By Lindsey Crown
Cadet Sha’quetah Bailey has a crippling fear of heights.
Maj. Gen. Hughes completing the high ropes course on Ft. Knox, Kentucky, July 4. Photo by Staff Sergeant Fullerton
It all started when she was younger and almost slipped out of a roller coaster at the North Carolina State Fair.
“I still get jitterbugs from it,” Bailey said, Elizabeth City State University,.
Maj. Gen. Christopher Hughes asked Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp what their greatest fears were during a meeting, she said.
Hughes identified with Bailey when she said she had a fear of heights. So much so that he said he’d take on the high ropes course with her – a task that they must complete in order to graduate, Bailey said.
“He said good job and it was definitely something that I was like ‘WHOO! I’m glad I did do it’,” Bailey said.
Maj. Gen. Hughes completing the high ropes course on Ft. Knox, Kentucky, July 4. Photo by Staff Sergeant Fullerton
She’s still afraid of heights, but having him there was encouraging in helping her accomplish what she had to do, she said.
“General Hughes went through every step of the way with her,” said Staff Sgt. Belynda Fullerton. “It was an amazing thing to see.”
She’s never seen a two star general do anything like that, Fullerton said.
“He’s a leader of presence,” she said. “He doesn’t ask his Cadets or doesn’t expect anything of his Cadets. If they’re going to graduate this course, they have things they have to do. Well don’t think that the general won’t do them as well. He’s right there. He’ll do them.
