SAN DIEGO --
Recruits
looked up at the tower, some had never been through anything quite like this
but they all had one thing in common, they had to complete it.
Soon
to be Marines of Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, built
confidence in themselves by conquering the rappel tower aboard the depot, Aug.
21.
“The
purpose of the rappel tower is to build confidence within the recruits,” said
Staff Sgt. Travis A. Titopace, drill instructor, Instructional Training
Company, Support Battalion. “It’s something that they have built up to
since the beginning of recruit training.”
Alpha
Company recruits began the event by receiving a class from one of the ITC
instructors about the proper techniques to descend the rope. They were
taught how to use their “strong hand” and “brake hand” to control themselves.
Sitting
there staring at the tower, a recruit was already battling with the upcoming challenge.
“I
have always liked the adrenaline rush,” said Recruit Vince K. Crisostomo, Alpha
Company. “It was a little nerve racking looking up at the tower, but I was excited
to do it.”
First
was the fast rope, a method used to quickly insert troops into an area by air.
For recruits, they would slide down a 15-foot rope while grabbing it
tightly and wrapping their feet around it. Due to the short distance of
the rope, once a recruit hit the ground he needed to quickly get out of the way
as the next recruit came down above them.
The
last and most challenging part of the event was the 60-foot rappel
descent.
“The
wall is always the toughest thing for recruits,” said Titopace. “They see how
high it is and about one-third of them openly admit to being scared of heights,
so it’s where the nerves start to get the best of them”
For
this event, recruits were taught how to tie a rappel seat with a rope and shown
the safety precautions. The ITC instructor leaned off the edge of the
platform without holding the rope, showing that recruits won’t fall from the
top and hit the ground. To further reinforce this point, drill
instructors rappelled from the top and purposefully let go of the rope,
entering a free-fall, but quickly came to a stop once the drill instructor at
the bottom pulled the rope tight.
Recruits
lined up, and one by one, ascended to the top of the tower.
With
each step up the tower, recruits were gaining confidence, a valuable asset
required in their career in the Corps confidence.
Once
at the top, recruits were put in one of two lines, the side-wall rappel or the
center hole, which simulates the “hell hole” of a helicopter. After
facing their fears and rappelling down the tower, recruits began to realize
what this training accomplished for them.
“It
all goes back to the beginning of training,” said Crisostomo, a native of
Westminster, Calif. “Throughout the course of training we did things like the
Confidence Course or the O-Course, which built up that confidence that made us
know we could push past this too.”
Alpha
Company recruits left the rappel tower with a new outlook and attitude in
regards to what they could accomplish. They will need it as they head to
the Crucible in the next few days where they will face even tougher challenges
before earning the title Marine.
“Most
of these recruits will never see this again in their careers,” said Titopace. “It
is more about them knowing that they can do something even though they are
terrified. They feel a sense of accomplishment when they land on the ground and
walk away, they are more confident.”