|
|
Leadership Camp |
|
JROTC CADET LEADERSHIP COURSE (JCLC)
Article
Submitted by Battalion Commander (Jacob Gardner)
JROTC Cadet Leadership Course is like nothing else in this world. It is an experience that you will remember forever. JCLC is better known as Camp Konza. This is not anything like scout or band camp. Here you have to face your greatest fears head-on, while having people you don’t even know screaming at the top of their lungs for you to succeed.
It all began on Monday, July 21. The 33 cadets of Leavenworth High School met early in the morning to prepare. Shortly thereafter they loaded onto a bus that would take them on their three hour ride to the camp.
During the ride there, you could feel the energy all around. Veterans of the camp were giving advice to the first years on what to expect. Some their advice was helpful, and some of it only scared them more.
After a short ride, the vehicle stopped on top of a hill located at the Rock Springs Resort. Looking out the windows we saw that other cadets were already here. Some were receiving their gear and others hard their faces in the dirt. That would be a position that the cadets would become very familiar with throughout the week.
Suddenly, the Training and Counseling (TAC) officer known as Sergeant White stepped onto the bus. Immediately the yelling began. We had to get off the bus as fast as we could, then upload the gear. But apparently we didn’t get off the bus fast enough since we were ordered to get back on and do it again.
After getting off the bus for a second time, we proceeded to unload the van. Next, we were issued our camelback, our lifeblood.
Then the camp commandant, Major Wright, separated us into two companies, from there, each company was split into two platoons. Every cadet was paired with another cadet from a different school. The pair of cadets would be known as battle buddies. You are never allowed to do anything without a battle buddy.
After watching an introductory slide show, we went down to an open field where we played Frisbee Football.
Frisbee Football is the only event that is played for bragging rights. While the football tournament was going on, the other company took part in server team building exercises.
After multiple games of Frisbee Football, the final round was here with 1st Platoon of Alpha Company squaring off with 2nd Platoon of Bravo Company. The game rocketed with sounds of cheering and motivation from both teams as the game commenced. In the end, Bravo Company was victorious.
Following the game, we went to the mess hall for chow and then returned to our barracks to get settled.
Before we went to bed (which is considered ‘lights out’), the TAC officers assigned student leadership roles to each company. Every cadet was responsible for the well being of all the cadets under their authority. All the positions ranging from squad leader to battalion commander were issued to a cadet.
At that point, all the cadets including me were tired and went to bed immediately. We would need our sleep for the next day was going to be even harder.
At 0600 hours Tuesday, we woke up to the sound of our TAC officers. By 0630, we were outside in a ‘formation’. Our TAC didn’t really describe it as a ‘formation’, but more of a gaggle.
After we had breakfast, the two companies alternated between the day’s activities. The first activity was the Low Rope Course (LCR). This was a series of events designed to test our teamwork and show the importance of leadership, this consisted from a strange form of tag to fitting 25 cadets on a 5 by 5 graham cracker.
Following the LCR was the rope bridge. This challenge taught us how to tie a Swiss seat (a tight fitting harness made of rope), and to cross a line of rope tied between two tree’s.
Next was a land navigation class. The class taught us how to shoot an azimuth, locate points on a map, and how to reach these points.
Shortly after the class was a land navigation course that made cadets search for 6 points that were located around the camp grounds.
At the end of the day we were allowed to take showers and finally relax. Cadets that were issued leadership roles had evaluations with their respective TAC officer.
Wednesday was similar to the previous day. Cadets repeated the LCR course. But two new challenges awaited us. Alpha Company’s event that day was drown proofing. During this event, we were instructed on how to use our pants to create a life vest. Cadets who were uncomfortable in water or were not great swimmers, this event proved especially difficult. After the challenge, we were allowed to relax and free swim in the pool.
While Alpha Company was relaxing in the pool, Bravo Company was doing Military Stakes, a three mile long challenge course where battle buddies test their endurance and apply their knowledge of what they learned at camp as well as in JROTC to the test.
The next day was the one most cadets had been waiting for, the road march. The march was approximately 4 miles long in the dreaded hot sun. It was not the march that the cadets longed for, but the UH-60 Blackhawk ride that followed. All the cadets were instructed on how to enter and exit the Blackhawk.
After the heart-pumping ride, Alpha Company went to the high ropes course. All the cadets were required to climb a 50-foot rock wall and then zip line down. Bravo Company repeated the LCR, looking forward to the high ropes the next day.
Friday finished with Alpha taking their turn on Military Stakes and Bravo doing the high ropes course. After chow, the battalion proceeded to the auditorium for the last step of our journey, graduation.
Graduation consisted of a camp video, a guest speaker, and the awards ceremony. Several awards were presented to the cadets among them, C/2LT Emily Jones and her battle buddy won the Military Stakes competition and C/SFC Sarah Filliagi took the coveted Distinguished Military Cadet award.
Finally, after a hard week filled with screaming, running and doing push-ups, we finally returned home. We were greeted by our family members, who missed us so much (well we can only hope). The lessons we learned will stay with us forever. Some learned how to conquer their fears, others learned how to lead, and others just got a good workout. Perhaps the greatest lesson that can be learned from JCLC is that the only limitations that you have are the ones in your mind.
Updated: March 9, 2009