Army Cadets overcome fear at obstacle course

By Spc. Ryan HallockJune 24, 2011

Conquering Fear
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. -- Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets Kevin Gillespie (left) and Guy Mbemba (right) place their trust in their equipment and training as they rappel down the 37-foot rappel tower here June 21. The Army Cadet... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
In and Out
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. -- Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Deniece Tukuafu from the University of Hawaii, successfully navigates the "Weaver" obstacle during the confidence training course here June 21. The Army Cadets navigated t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Death Crawl
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. -- Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets get briefed on the challenges of low-crawling the "Low-Wire" obstacle during the confidence training course here June 21. The Army Cadets navigated the confidence and obs... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Avoidin' Barbed Wire
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. -- Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Bradley Anderson from Old Dominion University barely avoids the barbed wire during the "Low-Wire" obstacle during the confidence training course here June 21. The Army Cad... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Won't Let Go
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. -- Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets negotiate the obstacle during the confidence training course here June 21. The Army Cadets navigated the confidence and obstacle course and rappel tower and during their ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Dig Deep
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. -- Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Ashley Williams digs deep to overcome the obstacle in her path during the confidence training course here June 21. The Army Cadets navigated the confidence and obstacle co... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Low Crawl
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. -- Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Kent Gonzales slides on his back to narrowly avoid the barbed wire in the "Low-Wire" obstacle during the confidence training course here June 21. The Army Cadets navigated... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. -- The four-story ascent to the top of the rappel tower was like a roller coaster slowly inching its way to its inevitable, thunderous decent.

With apprehension and no view of the outside world from within the stairwell of the tower, Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets climbed to the top, knowing they would soon meet their fear face to face.

The rappel training is one of the obstacles and confidence training courses Army ROTC Cadets are required to navigate during the Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as Operation Warrior Forge, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord June 21.

“Is there anybody here that has absolutely no apprehension or fear to go off the top of this tower,” asked Sgt. 1st Class David Lykens, rappel master, University of Minnesota.

Lykens asks this question during each rappel briefing and he explains how it is necessary to have respect for the height because overconfidence leads to accidents in the field.

To simulate the atmosphere of the field, the Cadets first navigated a series of obstacles, where teamwork, motivation, encouragement and leadership determined the future officers’ success.

The “Low Wire” required the Cadets to low crawl on their backs to narrowly avoid the jagged barbed wire. The “Weaver” proved difficult as the Cadets weaved in-and-out of a pyramid of logs. Failure to overcome each obstacle resulted in a “no-go” which means they would have to navigate the obstacle again.

“The overall purpose of this is basically for them to start working together as a team and to motivate themselves through the course,” said Master Sgt. Ray Garza, confidence course noncommissioned officer in charge, Texas A&M;University. “As they finish, they realize they’ve accomplished something.”

The confidence course provides an arena for the Cadets to not only build their confidence and personal courage but to also develop their leadership skills. The goal is to finish as team, and the Cadets high levels of camaraderie and motivation proved crucial in achieving their goal.

With the last Cadet maneuvering under the barbed wire, it was time to march from the obstacle course to the next hurdle of the day: the rappel tower.

As the Cadets tied their Swiss seat rappel harnesses, they realized that today was the day to overcome any lingering fear of heights which became apparent as they viewed the tower.

“We’re trying to build up their confidence,” said Sgt. 1st Class David Lykens, rappel master, University of Minnesota. “Once you’ve overcome a fear of your own, your confidence level will sprout out into everything you do.”

Pairs of cadets shuffled to the edge once they reached the top of the rappel tower. Thirty-seven feet is all it takes to be planted firmly and safely on the ground again. To get there the Cadets would have to respect their fears and place their trust in their training and equipment.

“You gain a lot of trust in yourself and know that you can do anything you put your mind to,” said Cadet Kevin Gillespie, Texas A&M;University.

With his back to the edge of the tower, Gillespie used his brake hand on the rope to hold him in place. On the left side of the Tower his fellow Cadet, Guy Mbemba, North Carolina A&T;University, stood ready to lower himself down. The rappel master gave the command to rappel, and the Cadets kicked off the wall and swooped down and descended in 10-foot increments to the ground.

“It’s always cool to see how easy it is to rappel down such a thing with such simple equipment,” said Gillespie.

While some Cadets were more hesitant than others, failure to execute was unacceptable.

“We won’t let them quit,” said Lykens. “Their confidence level shoots up when they go down.”

There may not be a 37-foot wall in the middle of Afghanistan but knowing how to overcome the fear of heights provides the Cadets with the well roundedness it takes to be an Army leader.

Completing the obstacle and confidence training courses bring the Cadets one step closer to their ultimate goal of being commissioned as second lieutenants into the active Army, Reserves or National Guard.