FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of 8th Regiment, Basic Camp erupted in cheers and applause as their peers raced through demanding obstacles out at Beaudoin Obstacle Course July 27.
Making the obstacle course a competition cultivates a deeper sense of motivation and teamwork for the Cadets, according to 2nd Lt. Kevan Bjornson of Canton, Ohio.
A Cadet from 8th Regiment, Basic Camp focuses on moving through the monkey bars as fast as he can during a race through the Beaudoin Obstacle Course at Fort Knox, Ky. July 27. Photo by Sade’ Wilson
“Our focus for Alpha Company has been team-building and getting them ready to go out into the field. They’ve been working really hard, and this is fun. This gives them a break and gives them some time to run around in the woods without the stresses of drill sergeants,” the Rochester Institute of Technology graduate said.
They found themselves racing against the clock and each other while low crawling in dirt, climbing on netted rope, sprinting through narrow tunnels and swinging from monkey bars.
Cadet Emily Lacroix of Purdue University says while the obstacle course is fun, it’s teaching her why it’s vital to “stick together and help each other out.”
“We’re really here just to kind of learn the purpose of never leaving anybody behind. You can’t do your missions on your own, so you have to have everybody before you can move onto the next one. You can’t move on with the mission if someone’s two pages behind you,” the Chicago native said.
Cadets from 8th Regiment, Basic Camp take on the Low Crawl Obstacle at Beaudoin Obstacle Course at Fort Knox, Ky. July 27. Photo by Sade’ Wilson
Cadet Micah Maule of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo agrees.
“All of us have to do everything together. We can’t leave a single person behind. It’s part of the warrior ethos, ‘I will never leave a fallen comrade.’ Making sure that you’re strong as a group is quintessential to upholding that value,” he expressed.
In addition to strengthening their team-building skills, Maule says he’s enjoying learning about his peers.
“We all met each other two weeks ago now, today, and we all come from very different walks of life. All of us are very different people, but we all came together out here these past two weeks and really got to know each other. I’ve made some lifelong friends out here for sure and I know a lot of other people have,” Maule shared.
With a little over 15 more days left of Basic Camp, the Cadets of 8th Regiment find themselves prepared to embrace the challenges that await them in the field.
Cadet Summer Training will bring 8,200 Cadets through Basic and Advanced Camp this summer on Fort Knox. These camps are designed to help challenge, grow and improve various skills and leadership qualities within the Cadets. If you think you have what it takes to be a Cadet or if you are interested in a job after college, click the following link: https://my.goarmy.com/info/rotc1/index.jsp?iom=IP08-AUTO-R1NA-BR-XXX-XX-XXX-MO-XX-X-BRCMAC:IP08
