Cadets from 8th Regiment, Basic Camp participated in the Beaudoin Obstacle Course July 27, 2018 at Fort Knox, Ky. Photo by Haley Brown
FORT KNOX, Ky. — Stay low Cadet, stay low! 8th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets motivated each other through the Beaudoin Obstacle Course July 27th, 2018.
Obstacles like the low crawl, cargo net wall and balance beams, teach the Cadets what to expect later in the field while also testing their physical fitness.
Cadet Spencer Jerome, University of Arkansas, explains how the Obstacle Course is a challenge to Cadets in Cadet Summer Training.
“We’re running through different types of obstacles to test different physical capabilities, whether that be balance, upper body capabilities or the low crawl,” he continues, “Usually the obstacles have some sort of simulation that might correspond with something you might see on the battlefield today.”
Jermone touches on the importance of the Obstacle Course to CST.
“Here we’re building team work and making leaders out of people by testing their capabilities and that’s what this obstacle course is here today,” he reiterates, “By having everybody here and relying on your teammate to get you through certain obstacles, whether it be crawling over the wall or the monkey bars at the end, it’s to build leadership skills and rely on your team to get you through something.”
Cadets from 8th Regiment, Basic Camp participated in the Beaudoin Obstacle Course July 27, 2018 at Fort Knox, Ky. Photo by Haley Brown
Not only do Cadets participate in the Obstacle Course, but they also compete against each other for the fastest time.
Cadet Joseph Harvey, Marquette University, believes that friendly competition is healthy within platoons.
“It [obstacle course] builds a lot of comradery and builds good morale with your squad or whoever you’re competing with, some friendly competition,” he continues, “It’s good to work on competing with one another and seeing who comes out on top, and building good team morale.”
Competition and teamwork are some of the highlights of the course, but also powering through adversity when Cadets want to quit.
Staff Sgt. Mckinley McBride, explains how the Obstacle Course improves Cadet’s mental and physical agility, while pushing them to overcome difficult hurdles.
Cadets from 8th Regiment, Basic Camp participated in the Beaudoin Obstacle Course July 27, 2018 at Fort Knox, Ky. Photo by Haley Brown
“During some operational environments it’s going to require them to negotiate obstacles that mimic these,” he vocalized, “It teaches them to work through adversity especially when they’re tired, and they’re hot and sweaty, they can still push through these obstacles, that’s why the last obstacle the overhang bars is a lot more physical excursion after they have already completed the whole course.”
McBride touches on what he hopes the Cadets will take away from the Obstacle Course.
“The biggest thing I want them to take away from it is not to quit, it’s easy for you to shut down physically and mentally, when the body gets tired, the mind will follow” he says, “But if you push through that, you can accomplish a lot of things.”
