Sunday, May 18, 2003

Getting a gung-ho attitude
Marine recruits have chance to leap into action

Hilary Kraus
Staff writer

If one didn't know better, Saturday's challenges in the wilderness could have been confused with Jaburu vs. Tambaqui in the latest "Survivor" show.

While one group tried to remove a tire from a vertical pole without it touching, another was asked to climb aboard a giant teeter-totter and make it balance.

But this was no "Survivor," where the final outcome has one shrewd television contestant walking away with $1 million.

This was the anti-Survivor, where the only acceptable finish was to work together -- or else no one won -- during the six-hour program presented by Adventure Dynamics Inc. of Spokane.

The players were 42 U.S. Marine recruits from Eastern Washington, many eagerly counting the days before they ship out to boot camp.

Saturday served as a warm-up of things to come, from the "Escape from the Mummy's Tomb" obstacle course, to the "Slide for Life" cable wire.

The idea was to build leadership and understand teamwork, said Staff Sgt. John Kenney, Marine Corps station commander in Spokane.

In one escape challenge, Marine recruits had to climb over a 10-foot beam and hop aboard rafts. Everyone had to make it, or the exercise was not a success.

"They're getting a taste of what they're in for," Kenney said.

Most of the Marine recruits are enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program and are weeks away from graduating high school and getting on with their military lives. Although they've had some training, it's been limited to classrooms and routine procedures. Saturday, it was all about the great outdoors.

"I know it's going to be a lot harder than this, said Rogers High School senior Leslie Terrell, who is scheduled to leave for Parris Island, S.C., on Nov. 11.

The idea to spend a day at Adventure Dynamics Inc. was suggested by Andrew Richart, a senior from North Central High School scheduled to ship out to Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Dec. 1.

"I did it for a co-op class at school and I thought it was great, so I told them about it," Richart said.

Adventure Dynamics Inc., located on 200 acres of Spokane Parks and Recreation land off Upriver Drive, puts on programs for everyone from high school students to corporate bigwigs. The primary purpose is to get people to develop commitment, self-confidence and teamwork.

However, for some of the Marine recruits, Adventure Dynamics Inc. also was about fun, mixed with fear, brought on by sliding down a 50-foot high, 400-foot long cable.

Dave Hill, a senior at Shadle Park High School, said Saturday's field trip had the feel of a day at Silverwood Theme Park.

"I like getting my heart pumping fast," said Hill, who is scheduled to leave for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego on July 10. "If you don't get excited about something every now and then, then life's not worth living."

Hilary Kraus can be reached at (509) 459-5534, or by e-mail at hilaryk@spokesman.com