Corps of Cadet's Platoon Tactical Challenge: A day with the first Lima Platoon

The Corps of Cadets competed in the platoon tactical challenge Saturday, March 21, 2015. 24 different platoons competed in seven different challenges that took several hours to complete. The Collegiate Times followed the first Lima platoon throughout the day during the challenges. The challenges included a water crossing, casualty evacuation, a Commander's Challenge (involving climbing a 15 foot wall), land navigation, a platoon marching drill, and a written test. Platoons began competing in the early morning with the last ones finishing in the late afternoon. The first Lima platoon placed second overall in the challenge.

Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A patch is pictured on the sleeve of a cadet in the first Lima company prior to the start of the Corps of Cadet's platoon tactical challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet waits for the start of the platoon tactical challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
The first Lima platoon sets off to War Memorial Gym for the first challenge of the day, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet swims across the pool in War Memorial Gym during the water crossing challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet swims across the pool in War Memorial Gym during the water crossing challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet dives into the pool during the water crossing challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
The first Lima platoon runs past the Duck Pond en route to the second challenge of the day, casualty evacuation, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Platoon leader William Chung (left) directs his group into position to begin the casualty evacuation challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets pass a gurney with a fake body on it down the obstacle, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets pass a gurney with jugs full of water on it down the obstacle, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
The officer in charge of the casualty evacuation challenge evaluates the first Lima platoon on their performance, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Platoon leader William Chung (right) points directions to his group prior to the start of the Commander's Challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets listen to platoon leader William Chung (left) as he gives instructions for the Commander's Challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets help pull up a platoon member over the 15-foot-wall during the Commander's Challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets lift one of their own over the wall, nearing the end of the Commander's Challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Platoon leader William Chung scales the wall using a belt held by two other cadets, March 21, 2015. Chung was the last one to complete the task and had only the cadets up top to aide his climb.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A canteen sits on the grass next to the obstacle course as the first Lima platoon regroup after the Commander's Challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
The first Lima platoon organizes prior to the supply retrieval challenge as a herd of cows gathers near the fence to watch, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet drinks water during the rest period just before the start of the supply retrieval challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets carry stacks of bricks away from the supply cache to move them down the road, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet rolls a large tire down the road to the location of the new supply structure, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets haul a stone trash can down the road, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadets carry stacks of bricks down the road, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets lift a log overhead to help assemble the new supply structure, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet reacts to the completion of the new supply structure, completing the supply retrieval challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets look through Stadium Woods during the land navigation challenge, March 21, 2015. The cadets were equipped with basic navigation tools and were sent to find duffel bags filled with parts in the woods.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A group of cadets locate one of the duffel bags under a pile of brush in Stadium Woods, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet holds a picture of what the platoon is supposed to assemble with the parts recovered from Stadium Woods during the land navigation challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets haul a crate full of parts from Stadium Woods to where the rest of the platoon is waiting to assemble them, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet checks his rifle before the platoon drill, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet shares a laugh with his friend while getting ready to march in the platoon challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Platoon leader William Chung (right) directs his group to get into formation prior to the platoon challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
The first Lima platoon marches in unison during the platoon challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets perform a maneuver with their rifles during the platoon drill, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets arrange their rifles to stand up in groups of three after the conclusion of the platoon challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets take off their hats to cool down just after the end of the platoon challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
The first Lima platoon sprint to War Memorial Gym for the final challenge of the day, the written test, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Platoon leader William Chung gets his group ready for the written test by selecting the most able members of the platoon for the task, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Members of the first Lima platoon take tests during the written exam challenge, March 21, 2015. The tests consisted of basic knowledge about Tech, the United States, and the military.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet writes an answer down on the exam during the written test challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet thinks about an answer during the written test challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet from the first Lima platoon reacts after finishing the tactical challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadets from the first Lima platoon reacts after finishing the tactical challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Platoon leader William Chung (left) rests after turning in the score sheet for his platoon at the end of the tactical challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Cadets score the performances of the various platoons competing in the tactical challenge so begin ranking them, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Members of the first Lima platoon stand in formation prior to the beginning of the Corps of Cadet's platoon tactical challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
A cadet receives a uniform check prior to the start of the Corp of Cadet's platoon tactical challenge, March 21, 2015.
Corps Platoon Tactical Challenge 2015
Members of the first Lima platoon take off from Shanks Hall on their way to the first challenge of the day, the water crossing, March 21, 2015.