Echo Co. learns importance of teamwork at stream-crossing

By Roseline Twagiramariya

Staff Writer

While learning how to cross a two-rope bridge suspended eight feet above water, Cadets also got the first taste of what it is like to be in the military.

Echo Co. Cadet Joshua Dilday from Truman State University crosses the one-rope bridge during a stream-crossing race. Photo by Michael Rivera

Taken out of their comfort zones and into an area where cell phone coverage does not exist, Cadets are tested first as individuals and then as a team at stream-water crossing training.

Some Cadets bring with them a fear of heights, water or both. However, to successfully complete the event, they all have to overcome their fears and come together as a whole.

“It’s all mental,” Florida State University Cadet Natasha Miller said.

For Brigette Miller, the fear of heights was the least of her worries.

“I’m not really afraid of heights but one thing to worry about is going out of line,” the Valley Forge Military Academy Cadet said.

After a week at LTC, the Co. E. 1/46th Inf. Cadets were doing training that involved learning how to tie knots and building rope bridges.

The knot-tying often proved the most difficult.

Master Sgt. Michael Jackson, on the stream-crossing committee, said Cadets often miss something during the lesson and get lost when it comes to building their own.

“We can’t do anything without those knots tied,” Jackson said.

Cadets each took turns balancing across a three-rope bridge and later incorporated that into a competition at the end of the day.

Squads raced against each other in constructing a one-rope bridge and getting all the team members across in the least amount of time. This is where teamwork came in.

“We hope they learn to understand how important it is for them to work with their fellow Cadets,” Jackson said, “because when they progress in the Army, it will take teamwork for them to be successful.”

Cadet Eric Seifer of Indiana University of Pennsylvania crosses the three-rope bridge during stream-crossing training. Photo by Michael Rivera

The competition between the squads was the highlight of the day and used colorful smoke, hard rock music and explosions to give it a more realistic effect.

“We want to make it more exciting and set the atmosphere that it’s a team competition and get them in that frame of mind,” Jackson said.

For most Co. E. Cadets, stream-crossing was one of the first times they were tested as a team. They found it to be the most enjoyable event of their training to date.

“It was exciting, we worked as a team and we got it done,” said Keith Johnson from Florida State University, whose squad won the competition Friday. “Everyone did their part, and it was awesome.”

Squad member Megan Webb from the New Mexico Military Institute agreed, saying that even though they had some difficulties coming together as a team the last couple of days, they were able to get it together for the event.

“We pulled it off, and it was so much fun,” Webb said.

Sgt. Maj. Thomas Solak, NCO in charge at stream-crossing, said the training does two things; teach confidence and teamwork.

“This punctuates teamwork, and it is a preliminary thing which gives them a taste of what the military is like,” Solak said.

For Natasha Miller, the training taught her the importance of personal courage.

“I’m deathly afraid of water, and I never thought that I would ever do anything like this,” Miller said. “But I’m here and I love it and I’m probably going to contract when I get back.”