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Collegiate wrestlers from Army West Point and Campbell University compete during the Battle at Liberty, a college wrestling tournament held to increase local recruitment efforts on Fort Liberty, N.C., Nov. 1, 2023. Battle at Liberty was a combined effort between XVIII Airborne Corps and the Raleigh recruiting team to foster a relationship with the local community.
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Ramos)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Collegiate wrestlers from Army West Point and Campbell University compete during the Battle at Liberty, a college wrestling tournament held to increase local recruitment efforts on Fort Liberty, N.C., Nov. 1, 2023. The Campbell University Fighting Camels beat the Army West Point wrestling team 25-9.
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Ramos)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –
A student from Army West Point enters the wrestling ring out of a C -130 for his next match during the Battle at Liberty, a collegiate wrestling tournament, held on Fort Liberty, North Carolina, Nov. 1, 2023. The Battle at Liberty tournament was a combined effort between XVIII Airborne Corps and the U.S. Army Raleigh recruiting team to build the relationship with the local sports community.
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Collegiate wrestlers from Army West Point and Campbell University compete during the Battle at Liberty, a college wrestling tournament held to increase local recruitment efforts, on Fort Liberty, N.C., Nov. 1, 2023. Battle at Fort Liberty was a combined effort between XVIII Airborne Corps and the Raleigh recruiting team to foster the relationship with the North Carolina community.
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Ramos)VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S Army Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps present colors and sing the national anthem during the opening of the Battle at Liberty, a collegiate wrestling tournament held on Fort Liberty, N.C., Nov. 1, 2023. Collegiate wrestling teams from Campbell University, West Point, North Carolina State, and Presbyterian College competed at the tournament held on Fort Liberty to increase recruitment efforts in the North Carolina area.
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Ramos)VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT LIBERTY, NC - Collegiate athletes from across the country participated in ‘Battle at Liberty’, a wrestling competition held on Fort Liberty, N.C., Nov. 1, 2023. The event brought together local community, high school and college wrestlers and Soldiers alike.
An aircraft hangar on Pope Field served as a unique backdrop to an extraordinary performance by competitors. Campbell University Fighting Camels took home the win for the season opener 25-9 against the Black Knights, the Army West Point wrestling team. North Carolina State swept Presbyterian College men's wrestling squad 48-0.
Among those in attendance was Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, XVIII Airborne Corps commanding general.
"This is an incredibly important event, first and foremost, to ensure we have a relationship with the community,” said Donahue. “Without our community, we can't do what we do every day.”
On the same night Fort Liberty hosted a match between Presbyterian College and North Carolina State. North Carolina State Wolfpack swept Presbyterian College Blue Hose squad 48-0.
Another role this event served was to bolster Army recruitment in the area of athletics, college and high school. Athletes make great soldiers, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ramon Ramos, Raleigh Recruiting Battalion commander.
"The event is about branding, shaping, and creating leads into potential applicants,” said Ramos. “There's probably a high schooler, college athlete, or even a young 10-year-old here that might be inspired to walk into a recruiting station one day."
With only 50% of youth knowing little to nothing about the service, recruitment faces its most challenging labor market since the inception of the all-volunteer force. The Battle at Liberty succeeds at not only fostering a good relationship with the local community, but bringing in potential recruits from all across the great state of North Carolina.
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