FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of 4th Regiment Basic Camp completes Teamwork Development Course June 23 in Fort Knox, Ky.
TDC is about Cadets working together as a team for the first time.
“The purpose of it is for all of the Cadets to develop as leaders and figure out how work in a team. A lot of these Cadets sit in a classroom and plan things out but when you get in a real environment and work with a bunch of people who all have ideas, you need to learn how to work together,” said Cadet Mentor Sean Bogertey, (MSIII), The Citadel Military Academy.
Cadets of 4th Regiment Basic Camp work together to complete an obstacle at the Dunagan Team Development Course on Ft. Knox, Kentucky, June 23. Photo by Lindsey Crown
There are eight events that Cadets need to finish. Within each event, there are different scenarios that take 25 minutes to complete. For each event, Cadets are not to touch the ground or the yellow part of the structure.
If Cadets touch either part then they are to stop and count to 15 as a group. Touching these spots is a penalty and withholds then from completing the event in the time given.
Prior to completing the event, they are given a brief overview on how to complete it. There are different objectives for each event; one event requires Cadets to bring their wounded Soldier from one side to the other.
They are given minimal resources and are not required to use all of them.
Cadets of 4th Regiment Basic Camp transport a “wounded soldier” across an obstacle at the Dunagan Team Development Course on Ft. Knox, Kentucky, June 23. Photo by Lindsey Crown
“I know I completely blank out so that I know when I’m faced with a very big problem, I need to know how to accomplish our mission,” said Cadet Tomas Villagomez, University of Washington.
Cadet Mentor Raymond Brown (MSIII) explains TDC and how it isn’t made to make Cadets stressed out. However it is to prepare them for those stressful situations when they leave Basic Camp.
Villagomez sums up TDC as a whole, “This is not an easy problem, you need to work together or you fail.”
