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In an effort to enhance unit cohesion and provide leadership opportunities to its Soldiers, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 18th Military Police Brigade took its Soldiers to the Wiesbaden Rod and Gun Club April 16 in Wiesbaden, Germany, to take advantage of the Warrior Adventure Quest program currently being offered by U.S. Army Garrison Mannheim.
Warrior Adventure Quest is for redeployed Soldiers only and was implemented by the Army in an effort to help Soldiers better adapt to a garrison environment after a combat tour. For returning Soldiers, the loss of the adrenaline they grew accustomed to in a combat environment can lead them to engage in risky behaviors when they return to a garrison environment.
The Soldiers of HHC, 18th MP Bde. returned from their most recent combat deployment in December.
Participation in WAQ gives these Soldiers an opportunity to partake in a program that promotes team building, esprit de corps and battlemind leader tools – the Army’s psychological resiliency building program.
WAQ offers a number of high-adventure, high-adrenaline activities to choose from, including rock climbing, mountain biking, paintball, skiing or snowboarding.
The Soldiers of HHC, 18th MP Bde. chose to participate in a paintball course for a chance to “blow off some steam,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Jones, the security and intelligence non-commissioned officer within the brigade.
But in addition to blowing off steam, the objective of the paintball course is to give Soldiers the opportunity to take on personal and team challenges while using agility, stamina and quick thinking to win the various competitions.
Soldiers participated in challenges that required them to work together or as individuals to strategize and win. The highlight of the paintball course came when the Soldiers were able to put some of their combat training to use in the indoor course. One team breached a building and tried to retrieve the “hostage” from the opposing team.
Overall, and despite coming away from the day covered in bruises, the Soldiers enjoyed their training.
“The 18th MP Brigade was very pleased, and we were happy to be a part of this training,” Sergeant Jones said. “Training events like these are few and far between. We wish there were more.”
It was a sentiment echoed by many Soldiers who participated.
“It was great,” said Spc. Earnest Hamilton, a Soldier assigned to HHC, 18th MP Bde. “We got to release some stress. Everybody got to have fun together; we got a chance to have a good time with our co-workers. I would love to do it again.”
For more information on WAQ, contact the Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation Office from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at 337‑5760 or 0611-705‑5760.
