Over 200 University of North Georgia incoming freshmen have now completed FROG week to transition from civilians to cadets.
234 freshmen participated in the event from August 12 through 18. Retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of cadets at UNG, said about a third of those participating are completely new to the military experience, while the rest have Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps experience.
FROG, or Freshmen Recruit Orientation Group, week is planned and led by cadets with supervision from the Commandant's staff.
Cadet Lt. Col. Jacob Starrett took the lead this year as the officer in charge. The senior nursing major from Hartwell said in a press release from the university that the returning cadets were challenged to figure out how to run such a large-scale training.
"In this school we learn by experience," he said. "And I think that's what makes it so great."
The goal is to help incoming cadets learn about time management, academic expectation, room standards, discipline, rappelling, road marching and the right or wrong way to do things.
"You're learning something at all times," Starrett said.
Along with reading knowledge sheets to answer questions from cadet leadership all week, cadets got the appropriate haircuts from Woody's and North Georgia Hair Cutters and received equipment on Monday, they then began weapons familiarity and the combat water survival test (CWST) on Tuesday.
The CWST involves swimming with a load bearing vest and rifle, jumping into the water blindfolded while holding a rifle, 10 minutes of continuous swimming and five minutes of treading water.
Starrett said the leadership reaction obstacle courses Thursday at Pine Valley were a turning point for the week.
"We let the FROGs kind of figure it out themselves. And that's where we really get to see the leaders among the group come out," Starrett said. "And that's a really cool experience because it's the first time they're on their own, still learning each other's names. And you get to see the true, natural leaders come out and work as a team to complete an objective."
The demand of FROG week causes some freshmen each year to question if they want to continue with the Corps. Starrett encourages them to stick it out, learn how to work with others and work toward a leadership position where they can learn about themselves and how to lead.
"Even though they're hard on us, we get to know them," said FROG Yolimar Rivera, of Canton, about the cadets leading the newcomers. "And I feel like making those bonds early on is really special. I'll be halfway through my semester and need to know something, and I'll have someone to go to."
Video courtesy the University of North Georgia
