The Army Cadet Luncheon, a fixture of the first day of the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition, provides cadets enrolled in both ROTC and Junior ROTC the chance to hear directly from Army general officers.

The future officers selected to attend the 2025 luncheon had the rare opportunity to hear two of the Army’s seniormost leaders offer their perspectives on “officership.”

Gen. David Hodne, the Army’s newest four-star and commanding general of its newest command—U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command—opened the luncheon with the advice to “be patient.”

“You’re in ROTC to learn about officership,” he said. “You’ll have plenty of time once you pin on your gold bars to learn about your branch.”

Hodne was followed by the luncheon’s keynote speaker, Lt. Gen. Johnny Davis, commanding general of U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Since the command’s elevation to an Army direct-reporting unit in February 2024, it has overseen U.S. Army Cadet Command, which runs the ROTC program. Davis also previously led Cadet Command.

Looking at the approximately 300 cadets in the room, Davis said, “When I see them, I see myself as a young ROTC cadet 30 years ago.”

Describing the cadets’ future careers as “a powerful journey,” Davis offered six pieces of advice for the trainees. First, he said, “always stay positive.” Challenges will arise but can be overcome with positivity.

He next urged the cadets to “stay humble,” taking time to recognize the contributions of those around them.

Third, he urged them to take time to “invest in your people.” Davis acknowledged that he would not have advanced to his current position if others had not taken the time to coach and mentor him. “Now I see how vital it is to pay that forward,” he said, adding, “When you prioritize your people, they’ll prioritize the mission.”

Fourth, he stressed the need to “invest in training.” Recalling lessons learned from years of operational deployments, Davis urged the cadets to “train hard on the installation. Don’t wait until the nation calls upon you.”

Fifth, alluding to the Army’s “Be all You Can Be” recruiting campaign, Davis told the audience to “be the best you can be.” He advised the cadets to “tap into your unique strengths,” assuring them that “you are your own competition. Commit to continuous growth and learning, own your mistakes, and use them as steppingstones.”

Lastly, Davis said, “Listen to your noncommissioned officers.” He recalled how after attending numerous courses as a young second lieutenant, eager to take charge, he arrived at his first duty station and was greeted by his platoon sergeant, who simply said, “Welcome to the platoon. Just follow me and don’t say a word.” That, Davis said, resonated with him.

— Tom McCuin