FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the confidence course training where they rappelled off a 64-foot tower at Fort Knox, Ky., July 23, 2023. Cadets learned how to properly rappel, the safety of rappelling, and how to tie a rappel seat, called a Swiss Seat, before rappelling off the rappel tower. The purpose of the rappel training is to have Cadets gain confidence in themselves and overcome their fears. Cadets made their way to the slant wall to practice rappelling before walking up the stairs to the rappel tower. Cadet Amy Beaden from Northern Arizona University, […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the confidence course training where they rappelled off a 64-foot tower at Fort Knox, Ky., July 16, 2023. Cadets learned how to properly rappel, the safety of rappelling, and how to tie a rappel seat, called a Swiss Seat, before rappelling off the rappel tower. The purpose of the rappel training is to build confidence in yourself, have trust in your people, and your equipment. Cadets tied their rappel seats, checked their safety knots, and headed to the slant wall, which is a short version of the rappel tower where […]

Cadets Nina Huff, Loyola University Maryland, and Antonia Adipietro, Norwich University, from 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, compared their experience with the 64-foot rappel tower to their expectations for air assault school after camp at Fort Knox, Ky., June 28, 2023.

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from the 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, faced their fears and rappelled down the 64-foot rappel tower at Fort Knox, Ky., June 21, 2023. The purpose of the rappel tower training is to provide Cadets with the ability to overcome their fears, know how to safely rappel for the future, and build team cohesion. Cadet Kelly Godsey, University of New Mexico, felt ready to conquer the rappel tower. “I felt excited,” Godsey said. “I love rappelling, and I love doing things outside, just doing physical things, so I was really excited to do it.” Godsey has prior […]

Cadet Sage Brooks, North Carolina State University, marched his platoon to the Rappel Tower to take on their next challenge at Cadet Summer Training. As they arrived, a lieutenant mentioned to them that a brigadier general was waiting for them in front of the tower and wanted to give a few words of advice. “The lieutenant mentioned there was a one-star up there, and to be respectful and make sure to salute her,” said Brooks. “I was thinking in my head – alright, all the customs and courtesies. And then I saw my step dad’s truck and was like ‘oh, my […]

“Camp has been awesome. We are learning different things every single day. It’s amazing to close it out like this, and we’re just ready to go,” Cadet Oluwasegun Olatunji from Sam Houston State University said.  11th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets were the final regiment to complete the Rappel Tower and the Confidence Course during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky.  While some Cadets had a fear of heights and were dreading the tower, Olatunji was filled with excitement.  “I wasn’t nervous. I had trust in my cadre, they basically gave us all the information we needed and made sure we […]

As Cadet James Fisher, from Ole Miss: University of Mississippi, looked over the edge of the Sgt. Maj. Gary Fortunato Memorial Rappel Tower, he did not feel nervous, but rather right in his element.  “I went to Sabalauski Air Assault School in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, prior to coming here,” Fisher said.  Having previous rappel experience, Fisher obtained a unique approach to the tower at Cadet Summer Training.  “My perspective is, I have knowledge that I can use to help, but the instructors that are out here are in charge. I shouldn’t be overstepping bounds,” Fisher said.  With immense pride in having […]

“It seemed like every scary movie where someone’s about to fall off a cliff,” said Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadet Jasmine Valentine, from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, when describing the feeling of being on the 64 ft. rappel tower at Fort Knox, Ky. Valentine is from the the University of North Georgia where she has done things similar to the rappel tower with its ROTC program, but those experiences did not take away the fear she had going into the rappel tower training event.  “I have a deathly fear of heights,” she said.  Valentine said encouraging words she received from […]

Imagine the tension of hanging in a roller coaster car during that slight pause at the top of the first vertical drop, anticipating the ride down. This is similar to what the Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp experienced today on July 3, 2021, except there was no car, and they were hanging by a rope with their legs supporting them against a flat wall before jumping off and rappelling 64-feet down. The rappel tower is meant to push Cadets to overcome their fears, and to build up trust in their gear and procedures. The stakes felt high, but these Cadets […]

Army ROTC prides itself on finding the best and brightest students in the country, but this mission cannot be accomplished without proper mentorship at the university level. “I think that there is a danger in academia of having a nose buried in the book,” said Kelby Woodard, Headmaster of Saint Thomas Academy. “I think seeing how it actually is done on the ground, in action, is really important, for academia in particular, or else they get out of touch.” Woodard, along with a handful of other faculty members of various schools and universities, was chosen to visit Cadet Summer Training at […]

Letting fear run their lives? For some 2nd Regiment Cadets, not anymore. Those Cadets just learned how a 64-foot rappel tower test can help them overcome fears and build confidence within themselves during Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp. The main challenge for those Cadets was facing a fear of heights.  “I’m not ashamed to say that I’m scared of heights,” said Cadet Jeanille George from University of Colorado Colorado Springs. “My fear is really falling.” While fear may have tried to control some Cadets’ thoughts, the danger was solely in their minds. The best solution? Replace that fear with confidence in […]

64-feet above ground. A secured rope seat and your own strength holding you up. Now Cadet, take the leap. Facing your fears is something all of us have to do, but for 1st Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets, their fears became all too real when looking at the Rappel Tower this morning. Cadet Carter Jefferson, from the Virginia Military Institute, shared his feelings as he climbed up the stairs of the wooden structure. “If you can’t call it anxiety, I’d say it’s a lot of anticipation of what’s going to happen,” Jefferson explained. For any Cadet who has never rappelled before, like […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcko90yshPQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Rappelling may not have been in the repertoire of all 10th Regiment Cadets prior to Advanced Camp, but each one of them bounded down the 60-foot rappel tower, July 22. 1st Lt. Jason Keniston, the 10th Regiment chaplain, explained how the rappel training at Advanced Camp readies Cadets for their career as commissioned officers. “The rappel training prepares Cadets for combat situations but primarily demonstrates how overcoming fear is feasible,” said Keniston. “Everyone goes up the tower with some sort of fear. All Cadets have to do is trust their leadership, trainers, equipment and the […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Fifth Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed rappel tower training today to push themselves to tackle fears and improve personal courage. Cadets were required to complete three variations of the rappel tower; the slight incline, the wall and the open face rappel. They were meant to not only teach the Cadets but test them as well. “Each one is building up off of what we previously did,” Cadet John Manning, from Overland Park, Kansas, and attending Marquette University, said. “The slant tower is to make sure we know the basic skills. The wall side is so we can […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTLwTI4FNMs[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY. – “Do not think about it, just go,” said Cadet Bennett Weyhrauch, from Pacific Lutheran University. Today, 3rd Regt. Advanced Camp Cadets had to do just that when they faced the 64-foot Rappel Tower here at Fort Knox. It might have been wet and raining before hand, but that did not stop Cadets from overcoming this monstrous obstacle. Before making their way up the tower, Cadets learned how to properly tie a swiss seat so they could go down the wall safely. Once cadets get up to the top, they must tell the rappel master which […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kPPSQI1po[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. – It was a long climb up the stairs for the 4th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets this morning. From the ground to the top of the 60-foot rappel tower it’s 80 steps. Depending on one’s anxiety level it was either a quick walk up or a slow shuffle. Cadet Jacob Drobney, from Atlanta, Georgia, who attends the University of North Georgia, said the signs with Army values motivated his climb. “As you are walking the stairs up you can see the leadership qualities like loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage,” Drobney said. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from the 2nd Regiment Advanced Camp overcame their insecurities and became more self-assured at the Rappel Tower and Confidence Course today.  In order to complete their training at Fort Knox, Cadets must complete these two events. While Company C began learning how to tie a Swiss seat harness for the Rappel Tower, Company D began its day at the Confidence Course.  Through each of the nine obstacles on the Confidence Course, Cadets tested not only their mental endurance, but also used their upper-body and core strength. Some obstacles included The Weaver, where one has to maneuver […]

Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets may have taken the stairs up the 60- foot tower, but that is not how they came down. 1st Regiment Cadets going through Advanced Camp went down a series of rappels today. At 7 a.m. Cadets arrived to the rappel tower site and were given their safety brief. After the briefing they were instructed on how to construct the swiss seat harness out of rope. Once the harnesses were secured and inspected, Cadets hit the tower. Cadets went through three different rappels. The first rappel was down a small slanted wall in which they were given […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – It was a strenuous morning for 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets, as they made their way through the Confidence Course and down the Rappel Tower July 22, 2018. To start off the day, the Cadets began with demonstrations from Cadre who lead the training, showing them the rappeling process and how to complete each obstacle. Many Cadets arrived unsure of themselves and with fear in their eyes. “I don’t like heights, so that was definitely something that I had to overcome,” Cadet Natosha Courtney from Mississippi State University said, still shaken after completing the Confidence Course. The Cadets […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Often in life we are forced to climb on in situations of hardship, while in other moments we must decide to take a blind leap and hope that all our preparation will lead to a graceful landing. The Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp learned that great obstacles in their lives can be not only mentally challenging, but also physically demanding, as they took on the Rappel Tower and Confidence Course during Cadet Summer Training 2018. Most people started their morning rolling out of bed and enjoying things like the morning news, a nice breakfast, and a […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets challenged themselves, while learning the importance of motivation at the Rappel Tower and Obstacle Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky July 13. Climbing, rappelling, falling and scaling, the Cadets face challenges of personal courage and dexterity while developing interpersonal and communication skills required to achieve greatness in the US Military. “The main thing we want them to get from the confidence course is that they can face these obstacles,” Capt. Kyle Gellhaus, Army Reserve, stated. “A lot of times they have a fear of heights, they don’t think they can do it and […]

FORT KNOX Ky.- Today was an exciting day for members of the Kentucky Cabinet. They had the amazing opportunity of learning how to rappel in the same fashion Cadets do at Cadet Summer Training. The event kicked off with brief safety instructions and demonstrations of correct and incorrect ways to rappel down the tower. Once demonstrations were complete, they began to fasten up their protective gear and practice what they learned on a smaller training wall. After the cabinet members completed a dry run of belay and rappelling, they were ready for the real deal. One by one, each member climbed […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Instructors rattled out instructions in a well-rehearsed, free verse poem. Nervous ears listened carefully, hoping to gain only a fraction of the Cadre’s confidence. Eyes strained in the light, looking at the top of the 64-foot rappel tower. On June 28, 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets rappelled. A Cadre member leaned out and introduced himself. Then, he leaned into the “deep-seated L” position over the edge of the tower. Three bounds, and three 4-point checks later, his feet touched the ground. “Notice how they are extending their arm straight back, looking over their brake-hand shoulder,” the instructor said rhythmically. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Hidden in the forests behind the rappel tower looms its counterpart, the confidence course. Made up of several different obstacles like The Tough One, The Weaver and The Confidence Climb, the course rightly performs its purpose: instilling true confidence in the Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp August 8. That statement is more than true for Cadet Milynel Ortiz, a student from the University of Central Florida. While working through The Weaver, a towering, pyramid-like obstacle that doubles as a ladder, Ortiz carried herself with accuracy and speed to the top.  She said having some innate confidence […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – With the final days of Cadet Summer Training approaching fast Cadets from 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp took on the Rappel Tower on July 28, Fort Knox, Ky. Cadets are put to the test by rappelling down 64-foot wall twice. Once on the wall side; once on the no wall side. Some Cadets had no problem going down but others had questionable thoughts about rappelling. “I don’t have a phobia of heights but I was definitely uncomfortable,” said Cadet Brianna Russell, Western Michigan University. “As soon as I stepped out on the ledge I was more scared than […]