FMWR > Recreation & Sports > Warrior Adventure Quest

Warrior Adventure Quest Program

Warrior Adventure Quest is a reintegration program to help Soldiers understand how they might be responding to stress and excitement following a deployment. We use adventure-based activities to help promote positive adrenaline responses. These activities serve as emotional and behavioral outlets from positive or negative reactions to situations. WAQ can also have secondary benefits to include: increased unit cohesion and Esprit de Corps, improving morale and communication, and developing trust and teamwork. It is fully funded by the Department of the Army and the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation.

The eligibility and requirements for Warrior Adventure Quest:
- Available only for soldiers- mandatory participation within platoon
- Conducted at a platoon level
- Must be executed within the first 120 days of returning to Ft. Carson after deployment
- Each platoon is allowed one WAQ Program per deployment cycle
- Must be conducted during duty time
- Mandatory L-LAAD Training for all leaders E6 and above in the participating platoon before the program is conducted.
- Participating Soldiers receive WAQ info and event schedule.
- Full-day adventure program followed with a Leader- Led After Action Debrief (L-LAAD)
- Completion of mandatory post activity survey
- No drinking prior or during the activity

Warrior Adventure Quest provides high-adventure activities with appropriate risk in controlled settings with the following desired outcomes:
- Unit cohesion
- Provide safe outlets for adrenaline seeking by introducing soldiers to various outdoor recreation options
- Increase dialogue regarding combat experience

The WAQ Program consists of 4 required stages, conducted in this order:

Stage1 Leader Training: This training is for all leaders, E-6 and above, in the participating platoon. It educates the leaders on how to facilitate a Leader- Led After Action Debrief (L-LAAD) and enables them to conduct the LLAAD for their platoon’s WAQ program. Through the L-LAAD training they will also be familiarized with the importance and goals of the program and how to present the soldier training to their platoon. These trainings are held every Thursday at 1300 in the Outdoor Recreation Complex, Building 2429.

Stage 2 Soldier Training: This is a brief in which the L-LAAD leaders explain the purpose of the day and what is going to happen. It is used to describe the goals and requirements of the day and desired outcomes of WAQ.

Stage 3 WAQ Activity: This is when the soldiers participate in the activity.

Stage 4 L-LAAD: The Leader - Lead After Action Debrief (L-LAAD) is held immediately after the activity and is facilitated by the L-LAAD trained leaders. The purpose is to debrief the day’s activity. Through discussion, soldiers are encouraged to recognize connections between both the activity they just experienced and the challenges they may be experiencing within their daily lives.

Fort Carson is currently offering the following Warrior Adventure Quest Programs Tuesday through Thursday.
Here is a link to the FMWRC site that has an article and video on the program:
http://www.armymwr.com/recleisure/warrior_adventure_quest.aspx

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