Co. B navigates obstacle course

By Joe Castelli

Staff Writer

Balancing on thin surfaces, hanging from cargo nets and swinging from point A to point B on a rope are nothing new for the Cadets of Co. B 1/46th Inf. But a fresh array of physically-taxing obstacles presented them with a unique test of self-confidence Monday.

Cadet Keith Odom (right) crosses the logs at the Obstacle Course training session. Photo by Chen Wang

Bravo Co. took a break from basic rifle marksmanship training to navigate a series of structures at the Leader’s Training Course obstacle course that varied in nature from awkward leaps to high-flying climbs. The obstacles presented many different challenges, each with its own guidelines.Cadets pushed each other every step of the way, encouraging with both actions and words.

“It’s a confidence course that challenges them to face their personal fears,” said Lt. Col. Michael Murphy, platoon tactical officer for 3rd Platoon.

The tallest and perhaps most intimidating obstacle facing Cadets, bluntly dubbed “the tough one,” calls for an initial climb up a rope using one of several techniques demonstrated by cadre. Once they climbed to the second tier, Cadets had to walk across narrow wooden boards to a wooden ladder with thick rungs at the other side that narrowed as it peaked.

Already about 18 feet above the ground, the next step was to climb the ladder to the log mounted at the top. From the log dangled a cargo net that led to the ground, but the only way down was to hoist themselves over the log and onto the other side of the net.

Cadet Radina Marinova tries to cross one of the obstacles during the Obstacle Course training session. Photo by Chen Wang

“It was pretty simple once I got up the rope,” said Cadet Victoria Wiggins, a student of the University of Arkansas at Pinebluff who had never climbed a rope prior to LTC. “It’s a confidence issue.”

Another of the larger, more demanding obstacles consisted of large wooden beams lying across triangular frames. Aptly referred to as “the weaver,” Cadets had to snake over and under the beams alternately at about a 30-degree angle to the ground. Once at the apex, they did the same thing going down.

“It’s a little harder than it looks,” said Cadet Justin Coody, who attends State University of New York-Maritime College. “It was a little easier near the end.”

Cadet Lewis Nicks faced a similar obstacle in the past and felt this particular weaving climb was easy.

“I got a rhythm going,” said Nicks, a history major at San Diego State University.

Most other obstacles involved simply quickly getting from one side to the other. Those shorter ones required hopping over a small wall, swinging on a rope to a higher plane and hopping over a series of six elevated logs without letting their legs touch.

Co. B 1/46th Inf. Cadets go through the Obstacle Course training session. Photo by Chen Wang

At the “belly-over,” Cadets had to thrust themselves from a log resting about two feet off the ground and get over another that was around six feet high.

“You just gotta do it in one motion,” Coody said of the obstacle. “It’s all about confidence.”

Two common themes permeated the course. In addition to Cadets admitting confidence as an essential element to success, they enjoyed themselves along the whole way.

“It’s been fun,” said Cadet Brendan McRedmond, a history major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga who had been at other courses. “It beats standing in formation all day.”