EXERCISE UNITED CADET 2019: RMA – Alex Coplestone-Crow
I’m willing to bet that many of you would be perfectly happy to spend your hard earned summer holidays relaxing, going to parties, and, perhaps, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, doing a little work, and I wouldn’t blame you for it. However, this was most definitely not the case for seven year 12 cadets from RHS in the first five weeks of the 2019 summer holidays, who embarked on the now annual cadet exchange to Riverside Military Academy, and Georgia Military Collage, Georgia. The exchange, dubbed ‘Ex. United Cadet’, involves two parts; a group who travel to GMC, south of Atlanta, and another, who make the journey up to Gainsville in the north, to the heavily fortified RMA, an imposing modern red brick castle… or prison complex if you prefer.
Shortly, Morgan Thomas will fill you in on the details of the highly successful trip to GMC, but this article aims to illuminate all those interested on the many incredible opportunities the trip to RMA presents, myself being one of the ‘lucky’ ones who spent their summer in the spotless corridors of ‘The Barracks Quad’.
2200hrs: After a 10 hour flight, we were greeted by the sight of 1st Sergeant Williams, a retired paratrooper (grey) – a man who I can safely say was rather more fierce than he seems in this picture – who introduced us to the school, and showed us to our rooms. Unlike our house system, RMA runs as a full scale infantry battalion, each company in effect acting as a ‘house’, run by senior cadets, and merely overseen by members of staff. Each company is lettered, A to I, and houses roughly 40 to 50 cadets. We were placed into our companies for the trip – Oli in Band, Finn in Delta, and myself in Echo – and quickly got our heads down, anxious for the coming challenges.
0600hrs-Week 1: Raiders. What does that word mean? To a cadet in America, the National Raider Challenge is the most important event of the year, a competition RMA has won for the last 5 years running, beating all other competition nationwide. But what is Raiders? In short, it’s a sport which combines all aspects of military fitness, including obstacle courses, distance runs, rope bridges and a multitude of other events. Apparently, this is what we had signed up for, as our first week took the form of annual Raider Camp. The camp involved far too many great experiences to list here, but included wall climbs, abseiling, ruck marches, rope bridging, a lot of running, swimming and, my favourite, canoeing. We spent most of the week in pain, but enjoying it thoroughly, all of us improving our physical fitness, and all of us shining in a particular area. The week was interspersed with barbecues, water park trips and free-swim sessions, as well as the dreaded ‘Black Group’, a ‘secret’ training program, after dark, which we somehow became involved in.
These are just some of the hundreds of pictures from the trip, and a link to a full gallery can be shared on request.
0600hrs-Week 2: By now, we found ourselves exhausted, but accustomed to the busy routine of Riverside life; up at six to a bugle call, 15 minutes to get ready, inspection and formation until 0630, another bugle, mess 1 (breakfast). Week two took the form of JLC, Junior Leadership Camp. Whereas at RHS senior leadership positions are confirmed at the end of the previous year, Riverside cadets battle over new ranks and responsibilities in this optional period, the week before the new school year starts. Over each day, cadets are placed in acting company roles, from Company CO to Squad Leader, what we would call Section Commander. All of us Brits were included in this scheme, and this enabled us to experience the full method of American leadership, which was very different from our own. A lot of screaming, and even more push ups. The week also included some raider training, and involved various trips and experiences, including Rappelling. By the end of the week, leadership for the coming year was decided, ranging from Battalion HQ (cadets who run the school as a whole), to Squad Leaders.
0600hrs-Week 3: Having experienced two key aspects of the school, Raiders and the inner workings of the chains of command, our focus switched to adventurous training and martial arts. Coach Lt. Baize led our activities, which ranged from basic karate techniques to the use of a katana. Lt. Baize can trace his training to the inventor of karate as a martial form, his father being a Grand Master of the discipline, and has trained many of the world’s special forces units. To have this level of coaching was truly inspirational, and I can now say that I can successfully block and counter a right hook… if the attacker is slow and doesn’t throw any other kind of punch. The week also included lesson shadowing, and a hike up the imposing Mt. Currahee, of ‘Band Of Brothers’ fame. Any of you who have watched the series will know that this mountain is steeped in US military history; the paratroopers of Easy Company 506th used the hill to train for D-day. I regret to inform you that we were not able to beat their record time up and down, but the trek was an experience none the less.
0600hrs-Week 4: Sore but satisfied after spending a week being put on the floor by a black belt, week 4 included one of our most memorable experiences across the pond, an out of state trip to Patriot’s Point, quite possibly the most American place in the world. Situated in the beautiful colonial town of Charleston, this museum complex was, in a word, incredible. The area includes three retired US navy vessels; USS Yorktown, a WW2 and Vietnam era carrier, USS Laffey, one of the most famous destroyers in US naval history, and a decommissioned submarine. Our group made the 600 mile round trip with Mr Rizzley, a retired paratrooper of the 506th, who made the experience all the more patriotic, with tales of action overseas. We stayed in the sailors’ quarters on the Yorktown for 2 nights, and, after a ghost tour of the ship in the pitch black, managed to record one of the worst nights sleep imaginable.
Patriot’s point also included a ‘Vietnam Experience’, a recreation of the daily existence of an infanteer in the jungles of Vietnam, and the trip took us to the American institution of ‘Waffle House’ and the beautiful Folly beach, as well as a river tour of Charleston and its incredible Colonial, Independence, and Civil War history. We also managed to visit the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine in history to sink another ship. She was launched, incredibly, during the Civil War in 1863, and was powered by hand-crank.
0600hrs-Week 5: We had nearly made it. 4 weeks of intensive training, trips, visits and barbecues. With only one week left, we were starting to look forward to coming home; yet we didn’t want to leave. Riverside had become our home, and the people our family. We arrived nervous, and left with many new friends, unforgettable experiences, and a great respect for the cadets who go to the school full-time. But our time there was not yet over. Week 5 saw British representation at a prestigious charity dinner, street-lining for a veteran’s ride of nearly 200 motor-bikes, and an incredible presentation and farewell from the school’s President, Col. Preczewski, at an academy football game.
The final week also brought a visit to Gainsville High, run by former Collingwood old boy, Jamie Green, who was an incredible host and something of a local celebrity. After 4 weeks of American culture, it was nice to find some RHS reason in the madness. At GHS, we met JROTC cadets from their fantastic Navy cadet organisation, and toured the school, as well as having breakfast with Mr Green, whose parents both work at Riverside. Meeting him was a highlight of the trip, and showed us the truly global influence of the RHSA.
One of the school’s many routines, that could not go without mention, is a parade, twice a day, called ‘Pass-in-Review’. This became a ritual for the three of us, who were given the honour of parading our company guidons before the inspecting officer each morning. These parades were a highlight of our trip, which included teaching our US cousins how to march… properly.
After our final parade, we left riverside with heavy hearts, to move to the next stage of the trip; a cultural excursion to Atlanta, and a final stay at GMC. After leaving our second home, we traveled to Atlanta with the Pooleys, to visit the World of Coke and Atlanta Aquarium. Whilst the sight of whale sharks kept in tanks was, admittedly, slightly disturbing and a little sad, the experience was incredible, and it was fantastic to spend a day with Mr and Mrs Pooley after weeks without contact.
0600hrs-GMC: After completing our stay at RMA, we made the journey south to GMC, Milledgeville. In our short stay here, we scouted out the Mess – not as good as RMA i might add – and were given the full GMC experience, which consisted almost entirely of power-boating, jet-skiing and pool parties. I’m sure Morgan will challenge this, but we found it to be more of a holiday camp than the rigid structure we observed at Riverside. I must mention the warm hospitality of the Greers, who welcomed us as if we had been at GMC from the start, and the same goes for all of the staff, at both schools. We stayed to observe the final parade for the cadets at GMC, and the presentation of their awards, at which point the group set off, bound for Atlanta airport. Despite arriving around 6 hours early, even after an impromptu visit to the Delta Airlines museum, and a meal in the first ever Chick-fil-A (I’m sure Morgan will elaborate), we were on our way home.
I would like to thank all of the staff that made this experience possible, but special mention must go to the Pooleys, who acted as our mentors, coaches and parents for the entire trip. To anyone who is remotely interested in this wonderful exchange program, I encourage you to get in touch with any of the cadets involved, as well as the Pooleys – you will not be disappointed!
RAIDERS EDIT: Since writing this report, the Riverside A and B teams competed in the Army and All-Service raider national champs respectively. While the B team wiped the board, winning all four events, the A team narrowly missed out, coming second in the Army competition, ending their winning run at 5.
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