Fort Knox, Ky. – The rappel tower is a test of courage. Despite the stairs – ropes and a carabiner are your only way off the 64-foot structure. Cadets with Charlie Company, 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, took on the tower during Cadet Summer Training, June 16, 2025.

Anxiety was prevalent as the Cadets stood by on the stairs awaiting their moment of bravery. The swaying of the wooden structure with each movement of the rappelers only increased their apprehension.

Cadet Travis Swope, Mississippi State University, gave a pep talk to the hesitant company on the stairs of the tower.

“If you trust yourself and trust your equipment, show it with your actions,” said Swope.

As their heels hung over the edge, the Cadets were instructed to lean back forming an ‘L’ with the tower. To some, this is the most difficult part of the test.

“The hardest part is going over the lip. Everything else is energy and motivation.” said Swope.

Swope was previously enlisted in the Army as a combat engineer for 15 years. Despite this not being his first time encountering a feat this high, he was nervous.

“I hate looking down. I’m scared, but courage is not about being afraid. It’s about moving through your fears,” said Swope.

Many Cadets, including Naveena Mutharasan, Washington University in St. Louis, agreed that their nerves faded away with each descent.

“You realize how much control you have over the rope after that first bound,” said Mutharasan. “It’s probably the scariest part.”

Going down the tower prepared Mutharasan to boldly face adversity at the confidence course, her next challenge.

Cadets must use their physical and mental strength to overcome the ten-obstacle course. There is no room for hesitation.

“You just have to not think when you do the course,” said Mutharasan.

Even those who struggled never failed to put their best foot forward.

Mutharasan said that confidence has been an issue for her in the past. Learning to push through her initial doubts on the tower applied directly to the grit needed to conquer the course.

“I definitely have more confidence (after rappelling), and it takes a lot of confidence and grit to do the course,” said Mutharasan.

Her resolve enabled her to conquer the course in the end, pushing her one step closer to graduating CST.

Whether weaving through logs, climbing ropes or facing a 64-foot tower, Cadets are developing the tenacity to push through every challenge they face.