A team from the Blue Jay Battalion of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), which consists of 102 Cadets from Hopkins, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and University of Maryland-Baltimore City (UMBC), recently won the 4th Brigade Cadet Commander’s Ranger Challenge competition at Fort Pickett, Va.
They took home two trophies after defeating 40 teams from 38 other colleges and universities hailing from six states and the District of Columbia. In the two-day physical and mental competition, the cadets had to navigate between events, concentrate on their activities and perform well under pressure.
The ROTC program trains college students around the country to become commissioned officers of the United States Armed Services.
Events included a one-rope bridge, marksmanship, weapons assembly, an obstacle course, weighted pack running, CrossFit, a commander’s challenge, burpees and low crawls. All of the activities were done in full gear and uniform, simulating the real conditions in the field.
The Blue Jay Battalion will now prepare to compete in April at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where they will compete against West Point Cadets and cadets from around the world. This contest will also involve a two-day competition and five-day experience organized by the Sandhurst Military Academy.
Lt. Col. Paul Carroll, director of the University’s ROTC program and professor of military science, said that previous competitions hosted participants from Canada, Australia and China. Carroll credited the high quality of education at Hopkins to the Cadets’ success in the critical thinking and planning portions of the competition.
“I have no doubt that the critical thinking that’s a part of the education here at Hopkins helped [the Cadets] in their tasks,” Carroll said.
Carroll also praised senior and team captain Nicholas Blair, who has competed in this event since his freshman year and who made the ultimate decision of who would be on the team.
“Blair brought them together as a team,” Carroll said. “Their positive attitude shone through.”
Tryouts for the fourteen-Cadet team were held in late August and early September. After the Cadets were chosen, the team prepared five days a week, getting up at 6 a.m. to practice before classes.
“During the ranger challenge, myself and other team members learned valuable army skills and developed as leaders and team members,” freshman cadet Connor Joyce said. “For me, personally, being the only freshman on the team was a positive experience, as I was surrounded by teammates with lots of knowledge and advice on how to succeed.”
