July 25 th – THE CRUCIBLE: An endurance test designed to stress camp participants and imbue campers with the sense that they must work together in order to flourish at MMA.

WHALE WATCHER

Object

A group of campers must mount the platform from the sides opposite the balance beam without the platform touching the ground.

Procedure

All campers must mount the square platform, then mount the circular platform from the sides and move to the center and then get off of the platform on the side opposite from the one they got on without having the circular platform touching the square platform at any time.

Rules

Campers may not place their hands or feet on the circular platform to steady it at any time. Once a camper touches the platform, he must immediately get on the platform. Campers may step or jump onto the platform as long as it does not touch the ground. Campers may get on the platform one at a time or in groups.

Equipment

Whale Watcher platform.

NITRO CROSSING

Object

A group of campers must move from one platform to another with a cup of water without touching the ground or spilling the water.

Procedure

All members of the group must mount the first platform and then transfer to the second platform using a rope suspended between the two platforms. They must also transfer the cup of water without spilling it.

Rules

Campers may not use any other equipment to complete this problem other than the

rope that is provided. No camper may touch the ground at any time. If anyone touches

the ground the entire team must get off of the platform and begin again. The cup of

water must also be transferred between the two platforms without spilling the water.

When transferring to the second platform all campers must remain on the platform until

the entire group has transferred successfully.

THE WALL

Object

A group of campers must get over a 12' wall without use of any additional equipment other than what is on the wall.

Procedure

All campers must climb to the top of the wall without using additional equipment.

Rules

Campers may not use the sides of the wall at any time. They may not use any of their

Individual equipment. Only two campers may be on the platform at the top of the wall

at any time. When a third camper reaches the top of the wall, one camper must come

down. Campers will come down in the same order that they went up the wall. Once

campers have reached the top and come down they may only assist as spotters. They

may not help other campers get up the wall. Any equipment on the wall or the platform

at the top of the wall may be used to complete this event.

A-FRAME SHUTTLE

Object and Challenge

A group of 5 participants must move the A-frame apparatus, with one group member on board, from point A to point B (about 30 feet) using 4 sling ropes, each about 15 feet long.

Rules

The A-frame must maintain at least one point of contact with the ground at all times,

and never more than two points of contact.

Only one person can make bodily contact with the A-frame apparatus, while avoiding

contact with the ground.

Other participants must stay at least 10 feet from the A-frame when it is in use.

The ropes may not touch the ground between the start and finish lines.

THE TANK WALK

Mission

The mission of this obstacle is to get your team from start to finish and back to the start point using two wooden rails with seven ropes attached to each rail.

Safety/Rules

The wooden rails will not be placed end to end.

If a camper touches the ground the entire team must start again.

The ropes will not be allowed to hit the deck. If a rope touches the deck, it cannot be

used again.

All campers will participate by getting on the rails.

Campers must keep feet on rails.

Plan/Execution

Campers take 3 minutes to decide how to accomplish the mission and brief their plan.

THE ELEVATOR

Mission

To get all campers on a 2.5' x 2.5' elevator in order to go to the next level.

Rules

Each camper must jump from 3 feet outside onto the elevator.

All campers must be on the elevator at once for at least 30 seconds (with all feet on the

elevator).

No one can step off, fall off, or touch the ground.

If anyone touches the ground, all campers/plebes must exit the elevator and begin

loading from the 3 foot mark all over.

Drill Instructors, Cadet Instructors, Medical’s Gwen Carson, even MMA Computer Services’ Major Compton stood by to keep up the pace, ensure safety precautions and rules were adhered to at all times (occasionally to the chagrin of teams nearly to the finish line as one teammate’s foot would slip off a board, touch the ground – and YES, IT’S back to the BEGINNING to start all over AGAIN!), and to enjoy the challenges of good old-fashioned summer camp fun. It truly is amazing what competitive fun 332 young men, ages 12.5 to 17, can make out of a couple of wooden 2” X 4” slabs trussed up with 12 feet of rope and a few good blindfolds!!!

These events, along with several ‘side events’ rallied all campers in a celebration of working together to negotiate each challenge as a team unified…even MMA President General Cheney and Superintendent Colonel Hill joined in the evening’s activities, and several Drill Instructors’ families pulled up a lawn chair and enjoyed the show. TEAM MMA, OORAH!