HURLEY -- Hurley students tested their strength against a 28-foot rock climbing wall Friday afternoon.

"National Guard rocks!" each climber who reached the top shouted -- as ordered -- before rappelling to the ground.

The mobile wall belongs to the Wisconsin Army National Guard. A team of three travel with the wall, setting it up and showing students how to put on safety harnesses and helmets before they climb.

"We are educators and tools to be used by recruiters," said Sgt. Alfredo Rodriguez, ranking member of the traveling team based in Madison.

Four ropes hang from the top of the wall over routes of different difficulty.  Rodriguez said the climb wasn't so hard, but it takes upper body strength and some climbers tire.

Those who reached the top received honorary, temporary military rank and could order classmates to drop and do pushups.

Students on the ground and the Guardsmen called encouragement and directed climbers to a hand or foot hold.

Rodriguez said he tells climbers, "the only challenge is between you and this wall."

Rodriguez, Pfc. Elizabeth Strong and Spec. Brittney Fischer came to Hurley at the request of Sgt. Noah Anderson, a recruiter based in Ashland.

Their long official title is Recruiting Retention Command Marketing Department's Mobile Event Team.

"Outside of going to Afghanistan and Iraq, this is what we do," Rodriguez said.

The rock wall was at Hurley K-12 School Thursday and Friday for physical education classes.