ES Training, June 7 2008

By Cadet Technical Sergeant Jared Goecker

Bright faced and eager eyed cadets heaved their packs from their shoulders and took a deep breath. Before them lay a large 24-foot by 36-foot army tent, the ones you would see in the movies. They were tasked to put it up.

The tent was erected in 45 minutes, a key element to remember. We all felt proud as we carried supplies under the shade. Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) David Augustine briefed us on our next task. He gave us a piece of paper that had pace counts and compass degrees on it. The paces and degrees were supposed to lead us to golf balls hidden in the woods. We separated into teams of two and took off.

I don't understand how it all worked out, but we all ended up at the wrong golf ball at the same time. The one exception of this being that a couple of cadets couldn't even find the wrong golf ball. We all wished each other good luck and then broke up and went in search of different golf balls. That was the only one that any of us found.

Later, we all rested in the shade of the tent and ate hamburgers and hotdogs. The wind was making it hard to eat, so we dropped the flaps on one side of the tent, another key element in what was going to happen.

Captain Shook set up his rocket launcher, which he built, and we launched off paper rockets. All of the cadets were launching rockets, when we heard a scream come from the tent. Several of the cadets’ moms were in the tent, along with a few smaller children, two cadets and a cadet-to-be.

As I turned, the whole far side of the tent collapsed under the relentless pounding of the wind. If you've ever played paintball, then you know the meaning of the word adrenalin and know what it can do.

Adrenalin pumped through us as we rushed down to the scene of the accident. Half of us braced ourselves against the fallen tent side and attempted to hold it up so everyone could grab the stuff in the tent and get it out. Being one of the people to brace against the tent, the wind became something that wanted to smother you. The wind would force us forward and then we'd take our ground back as it gathered itself for another blow.

The other cadets pulled out the supporting central beam and gave us the all clear sign. 2nd Lt Augustine gave the word. Those holding the tent up pushed away from the tent and darted for the sunlight. I can still remember the tent caving in as the sunlight began to get blocked out.

The only injuries were a few splinters. Afterwards we did a water-fight and bragged about our heroics.