Week 5: Team Building-Instructor Only

1. Week 5: Team Building-Instructor Only

2. This is a midterm break. Cadets are almost halfway through the program; they’ve had a pretty rigorous time of it so far. The entire hour here will be devoted to team building activities. This should allow leaders amongst the new cadets to appear, so you want to watch and keep an eye out for this. Remind cadets that week 5 memorization is due on week 7.

3. The following activities have been provided as choices. Other teambuilding activities are available. The ones chosen were chosen with the general criteria that they have some type of PT component.

4. The purpose of team building is threefold. • First, it allows the flight to bond together in a different way than through drill. • Second, it allows you to see who is an emerging leader and target that person for element leader slot, if they aren’t already in that position. • Third, it gives you a break from teaching classes.

5. Electric Fence • From CadetStuffWiki • This exercise requires a rope and some soft ground or gym mats. The idea is to give cadets a challenge that they must use teamwork and innovative thinking to overcome. • [edit] • The Set Up • The rope is tied to two objects approximately 15-20 feet apart (trees, fence and a car, etc...). The rope should be just above the waist of most of the cadets participating. The team (usually a group of 6- 10 cadets) are positioned on one side of the rope. • The officer or NCO running the exercise then explains the situation. The explanation should include the following elements. • The rope is an electric fence that the team must cross over. • They cannot go around or under the fence. • If a cadet touches the fence, they are "dead". Their body still needs to get over the fence, but they must remain limp and unhelpful. Dead people do not talk. • The cadets are not allowed to use any tools except what they have on them. • [edit] • The Play • Some general comments about the game. • Two seniors or cadet leaders should act as judges and safety officers (one on each side of the rope). They must ensure that the cadets don't do anything dangerous like dropping a cadet on their head. • The cadets should not be told to work out a plan before they attempt to get someone over. If they do that, great, but the leader running this exercise should withold that piece of advice until the team repeats the exercise. • The cadets should be encouraged to talk to each other as much as possible...even the first time they do it. Stress communication and feedback. • If the team comes up with an ingenious idea that circumvents the rules, DON'T PUNISH THEM! Instead, praise them for good thinking and just adjust the rules to eliminate their innovative solution for the next round.

6. Human Knot • From CadetStuffWiki • This activity requires no equipment and can be done almost anywhere. The cadets must find innovative ways to untangle themselves, and they must work together since pulling on two parts of a knot will just mess up the "knot". • Gather the cadets into a tight circle. Then have them hold hold hands. Each cadet should be holding the hands of two different cadets who are not holding each other's hand. Then the fun begins. • The cadets must "untie" themselves and end up as a circle of troops. They are not allowed to let go of the hands of the two people they are holding onto. They may cross over and under other people. • This is an excellent exercise that is a lot of fun.

7. It Pays To Be A Winner • From CadetStuffWiki • This is a very physical activity for units that really value physical fitness. It is designed to help cadets get in better shape while providing competition and mutual support. • [edit] • The Physical • The game is pretty simple. The staff marks out 30 feet for the cadets to run just as they do for the Shuttle Run in the CPFT (See CAPP 52-18 if your unit usually does the mile run instead). This distance will help cadets practice for the Shuttle Run, and it allows the unit to do this exercise indoors in bad weather. • The cadets line up side by side. If you have more than 10 cadets, split them into smaller groups and run separate races. Too many cadets will make the exercise too long, and it will become counterproductive as cadets begin to walk. If you are splitting cadets up into groups, make sure you group them by physical ability (slow pokes in one group and fleet feet in another). • The officer or NCO running the exercise will then say "go" or otherwise signal that the race has begun. All cadets run the thirty feet, turn around, and race back to the starting line. It is identical to the Shuttle Run except that they do not pick up blocks at the halfway point, and they only make one circuit instead of two. • The first cadet to reach the starting line steps aside, and the rest of the cadets run it again. When they return, the first cadet to reach the starting line steps aside just like in the first round. The cadets continue to repeat the race and eliminating the winners until only one cadet (the slowest) is running the last round. The way this works, the cadets who need more physical conditioning get more exercise. The cadets who keep themselves in shape are rewarded with being able to rest. In other words, "It pays to be a winner". • [edit] • The Mental • That's the physical part of the race. However, the important (and more subtle) lesson of this exercise comes from what the winners do once they step aside. Their job is to cheer for the last cadet to cross the line. Each time the cadets race, another voice is added to the slowest cadet's cheering section. If that cadet manages to win a round, the cheering section then moves on to the slowest person in the next round. The last cadet to run will have the entire unit cheering for them as they run the circuit solo to encourage them to not give up. Sometimes the entire unit will run behind them shouting encouragement to show their support and to demonstrate that they're willing to stick with them. That also saves them the embarrassment of being the only person running. • The critical factor in this exercise is to teach the cadets to concentrate on persevering even when they are "losing". That last cadet should be congratulated on not giving up, not hasseled for being slow. Enthusiastic slaps on the back along with lots of comments like "Good job!", "Way To Go!" and "You did it!" are appropriate. Sometimes, if the cadet put in a lot of effort, the unit will pick them up and treat it like they just won Superbowl. It's great fun. • [edit] • The Whole Point • The idea is to have the cadets who are in the worst shape work a bit harder than the ones who are in better shape, but to do so in a way that is positive instead of derogatory. By cheering the cadet who needs work, the squadron is showing that they value that cadet and their effort. It is often the only time that particular cadet gets any praise from his squadron mates. That can be a huge morale builder for the slow cadet and the cadets around him.

8. Lava Floe • From CadetStuffWiki • This is a more difficult teamwork exercise that will challenge even more experienced cadets. The objective is to get your element across the "lava Floe" without touching the floor/ground. It generally works best as a race between elements. • [edit] • Preparation • Mark off an area on the floor/ground that will serve as your "Lava Floe". 30 to 60 feet should be enough. • Prepare squares of cardboard that are slightly larger than two size 11 combat boots • Give small groups of cadets (element size) enough squares of cardboard so that everyone has one except the leader (5 squares for a 6 person element). • Line up the elements on one side of the floe • [edit] • Execution • If a cadet touches the floor/ground, then the part of the body that touched the ground can no longer be used--for example, if the cadet steps in the lava, the cadet must hop on the other foot. • If a cardboard square is ever left "floating" in the lava without being touched by a cadet, the cardboard is promptly dissolved by the lava--staff members will take that square away. • To make it more diffiuclt, you may blindfold everyone but the element leader • Alternatively, you could let everyone see, but enforce a no talking rule.

9. The Atomic Sit Up • From CadetStuffWiki • The Atomic Sit Up is harder than it looks. It requires cadets to work together, and they must also arrange themselves properly. This is an excellent activity for teaching unexperienced leaders how to utilize cadets of various sizes and levels of fitness in a physical task. • Simply line up your cadets side by side and have them sit on the ground. Have them put their arms around the waist of the cadets to their left and right. With their legs bent, they perform simultaneous sit ups. The more cadets in the line, the harder it is. • After they fail the first time, allow them to rearrange themselves. The ideal situation is where they arrange themselves by size. Mismatched partners almost always means a breakdown in team sit up. The closer they are together, the easier it is. Timing is also critical. They must rise at the same time. • The goal is to do 10 good ones in a row.

10. The Catepillar Push Up • From CadetStuffWiki • The Catepillar Push Up is a team exercise that can accomodate large numbers of cadets, but only if you have the floor/ground space. Cadets leaders must distribute their troops in such a way that everyone's strengths and weaknesses are evened out. While it is a push up, this exercise is much more mental than physical. • Line up your cadets in one long rank. Then have them face to the left. Have them get into push up position, but instead of putting their toes on the ground, they will rest their shins on the shoulders of the cadet behind them. It is easier if they hook their feet in the underarms of the cadet behind them. • Then you have them all try to do one simultaneous push up. When done right, only the last cadet in the line will have their feet on the ground. All other cadets will be suspended on their arms and the shoulders of the cadet behind them. • Size, strength, and timing are all critical for this to work. Your weakest cadet should be at the front, and your heaviest at the back. Otherwise it will just take trial and error to figure out the correct combination. Most groups can get "in the air" in less than 10 tries. • For groups that are really fit, you can try walking as the catepillar. This is difficult, and if you have any cadets who are struggling with the push up, walking should not be attempted.

11. Trust Falls • Trust Falls • From CadetStuffWiki • For a unit to be able to reach its true potential, it's individual members need to trust one another. Trust Falls are a great exercise to build trust as well as Esprit de Corps. There are two levels of trust falls. • [edit] • The Partner Fall • This requires no equipment. Start by having the cadets pair up and have one stand in front of the other. Cadets should be paired so that they are similar in size and fitness. Two staff members demonstrate the fall before having cadets attempt it. • The cadet in front crosses their arms on their chest, closes their eyes, and simply falls back. They must keep their legs and body straight without any attmept at breaking their fall. If they step back (showing they didn't trust their partner to catch them), they must do it again. • The "catcher" must make sure they catch their partner by the underarms. After they do it once or twice (with the catcher moving farther and farther back), have the partners switch. • [edit]

12. Trust falls cont • The Fall of Death • This exercise is named as such just for effect. It is done after the cadet have mastered the Partner Fall. You will need a sturdy table that you can stand on. 6-8 cadets will act as catchers. They will line up at the end of the table in 3-4 pairs. They stand shoulder to shoulder in two ranks that face each other. The smaller, weaker cadets should be closer to the table since they will be catching legs. The pair at the other end should be the strongest since they are catching the torso. • Each cadet reaches over to the other rank and grasps their partner's right wrist with their right hand (kind of a handshake that missed). Then they grasp each other's left wrist in their left hand. Each cadet should have one palm up and one palm down. • The leader stands at the end of the "Basket of Death" opposite from the table. The leader controls everything and is responsible for gently catching the head. The leader ensures that every one is as tightly packed as possible and then orders the "victim" to climb up onto the table. • The "victim" stands at the edge of the table facing away from the "Basket of Death". Their heels should be hanging off the edge of the table. They then cross there arms and grab their shoulders with their hands. This is very important because if they start to flail about with their arms, they could hurt someone or worse, disrupt the Basket of Death and hit the ground. • A safety man (usually a senior member) stands on the table in front of the victim and grabs the material of their shirt at the shoulder. This ensures the victim will not fall until the leader gives the order and the safety man releases. The safety man also ensures that the cadet has their arms securely crossed and reminds them to keep themselves as straight as possible. • This last part is important. If a cadet loses faith in their comrades, they may bend at the waist. This is bad because they could fold up and fall between the arms of the Basket of Death. If they keep themselves as stiff as a board, they will land comfortably in the arms of their squadron mates. • The leader then begins the process by asking several questions. • "Is the Basket of Death Ready?" • "Yes SIR!" • "Is the victim ready?" • "Yes SIR!" • Prepare to Drop...DROP!" • At the command DROP, the victim leans back and falls into the Basket of Death. Because there are 6-8 cadets (depending on how tall the cadet is) catching the cadet, they should have no problem catching the victim. They then lower the victim's feet so they can stand up. • If the cadet tries to break their fall in any way, they have to do it again. • It is usually best to use a senior member as the first victim. Not only does this prove that the cadets can catch someone heavier than most of the cadets, but it shows that the senior trusts the cadets. • While this activty is very scary the first time you do it, most cadets want to do it again after their first time.