FORT BENNING, Ga., (April 15, 2015) -- The 32nd annual David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition held here April 10-12 challenged 102 Soldiers both physically and mentally and recognized the team who could move furthest, fastest and fight hardest in a matter of 60 hours of strenuous activity.
"Essentially, it's a state of mind, living the Ranger Creed," said Maj. John Vickery, commander, A Company, 4th Ranger Training Battalion. "These guys are born with those instincts, it is not something they take on once they start to train for Best Ranger; it is something they live on a daily basis."
Tabbed and experienced in all events the 51 teams faced in the competition, Rangers and instructors agreed that winning the Best Ranger Competition involved keeping a pace.
"It's running your own race," said 1st Lt. David Matthews with Team 25, 25th Infantry Division. "One event at a time is all it is."
From the Malvesti Obstacle Course, Urban Assault Course, a spot jump, a helocast drop from a Black Hawk helicopter into Victory Pond to an unknown distance swim, a foot march and several buddy runs, the competitors are tested on numerous platforms of performance.
"One thing that Rangers pride themselves on is being able to get to an objective through land, sea or air," Vickery said.
The competition historically includes 26 events on average, which vary year to year. There are legacy events, which have been a part of the competition since its inception, and mystery events.
From the start, Soldiers were seen pushing each other along as early as the third event on Day 1, a five-mile run.
Through the struggle emerged the competitors' cohesion as two-man teams.
"It's a buddy event ... we've been surfing together for over three years, so this is just another day out on the water," Cobb said.
The first day, when Vickery said the teams are the "most fresh," pushed some Soldiers to their breaking point, but allowed the best to push forward.
"I would call it RAP week (Ranger Assessment Phase - the first four days of the Ranger Course) rolled up into one day, for Day 1 at least," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Rolfes, Team 36, Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade.
Soldiers maneuvered their way through the Malvesti Obstacle Course on Day 1, which is used to measure the physical endurance, as well as mental toughness of the Soldiers.
For students going through the Ranger Course, it is one of the key events in the first week of the course, so competitors all tackled Malvesti when they sought their Ranger tab.
"All through school and through the three days of Best Ranger, they're going to be going nonstop - very little sleep, very little food - and it is their ability to continue going ... where normal people wouldn't be able to go, they would just quit." said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Houston, NCO in charge of Malvesti.
Vickery said on Day 1, competitors are on their feet about 40 miles.
"Day one is all about endurance ... a lot of running, a lot of land navigation, a lot of swimming and then, finally, the foot march, which is the biggest event of the day that's weighted the most and probably what most competitors train for," Vickery said.
The foot march was the final event of Day 1 and unveiled the top 24 teams who continued to Day 2. Those not in the top 24 were dropped from the competition.
In days two and three, remaining teams participated in night and day stakes, night orienteering, the Darby Queen, a combat water survival assessment and final buddy run to end the competition.
"... I watched perseverance beyond what I expected," said Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, Maneuver Center of Excellence commanding general. "I watched as some people didn't make it to the finish line, but I didn't see anybody quit. I saw people who fell over because their body wouldn't move anymore. I saw partners taking extra weight. I saw that perseverance through adversity, which is something our military needs to know all about."
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