| NEWS
| July 21, 2005
Forging a Leader
33-day course tests leadership
skills, exposes fears
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| The Shorthorn: Kaci Cantrell |
| Jessica Johnson, a biology
junior and U.S. Army ROTC cadet, recently returned
from a 33-day training course in Fort Lewis, Wash. Here,
she positions plastic soldiers in a sandbox used to assess
strategic maneuvers for combat. |
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By Rebekah
Workman
The Shorthorn Staff
Jessica Johnson returned from Warrior Forge,
a Leadership Development Assessment Course intended to evaluate
U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets, confident in her
mental and physical military capabilities.
The biology junior said the 33-day course in Fort Lewis, Wash.,
is designed to challenge cadets, focus on their leadership skills
and evaluate them on what they have learned so far in the ROTC.
“It taught us a lot and built our confidence,” she said.
“[We] learned a lot about leadership, how to deal with people
and interact with people.”
She said this course was her first exposure to training with other
cadets from across the country.
“[At UTA] they teach you as much as they can, and you get
there, and you actually have to apply it,” she said. “I
felt very well prepared — it showed.”
Beginning at 4:45 a.m., the days were physically demanding, she
said. Events were designed to make cadets face fears such as heights.
The “slide for life” required cadets to climb a ladder
and then swing down 58 feet.
Preparing for the field, Johnson geared up in her battle dress uniform,
boots, a cover and a backpack and traded a bunk bed in the barracks
for nine days in a tent.
The most difficult part of the training was mentally preparing to
take charge of a group and have a successful mission, she said.
During land navigation, Johnson had to make sure everyone’s
tents were up before leaving.
“All of a sudden, they tell you, ‘Here’s what
you have to do,’ ” she said. “To get all 43 people
to complete one task and have it be organized and exactly the same
across the board is a challenge.”
During graduation, Johnson was inspired by the officers that were
commissioned. She said there was an overall feeling of pride and
satisfaction.
“It reminded us what we were doing there,” she said.
“All my four years of work will lead up to that — getting
those gold bars pinned on my shoulder.”
Lt. Col. Kevin Smith, ROTC admissions officer, said that when cadets
return from the training, they are expected to train the juniors.
“My expectations from the group are pretty high,” he
said. “I look forward to their senior year when they’re
in charge and running things.”
Andrew Chiles, 2nd Lt. Gold Bar Recruiter, said the training evaluates
and prepares cadets for the military and beyond.
“[They] can use their military training in any aspect of their
life — it’s just how they want to apply it,” he
said.
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