THEY are crossing rope bridges, rappelling down a 45-degree ramp, applying basic camouflage techniques and learning survival skills such as making drinking water from grass and trapping animals for food.
And they're only 7 to 10 years old.
Cub Scouts this week are testing their mettle at the Schofield Barracks Air Assault School in the mountains above Wahiawa, as they learn survival skills from professional soldiers.
About 2,000 scouts from Oahu and Kauai are participating in the 31st Annual Schofield Days, a program that is part of a longstanding partnership between the 25th Infantry Division (Light), the U.S. Army Hawaii and the Aloha Council, Boy Scouts of America.
GOING FOR THE BIG SPLASH
Between 400 and 700 Scouts each day will attend a one-day training.The boys are eating MREs (meals ready to eat) that are given to troops in the field. The taste of Army life they receive isn't going to make them combat-ready, but the benefits are priceless, said Karen Matsunaga, a Cub Scout den leader and mother of one of the boys.
"Their spirit really comes out going across the rope bridge, and they're not afraid," Matsunaga said. "Some are afraid, but they try it anyway."
The rope bridge was the most challenging and fun activity, judging by the number of wet bodies and shouts of encouragement from Kaala District Cub Scouts yesterday. But some boys wanted to take the exercise to another level.
"Fall, fall, fall," they chanted until someone dropped into the shallow, cold, muddy water below.
Sgt. David Baker, in charge of the rope crossing, said about 90 percent of the boys were purposefully getting wet. At first, Baker said he planned to hook each Scout into a safety clip, but they refused.
Robby Burgund, 10, didn't seem interested in safety. He said he had a plan, as he slid along the two-rope bridge, clutching the higher rope with his hands. All of a sudden he let go, flipped over backward and landed in the water. The resulting cheer echoed through the mountains.
Burgund said he attended the event to have fun, "and so I could experience what the Army people eat." He said he likes MREs -- although they are not as good as his mother's cooking.The event is the highlight of the Cub Scout year, said Michael Braham, a Scout adviser. Boys have fun, learn about the military and try things they've never tried before.
"This really does a lot to build character," Braham said. "Through this, they're learning to build self-confidence at a very early age."
Some of the boys said they learned a few other things as well. Christopher Haywood, 8, felt confident he could put together a hooch -- a simple, small shelter made of sticks and broad leaves -- during survival training.
Some said they were better this year at performing the exercise and thought previous experience made a difference. Bryan Shito-Leong, 10, said he fell during rappelling last year and hit his head. "This time I just came down without any trouble."
The military personnel helping at the various courses said they enjoyed teaching the boys. Pfc. Shomari Carter said the Cub Scouts knew a lot already and were curious about how things worked. After showing the boys a bamboo knife and wooden club, he taught them to catch food in a snare.
"The snare trap was the most interesting to them," Carter said. "They wanted to get trapped to see how it worked."
