Camaraderie on Currahee

Young men of different ages and cultures begin their ROC cycle at Riverside as strangers and end their training as brothers. One of the highlights of this training is a challenging six-mile hike up and back down Currahee Mountain Trail in Toccoa, Georgia. This same trail was used for paratrooper training at Camp Toccoa during WWII as portrayed in “Band of Brothers.” 

According to Riverside Commandant, Lt Col Jonathan Pooley, camaraderie is contagious among the boys as they face the hike together. “It’s amazing to see ROCs who didn’t know each other just five days ago encouraging one another and showing teamwork as they persevere together,” he said. This bonding experience in the ROC cycle is only the beginning of the brotherhood they will experience among the “Brothers in Blue” at Riverside.