Pirate Battalion Competes at Annual Ranger Challenge Competition
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
The Pirate Battalion Ranger Challenge team.
The Freedom Brigade’s Ranger Challenge is a premier military competition held at Fort Dix, New Jersey, attracting 42 ROTC battalions from universities across the Northeastern United States. The challenge is designed to test cadets' mental and physical stamina, teamwork, and leadership skills through a series of arduous events. Each year, cadets train rigorously for months, preparing themselves for this ultimate test of their abilities.
One of the most coveted aspects of the Ranger Challenge event is the opportunity for winning teams to compete at the prestigious West Point Sandhurst competition. The Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, held annually at the United States Military Academy at West Point, attracts teams from around the world. It is an international platform where military academies and ROTC battalions across the United States and beyond compete in a series of physically and mentally demanding challenges. The chance to represent Freedom Brigade and compete at West Point Sandhurst provides participants with an exceptional opportunity to display their skills on a global stage.
Team members from the Pirate Battalion Team ruck marching to-and-from competition events. Cadets must carry all of their required gear between each event.
This year the Seton Hall Pirate Battalion rose to the occasion and put in weeks of physical and skill-based training in preparation for the Brigade-wide event. On the weekend of October 20th-23rd the Ranger Challenge team traveled to Fort Dix to compete against the numerous other Army and Air Force ROTC programs in the brigade. This dedicated group of cadets, known among their peers for their camaraderie and commitment, earned a reputation for excellence through their dedicated training that extends well beyond the boundaries of their campus. Their unwavering focus and competitive spirit, most notably during the Tug-Of-War event, made them a formidable adversary to the opposing teams. When asked about the team’s performance, Cadet Mohamed answered, "We absolutely killed it, our training paid off".
The Pirate Battalion Ranger Challenge Team working together as a team to hold the title of "Strongest Tug-of-War Team in New Jersey".
Each competing member of the Ranger Challenge team is essential to the team’s performance. All of the events that cadets take part in are team-based, relying on the trust and training between team members to overcome obstacles and efficiently complete the mission. These team-based events include: One Rope Bridge, Land Navigation, Weapons Assembly, Tug-of War, the Obstacle Course, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), a 6 mile ruck, and multiple fitness based Physical Training events. The Tug-of-War event is the Pirate Battalion’s specialty, and while they may not have taken home the Ranger Challenge trophy, the team still holds the title of "Strongest Tug-of-War Team in New Jersey".
After the final event of the three-day competition was complete, teams gathered for an awards ceremony. Every competing team assembled to celebrate their accomplishments and to congratulate the winning team. Team Captain Cadet D’Armetta commented, "I’m more than proud of this team and couldn’t be more honored to have trained with them this semester!" following the Awards Ceremony. Cadet Petrocelli, a member of the Pirate Battalion Ranger Challenge Team, said "We gave our all, we know what we need to work on, and we are going to come back stronger for next year!" The Pirate Battalion plans to use the upcoming semesters preceding the 2024 Ranger Challenge Competition to sharpen the team’s skills and open opportunities for new team members to compete.
Categories: Campus Life