SAN DIEGO - It’s a natural instinct to experience a level of fear when exposed to heights, especially if there is little or no protection. Marines need to be conditioned to overcome their fears in a combat environment to complete the mission, even if that requires them to climb great heights.
Recruits of Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion took on the higher obstacles of the Confidence Course in their fourth week of training June 26 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
The recruits ran the entire course which includes three high obstacles: the stairway to heaven, the “A” frame, and the obstacle that recruits struggle with the most, the slide for life. This is the second time the recruits have seen the Confidence Course throughout their training cycle.
“The overall purpose of the confidence course is to give the recruits a challenge they can overcome,” said Sgt. Laurent Lecointre, drill instructor, Platoon 3245, Co. L. “It builds confidence in them and Marines require confidence to complete tasks and missions. The higher obstacles add fear and the recruits must be able to face that.”
During week three of their training, the recruits tackled the low-obstacle portion of the course as an introduction to the physical and mental confidence they’ll need in order to overcome the higher obstacles.
Although the recruits are familiar with these obstacles, this time they must attempt to use more mental strength to face their fear of heights.
“It’s a mental game for them,” said Lecointre, a 28-year-old Salt Lake City native. “It’s the biggest challenge for them; they’ll think about how high they are and begin to lose focus.”
Recruits stare up at each obstacle and watch as their peers attempt to overcome a common fear.
The stairway to heaven is a ladder-like structure that is 30-feet high. There are a series of logs that are equally spaced that the recruits are required to climb.
The second high obstacle on the course is the “A” frame, a structure that has recruits use their upper-body strength to climb a 15-foot rope. Once at the top, recruits use their balance to walk across horizontal logs to where they are required to climb up the “A” shaped ladder and slide down a 30-foot rope, hand-over-hand.
The very last obstacle the recruits must overcome is the slide for life, a 25-foot tower that requires recruits to climb across a descending 90-foot cable to the ground above a 4-foot deep pool. Halfway between the climb down, recruits are instructed to changed positions. If the recruit lets go, they’ll fall into the water below.
Accomplishing these obstacles gives the recruits the mental strength to push through and allows them to build confidence in themselves.
“I feel that facing your fears builds character,” said Recruit Brandon Dimiceli, Plt. 3241, Co. L. “It proves that you have enough courage in yourself to accomplish the task at hand and it’ll build you into a better Marine.”
With new found confidence, recruits of Company L will continue their training and are one step closer to earning the title of United States Marine.