Fort Knox, Ky., – 7th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets challenged their fear during the Obstacle Course June 9, 2018.
The Obstacle Course is one of the training events that Cadets must go through for Advanced Camp graduation in the military.
7th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets participated in the Obstacle Course training July 9, 2018, at Fort Knox, KY. (Photo by Angela Yin)
Cadets have to maneuver various obstacles during the event, such as climbing ladders and ropes, walking across the wooden logs aloft, crawling backward in the sand, and many others.
A lot of Cadets have done an Obstacle Course before, but most of them are really frustrated with the higher and more difficult structures today.
The activities are challenging for the Cadets; however, they are further designed to boost their confidence. If a person can manage to go to a high tower with confidence, they will have achieved the primary target of the course at the end.
7th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadet Hunter Bench, University of Missouri, conquered his fear of heights during the Obstacle Course training July 9, 2018, at Fort Knox, KY. (Photo by Angela Yin)
“The only challenge is just the fear. However, a lot of Cadets is a little not confident enough, and that’s the actual purpose of the obstacle course, ” Second Lieutenant, Tucker Ellis explained. “Doing something difficult can definitely foster a team-building mentality and health through the days to come.”
The Confidence course is also a way for Cadets to get out of their comfort zones and push themselves to do things that they may otherwise not. It is all about the ability to reframe issues, ideas, and perspectives from multiple angles for a leader.
Cadet Megan Anderson from University of Alabama said, “Even being prepared for the Advanced Camp and doing all you can do, it is still tough to control your mental and physical agility here.”
This course entails so many challenges that require one to have a strong heart and mind to get through them. The good thing about these trainings is that they are done in groups, so there is so much morale given from the rest of the group.
7th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadet Megan Anderson, University of Alabama, climbed on the rope with support from her team during the Obstacle Course July 9, 2018, at Fort Knox, KY. (Photo by Angela Yin)
You hear all the Cadets cheering each other on and yelling out words of encouragement while doing their tasks in training. Wars are not fought alone, and no one can get through the whole exercise by themselves without their battle buddies.
Cadet Colby King from Purdue University challenged himself to help everyone in his squad get through the Obstacle Course. “Everyone needs to be supported especially for their weakest link, and it makes it even weaker if the weakest link doesn’t feel like they’re being supported.”
Throughout the past two weeks, Cadets had to adjust to their new learning environment, trees and mud surrounding them rather than the normal classroom.
“I believe we have been sleeping in the field for about 19 straight days,” Cadet Brian Majeske from the University of Georgia said. “I’ve never stayed outside for more than two days before, so it is something new to me, but we will all make it through.”
The days living in the field is an essential and grueling journey for the Cadets.
Being a Cadet is not a walk in the park, but a new life way of challenging.
