As it turns out, Victor has the O-Course as our first obstacle on the Challenge course. Lunch is eaten, we run the O-Course, and head to the next obstacle. Fairly easy, as we just use some zip lines to cross a river and return to the starting side. After that comes the mine field, in which we cross wires suspended from tree to tree, with out touching the ground. First one to touch loses the use of both arms. Next obstacle is canyon extraction. Fairly simple, we just use a rope to swing around a tree to the other side. Then, we head to the rappelling tower. All we have to do is climb up and rappel down. After we have finished with that obstacle, we receive a rabbit for dinner, and are sent on our way to the next obstacle. There, we fire .22s, 20 gauge shotguns, slingshots, and a .257 magnum handgun at various targets to accomplish our objectives. Victor then sets up camp, kill the rabbit, skin it, cook it, and eat it, before going to sleep. However, we are challenged that evening to think about how we can put the squad ahead of ourselves more than we have been.
Day 5, Friday, September 23rd. We are awoken early in the morning, without the ‘benefit’ of reveille. Breakfast is eaten quickly, and Victor quickly moves out to the next obstacle, in which we must get a tire off a 10+ foot pole without touching the pole with the tire. Finishing that perfectly, we then head into the jungle for our next obstacle. After navigating through swamps, briars, snake infested standing water, and other various natural obstacles, we finally reach the obstacle, stay hydrated. We all have to drink generous portions of water before leaving, which we do. Heading deeper into the jungle, getting lost for an hour or two along the way, we finally find the next obstacle, combat engineering. We build a bridge across a stream using 3 boards and a short rope, and then dismantle it on the other side without touching the water. After a long walk through the woods, we arrive at the next obstacle, in which we have to get from one “mainland” to another, using a series of concrete blocks and two beams. Next, we have POW extraction, where we have to get the team and our gear over a log about 10 feet in the air, without throwing anything. Once we complete that, we move along to refuelling. There, we use paper cups (except on a larger scale) and a siphon to fill a 1 gallon tank, about 100 yards away. Then comes the highlight of the week, getting our 7-man squad across a pond in a leaky boat and back. About 10 feet out from shore, the boat sinks, and we decide to just walk across, with 1 man in the boat, the other 6 walking alongside. About halfway across the pond, our squad captain tells us about the 10-12 foot pet alligator that was last seen in this location. Once we return to shore after completing the obstacle, we learn the alligator had been evacuated prior to Challenge. Then, our final obstacle- crossing parallel wires across a river with all our gear and a load. After completing that, we have finished the obstacle course. Swimming and food follows, after which we get to watch a slideshow of the week. Real barbeque and juice is our dinner for the night, and then we get to sleep.
Day 6, Saturday, September 24th. Reveille wakes us around 4, we eat breakfast, take down our camps, and have another mile march with our gear back to the starting point. Once there, we have some basic drill, again, and are told we have graduated from TeenPact Challenge Leadership School. Having survived, I get a shower at long last, ice water, and a ride to the airport.
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