Photo By John Crosby | The nine female Ball State University ROTC team works together during the Humvee pull...... read more read more
By Spc. John Crosby
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – The overall winners of the annual Ranger Challenge competition here the weekend of Oct. 25, 2008, were Army ROTC cadets from Indiana University, who placed first in the all male nine-man and five-man team competitions. IU has won the five-man competition two years in a row, and the nine-man three years in a row.
Close to 400 ROTC cadets from 13 Midwest colleges convened here as Ball State University hosted the competition which pitted cadets from each school against each other in a test of physical endurance and mental strength. The ROTC program is a military funded program aimed at training new generations of Army officers while simultaneously providing them with a four-year college education. Upon graduation of their senior year, an ROTC cadet becomes a second lieutenant in the Army.
"These cadets want to challenge their physical and mental abilities to see how far they can push themselves, and what they can accomplish under a raised stress level," said retired Master Sgt. Chester Ciudad, an ROTC instructor at the University of Southern Indiana.
As the three-day challenge unfolded, teams were timed on each activity and how long it took to navigate from event to event. The Ranger Challenge included competitions in night and day land navigation and building a rope bridge where teams negotiated crossing a creek using trees, carabiners, or D-rings, and rope.
The Humvee pull tested cadets' endurance as they worked together to pull a Humvee for more than 150 meters. Endurance was again tested on the obstacle course. Cadets were then quizzed on their casualty evaluation skills and later had to maneuver through a course carrying a casualty. Finally, moderators assessed the cadets' basic Soldier knowledge and then administered the Army physical fitness test.
"It's very competitive but also very encouraging," said Lt. Col. James Gridley, a military intelligence officer and professor at Ball State University who attended the challenge.
"They truly become close to the team they train with. This morning I saw a female finish her run on the APFT then she ran back a quarter mile to help her team finish. Never leave a fallen comrade. It's a good example of their Warrior Ethos," he said.
Participants were organized into five-member and nine-member teams, all male, all female and coed teams, which ranged from freshmen to seniors, with several teams representing each of the 13 schools. Freshmen and sophomores are strategically placed on teams with juniors and seniors to encourage mentorship.
All were competing for this year's trophy, battle streamers and bragging rights as winners of the Ranger Challenge.
"Great leadership development," said Lt. Col. Gary M. Smith, 9th Brigade, Cadet Command executive officer. "The freshmen look up to seniors. They get pumped up when they see the teamwork. It motivates them about leadership. A great camaraderie builder."
At the closing ceremony teams were recognized for their accomplishments and the winners, IU, were announced.
IU senior and five-man team leader Cadet Jeff Klobucar said it's no coincidence they won, as they trained sometimes seven days a week together on several of the events that took place during the competition. Klobucar recalls one weekend of training for the rope bridge event while on campus.
"We were hanging there upside down working our way along the ropes and some sorority girls walked by on their way to tailgate. We caught some funny looks," he said.
Although extremely dedicated, Klobucar said his team tried to maintain a light-hearted environment.
"I think it had a lot to do with our success," he said.
| Date Taken: | 10.30.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.30.2008 20:46 |
| Story ID: | 25753 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 124 |
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