2008 Woodie Awards
Ranger Challenge Team beats out Pitt, Penn State at 2nd-annual competition
By Kacie Peterson
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Focus
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In the case of Slippery Rock University's ROTC Ranger Challenge Team, that is just the case.
The Ranger Challenge Team took first place on Oct. 20 in the one rope bridge competition and earned second place in its tier and third place overall at the second-annual Brigade Eastern Region Challenge in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.
Cadet Maj. Jonathan Turner led the 10-person team in the nine events against 19 other teams.
These tasks demanded a high level of muscular endurance because the team was tested in several physically demanding situations.
The Ranger Challenge Team completed tasks in hand grenade assault course, rifle marksmanship, patrolling, land navigation, an obstacle course, an Army Physical Fitness Test, constructing a one-rope course, a 10-kilometer forced road march, and weapons assembly and disassembly.
The obstacle course required the team to carry a 200-pound log through a quarter-mile course. In order to complete the forced road march, each team member must carry a 30-pound backpack the entire distance.
Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh were among the teams that Slippery Rock's ROTC program beat out at the competition.
Since Aug. 29, the team has been training for this year's competition. The members are seniors Jonathan Turner, Micah Linderman and Chris Spudic, juniors Collier Wright, Bradlee Spudic, Emma Christensen and Zachary Majzun, sophomores Chad Baker and Zachary Foster and freshman Merle McConnell.
Alternates for the team were Jessica Brothers, Ruth Pippin, Michael Botjer and Patrick Plumberg.
Cadet Lt. Col. Micah Linderman, a senior, was one in the group of volunteers who chose to be a participant. Linderman said he has been involved in the Ranger Challenge Team since his freshman year at SRU.
"You hear talk around the battalion about the Ranger Challenge Team," Linderman said. "It offers more intense physical training and you got a free T-shirt."
Cadet 2nd Lt. Bradlee Spudic, a junior, has also been a part of the Ranger Challenge Team since he first entered the ROTC program three years ago.
"It sounded tough, and I can appreciate a good challenge," Spudic said.
But anyone can take part in the competition, said 2nd Lt. Andrew Sharp, who works alongside Master Sgt. Sheldon Monroe as team mentor.
"Anyone can join because we currently pull from a small pool of cadets," Sharp said. "We've had a whole bunch of people try out. Different athletes and others have tried out and had fun. We welcome all people."
In fact, individuals do not even have to be a part of the ROTC program in order to be on the team. The only requirement is taking the Military Science 101 course.
"You do fun things in the class during labs," said Linderman, "and you are eligible for the team if you take the class."
The individuals who finish in the top 10 spots in the tryouts are usually the most physically fit, dedicated and possess advanced technical skills.
Sharp said for the most part, those that make the team are well-rounded individuals and tend to bring everything to the table.
Team members have to be able to run, think on their feet and be athletic with motor skills that are displayed during the tryouts.
Those who make the team are then warned that it takes a lot of dedication.
Practices were held six days a week for six weeks from 5:30 to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, with Saturday practices being held from 6 to 11 a.m.
Physical exercises for the week varied from day to day, but all practices took place at Old Thompson Field.
Typically, Monday and Friday mornings were spent on six-mile runs, while Wednesdays focused on circuit training, which involved running up the hill to the Slippery Rock water tower while carrying logs and sandbags back and forth.
Tuesdays and Thursdays were technical skills days.
On Tuesdays, the team focused on assembling and dissembling M-16 machine guns and 9 mm handguns.
Thursdays concentrated on one-rope bridge practice, the event in which the Ranger Challenge Team took first place.
"Our experience led us to be more technically proficient than the other teams, and that was key to a lot of the events," Spudic said.
Sharp and Linderman both believe that the team would not have been the same had Monroe not been a part of their mentor system.
"He left a legacy and a mark on the program," Linderman said. "Future teams will have the same core values (as this team) because of him, and we would like to thank him for really training us to be a better team, better soldiers and better people."
Monroe will be retiring this year from the Army after more than 20 years of service.
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