Future Leader Camp: Pushing Limits, Going Beyond

By BG Mark A. Denton '97, VSM

The Commandant and Vice President for Student Affairs shares his thoughts about Future Leader Camp as he speaks to the crowd of high school camp graduates.

Service member speaks at a podium in an auditorium before an audience of seated cadets.

I had the distinct honor of serving as the guest speaker for the »Æ¹ÏÊÓÆµ Future Leader Camp (FLC) Session 1, Summer 2026.

Cadet holds a certificate while standing with two uniformed service members in front of U.S. and »Æ¹ÏÊÓÆµ flags.
COL Scott Wills, VSM (left), joins BG Denton (right) and his daughter on stage during FLC graduation.

This session was incredibly meaningful to me, as one of my own daughters was among the participants. This is no ordinary camp. FLC is a rigorous, nine-day mental and physical challenge designed to push young leaders out of their comfort zones. For some, physical fitness at 5 a.m. was a huge challenge.

While most teenagers spent their Fourth of July at the beach, nearly 100 high school students chose to spend it here, pushing their limits. These young adults — and the parents who support them in doing hard things — deeply inspire me.

My message to the campers was simple: you can handle the hard and the uncomfortable. You proved that, you overcame the challenge, and you earned that coveted black shirt!

To top off an already unforgettable proud dad moment — and not to brag — my daughter shared with a huge grin that she earned the highest physical fitness test score among all the females in the camp. She is a true competitor.

Truly an outstanding training environment all around!

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