Eventually depositing the marble in a small bucket. While the task seems simple at first, the students find that working together, in unison, and towards the same goal is the only way to achieve the desired solution. Getting a marble in a bucket is not the point, working together is. After several tries, many students start to feel the frustration of defeat and want to give up. Without too much prodding from the Guard instructors, the students rally around ideas of their fellow students and keep trying.
Real leaders emerge, sometimes from the unlikeliest sources, to lead the way.
At this age, the smallest and meekest students tend to want to blend into background, SMSgt Joan Loftis said. But they are just as likely to have the right answers, and these activities make the other students realize that, and turn to them for leadership. Teaching the means to the solutions is clearly to goal of the successful program. Getting the students to think about teamwork, their roles in the team, and valuing every member is a victory by itself. The Guardsmen will also be working with these students on a continual basis from their initial experience through to graduation.