Best Ranger Competition

The sun's been down for about five hours and after walking most of it, I couldn't move another inch.  I had to stop.  "James, I need a minute," I said as I quit shuffling my feet, struggled to balance the weight on my back and stuck the barrel of my mock rifle into the pavement in front of my bent body.  Pain shot through each leg and up my back.  About an hour earlier, my rucksack pads quit cushioning the fifty-some pounds of weight from digging into my shoulders.  I adjusted my uniform over the tender sores they created and rested my head on the butt stock of my rifle, trying to create some additional relief for the small of my back.

This was probably the sixth such break in the past mile.  Through the passage of each of them, the big truck at the tail-end of the foot march drew closer, already carrying about a third of the competitors who couldn't finish the last event of the first day of the 2008 Best Ranger Competition: The Foot March.  The truck's large headlights and humming engine invited a couple more Rangers to hop on its backside.  With James' encouragement and a little gut, I picked my head up from the rifle and started moving my feet forward again, hoping to avoid the temptation.  A couple miles later, we were greeted by a different set of headlights accompanied by authoritative voices.  Relieved to hear the news that we'd just made it through the first day, we hopped on the back of their truck before they could change their minds and headed toward our next event.

At the end of this week, Fort Benning will host the 28th Annual David E. Grange, Jr. Best Ranger Competition.  Between 25 and 50 two-man teams will gather from around the Army's Ranger-tabbed communities to participate in a 60-hour competition that spans three days and typically over 50 miles of foot travel and 25 skill events.  Well-trained and professional cadre will challenge and grade the competitors at every turn in order to determine this year's best.

One of those competitors is a former colleague, Captain Glenn Burkey, and knowing what he'll be going through this upcoming weekend, I humbly ask that you give him and his partner some encouragement at gburkey@utnet.utoledo.edu or Facebook before Friday.  These two are currently serving as trainers, but I worked with Glenn in Texas, prepared for Afghanistan with him and later got to hear how well he'd done as one of the leaders at an outpost you may know, Restrepo.

Glenn (right) in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, with our Brigade Commander, Colonel Spiszer

Over the competition's three days, they'll be continually tested by physical, tactical and technical tasks that will challenge their strength, stamina, tactical savvy and technical proficiency, not to mention their teamwork, patience and "intestinal fortitude."  They'll need to balance each other in order to minimize mistakes, keep motivated and make it through each event.

The first day is a smoker intended to separate the physically-fit and determined from those who didn't train enough.  Competitors can expect to be constantly on the move between the morning's first event and the evening's final event, which has traditionally been the foot march that my teammate and I barely made it through three years ago.  Obstacle courses, marksmanship ranges, land navigation and a lot of running under large rucksacks will challenge each Ranger physically, forcing most men to balance all-out effort and conservation of energy throughout the day.  Smart teams will have trained for months to identify their breaking points in order to know how much they'll need to make it past this day.

 Hour 0...and the competition's beginning

 One of us landing on the drop zone.  It wasn't me.

Teamwork during the dismount of a wire ladder

With the conclusion of the physically-challenging first day, teams will most likely be technically-challenged with a multitude of skills events during the competition's middle 24 hours.  Typically ranging from individual tasks like weapons assembly to more obstacle courses, this round-robin affair is both a good break from the grueling pace of the first day and the final push of Day 3.  This day's stress comes from actually being able to do basic tasks and keeping calm under time pressures.  The evening's activity will challenge a team's ability to plan a route and move long distances at night.  After today, the top of the leader boards will reflect smart and competent Rangers, not just the most physically fit.

Getting ready to assess the situation in a trauma lane 

Performing first aid in the trauma lane 

 Hand Grenades, part of the skills competition

LT Bandi rappelling during the tri-tower event in 2008

After two nights of minimal sleep atop concrete slabs, Glenn and his teammate will enter the "home stretch" of the final six hours.  Emphasizing a mix of skills from the first two days, Day 3 challenges a team's ability to finish strong despite physical and mental exhaustion.  Typically consisting of a helo-cast, water confidence course and more running, competitors will want to stay "in the moment" and try to finish it as strongly as possible.  Teams that dwell on the hardships of the past may lose steam and miss an opportunity to climb the leader board.  Conversely, teams that look to the competition's finish may become complacent and find it difficult to keep motivated through each task.

 James jumping out during the helo-cast

 Hour 60...and the finish line

Each team, regardless of their final standing, should be proud to compete in this prestigious competition and hope to return to their units a little sharper, as they'll undoubtedly play a large role in preparing them for the next time that the rifles aren't fake and they won't be able to take a break in the middle of the road without consequences.

Thanks to my partner, James, as well as the leadership that sent us (and three other teams) to the competition three years ago for making the above picture possible.  Your impact is still being felt today, as Glenn seeks to have the same moment.  Good luck, Spader!

Special thanks to the Stultz's and the Duke PAO for the pictures