ROTC's Ranger Challenge

[Jerry D]

ROTC's Ranger Challenge
By Aaron Kyle Velasquez
Published: Thursday, December 1, 2005
http://www.missouri-miner.com/media/...l?mkey=1428397

A few hours ago Thomas Williamson was asleep face down in his bed. A few hours ago Nathan Edelman was sitting in his calculus class. But that was then; now Thomas Williamson has 40 lbs of gear on his back and Nathan Edelman is wishing he had spent a little more time running over the last few weeks. They are mid-way through a 10k forced ruck run, the first event of Ranger Challenge, the "varsity sport" of Army ROTC. Once they finish they will have to compete over the next two days in M16 rifle firing, written and practical land navigation, a written tactics test, a timed obstacle course, a grenade assault course, a one-rope bridge exercise, M-16 assemble and disassembly, a physical fitness test, and a combat water survival test.

The University of Missouri-Rolla's Ranger Challenge team took third place in this year's competition. They defeated such schools as University of Missouri-Columbia, Washington University, Central Missouri State University, Arkansas State University and Oklahoma State University. The University of Missouri-Rolla Ranger Challenge team consisted of captains Thomas Williamson and Thomas Woodard; team members Joseph Sciarra, Daniel Tabacchi, Christopher Allison, Kyle Te, Josh Deehr, Joseph Wilson, Nathan Edelman, Michael Tollison, and Coach SFC Love.

Ranger Challenge Competition is a competition that is held every year. It tests cadets' physical stamina, military knowledge and skills, teamwork, and leadership ability. This year's team was able to take third place through diligent and rigorous training starting three months before the competition. Training for the competition includes numerous hours on a one-rope bridge, hours in the swimming pool and continuous physical conditioning. The team also studies military skills from field manuals in order to prepare for the written portion of the competition. Team captain Thomas Woodard said about the training, "Ranger Challenge gives myself and other senior cadets the chance to mentor younger cadets and build their ability as leaders."

The UMR team received average scores in many events and was placed an overall 13th through the first two days of events. However, during the final event, the practical land navigation exercise, the UMR team excelled. The team not only won the final event but ran away with the event, giving them the points needed to move up ten places to take an overall 3rd place in the competition.

"Ranger Challenge gives individuals the opportunity to enhance their physical, mental and leadership skills while providing an environment that fosters team building and the Army's warrior mentality," commented team captain Thomas Williamson on the importance Ranger Challenge holds in training cadets as warrior leaders. When asked about how Ranger Challenge has helped him develop as a leader, first year cadet Nathan Edelman responded, "Ranger Challenge has improved my general knowledge of Army skills as well as my ability to work as a team with the other cadets."

The UMR team plans to continue its training in an effort to improve their performance in next year's competition.