It is not every day a University of Wisconsin student sits in the pilot’s seat of a Blackhawk military helicopter. For the 40 cadets who participated in ROTC’s second weekend trip to Camp Douglas, however, that was just one of the highlights.

For students enrolled in the university’s ROTC program, the trip offered an informal opportunity to become familiar with a military environment. Participating sophomores, many of whom will undergo field training this summer, also had a chance to get a feel for the physical rigors the training will require of them.

“It’s a big advantage for the sophomores,” senior Andy Jaw said. “It’s also meant to be a lot of fun.”

Despite waking up at 6:30 a.m. and spending the day engaging in physical exertion, participating cadets said they enjoyed the experience.

“Getting up early didn’t bother me,” freshman Stephanie Krysilko said. “I mean, we were on a military base. I didn’t expect to sleep until 10 every morning.”

Krysilko said one of her favorite experiences was the unexpected landing of several Blackhawk helicopters at the base. The students were able to see the inside of the helicopter and speak with the pilots.

Another positive experience, according to students, was surviving the conditioning and confidence training. These consisted of cadets maneuvering through a series of obstacles for speed or to face their fears, such as heights, said Jaw.

“You climb up ropes and crawl under barbed wire,” Krysilko said. “It’s very physically strenuous, but you just have to push yourself.”

Freshman Anna Alexandrian said the courses allowed her to push herself to the limit.

“You always see these kinds of things in movies and wonder if you could do it,” Alexandrian said. “I wanted to see what I was capable of physically.”

Jaw, who also participated in ROTC’s first trip in spring 2002, said the courses are usually favorites among the students.

Aside from allowing the cadets to push their physical limits, the courses fostered a sense of belonging and support among members of the group, students said.

“I couldn’t have survived those courses without the support of the other cadets,” senior Daniel Kenan said.

Alexandrian agreed that unconditionally supporting others as they faced the obstacles made her feel connected to her peers.

“Everyone cheered everyone else on, even if we looked sad and pathetic,” Alexandrian said.

According to Krysilko, the weekend succeeded in engendering a sense of teamwork and fellowship among the cadets even more than it introduced them to a military atmosphere.
“The weekend was really meant to bring us together, because it’s all about working together as a team,” Krysilko said.