FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets with 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, push themselves to their limits while conquering the Forest Hills Climbing Complex, July 26, 2024. Cadets are tasked with completing three different structures, the rock wall, Alpine Towers, and the Rudders Rope Course. The exercise is designed to test Cadets mental threshold while completing a daunting task.

The High Ropes Course is an exclusive event for Basic Camp during Cadet Summer Training. The majority of Cadets completing this training have little to no experience before camp. It’s important that the Cadets are exposed to as much as possible.

“A lot of people here haven’t really been tested in terms of heights and having these physical and mental stresses,” said Cadet James Watkins, Texas A&M University, “Having these rope challenges can introduce people to going beyond their fears, going beyond their limits.”

Unlike some of his fellow Cadets, Watkins is ahead of the game, coming from the Core Cadets of Texas A&M. There, he has had first-hand practice with some of the exercises.

“They have something called the obstacle course and the endurance course,” Watkins said. “Getting to do those courses gets you comfortable dealing with heights.”

For those that come in fresh, no experience, the Cadre and instructors do their part in preparing each and every single Cadet.

“Basic Camp has done a really great job of preparing everyone here to be able to overcome these obstacles mentally and physically, ” Watkins said. “Being able to challenge each other, help motivate each other, get through them, and complete the task.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Cadet Aaron Lovvorn, James Madison University. “I’m extremely scared to go anywhere above how tall I am,” said Lovvorn.

Lovvorn has come to camp with little prior experience to take himself to new heights, he has a large interest in physical fitness. However, physical fitness is not the only aspect of the Army and these exercises are aimed to build well-rounded Cadets.

“Doing the Rudders course was great for me because I faced my fears of having to jump onto ropes, grab on, pull myself up and climb across things that I never thought I would want to climb across before,” Lovvorn said. “I actually ended up having a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoying myself and I would do it again, which I never thought I would say before.”

Cadets Watkins and Lovvorn came to camp with two different backgrounds, but are both here receiving the same level of training. Basic Camp prides itself on taking Lateral Entry and freshman Cadets and kick-starting their journey as Army leaders.