MCRD San Diego -- Recruits of Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, tested their confidence and overcame their fear as they conquered the rappel tower aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Aug. 10.
The rappel tower is one of the last obstacles recruits must overcome before moving on to the Crucible, a 54-hour training exercise recruits must complete to earn the title United States Marine.
The tower is a 60-foot-tall structure with two rappel walls and a “hell hole,” a hole on the top of the platform that drops directly to the ground below.
Recruits were given a very detailed safety class before climbing the tower to minimize the danger. They were briefed by instructors from Instructional Training Company on proper behaviors on and off the tower, the importance of awareness and the procedures should an accident occur.
“Some recruits had the natural fear of heights in them,” said Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Y. Castillo, senior drill instructor, Platoon 3243, Co. L. “The rappel tower is another way for them to face those fears and overcome them.”
After recruits were given instructions on safety procedures, they were given periods of instruction on knot-tying, preparing an improvised seat harness and proper procedures for executing a descent.
“The drill instructors and (ITC instructors) ensured all of our gear and equipment was prepared,” said Recruit Tylan S. Kang, guide, Plt. 3243, also the company honorman. “They went through, step-by-step, and showed us exactly how to rappel.”
With proper instructions and close supervision, recruits headed up the stairs and reached the top of the platform, where they were directed to one of three stations; either one of the two rappel walls or the hell hole. Once at their station, the recruits were given a last minute refresher of procedure and then sent down.
Going down the rappel walls simulates how a Marine would descend a mountainside or a building. The hell hole is the same experience that a Marine would face demounting a helicopter into a combat zone.
The purpose of the rappel tower exposes recruits to high obstacle and prepares them mentally, according to Castillo.
One by one, the recruits ran down the walls or free-fell through the hell hole and the tower was conquered without incident.
“The rappel tower definitely tested their confidence,” said Castillo. “Their level of confidence has been building since they have been in recruit training and it showed today as they went down.”