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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Challenges come in many forms; some are mental, some are physical. Recently more than 450 Army Reserve soldiers had the opportunity to meet both types of challenges face-to-face when they tackled the confidence course here as part of their yearly training.
The soldiers, from the 362nd Quartermaster Battalion, headquartered in Winterville, N.C., conducted a variety of training across the base as part of the battalion’s annual field training exercise (FTX), Feb. 28 – March 3.
Part of their training brought them to Range 85, where they faced the appropriately named Confidence Course.
“This course is designed to build the soldiers confidence, as well as give them a good physical workout,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alton Dawson, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the confidence course, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 362nd Quartermaster Bn. “It can be a lot of fun for the soldiers, but we also make sure it is as safe as possible.”
Safety was paramount to soldiers on the course, and for good reason; some of eight wooden obstacles on the course were more than 40-feet-high.
Before unit members were allowed to attempt crossing their first obstacle, the course instructors gave everyone a safety briefing, and then demonstrated the proper techniques and methods needed to successfully navigate each one of the structures.
After the briefing and demonstrations were complete, the Soldiers were divided into groups of about 20, and then they began the course.
Some seemed to have little problem navigating their way through, while others struggled. “Down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier,” several of the soldiers chanted as one of their own fell to the ground in a failed attempt to cross one of the wooden structures. The group then shared a laugh at the reference to the famous Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier boxing match.
While one group was busy using a rope to swing themselves onto and over a wooden barrier, another group was attempting to high-step over a series of four-foot-high wooden beams without using their hands. A little farther into the course another group faced a more mentally challenging obstacle: a 40-foot high structure resembling a giant ladder to the sky, forcing participants to take a hair-raising, spine-tingling climb up and over the top.
“The course was not easy, it was definitely a challenge,” said Spc. Solomon Abanda, a 25-year-old parachute rigger and native of Myrtle Beach, S.C., assigned to the 824th Quartermaster Company, 362nd Quartermaster Bn.
With a variety of colorful names like “The Weaver” and “Jacob’s Ladder” the course threw everything it had at the soldiers. But, one-by-one most of the soldier’s found a way over each obstacle, either on their own, or with assistance from the instructors or their fellow comrades.
“It was really fun; it really does get you pumped up and ready to tackle any obstacle that comes your way,” said Pvt. Benjamin Sahler, a 23-year-old parachute rigger and native of Whiteville, N.C., 824th Quartermaster Company, 362nd Quartermaster Bn.
At the end of the day all the soldiers seemed to walk away from the course with a smile on their face and a lot more confidence in themselves and their mental and physical abilities.
| Date Taken: | 03.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2013 12:40 |
| Story ID: | 103261 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 316 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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