Soldier crossing overhead on a rope

The Competition

In July 1981, the Chairborne Rangers, a civilian organization that supports Rangers, asked the Ranger Training Department to design and conduct a "Ranger Olympics" in order to identify the best two-man Ranger team in the Army. From the beginning, the objective was clear, competition should place extreme demands on the team's physical, mental and technical abilities as Rangers. The standards of performance must vastly exceed those required by the average Soldier.

The first two Best Ranger Competitions were held as competitions between teams from each of the three Ranger Department Camps. In 1984, the Competition expanded to include teams from throughout the Army. Interest in the Best Ranger Competition has risen to such a high level that many of the participating commands now conduct preliminary competitions to select the teams that will represent their unit at Fort Benning each year. The competition is a 3-day event consisting of physical and mental tasks undertaken with very little rest between events. Selected events must be completed to remain in the competition. The historical attrition rate averages approximately 60%. Competitors are not aware of test sequence until arriving at the test site. The competition has grown over the years to be one of the highlights for Fort Benning with multi-media coverage and outstanding guest speakers.

Though participants are Airborne Ranger School Qualified, not all are full-time members of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Participant teams come from various backgrounds such as: Infantry, Special Forces, Armored Cavalry, Special Operations, National Guard, and Reserves, just to name a few. Some teams even hail from other services, such as the Marines.

2013 Event Schedule

Friday, 12 April

  • 0600
  • 0600 – 0630
  • 0630 – 1100
  • 1000 – 1200
  • 1100 – 1300
  • 1300 – 1500
  • 1500 – 1800
  • 1930 – UTC
  • Opening Ceremony
  • Buddy Run
  • FM1 and Day Orienteering
  • Darby Queen
  • Demo Test
  • LMTV transport to Dekkar
  • Spot Jump
  • Foot March 2
  • Camp Rogers
  • Camp Rogers
  • Camp Rogers to Camp Darby
  • Camp Darby
  • Camp Darby
  • Camp Darby to Camp Dekkar
  • Dekkar/Fryar Drop Zone
  • Fryar to Camp Rogers

Saturday, 13 April

  • 0230 – 0530
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  • 0700 – 1700
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  • 1730 – 1930
  • 2000 – 0200
  • Ranger Stakes (Night)
  • Ranger History
  • Knots
  • Mystery Event 1
  • Ranger Stakes (Day)
  • Grenade Assault
  • RFR
  • Day Stress Shoot
  • Prusik Climb
  • Weapons Assembly
  • Urban Obstacle Course
  • Stryker Movement/Kines Game
  • Buddy Run
  • Night Orienteering
  • Camp Rogers
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  • Todd Field, Buchanan, McKenna
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  • Malvesti Field
  • Camp Rogers to Malone MOUT

Sunday, 14 April

  • 2000 – 0200
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  • 0200 – 0600
  • 0700 – 1100
  • 1000 – 1200
  • 1100 – 1400
  • 1430 – 1530
  • 1700 – UTC
  • Night Stakes
  • Vehicle ID
  • Mystery Event 2
  • COMMO Test
  • Night Assault Course
  • PONCHO Raft and Canoe
  • Water Confidence Test
  • FRIES/Sling Load Recovery
  • Buddy Run (End of comp)
  • Super Supper
  • Camp Rogers to Malone MOUT
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  • Malone MOUT
  • Victory Pond
  • Victory Pond
  • York Field
  • York Field to Freedom Hall
  • Freedom Hall

Monday, 15 April

  • 1100 – UTC
  • Awards Ceremony
  • Marshall Auditorium at McGinnis-Wickam Hall