Cadets from 8th Regiment, Basic Camp participated in the High Ropes Course and the Climbing Course at the Forest Hills Climbing Complex on July 18, 2018, at Fort Knox, Ky. Photo by Haley Brown
FORT KNOX, Ky.— 8th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets conquered their fears and boosted their confidence by completing the Forest Hills Climbing Complex July 18, 2018.
Cadets tested their mental and physical strengths while participating in various obstacles suspended high in the air.
Sgt. Donovan Speers greeted Cadets with a smile at the last obstacle of the Rudder’s High Ropes Course and instructed them on how to use their equipment for their decent to the ground on the zip line.
Sgt. Speers checks Cadet Levi Buckles’, University of Buea, equipment before descending on the zip line on July 18, 2018, at Fort Knox, Ky. Photo by Haley Brown
Speers believes that by preserving through the High Ropes Course, Cadets overcome their fears and build the confidence they need to become an Army Officer.
“The course is mainly designed to give the Cadets confidence, this is their first time in a military training environment for most of them, some coming right out of high school,” he continues, “what we’re trying to do is get them to overcome their fears, get them to increase confidence and have them do something they’ve generally not done before.”
Many Cadets had smiles on their faces while making their way through the course.
Cadet Joshua Judkins, Auburn University, gets ready to decent off of the zip line after completing the High Ropes Course at FHCC on July 18, 2018 at Fort Knox, Ky. Photo by Haley Brown
Cadet Joshua Judkins, Auburn University, reflects on the importance of the Confidence Course on Cadet Summer Training.
“We’re out here to learn about ourselves to better understand the abilities that we have, it’s mind over matter,” he reflected.
Judkins explains how FHCC helps Cadets push themselves to reach their full potential.
“The Army teaches us two things; to overcome your physical and your mental capabilities,” he extended, “so when we’re out here, we’re learning our mental and our physical capabilities, we’re stressing ourselves and testing ourselves and we’re learning a lot today.”
Many Cadets faced their fear of heights head-on today.
Cadet Kylie Schinn, University of Nevada Reno, was nervous leading up to the course today but persevered through her fears and successfully completed after cheers and motivation from her fellow Cadets.
Cadet Chandler Frohm, University of Arizona hangs from the rope wall leading up to the zip line at FHCC on July 18, 2018, at Fort Knox, Ky.
“It’s very encouraging having other Cadets down on the ground cheering you on, it kind of made me feel and do better.”
Schinn felt motivated after encouragement from her peers.
“There was one that I was shaking really bad and almost fell but they were like ‘You got it! You got it!’, and I was like ‘Okay I got this!’, she continued, “I was able to get back up and then I actually finished without falling at all, it was nice to have that support.”
