San Diego -- Recruits of Company I, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, overcame their fears at the rappel tower aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Dec. 7.
Rappelling is a controlled descent to the ground, using ropes and harnesses as a pulley system. Rappelling down a 60-foot tower is a requirement that all recruits must complete in order to graduate recruit training.
Not only did recruits learn the basics of rappelling, a useful skill for various Marines, they also gained confidence in themselves, explained Sgt. John Leiva, drill instructor, Platoon 3209, Co. I, 3rd RTBn.
“It builds their confidence in the ability to descend properly. They also learn that they are in control,” said Leiva. “They control everything; how fast they go and when to stop.”
The recruits’ day began with a safety brief, classes on how to properly check and tie their own harness and a demonstration on how to rappel, correctly descending from the top of the tower.
Instructors double-checked the recruits’ harnesses to ensure they were properly tied before they were sent to the tower.
Next was the moment they were all anticipating; the descent. For some recruits, it was going to be an experience they would never forget. For others, fear and anxiety overwhelmed them as they stared up at the tower.
“I don’t like heights at all,” said Recruit Vu Nguyen, Plt. 3209, Co. I, 3rd RTBn. “I’ve always been afraid of heights, even more so after I fell off the rope at the obstacle course.”
Although Nguyen completed events that require recruits to climb high obstacles such as the confidence course and the o-course, he explained that it didn’t really help him overcome his fear of heights.
“I always feel better once it’s over, but I’m still afraid,” said Nguyen. “I feel that this (rappel tower) will boost my confidence though.”
Nguyen explained that he had to go down the tower three times before he did it correctly.
“Even though I was afraid every time, I began to listen to the instructors,” said Nguyen. “They told me that if I really wanted it, then I’d be able to do it.”
The encouragement from the instructors at the top of the tower reassured Nguyen that he was in control and allowed him to be confident when making his descent.
“I feel more comfortable and confident in my abilities now,” said Nguyen.
Confidence is a feeling when one is aware of the control they have of a situation and that they will be able to act in an effective way. Nguyen and his fellow recruits gained that through their descent from tower.
Co. I moved on to the Crucible, a 54-hour field-training exercise, at Edson Range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. They now hold the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and the title Marine and are scheduled to graduate Dec. 21.