ROTC plays rock 'em, sock 'em

[SR-25]

300 cadets to take part in Ranger Challenge at Fort Knox on Saturday



By STEVE AREL



Rangers rank among the most elite components of the Army's fighting force. Soldiers talented and driven enough to be part of the group routinely overcome physical and mental challenges to accomplish missions, missions few troops can carry out.



Some 300 cadets from Kentucky and Ohio colleges and universities will discover this weekend part of what it takes to be one of those special soldiers when they compete in the Eastern Region (ROTC) 7th Brigade's Ranger Challenge. The annual event at sites around Fort Knox pits 18 schools in a competition aimed at fostering camaraderie and testing individuals' leadership abilities.



"It's a team-building activity that lasts beyond the weekend," said Maj. Michael Brantley, the brigade's training officer.



He should know. Brantley took part in a similar challenge at Fort Bragg, N.C., 18 years ago while a cadet at East Carolina University. He said he developed strong bonds with his teammates and still keeps in touch with some of them.



"You might forget a lot of people in college, but you don't forget the people you go through this with, who you train with week in and week out," Brantley said.



Ranger Challenge features the best cadets from participating schools. The colleges can field as many two 10-person teams. In some instances, schools fill those second teams with freshmen and sophomores so they get exposure to the event before returning possibly next year as members of the top squad and obtain additional training in preparation for attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Wash., Brantley said.



The challenge at Fort Knox, the bulk of which is set for Saturday, covers eight events — the Army physical fitness test, basic rifle marksmanship, construction and execution of a one-rope bridge, patrolling, weapons assembly, orienteering, hand grenade assault course and a 10K road march.



The focus is not so much about individual achievement as it is about team success. Team scores for most events will be the average of individual performances; other events will be based solely on group times.



About 100 members of the 100th Division, an Army Reserve unit, will staff the various ranges playing host to the Ranger Challenge and will scores teams and individuals.



The Ohio State University team took last year's competition, edging out Eastern Kentucky University.



A confident Capt. Matthew Donald, the assistant professor of military science and leadership who will lead the Buckeyes, said his squad is determined to defend its title. Only this year, the school has twice the chance of repeating: It's bringing two Ranger teams.



Cadets have been training since the spring with intense road marches and other physical training. A PT regimen was designed to help keep competitors fit while school was out. The participants even spent a day at Fort Knox in September training and familiarizing themselves with the post.



"The road march is devastatingly difficult," said Donald, who's in his second year coaching the Ranger cadets. "If the first time they see it is the competition, it can be disheartening. You have to toughen them up.



"It's going to be a tough competition. We have the edge. Everybody's gunning for us. We look for it. It's nice to not be the underdog."



The event tests cadets both physically and mentally. The challenge gets under way at 5 a.m. Saturday, just hours after the cadets arrive at the post. Participants will encounter a rigorous schedule, competing throughout the day with brief meal breaks before ending with the road march that's expected to finish at 10 p.m.



Closing ceremonies will be Sunday at Sadowski Field House. Various awards will be handed out as well, including to the male and female with the best physical fitness test and basic rifle marksmanship scores and the overall top Ranger Challenge team.



The challenge is part of a cadet's "continued development as a leader and officer," Brantley said. "That's the real purpose behind these events. It's not to run a mini-Olympics."



But that's not to say the challenge isn't competitive.



"They're coming here to win," Brantley said.