The cadet cadre for the second iteration of Cadet Basic Training took the name Task Force Kennedy, in honor of Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy '00, field artillery officer, and USCC Tactical Officer and Brigade XO, who was killed in action Aug. 8, 2012, while serving in Afghanistan.
The CBT2 commander, Class of 2014 Cadet Jae H. Yu, says he and the cadre chose to honor Kennedy because of the unwavering example he set for the cadets. "Even with the heavy demands of being the USCC BXO, MAJ Kennedy managed to accomplish the mission while continually recognizing the importance of people. No matter how many taskings he had, he carved out time from his schedule to interact with the people he met, regardless of rank or position. He accomplished the mission, but never at the sacrifice of his soldiers, hence the Cadet Basic Training motto, 'Mission First, Soldiers Always'. MAJ Kennedy was once the heart of the West Point community. Now he serves as the model for new cadets, cadre, and tactical officers of the Cadet Basic Training Regiment."