After a two hour van ride from Fort Jackson, eight Soldiers arrived in the mist and light rain at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte N.C. March 26, to challenge themselves on difficult ropes courses and climbing walls, and to experience the thrills of zip-lining and whitewater rafting.
"I think it's awesome that even though it's a Saturday and no one wants to do physical labor, we all came here to have fun," said Spc. Lance Schade with the 282nd Army Band at Fort Jackson.
The trip was put together through the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, a Department of the Army program where participants enhance their Quality of Life, contribute through community service activities and assist in the planning and execution of their own leisure events.
The Soldiers arriving at the Center weren't sure how much leisure they would get after seeing the climbing walls and rafting rapids as they approached the entrance.
They were met by Wesslen Romano, a land sports guide and teamwork development course coordinator with the center, who began his briefing by challenging them to wake up and get psyched for the day.
He explained safety, gear and center procedures before delving in to teamwork concepts and personal rules, such as, 'no pressuring others to do something they are uncomfortable with.'
After the group got their wrists banded, they were split in to two teams for some friendly competition and headed for their first challenge.
When they got to one of the Center's teamwork development courses that looked pretty simple, Wesslen explained that it was -- but, they had to do the entire course of ropes, stumps, wires and tires -- without ever touching the ground.
That made the teams take a second look at the course before them and then they were off, trying to figure out how to maneuver the obstacles with the new rules.
"The confidence course was challenging but everyone worked as a team and we conquered it," said Sgt. Chela Kennard with Bravo Company, 120th Adjutant General Battalion.
Half an hour later and with smiles all around, they emerged from the woods as two definite teams that had already discovered the need to rely on each other to accomplish the mission at hand.
"The first thing I noticed was that you guys were all there for each other," Romano said to the group.
Next, it was time to take on the rapids.
The teams joined up as a group and were briefed on safety and procedures for rafting before they piled in to an inflatable raft with their paddles and a guide in the stern.
Rapids got more difficult as they floated through the course.
After bobbing and bumping down the most severe rapid on the course, they turned around to see their guide had been bounced out of the raft and was swimming to catch up with them.
"The whitewater rafting was amazing," said Pfc. Mary Ballman with Fort Jackson's MEDDAC at Fort Jackson. "Especially when we came down that rapid and the guide was suddenly gone."
On the last of three more times around the course, each more challenging, five of the eight got tossed out of the raft as it flipped on its side.
Soaking wet, laughing and smiling after their rafting debacle, the Soldiers then headed off to change in to dry clothes then grab a bite to eat.
After lunch, the teams split up to try to conquer different events, both heading for two very challenging ropes courses.
"I'm used to doing things that are hard, but not things that are frightening," said Spc. Brianna Scott, also with MEDDAC. "Being that high up was frightening but my teammates supported me and were like 'Hey Scott, just look up and ahead - you can do it' and I got through it -- it was awesome!"
One of the courses involved having to do a full chin up from a hanging position before even being qualified to attempt the course.
"Face your fears or they will hold you back from living life to the fullest," said Staff Sgt. Antonio Robinson with Fort Jackson's Special Troops Battalion as he completed his chin up and started the course.
An hour later, sweat soaked and exhausted, Robinson and Schade completed the tough course.
Other Soldiers opted for the more relaxing zip-line through the woods.
During one of the ropes courses, Robinson came upon a crying little boy who had suddenly frozen, gripping a tree 15 feet in the air. He got the boy calmed down and waited with him for one of the Center's staff members to come get the child and help him back down.
After conquering the ropes, the teams met up again for their last competition at a rock climbing wall and began furious relay races trying to get to the top and back down first.
"With a little more planning -- studying the wall -- we could have gotten farther up using a better route," said Staff Sgt. Stuart Bentley with Fort Jackson's 282nd Army Band.
The wall wasn't as easy as it looked and it sapped the last strength out of the teams.
"Not everything in life is easy, but if it's something you want to do, you should at least attempt it," said Sgt. 1st Class Shedrick Miller with the 525th Military Intelligence Brigade in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. "We all tried and we made it through."
It was nearly 5 p.m. when the tired and sore, but happy Soldiers talked about their day with each other and their guide before heading off to the gift shop and the van that would take them home.
"The day was exciting and was a lot of fun," said Sgt. Amanda Mayo with the 282nd Army Band.
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