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    High Ropes, Steep Slopes and Conquering The Mountain

    High ropes, steep slopes and conquering the mountain

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Ashley Hayes | Spc. Tyler Overman, an infantryman with Charlie Troop 105th Cavalry, begins his...... read more read more

    JERICHO, VT, UNITED STATES

    06.16.2014

    Story by Sgt. Ashley Hayes 

    172nd Public Affairs Detachment

    JERICHO, Vt. - The Army Mountain Warfare School pushed on with training as usual in the mountains of Vermont, Castle Rock to be specific, June 14-15, 2014 at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt. The wooded environment and rocky terrain provided the perfect setting for the training the students would embark on throughout the weekend.

    “The bulk of the training is outside,” said Sgt. 1st Class Bill Jolly, an Instructor at the Army Mountain Warfare School.

    The students began their ruck march up Castle Trail to the training site early Saturday morning to take advantage of the outdoor classroom. The class often travels on foot to various training sites during the two-week course. It is also encouraged because of this, that students come to the course in good physical shape.

    “There’s a lot of variable terrain and you’re carrying around a decently heavy ruck and you’re rucking up mountains, nothing too crazy, but it can be tough on a [soldier],” said Staff Sgt. Emlyn Jones, a part-time instructor at the Army Mountain Warfare School.

    Saturday morning was dedicated to learning how to make a transport tightening system, or high line, which can be used to traverse over a river when other routes are not feasible. The students learned how to build the high line in three separate stages and practiced building each stage three times to create muscle memory. This created valuable learning time as the students will be tested in a few days with only 12 minutes to accurately build the system.

    Training can change at a moments notice based on the weather and the ability of the students, said Jolly. Originally climbing was on the agenda for Saturday, but the rainy weather caused a safety concern. That didn’t stop the class from completing the climbing portion of the course on Sunday, which was dedicated to learning how to ascend and descend the steep rock face.

    This was an important day because it would be the only opportunity for the students to experience climbing rock, said Sgt. 1st Class Max Rooney, an Instructor at the Army Mountain Warfare School.

    He also explained the importance of climbing without gloves and feeling the rock against bare hands.

    “Any time that there’s another material in between you and the rock there’s more of a potential to fall,” said Rooney.

    The students put on their equipment and grouped into three-person teams to complete five different climbing lanes of varying difficulty. The lanes were anywhere from 30 to 60 feet with some shorter one’s presenting more of a technical challenge. An instructor was placed at each of the five lanes to ensure safety and to guide the students as they traversed up the rock face.

    “It seems simple enough, but actually it’s quite challenging,” said Staff Sgt. Nhat Nguyen, a student at the Army Mountain Warfare School.

    Nguyen said he found it challenging to figure out where to place his feet. However, he said the instructor’s advice as he was climbing up the rock face helped him to overcome that challenge and successfully reach the top. He said he is anxious to bring back the knowledge he has learned at the school to his unit.

    “I will enjoy the time I have here and make the best of it, and I will bring the knowledge back with me,” said Nguyen.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.16.2014
    Date Posted: 06.16.2014 15:28
    Story ID: 133258
    Location: JERICHO, VT, US

    Web Views: 243
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN