SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HAWAII -- Saturday began with 25th Infantry Division Soldiers performing the Ha'a, is the "dance of the warrior," to welcome the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warrior football team to Schofield Barracks for a day of adaptive leadership training.
The UH players respectfully responded with a thunderous Haka, a traditional war cry dance originating from New Zealand.
"I did it with my full heart and I totally felt and respect them for what they did for us," said Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea, a Rainbow Warrior defensive end.
The football players participated in a multiple team building exercises with assistance from Tropic Lightning Soldiers. This wasn't just the usual physically demanding training but also very complex mentally.
"Our guys woke up thinking we were going to take them to boot camp, and they were betting on how many pushups they were going to do today," said Nick Rolovich, UH head coach. "This was to challenge their mind, adaptive learning, and leadership.
Coach Rolovich had a conversation with Trey Johnson, a retired Army colonel, to come up with idea in hopes to build the players belief in each other. Johnson coordinated this event and believed that working with the 25th ID would help the football team.
"I feel privileged because the Army is the greatest team in the world, said Gen. Robert Brown, U.S. Army Pacific Commander. The opportunity to show these guys what the Army does, how we form teams and build on that great legacy."
Cadre from the 25th ID Lightning Academy Adaptive Leaders Program gave quick classes to the athletes that forced them to think about every aspect of a decision.
"Leadership is leadership, whether it's on the battlefield or football field. I was thrilled. I said if coach wants to do this then we are going to have a great team," Brown said.
The classes made a point to establish that communication is the key and understanding adaptability would make the team better and cohesive.
"In Army we have to be a cohesive team of professionals. We have a complex world and you don't know what you are going to face," Brown said. "We work on it every day in the Army building great teams, trusted professionals and are cohesive and can do whatever our nation asks."
"We are very grateful of the Soldiers, and we appreciate team. I hope that this partnership with UH football and UH in general can blossom," Rolovich said. "We are on this island together, and there's a mutual respect and we are very excited about that.
Social Sharing