JBSA-CAMP BULLIS, Texas –
Army ROTC cadets from University of Texas at Austin claimed victory at the fifth annual 5th Brigade ROTC Ranger Challenge Competition Nov. 5-6 at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.
This year, the UT team placed first in five of seven events for first place overall. They competed against four other ROTC programs representing schools within the brigade that won their respective regions, including the University of Colorado, University of Arkansas, University of Arizona and Baylor University.
The schools competed to secure the right to participate in the 2017 Sandhurst Competition, an international competition held at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., against eight other ROTC programs, 16 international teams and multiple teams from the various military academies.
The Sandhurst Competition started in 1967 as an internal cadet event, but is now a diverse multinational and joint service competition that attracts teams from across the country and across the world to test their physical fitness, military proficiency and leadership.
The University of Texas Army ROTC Team has been the reigning 5th Brigade Ranger Challenge champion since 2014. The competition tests cadets’ abilities to perform in a high-stress environment, both physically and mentally, and allows them the opportunity to exercise their skills in leadership, critical thinking and team building.
The competition consisted of a 12-mile foot march, where cadets carry 35 pounds or more of weight; a day and night land navigation course where teams use only a map, protractor and compass to find points over several kilometers; physical training test; confidence course; weapons assembly and disassembly test; grenade assault course; tactical combat casualty care test; rope bridge test; written exam; and commander’s challenge test.
The seven-person team of Army ROTC cadets from University of Texas at Austin were the winners of the fifth annual 5th Brigade ROTC Ranger Challenge Competition Nov. 5-6 at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.
They will advance to compete in the 2017 Sandhurst Competition, an international competition held at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., against eight other ROTC programs, 16 international teams and multiple teams from the various military academies.