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Army ROTC cadets rise to challenge

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Darrell Dean
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Army ROTC cadets participated in the 2nd Brigade Ranger Challenge Competition Nov. 9, 2013 here.

More than 450 cadets from 42 universities across the Northeast gathered at Land Navigation Course #3, to tackle a course created to push the cadets to their limits and learn to work together.

"This course is designed to challenge the teams mentally and physically," said Sgt. 1st Class Glen Hapney, 2nd Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command noncommissioned officer in charge of operations. "These are all team events, so it gets the cadets to work together as a unit."

Each university fielded a nine-cadet team, with a senior cadet selected as the team captain. The objective was for each team to navigate the nine station course in the shortest time possible while adhering to all the rules of engagement.

The teams approached each station and the cadre pulled the team captain aside to outline the objective and rules of engagement for that station. The captain then went back to their team to pass on this information and organize the team to complete the objective.

The first station was the log carry. The objective was simple: The team had to carry a log 300 meters, turn around and bring the log back to the starting point within a given time limit.
Time penalties were assessed if the log or any team equipment touched the ground.

As each team began to lift, they quickly realized it would take teamwork and physical endurance to move the nearly 1,000 pound behemoth through the course.

The physical demands of this event were evident on the cadets' faces as they brought the log across the finish line. There was no time to rest though, as eight more stations were still ahead. The team captain was immediately pulled to the side and given instructions on how to proceed to the next station.

The teams pressed on through the next seven stations, each presenting a unique challenge to the teams. The tasks were orienteering, confidence course, obstacle course, physical challenge (consisting of 1 minute each of push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups), a one rope bridge, weapons station and hand grenade assault course.

The cadets were presented with scenarios as they navigated between stations to create additional challenges. The teams' performances during these scenarios had a direct effect on their overall time.

"After the one-rope bridge, the teams were given grid coordinates of a contaminated area," said Hapney. "The teams had to move to the next event without going into the contaminated area. If they went through this area 10 minutes were added to overall time."

Some of these scenarios also gave teams the opportunity to improve their scores.

"During the movement to the hand grenade assault course, there were two enemies out in the open," said Hapney. "If a team located the enemies and reported all equipment, 10 minutes were deducted off its time."

The groups made their way back to the course starting point after completing the hand grenade assault course. Although they were visibly exhausted, there was still one more station to complete: The Commander's Challenge.

The Commander's Challenge was a 17 question test covering material from the ROTC curriculum. Test scores were then calculated into each team's overall score.

This year's overall winner was Penn State University, with Clarkson University coming in second place and Indiana University of Pennsylvania capturing third place. The Penn State University team will represent the 2nd Brigade during the 2014 Sandhurst Competition at West Point.

While the primary purpose of the Ranger challenge was competition, many of the cadets feel the experience gained has prepared them for their future Army service.

Cadet Jordan Hartwig, Syracuse University ROTC team captain, says in spite of participating twice before, this year's competition provided him with a new perspective.

"This is my third year participating in the Ranger Challenge, but my first year as team captain," said Hartwig. "Being the team captain is a new challenge. You still have the physical challenge of the course; but now, as captain, not only do I have to keep myself motivated, I'm also responsible for keeping my team motivated."

Despite having some challenges, the Croton on Hudson, N.Y. native said he gained new insight on leading under pressure.

"Don't panic," said Hartwig. "Stick with your decisions and be confident and your team will be confident in you."