Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Recruits must overcome every obstacle, including their fear of heights, during recruit training to earn the right to claim the title Marine.
Recruits of Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, conquered the rappel tower with confidence on training day 58 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Aug. 29.
The purpose of the tower is for recruits to descend the tower, putting their trust and confidence in the equipment and their training.
“Recruits gain confidence by rapelling down the tower, and it helps a lot of them overcome their fear of heights,” said Sgt. Michael D. Triplett, drill instructor, Platoon 2142. “Confidence and courage is important for all Marines to have, which is why we teach it here at recruit training.”
Before recruits rappelled, Instructional Training Company instructors taught a class on how to properly set up their harness and the rappelling techniques used.
One of the techniques learned was how to apply a “brake hand,” which adjusts the speed while descending the tower. The recruits were given gloves to protect their hands as well as to serve as an extra grip on the rope, while a helmet and safety harness were worn for safety.
The rappel tower event consisted of two individual events; fast roping and rappelling. Fast roping is a technique used to insert troops into areas where landing an aircraft may not be possible, because of either safety or logistical reasons. Instead, the troops will descend a rope that has been lowered from the back of an aircraft.
After conducting the fast rope exercise, recruits climbed the stairs to the top of the 60-foot tower and prepared for the descent.
“The rappel tower is a big obstacle to overcome, but it is important we have the confidence to do it because we’ll face bigger challenges once we become Marines,” said recruit Bricen J. Agbayani, Platoon 2141. “Marines have to trust each other with the mission. Trusting others is something we will learn as we rappel down the tower.”
Company G recruits left the rappel tower with not only a higher level of confidence knowing they descended a 60-foot tower using a rope, but also with the ability to trust the Marine to their left and right, which is a principle the Marine Corps brotherhood is built upon.