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42 schools compete in ROTC Ranger Challenge

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Rachel Salpietra
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ - --  Army ROTC cadets participated in the Ranger Challenge Competition here Oct. 17 and 18.

Forty-two colleges participated in 10 different timed events, in which they had to demonstrate their expertise in first aid; assault; machine guns; sandbags; paintball; performing the Haka and a haiku; a layout inspection; and a seven mile foot march which included full combat equipment and a litter carry. The top nine-man team will compete in the Sandhurst Competition at West Point in 2016.

The joint base boasts extensive ranges, obstacle courses, barracks and urban courses that make it an ideal environment for this competition.

"The best from every school come here," said Cadet Ché Garcia, University of Vermont, "and if you want to compete against the best, this is the place to be."

This year's Army ROTC Ranger Challenge winner, for the sixth year in a row, was Pennsylvania State University.

"We trained two to three hours per day, five to six days per week since the beginning of the semester, sometimes conducting multiple training sessions per day," said Cadet Chas Davis, Pennsylvania State University.

According to Col. Kenneth J. Mintz, 2nd ROTC Brigade commander, the Ranger Challenge also builds relationships and morale throughout the brigade on top of the physical endurance competitors must withstand.

"It brings the brigade together and builds teamwork, leadership, mental and physical toughness, and esprit de corps," said Mintz.

The effect of this morale ripples all the way down the chain of command.
"Without teamwork, you're nothing," said Cadet Jillian Baker, University of New Hampshire. "The camaraderie among all the cadets in this challenge really builds morale."

Although teamwork and physical fitness are an important part of this competition, the Ranger Challenge also works to prepare cadets for their future as military leaders.

"This competition teaches us to be agile, think on our feet, and to adapt to the different things that are thrown at us," said Cadet Nicholas Keyes, Seton Hall University.

The competition teaches cadets how to practice creative and cost effective training for when they're officers in a unit one day, explained Mintz.