Transcript 2015 article

WHO: Cadet Jessica Ernst
WHAT: Ranger Challenge Competition
WHEN: 15-18OCT2015
WHERE: Colorado Springs, Colorado
SUMMARY: 20 Cadets trained hard since early September for the Ranger
Challenge competition. The training consisted of: ruck marches, long runs,
track workouts and skills testing.
Before the competition, Cadets had the opportunity to tour the 10th Special
Forces group complex at Fort Carson. The Cadets were tabbed by the 10th
Group Operations Sergeant Major. They also had the privilege to talk to many
different Soldiers within the group about their training, and MOS experiences.
During the competition our teams competed against 15 others beginning
Friday in: pull ups, dips, and a general knowledge test. Saturday morning
started with a 12 mile ruck march followed by the Kims test, hand grenade
assault course, tactical combat causality care, knot tying, target acquisition, and
weapons lanes.
There were also land navigation points that they found for extra points.
During the Kims test the Cowboys were asked to memorize a group of items.
After the 5 lanes were complete, they were asked to recall what they saw that
morning.
The weapon lanes consisted of: disassembly and reassembly of the M240B
machine gun and the M4 rifle. The Hand grenade assault course consisted of 5
stations all including IMTs (Individual Movement Techniques), the proper
technique of grenade throwing, properly taking out a bunker and grenade
identification.
During the tactical combat causality care lane, the Cadets were asked to care
for 3 different injuries, call up a nine line, then tactically move the patients and
set up a LZ (landing zone). At the knots course Cadets tied a variety of knots to
include: Swiss seats, square knots, bowline knots, and several others.
Our teams competed rigorously during Ranger Challenge, both mental and
physical strength were needed to get through the day with success. The
Cowboys trained hard and attacked the challenge with enthusiasm that allows
them to wear the Ranger Challenge tab.