LTC provides chance to educate educators

By Shane Ersland
Staff writer

As professors from various colleges across America prepared for an adventure at the rappel tower at the Leader’s Training Course last week, they seemed undeterred by the 50-foot drop they would be making. They did, however, have a problem with sounding off with their weight before taking the plunge.

Barry White, vice president of financial affairs at Ultica College in New York, hangs on for dear life after falling from the bridge on Rudder's Ropes Course. Photo by Forrest Berkshire

Rappelers are required to list their weight before they descend, because if the jumper is more than 190 pounds, Soldiers working the tower double-knot the rappelling cord, to cause greater friction, so they don’t descend too fast.

When the pre-jump routine was rehearsed by Soldiers in front of the professors, who were at Fort Knox as part of the annual Educators Visit, a second lieutenant acting like he was getting ready to jump off gave his name and said “180 pounds.” Immediately, a teacher sitting in the crowd yelled, “Oh, no!”

Many in the group overcame the embarrassment of divulging this information, however, and took part in rappelling.

Nearly 100 professors and administrators were at LTC for four days to get a feel for what Cadets experience and to learn in-depth about ROTC, opportunities available to students through the program and the relationship of ROTC and campus communities. LTC invites those at colleges and universities to come to Fort Knox every summer with the goal that many who make the trip will use what they learn to help promote ROTC when they return to school.

While they were at LTC, the educators spent Wednesday and Friday training, which included rappelling and climbing on ropes. On Thursday, they attended leadership classes, and were treated to a dinner banquet.

Johanna DuBose, an academic advisor for nursing students at Texas A&M, said the Army would help some of her students who are struggling with money to pay for school.

“I’ll tell them about the financial opportunities available, and I’m going to put the picture of me rappelling up in my office,” DuBose said, referring to an image given to her of descending the tower.

Lorie Garrison, from Cameron University in Lawton, Okla., had some advice for Cadets. She said she didn’t listen to a Soldiers’ directions, and that is why she ended up flipping upside down when she went off the tower.

“I think I peed my pants,” Garrison said. “It’s a good lesson for Cadets; if you pay attention you won’t end up screaming obscenities because you’re hanging the wrong way.”

Todd Hutton, president of Utica College in New York, didn’t let his age stop him from climbing the ropes at Rudder’s Ropes Course Friday.

“I’m 61, and I’m in pretty good shape,” Hutton said. “But, this is right at the edge of my endurance level.”