Cadets navigate ropes course, alpine tower, climbing wall

By Mary Barczak
Staff writer

Alpha Company Cadets Cassandra Adams and Kimberly Adkins chatted about their families, school and their experience thus far at the Leader’s Training Course while waiting in line with dozens of others. Towering in front of them was something neither were excited to face: the 45-foot-high maze of ropes and bridges called Rudder’s Rope Course.

The girls might have not openly displayed signs of fear, at first, but those soon surfaced as they began to climb.

Adams, from Heidelberg, Germany, and Adkins, from Augusta, Ga., both ultimately agreed they were scared to climb as part of training known as Where Eagles Dare.

Adkins readily admitted her fear, but her battle buddy, Adams, curtailed answering the question to act brave for Adkins.

Christopher Gomek from Tulane University climbs the rock wall during Alpha Company's time at Where Eagles Dare. Photo by Ryan Stone

“I was trying to be cool about it and not act scared, but I was,” Adams said.“I know I have to (climb), but that doesn’t make me want to, though,” Adkins said.

Alpha and Bravo Companies got a chance to face their fears the last two weeks at the Forest Hills Climbing Complex. The companies each spent two days tackling a trio of climbing courses: Merrill’s Marauder, Moore’s Mountain and Rudder’s Rope Course. Each poses hurdles of varying degrees to Cadets — all above the ground.

Master Sgt. Colonel Shipman, the NCOIC of Rudder’s, said Forest Hills is designed to help Cadets build their confidence and overcome any fear of heights.

In addition to getting over the fear of heights, the hope is that the course will build on the budding camaraderie between Cadets, said Lt. Col. Dan Mishket, the company tactical officer for Alpha Company. As they waited for their turn on the course, Cadets joked with one another and snapped pictures.

“This will help them to form a foundation in their confidence and their ability,” he said. “We have to keep it (Leader’s Training Course) challenging, otherwise they (Cadets) go home.”

Adams, who attends the University of Texas at El Paso, and Adkins, who attends August State University, said they always seem to end up being each other’s battle buddy. As they inched closer to the front of the line, they continued to chat.

Adams decided to tackle the course first, leaving her battle buddy as a safety on the ground. She moved through the course with driving determination and a strong concentration.

With her tongue out, Adams grunted as she pulled herself through the course.

Alex Toro from Marion Military scales Lane 6 at the Where Eagles Dare climbing tower. The tower features 10 lanes of increasing difficulty. Photo by Ryan Stone

“I’m surprised I’m still breathing, and I’m on the ground,” Adkins said, as she looked up at Adams.

Adams yelled down that the course wasn’t too hard.

Adkins, who once suffered a panic attack when faced with diving off a 12-foot high diving board, said the obstacles she dreaded most on Rudder’s were the rope bridge and zip line and, of course, falling.

She wasn’t the only one. A lot of Alpha Company Cadets struggled to push themselves through and seemed terrified of the wooden plank bridge, which wobbles, has several missing planks and forces Cadets to take large, difficult strides to make it across.

After Adams successfully completed the course, it was Adkins’ turn.

Second Lt. Savannah Whitt, a squad tactical officer with Alpha Company, decided to do the course with Adkins to help calm her. Adkins became shaky and unsure, but Adams continued to offer encouragement to her along with Whitt.

“I can’t do it,” Adkins said, stopped in the middle of the course.

“Keep going, keep pulling with your arms,” Adams said to Adkins.

Adkins began to tear up before pushing ahead and going across the rope bridge. Adams and Whitt cheered Adkins down the zip line.

“Good job! This is the easiest and most fun part!” they said.

Adkins concurred. She said she was relieved she didn’t have to do it again.

“I had to do it and go, or leave LTC,” Adkins said, referring to the requirement to complete the ropes course.

Forest Hills left other Cadets with memorable experiences, too.

Daniel Moore from Clemson, Sc. belays at an alpine tower Tuesday afternoon. Cadets are taught basic belay and climbing techniques during their time at LTC. Photo by Ryan Stone

William Shacklett, from Ashland City, Tenn., said the training was the first time he had ever been on an obstacle like the ropes course.

Shacklett, who attends the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a member with Alpha Company, was one of the training’s highlights. He had to be coaxed to run across the wood plank bridge. When he reached the other side, he wrapped his arms around the pole and kissed it.

When Shacklett rode the zip line, he shouted a few profanities and was reprimanded with 10 push-ups when he got back on the ground.

Overall though, Shacklett said the experience was fun, but scary at the start.

“It wasn’t about being too high, that wasn’t too bad,” he said. “The first couple of sections were easy, but then it got harder when you got to the rope bridge.”

For battle buddies Adams and Adkins, more than just fear is bonding them during LTC. Both are thinking about getting a tattoo as a present to themselves when they graduate the course.

Adams already has three tattoos: her name, her zodiac sign and a butterfly. She’s not sure what she wants next.

Adkins doesn’t have a tattoo but wants a small daisy on her foot when she graduates.

“I figured I’d start out small,” she said.