SAMPLE GUT CHECK
I used to perform what I termed gut check from time on ROTC cadets. The date was known for check and not much else. I originally started the “gut check” to see who would be authorized to wear a black beret as part of the Ranger challenge in RTOC. The Black beret was originally worn only by U.S. army Rangers, but in recent years, the army manager’s black beret and giving it to everyone and their brother. Snubbing the Rangers and their heritage, they forced this elite unit to adopt another beret color and now watch and cringe as soldiers from every walk of life wear their new berets as though they are pizza chefs. Enough venting and back to the story.
For my gut check, a bulletin would be posted on the board for those wishing to try out or qualify. The notice would give a date and time and where to be, with a prescribed list of items
That were to be placed in their rucksack. On the day of the event, I would walk in at the precise time close the door behind me. If you were late, you would wait until the next semester to try out.
I would then give the cadets a mission statement that was brief and limited. They were randomly selected and placed on teams. ATL was randomly selected and given five minutes to brief and ready their teams for movement. The course would have been scouted and run several times in the months prior, quietly and discreetly so no one knew the routes, distances, or events except for those administering the event .Five minutes later, we would be moving.
Generally, it would be dark out, and we would walk. I liked to walk to warm the group up for greater things to come. I also liked to check them for injuries as we walked. You could pick out a limp a mile away and quickly pinpoint a potential problem .I would ensure that TLs would continue to drink water some time we would walk foe two hours, depending on the group’s pace. I set the pace, but it was my goal that everyone would finish, no matter how slow they were. The slower they walked, the longer they carried the weight on their backed would be a price to pay for taking their time.
While we walked, the fear of the unknown would be the first stress that would settle in to their minds. They had to deal with it subtly and learn to con troll it within themselves. Their bodies