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Learn the skills necessary to become one of the Army’s elite leaders.

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READY TO COMPETE

Tensions are high as Soldiers prepare for 59 hours of grueling competition.

In 2009, elite Army Rangers converged on Fort Benning, Georgia, to determine the best of the best.

Sergeant First Class Simms and Sergeant First Class Stackpole took on the toughest course in recent history. In 59 hours, these highly trained soldiers would attempt to endure and conquer what a student takes 60 days to learn. Battling harsh elements, braving unimaginable physical challenges, testing the limits of mental anguish, these select few competed in one of the harshest trials known to man. Many succumbed along the way to mental attrition and brute exhaustion. Many others staggered to the finish through sheer will, completely spent, but only one team, Stackpole and Simms, emerged on the other side, victorious.

Sergeant First Class Chad Stackpole: Once again, we’re back here at Fort Benning, Georgia, where 84 qualified Rangers that make up the 42 Ranger buddy teams are here to compete for the title of Best Ranger.

The United States Army makes up less than one percent of the nation’s population and less than one percent of the Army makes up the Ranger community. Each year less than a hundred qualified Rangers accept the challenge. Of those who compete, only half make it through the first day. For the next three days, each Ranger will carry more than 70 pounds on their back while covering over 60 miles nonstop with virtually no sleep. This is the Best Ranger Competition.

Last year, Team 5, Malchow and Collins, from the 75th Ranger Regiment, finished third. This year, they are the highest finishing team from the previous competition.

Sergeant Jesse Collins: We just went into it trying to do the best we could, go for top ten and we ended up getting third.

Sergeant Michael Malchow: Hopefully, this year we’ve learned from last year quite a bit, and we’ll be able to take it this year.

Stackpole: Readily why display, the intestinal fortitude required to fight under the Ranger objective, and complete the mission, “Though I be the lone survivor.” Sergeant Jeremy Billings of the 75th Ranger Regiment has made that commitment. He has competed in the previous three Best Ranger competitions.

Sergeant Jeremy Billings: Competing in this competition four times, it just, something I feel like I have to do until I win it, even if it takes 10 times.

For Sergeant Major Moran, it is also his second attempt at winning. He is looking to become the second two-time winner of the overall competition. This competition is contagious in the fact that every Ranger is hungry to win.

Captain Aaron Chonko: This is my second year, and this is the ultimate competition, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment at the end, when you completed the grueling three days.

Stackpole: In preparation for the competition, each one of these Rangers will be issued a standard Colt M4 Carbine. It is up to them to zero it in. They will all be given time to familiarize themselves with the weapons they will encounter during the competition.

The next area in which the Rangers will be familiarized is the Tri-Tower. It is a 60-foot wall that will test the Rangers’ confidence on the second day.

As the third and final familiarization, each team must prove their proficiency by exiting a UH60 Black Hawk helicopter. This is to certify them for the Spot Jump event during Day 1.

It’s looking to be another great competition. Forty-two teams have assembled here at Fort Benning, Georgia, in an attempt to earn the title of Best Ranger. Who will it be?

Next up, we’ll hit the grueling Buddy Run and the Ranger Irvin obstacle course. If you think you’re tired after that, well, the competition has barely started.

SEE WHAT THEY'RE UP AGAINST

Photo of Soldiers running

THE BUDDY RUN

Without knowing the course length, teams set out at dawn on this 7.2-mile trek.

Photo of Soldiers

THE DARBY QUEEN

26 obstacles spread over 2,000 meters make this one of the most difficult obstacle courses known to man.

Photo of Soldier firing weapon

MACHINE GUN RANGE

Using different weapons, teams must engage several targets while making sure they don't misfire.

Photo of Soldiers in shooting drill

STRESS SHOOT

Teams sprint to different shoot points where their firing skills are tested using different weapons.

Photo of Soldiers assembling weapon

WEAPONS ASSEMBLY

Teams will be timed as they try to assemble weapons from various mixed parts.

Photo of Soldier administering emergency care

ADMINISTER IV

Under stressful conditions, soldiers will be required to administer emergency care.

Photo of Soldier climbing tower

TRI-TOWER CHALLENGE

Three massive towers that competitors will attempt to climb, then rappel down using fast-rope techniques.

Photo of Soldiers jumping from helicopter

HELOCAST-SWIM

Teams must jump from moving helicopters into Victory Pond, then compete in a swim event.

MEET THE COMPETITION

Team 1
SFC Mark Breyak / SFC Steven Fields
JFK Special Warfare School & Center NCOA

Team 3
MSG Joshua King / CPT Kevin Toth
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Team 5
SSG George Sankey / MSG Kevin Quant
US Special Operations Command

Team 6
MSG Eric Ross / MSG Eric Turk
US Special Operations Command

Team 7
SGM Evert Solderholm / SGM James Moran
US Special Operations Command

Team 8
LTC Thomas Foster, COL Argo
US Special Operations Command

Team 9
SGT Anthony Vasquez, SSG Keith Back
3rd Infantry Division

Team 10
SSG Danny Shedd, SSG Warren Cash
3rd Infantry Division

Team 11
SSG Brett Graves, SSG Joshua Sullivan
82nd Airborne Division

Team 12
SSG Jeremiah Waggoner, SSG Bernado Mota

Team 14
SGT William Cole / 1LT Lauren Gore
1st Infantry Division

Team 15
SSG Raymon Santiago / SFC Mason Riepe
4th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 16
CPT Jeremy Shute / SFC Jared Sarten
4th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 17
SFC Larry Forrest / SFC James Anderson
4th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 18
CPT Andrew Smith / CPT Aaron Chonko
5th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 19
SSG Thomas West / SFC Jose Magana
6th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 20
SSG Kyle Skaggs / SSG Michael Ayotte
6th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 21
SGT Michael Malchow / SGT Jesse Collins
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 22
SFC William Greenwood / SFC Gerald McKinney
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 23
Eugene Mirador / SGT Jeremy Billings
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 24
SFC Brett Johnson / SSG Joshua Horsager
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 25
SSG Charles Cogle / SGT Frank Horbay

Team 26
SPC Cristob Cruz / SSG Wilton Gleaton
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 27
CPT Adam Patten / CPT Darrell Fawley

Team 28
CPT Sean Justi / MAJ Robert Risdon
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 29
CPT Ashton Ballesteros / CPT Luke Bandl
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 30
SSG Rommel Hurtado / SFC Cedric King
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 31
SSG Mark Taylor / CPT John Intile
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 32
CPT James Lostroscio / CPT Eric Schmitz
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 33
CPT Joseph DeChauny / 1LT Kevin Alger
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 34
CPT Mark Breugem / CPT Owen Broom
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 36
MSG David Roels / MSG Joseph Schoch
Asymmetric Warfare Group

Team 37
CPT Derrick Anderson / SSG Christopher Malone
3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

Team 38
1LT Daniel Norwood / MSgt Michael Miller
USAF 820th SFG

Team 39
SFC Vernon Kenworthy / SFC Justin Brekken
3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

Team 40
CPT Christopher Ahlemeyer / SSG Robert Tobin
Rhode Island Army National Guard

Team 41
1SG Kevin Dylus / CPT Robert May
North Carolina Army National Guard

Team 42
SFC Robert Hoffnagle / MAJ Jamison Kirby
Army National Guard Warrior Training Center

Team 44
1LT Matthew Schachman / CPT John Campbell
25th Infantry Division

Team 45
MAJ Ryan Hanson / SFC Keith Bishop
95th Civil Affairs Brigade