Things are different in the military. They don’t mess around. Teams are vital. Teamwork is paramount – it’s essential to survive. To accomplish the mission, team members must create a healthy, cohesive unit. Failure to do so can lead to catastrophic results.
What about the lard and the monument? Throughout the past year, the plebes “volunteered” for all sorts of abuse to grow as young leaders and to learn the value of strong teams. To mark the completion of a grueling year of training, the plebes participated in a tradition Monday that’s unlike any other team building event – it’s called the annual Herndon Monument Climb. The goal of the plebes is to scale a 21-foot monument and replace a hat perched at the top. What makes it especially challenging is the smooth surfaces of the monument are slathered in grease. Upperclassmen smear about 200 pounds of lard all over the structure so it’s impossible for a single plebe to scale it. This final obstacle forces the freshmen class to work together to find a solution and reach the summit. They pool resources to build a creative human ladder that looks like a tangle of arms, legs, shaved heads, and lard! Nasty! Watch it: Herndon Monument Climb on YouTube
In an earlier post, I talked about microwave team building. It involves an activity that is small, fast, and personal. The Herndon Monument Climb does not meet those qualifications! It’s slow and messy. The 2011 class of plebes took 2 hours and 41 minutes to replace the hat. Only 1 participant was hospitalized…reports indicate she’ll recover fully. All participants were exhausted, proud of their accomplishment…and covered in grease. Personal: way to go Quentin! We’re proud of you! (Now…please clean up before your sister’s wedding.)
My advice to my fellow project managers: don’t try this at the office!
See the video: Herndon Monument Climb on YouTube