Basic trainees build confidence 45 feet up

By Cheryl RodewigMay 1, 2009

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"You're not going to fall," said SFC Tomas Avey to more than 220 basic trainees gathered in front of Eagle Tower Monday. Avey, a drill sergeant with E Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, demonstrated how to rappel down the 45-foot tower. Halfway down the tower, he let go of his rope to show the Soldiers that no matter what happened, they wouldn't fall.

Eagle Tower is one of the first obstacles trainees face, usually within the first four days of the training cycle, Avey said.

"This is their first real big test and challenge coming into the Army," he said. "A lot of these guys have a pretty healthy fear of heights, (but) we talk them through every step. When they get through, a lot of them ask if they can go again. They start believing that what they didn't think was possible is possible. It's just one more layer of becoming a Soldier."

The exercise helps Soldiers build confidence in their equipment, trust in their drill sergeants and faith in themselves, Avey said.

"As Soldiers, we have to be the most confident people in the world. If you don't have even the basic confidence, how are you expected to go into combat and face the enemy' You have to be confident in what you're doing," he said.

Soldiers not only faced Eagle Tower, they climbed down a cargo net, scaled an inclined wall and rappelled down a smaller tower.

Eagle Tower, however, was the most challenging obstacle, said PVT Titeion Paxton.

"I'm not too good with heights. I wasn't too sure if the rope was secure," he said. "The worst point for me was stepping on the ledge. Your heart pumps fast. You look around and you're like, why am I even up here' You can see over everything. It's higher than the trees, so that right there had me nervous. I didn't scream that loud. I screamed, but it was just a little shriek. But it was a couple jumps and it was over."

Paxton said he learned that facing his fears wasn't as difficult as he imagined.

"You just have to get over it by any means necessary," he said. "There really isn't much to it."

After conquering Eagle Tower, SPC Sean Daily said he learned a lot about himself.

"You learn your personal strengths when you deal with adversity, when you deal with fear," he said. "I've done things like this with heights, but it doesn't make it easier. You still have to overcome that initial lack of strength. You have to focus, pull from the inside."

Daily said the exercise helped his platoon become more of a team - "closer to being an Army of one."

"I didn't realize how the hoops and hollers from down here would give me that motivation that made me able to do it," he said. "Up there, it's your trust between your belayer down on the bottom, your instructor who's on the top and your faith in yourself. I'm still scared to death of heights because if you fall, you could die, and more than anything, you're putting a lot of trust in other people."

Daily joined the National Guard five months ago as a way to continue supporting the freedoms he wants his children to have. A teacher by trade, he chose to be an Infantryman to challenge himself so he will be a better leader for Soldiers, said Daily, who plans to attend Officer Candidate School.

"This has been one of those things I've always wanted to do," said Daily, 31. "I believe in public service. You know that list of things you want to do before you turn 50' You want to make the 'I wish I would have' list as small as possible. That's my goal. I just want to make my family proud."

Eagle Tower was just one of those challenges. The company will learn ground-fighting techniques today and next week, followed by close-quarter marksmanship, buddy team tactics and a convoy live fire. The company of 224 Soldiers is slated to graduate July 31.