‘High-risk activities’ help soldiers remain grounded

‘High-risk activities’ help soldiers remain grounded
Posted On: Thursday, Sep. 29 2011 11:31 PM

'By Colleen Flaherty

Killeen Daily Herald

DALLAS — First Lt. Emily Miller had one thought as she stood at the edge of the seven-story platform.

"Why am I doing this?" she recalled, following her first bungee jump experience Thursday at Zero Gravity adventure park in Dallas.

Miller and about 30 other 66th Military Intelligence Company soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, visited the park as part of their reintegration training. The regiment returned from its fourth and final deployment to Iraq in August.

"There's nothing between you and the ground, just open space," said Miller, 24. But the fear was worth "the adrenaline rush. I always told myself I'd go bungee jumping."

Sgt. 1st Class Stanley Holcombe of Fort Hood's Warrior Adventure Quest program accompanied the Ghostrider crew. He said encouraging returning soldiers to thrill-seek in a controlled environment is central to Warrior Adventure Quest, which "mitigates high-risk behavior through high-risk activities."

"The purpose is two-fold," Holcombe said. "They're having fun, but at the same time, they're exhibiting positive adaptive behavior, versus maladapted behavior, like driving too fast or drinking."
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