Cadet Chasen Alfred Delano Richards, a St. Croix native, completed Cadet Basic Training at the U.S. Military Academy in August.

The son of Shawna K. Richards and Rafael Llanos Jr. entered the West Point academy July 2 and completed the six-weeks basic training course, according to the family. Basic is considered one of the most challenging events cadets will encounter over the course of their four years at the military college.

The initial training program provides cadets with basic skills to instill discipline, pride, cohesion, confidence and a high sense of duty to prepare them for entry into the Corps of Cadets, the family’s announcement said. Areas of summer instruction included first aid, mountaineering, hand grenades, rifle marksmanship and nuclear, biological and chemical training.

Richards graduated from the Saint Croix Educational Complex High School. He plans to graduate from West Point in 2018 and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.