RopeBridge

SITUATION: WHILE ON A FIELD TRIP WITH YOUR TEAM YOU ENCOUNTER A 40 FOOT WIDE RIVER WITH A HEAVY CURRENT WHICH ALL MEMBERS MUST CROSS. YOU ARE CARRYING A 120-FOOT ROPE, RAPPEL, SWISS SEAT ROPES, LEATHER GLOVES AND SNAP LINKS.

MISSION: ALL TEAMS WILL MAKE ONE TIMED CROSSING WITHOUT LOSING ANY EQUIPMENT WITHIN NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES.

EXECUTION: TEAMS WILL NOT RECEIVE INSTRUCTION ON KNOT TIEING NOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE ONE-ROPE BRIDGE, HOWEVER THE SITE NCO WILL ASSIST TEAMS IF REQUESTED WITH THE DONNING OF THE SWISS SEAT. THE SITE NCO WILL DEMONSTRATE TO ALL TEAMS THE USE OF THE KNOT SAVING STICK IN THE WIREMAN'S KNOT. UPON COMPLETION OF THIS BRIEFING TEAMS WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES TO PREPARE FOR THEIR TIMED CROSSING. THE FOLLOWING RULES APPLY:

1. NO PRE-TIED KNOTS IN THE MAIN ROPE
2. FIRST AND LAST TEAM MEMBERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO WEAR RAPPEL SEATS WHEN THEY CROSS BUT MUST HAVE THE ROPE ATTACHED TO THEIR BODIES.
3. ALL OTHER MEMBERS MUST USE RAPPEL SEATS AND SNAP LINK.
4. SCORES WILL BE BASED UPON THE EVENT COMPLETION TIME PLUS PENALTIES ASSESSED AS DESCRIBED FURTHER IN THIS BRIEFING.
5. AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION FOR FAILURE TO USE A WIREMAN'S KNOT WITH KNOT SAVING STICK FOR THE TRANSPORTATION TIGHTENING SYSTEM.
6. TOTAL OF EIGHT CADETS WILL COMPETE IN THE EVENT. EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST AND LAST CADET, ALL CADETS MUST CROSS THE OBSTACLE ON THE ROPE AND REMAIN "DRY"
7. ALL EQUIPMENT MUST BE CARRIED ACROSS THE OBSTACLE. GLOVES MUST BE WORN BY THE NUMBER 2-7 MAN WHILE CROSSING THE OBSTACLE.
8. ALL KNOTS USED IN CONSTRUCTING THE BRIDGE MUST BE APPROVED BY TC 90-6-1, MILITARY MOUNTAINEERING. CONSTRUCT THE TRANSPORT TIGHTENING SYSTEM WITH A WIREMAN'S KNOT. ALL OTHER KNOTS SELECTED FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION MUST BE SAFE AND DESIGNED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES.
9. EACH INDIVIDUAL TESTING LANE WILL BE EVALUATED FOR ITS RELATIVE DEGREE Of DIFFICULTY.
10. “SPEED TIGHTENERS” (METAL, WOODEN, PLASTIC, ETC.) ARE NOT ALLOWED. THE KNOT SAVER WILL NOT BE USED AS A TIGHTENER.
11. THE TERM “DRY” IMPLIES THAT PROCEDURES MUST BE CORRECT AND TEAM MEMBERS #2 THROUGH #7 NOT TOUCH THE OBSTACLES.
12. CADETS ON EITHER BANK MAY ASSIST TEAM MEMBERS. PENALTIES WILL BE ASSESSED FOR THEM ENTERING (TOUCHING) THE OBSTACLE.
13. 10 SECOND PENALTY : FOR EACH CADET WHO ENTERS (TOUCHES) THE OBSTACLE WITH HIS/HER BODY OR EQUIPMENT.
14. 45 SEC PENALTY: FOR ANY PERMANENT KNOT L-EFT IN THE MAIN ROPE AFTER CROSSING AND 20 SEC PENALTY FOR TEMPORARY KNOTS.
15. 10 SEC PENALTY: FOR FAILURE OF THE FIRST OF LAST CADET TO SECURE THE MAIN ROPE (OVERHAND LOOP OVER SHOULDER OR SEAT AND SNAP LINK METHOD IS ACCEPTABLE.
16. 10 SEC PENALTY: FOR EACH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT LOST IN CROSSING.