CHUNCHEON, South Korea -- More than 30 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, gathered at the Community Activity Center Jan. 30 on Camp Casey for the Warrior Adventure Quest ski retreat at Gangchon Elysian.
The WAQ ski trip was coordinated through the Area I Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers and the brigade chaplain's office to help build resiliency for the unit's Soldiers, said Sgt. Gary Duffield, a brigade chaplain assistant.
"The Warrior Adventure Quest has been a changing event," said Duffield, a St. Cloud, Florida native. "It used to be for Soldiers that were coming off deployment as a way to simulate adrenalin pumping activities. Now it's more of a resiliency-based program."
The day-long trip began at the Camp Casey Community Activity Center where Maj. Craig Honbarger, the Family Life Champlain for Area I, shared a story about adversity and bouncing back from challenging situations. He also provided coping strategies for Soldiers, which incorporated one of the WAQ program's main objectives.
After a 90-minute bus ride, Soldiers geared up in ski uniforms and were given lessons on ski fundamentals and safety. They then began sloping down small hills for beginners and increased to more challenging hills as they felt more confident. Soldiers with more experience in the leisure sport also helped their fellow troops out by sharing tips and pointers.
"I've never been skiing and I learned how to ski," said Spc. Rebecca Force, a health care specialist and Browns Mills, New Jersey native assigned to HHB. "We all teamed up, and those who were good showed how to ski. It was a lot of fun."
For Pfc. Dylan Howard, a geospatial engineer assigned to HHB, the experience was a great morale boost for him and the unit.
"It was a blast, I had a great time," said Howard, a native of Franklinville, New York. "By having Soldiers out there and having a good time, we are going to come back happier with a better attitude."
"The whole point about resiliency really is overcoming adversity, overcoming problems, finding a way around issues" said Duffield. "I think it helped them do that."
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