spc. Alondra Segundo.
The Army has pushed Infantryman Spc. Alondra Segundo to grow stronger, both physically and mentally, by overcoming challenges she never thought possible, including completing an 18-mile Norwegian ruck.
Segundo was motivated to join the Army when she was looking for a change and a new challenge in her life. Standing at 4’11”, Segundo confirms that her Army training and experiences have done just that — growing physically stronger from carrying the heavy weight of equipment she never thought possible, and mentally stronger as she’s developed into a team leader thanks to the guidance of her sergeants. One of her proudest moments was completing a Norwegian ruck for 18.6 miles with 25 lb. on her back. When she is not working, Segundo is pursuing her bachelor’s degree, which will support her eventual goal of working as a civilian in the government.
Building camaraderie
Working together, Soldiers also learn to communicate, support one another, and move as one team. “Since everyone is doing it at the same time, going through that, it kind of builds up this relationship with everyone trying to build each other up and make sure everyone’s good,” says Electromagnetic Warfare Specialist Staff Sgt. Paul Stevens. “It creates this friendship that I don’t think I’ve seen anywhere else where everyone is looking after each other.”
Electromagnetic Warfare Specialist Staff Sgt. Paul Stevens credits his time in the field with helping to develop deep bonds with his fellow Soldiers as they all work toward a common goal and mission.
Stevens has always had a love of travel and joined the Army for adventure, which has taken him all over the world to Korea, Hungary, Germany, and more. In his role, Stevens and his team are trained to absorb Wi-Fi, radio, and cellular signals to pinpoint and inform the unit of enemy locations to best complete the mission. Through his Army training, he has not only developed the technical skills of his job, but has also grown as a leader of his own Soldiers. He is thankful for a job that challenges him every day, and continues the adventure he sought by enlisting.
Learn more
As the job market tightens and AI reshapes which skills carry weight, the qualities Army training instills are ones that don’t go out of date. “Everything I learned in the field, I still use: leadership, staying calm when things go wrong, figuring out a problem instead of freezing,” said Staff Sgt. Garcia. “Those aren’t just Army skills. I use them at home, at work, everywhere. The field just happens to be where I learned them.”
Look for “Field Tested” across national and local media, and for more information on the possibilities of service, visit GoArmy.com/FieldTested.
