Finding their way through life’s obstacles took a literal turn Thursday for Shoemaker High School Junior ROTC cadets during one of the group’s favorite annual exercises.
On a perfect sun-drenched morning the day before the start of spring break in Killeen ISD, about 80 high school cadets participated in a land navigation challenge on a Fort Cavazos course adjacent to the airport.
While the learning goal was aimed at practicing orienteering and finding points with a map, compass and protractor, JROTC instructors acknowledged that the team-building and plain-ole springtime fun was pretty great, too.
Divided into 15 groups and sent out a few at a time, each team was tasked with finding a specific start and end point and three other points in between.
More experienced cadets served as “safeties,” wearing bright orange vests and providing water to their peers while staying in contact with instructors through two-way radios.
The groups took roughly two hours to attempt to find five points before reconvening and eating lunch together in a clearing at the front of the hilly course.
Sophomore Richard Alcantar Villalobos led one of the groups that successfully found five points.
“We used great communication. We bounced ideas off each other to decide which way to go,” he explained.
“It’s a very physical activity and it’s fun. I enjoy it. I like applying myself and seeing that I can use what I’ve been taught about map-reading.”
Junior Jasmine Santos, the battalion public affairs officer, said land navigation is a valuable team-building exercise that requires listening and trusting team members.
“Really, today is about using land navigation skills we learned in the classroom. To point on the map and know where you are,” she said.
Last year, she said, her team got lost but found their way. “The more we talked and engaged and made sure we were on the same track, the more I was able to have faith in my team,” she recalled.
“It’s about teambuilding, learning to trust and engage with one another. In land nav, it shouldn’t just be the team leader, but everyone engaging and putting their thoughts in.”
Junior Eliana Skeete was one of the “safeties,” shuttling water to groups and staying in touch with instructors during the exercise.
“As the groups go out, we have to make sure they are safe and don’t get lost,” she said. “It helps us learn to use a map and how to get around and engage with each other. It’s fun because we get to work with each other and get to know each other better.”
SHS JROTC land navigation photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720324401941/
