Rangers Lead the Way through Best Ranger Competition 2010

By Linda CrippenJuly 8, 2010

For many Rangers, competing in the Best Ranger Competition is like checking off a lifelong bucket list item. As a career goal, BRC is one of the big ones, yet one that many will never accomplish. For many of the past 27 years, Rangers, their friends, families and supporters have converged upon Fort Benning, Ga., to determine the best of the best.

This year's competition proved to be no less grueling than the previous. While 40 two-man teams began the event May 7, only 25 teams finished three days later. Fourteen teams were already out of the running before the end of day one, due to either injuries or the inability to complete events. Those who finished the competition covered more than 60 miles in about 60 hours. But as the saying goes, "There can be only one." The best this year was Team 6, Master Sgts. Eric Ross and Eric Turk, better known as "The Erics" from U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

The BRC is purposely designed to test the physical and mental mettle of the competitors, offering very little rest between any of the events. Historically, the attrition rate averages about 60 percent, according to the BRC website. Participants do not know the schedule or order of events until the competition begins. There are also several mystery events, which remain secret until teams are briefed just prior to beginning the unknown activity.

Open to all airborne- Ranger-qualified servicemen on active-duty, Reserves or National Guard status, the competition only allocates a specific number of slots for each major subordinate command unit. For example, the 82nd Airborne Division was authorized to send two teams this year. If units want to send more than their allotted number, they are required to get approval from the Ranger Training Brigade command team: Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Smith, RTB command sergeant major, or Col. Douglas L. Flohr, RTB commander.

Additionally, airborne- Ranger-qualified servicemen from other military branches may participate. This year's competition included the first all-Air Force team, 1st Lt. Daniel Norwood and Master Sgt. Michael Miller, of the 820th Security Forces Group, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

THE BEGINNING

The competition has always served to highlight the Ranger community and its contributions to the Army. "Over the last nine years, since we started this war, what it's really done is serve as a recruiting tool within the Army to get young Soldiers interested in Ranger School," Flohr said, explaining the benefit of the competition.

Smith agreed, saying the event has "evolved a great deal over the years, and since the war began, the [contestants have] changed focus." He compared past participants (prior to the war) to professional athletes, like those who run the Boston Marathon or Ironman competition. But since the war began, it has changed to a "battle-focused, NCO-run type of competition," Smith said.

The RTB command team explained that when retired Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr., former director of the Ranger Department, started the competition in the early 1980s, it was an informal, impromptu event that pitted the best men from the three Ranger Camps, or battalions, to see who would come out on top. Back then, the camps were known as the Ranger Department. In 1984, the competition was opened to other Rangers outside these units, and it has continued to grow ever since. The Ranger Department transitioned into the Ranger Training Brigade in 1987, with three battalions.

The manner in which competitors prepare for the BRC has also evolved. Flohr said many prospective competitors used to go on special duty status for six to eight months, allowing them dedicated time to train.

"I, quite frankly, wasn't crazy about the competition at that time because it was more of a professional-athlete type thing, more of an Eco-Challenge type of event," Flohr said. The war has changed that pattern, and participants don't have the same luxury of time. "The competition has actually gotten back to the original spirit in which it was intended," he said, describing Best Ranger as a come-as-you-are competition. "Some of these guys may train for a month or two before they come here, but they're not special duty anywhere. They're doing their jobs."

Flohr and Smith explained that several participants will deploy shortly after competing, like Spc. Cristobal Cruz (Team 26), 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, who graduated from Ranger School last November. Cruz, the youngest competitor this year, was also the lowest ranking.

With less than three years of service under his belt, Cruz and his partner, Staff Sgt. Wilton Gleaton, also with 75th Ranger Regiment, finished 19th out of the 25 teams who completed the event. Cruz was scheduled to deploy within two weeks after the BRC. "That's the way this competition ought to be. That is the spirit of this competition," Flohr said.

HOSTING BEST RANGER

The RTB puts an enormous amount of work into hosting the BRC. RTB staff begin preparing almost a year in advance for the competition, with a series of information briefings. Within one week after the BRC, staff conducts its after-action review and starts planning for next year. Grange is still involved with the event, as Flohr typically speaks with him about once a quarter, and as the competition draws closer, on a weekly basis.

"He's amazing," Flohr said of Grange. "I was talking to him about this one orienteering event on the western side of post, and he said, 'Hey, there's a huge swamp over there. Make sure those guys ... .'"

"He remembers all the terrain, so it's value-added. The planning definitely takes us a year, and it takes us about a battalion-and-a-half of Soldiers to run the competition, plus the National Guard, to whom I've really got to give a lot of credit," Flohr added.

For some attendees, BRC is a reunion of sorts. VIPs this year included Phil Piazza, a Merrill's Marauder from World War II; retired Col. Ralph Puckett, who fought in Korea; two retired sergeants major of the Army, Glen E. Morrell and Julius W. Gates; and, of course, Grange, who was a 17-year-old paratrooper in World War II.

Family support is also important. While there are many legacy events within the competition, planners keep tweaking it. Flohr said there is a balance they must maintain: keep the competition difficult, but keep it family-friendly. "A lot of these Soldiers' families have sacrificed the time to allow the Rangers to come here, and it's unfair to rob them of the opportunity to see it. That's why we keep it local at Fort Benning. We can, and we have in the past, taken it to Dahlonega, Ga., in the mountains - easy for us to do but not good for the families," he explained.

It's not just the Rangers who take this competition seriously; supporters do, too. Family and friends kept up with their teams, sometimes racing alongside competitors. Fans showed their support with signs and T-shirts declaring which teams they were backing. Supporters of the winning Team 6 boasted shirts that read, "Eric + Eric = BRC 2010," and "I'm with Eric."

COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 - Well before sunrise May 7, the RTB was bustling with action as every able body prepared for the kickoff at 0630. True to southern Georgia weather, the early hour was already thick with stifling humidity as competitors and fans lined up at RTB's Camp Rogers, the starting line for the first event: a four-mile buddy run that led to a 250-meter swim across Victory Pond.

By the time teams exited the pond, the top finishers were already securing their positions. Team 6 grabbed first place and held on to it the entire time.

After the Urban Obstacle Course and several firing ranges, teams made their way to the pickup point for the spot jump on Fryar Drop Zone. Teams conducted a full-combat equipment spot jump from a UH-60 Black Hawk at 1,500 feet, using an MC-6 parachute while attempting to land inside a 35-meter-diameter target circle.

Standards included rigging for the jump in 30 minutes or less, or teams would incur penalties. Landing with any part of their bodies inside the target, jumpers received bonus time awards. Once on the ground, competitors raced to the event finish line, where the first few teams rested until the last team arrived, which would not be until almost 1900. Afterward, the next orienteering and foot march events began.

Prior to the 13-mile foot march at the end of day one, competitors had already racked up almost 20 miles. Capt. John Vickery, BRC project officer, said only the top 28 teams with the highest scores will place.

Cadre officials reported the last team to check in after the foot march arrived around 0400, at which time all teams conducted an equipment layout before starting Night Stakes, which included setting up several disassembled radios, administering an IV, and mystery event one: Borelight (zero the aiming laser or optic) an M68 Close Combat Optic on an M4 rifle.

DAY 2 - Although the days seemed to run together, the remaining 26 teams found a few moments for rest. By this point, bodies were showing visible signs of stress, especially the feet. Many competitors tended to badly blistered wounds on their feet during Saturday morning hygiene, but all remaining teams seemed in good spirits when the briefing for the Day Stakes began at 0800.

The leading teams at this point would go on to secure their permanent positions in BRC 2010: 1st place - Ross and Turk; 2nd place - Team 5: Master Sgt. Kevin Quant and Staff Sgt. George Sankey; 3rd place - Team 7: Sgt. Maj. James Moran and Master Sgt. Evert Solderholm. All top three teams herald from USASOC.

Perhaps the most family-friendly day of the competition, day two took place mostly at Todd Field, as competitors moved through the Day Stakes in a round-robin of sorts. Day Stakes consisted of the grenade assault course, Ranger first responder lane, weapons assembly, the Tri-Tower Challenge, mystery event two (rig an AT-4 anti-tank rocket to a parachute for an airborne operation), mystery event three (enter a building and clear rooms of enemy personnel by means of lethal or nonlethal force), and a stress shoot at Krilling Range.

A crowd favorite of the entire competition, mystery event three required competitors to perform close-quarters combatives. So-called lethal force could be used only on armed combatants. Teams had to clear three rooms, where one or two combatants awaited. Teams were penalized if they could not gain control or submission of the combatants; they were also penalized if they were overtaken. A few of the teams had difficulty clearing the rooms, and some were even overpowered by the enemy combatants, which led to the dreaded tap out. Spectators and competitors said they hoped this event would become a permanent fixture within the BRC.

The end of day two brought another night orienteering course, where competitors made their way to Camp Darby. Sgt. 1st Class Vernon Kenworthy, 4th RTB, Ranger Branch manager within Human Resources Command (Team 39) said this particular night orienteering course was the toughest event of the entire competition. "After already going through two days of the competition, it was rough to then do 12 hours of walking with that monkey on your back," he said, referring to the equipment competitors had to carry in their rucksack. Again, those teams who finished quickly had another opportunity for more rest.

DAY 3 - Around 0800, teams readied themselves for the legendary Darby Queen obstacle course, a one-mile trek over rolling terrain with 26 challenging obstacles. In particular, the second obstacle of the course is called, "The Dirty Name." At first glance, the obstacle does not stand out as being exceptionally difficult; however, after the first few teams ran the course, spectators saw how challenging it really was.

Competitors had to climb on top of a log approximately 4 feet high. While standing on top of this log, they had to jump up to and climb over a second log, more than twice the height of the first - then climb down a rope. By the looks of the obstacle, it seemed simple; however, the crowd soon realized many competitors could never make it up to and over the second log. Subsequently, teams were penalized for not completing it.

Competing on Team 39 (placing 22nd overall) with Sgt. 1st Class Justin Brekken, the Armor Branch manager at HRC and the first 19D cavalry scout to complete a BRC, was Kenworthy, who bruised a rib during the obstacle course. Kenworthy said the reason the second obstacle is called "The Dirty Name" is because "you want to call it any type of dirty name, everything under the sun, especially if you can't make it." Given his tall stature, Kenworthy had no trouble clearing it.

Once finished with the Darby Queen course, teams made their way to the pickup point for the helocast at Victory Pond, followed by the water confidence course. The helocast required teams to jump from a Black Hawk with a poncho raft carrying their equipment and swim to shore. Scores were determined by the fastest time.

Once teams reached the shore, they climbed up a 35-foot obstacle to conduct a log-walk and rope drop, after hitting the beloved Ranger tab sign. Next, competitors sprinted to the 75-foot tower for the suspension-traverse obstacle, also known as the zip line, followed by a canoe trip several miles down the Chattahoochee River, which brought them to the final event.

BRC 2010 ended the same way it started - with the buddy run. Organizers intentionally plotted the almost three-mile course to include a Fort Benning iconic feature: Cardiac Hill. The name implies all possibilities. First-place finishers Ross and Turk were the only team to run up the hill, perhaps enforcing the belief they truly were the best of the best that weekend.

As tradition stands, special guest speaker for the awards ceremony Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, presented the winners with Order of Saint Maurice medals and Colt 45 pistols as part of their prizes, including eternal bragging rights.

THE RANGER BROTHERHOOD

Outsiders may never be able to understand the bond of brotherhood the Ranger community shares. As Kenworthy described, "During competitors' week, we get to know each other, and we all want each other to do well. Completing the BRC is a brotherhood fraternity that only a few have done," he said, congratulating all the competitors. He added that he will stay in touch with many of the men throughout the rest of his career.

Winners Ross and Turk both said there were many people they needed to thank for their support, not just friends and family, but also other competitors and those running the event. "There were some pitfalls we ran into, for example packing-list items, other things or bits of knowledge that many competitors know, but they aren't written down," Turk said. "We kind of came into this blind, and there were things we didn't know. People helped us out."

"The camaraderie among competitors was really good," Ross added. "Fort Benning and the Ranger Training Brigade were welcoming, and several people offered assistance for anything we needed."

This type of camaraderie forms during Ranger School. "For me," Flohr said, "it was a pivotal point in my life. It's something that you didn't expect was going to have the impact it did. It's a school; you show up, and you don't think anything about it. But it changes your life," he said of the experience.

"The competition has grown a lot because people remember what Ranger School did for them, and it's difficult to move out of that. You wear that tab; it's Velcro here," Flohr said, pointing to the shoulder of his ACUs, "but it's really tattooed on your skin. The prestige of winning the event and being back in the community where you started - it's a big deal."

Although he sometimes doesn't remember his own relatives' names, Flohr can tell you who his Ranger School buddies were, as he called out names from 21 years ago. "You just don't forget that stuff."

Smith said he met his Ranger School buddy, a marine, the first day, and the two were lucky enough to remain buddies all the way through the course. "That Ranger buddy thing is very important. It's a partnership that starts in Ranger School, because there is no rank in Ranger School. It's a mutual respect that builds over the years, and that's what's important to the Ranger community. That's why we have so much success."

RANGERS WANTED

Less than one percent of the U.S. Army, to include all military occupational specialties and enlisted ranks, is Ranger-qualified, which equates to about 5,600 enlisted Rangers. The Ranger Training Brigade command is very concerned about the small numbers and fears not "getting enough guys into the course and getting them to graduate."

"The Army needs more NCOs to attend school, in shape and ready to train. The numbers are dismal," said Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis L. Smith, RTB command sergeant major. Although each class is filled, attrition rates are extremely high.

Smith said the first three days, known as the Ranger Assessment Program, are the most difficult, consisting of day and night land navigation, a 15-mile foot march, and rigorous fitness standards: 49 pushups, 59 sit ups, five miles in 40 minutes or less, 6 pull ups.

"We lose half the class in these three days, but statistics show that 75 percent of the students who pass the RAP will graduate and earn the tab," he added.

According to Human Resources Command, Ranger sergeant slots Armywide are 75 percent under strength. In other words, only 25 percent of the allocated slots are filled by sergeants.

"HRC has told us that we're going to be 50 percent short in two years, 50 percent short of the staff sergeants we need to be Ranger-qualified," Smith explained. He added that he has put out personal invitations to major command units to send Soldiers to Ranger School. And Ranger instructors are "needed badly," he said. Some of his current intructors are on their fourth rotation at the school.

The influence of Rangers goes far beyond Ranger School and the Best Ranger Competition. Rangers epitomize good training and efficiency on the battlefield. Retired Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr, whose legacy includes the BRC, said, "There are second and third effects from the competition."

"Imagine the kind of talk at night in the barracks among new privates ... talking about Sgt. Jones, who is not only a Ranger but, two years ago, also went to the Best Ranger Competition and came in fifth, or sixth, or first. Imagine how they feel knowing they are going to be taught by this man," Grange said.

Another effect is more practical. "Are you going to survive on that battlefield' Well, if Sgt. Jones is there with that Ranger tab on, the chances are a heck of a lot better than they would have been without the tab. Furthermore, if you have a boy going into the Army, and his sergeant or captain is a Ranger, you'll feel a lot better about it. In a combat zone, you'll feel very much better about it; I would," he added.

Grange poses a challenge to those contemplating going airborne or infantry. "If they have any sense of adventure or dedication in them, they're going to want to try it; they're going to want to become a Ranger. Those are exactly the kind of men we want in the Army, strong and athletic men, who really want to serve and be the best."

For more information about Ranger School go to https://www.benning.army.mil/rtb/, or contact the Ranger Training Brigade command sergeant major directly, Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis L. Smith, at (706) 544-7365 or DSN: 784-7365.