MMA Climbing Club

The MMA Climbing Club is one of the newer activity at the Academy, starting in the Fall of 2000. The purpose of the club is to provide a structured curriculum with a focus on development of skills, technical knowledge and understanding of safe rock climbing. Cadets choosing this activity will be introduced to climbing equipment, climbing knots, rope management, basic climbing and rappelling systems and techniques, belaying systems and techniques, building anchors and self and buddy rescue, This activity is a full year with the first semester being devoted to basics and the second semester to more advanced climbing techniques. The program contains both classroom and practical application of skills on the MMA climbing wall and on real rock.

Due to the inherent danger of climbing, all Cadets are screened to ensure that they are in good enough physical condition for this activity. All Cadets accepted must complete a standard Marine Corps physical fitness test. They must also demonstrate knowledge of basic knot tying by passing a knot test. After these two conditions are met Cadets begin training on climbing techniques. The Climbing Club instructor is Maj. Harold Compton, current American Mountain Guide Association Certified Single Pitch Instructor who has over 10 years of climbing experience and 7 years of instructional experience. Maj. Compton has climbed throughout the United States to include Nevada, Texas, North Carolina and West Virginia. Maj Compton is also a BSA Climbing Director and COPE Direcor and taught climbing at the BSA National Camp School in 2005. Each year the team will travel to locations in Texas for climbing at some of the most interesting sites such as Enchanted Rock, Reimer’s Ranch and Continental Ranch.

To view a syllabus of what the Cadets will be doing during the basic climbing click here