104th TRAINING DIVISION (LT) 4-399TH BN SUPPORTS SPARTAN RANGER CHALLENGE

By Maj. Mary Ensminger,

ot everyone knows what the Spartan Ranger Challenge is, but once you’ve participated in it, you’ll not soon forget it! This past October, 120 Soldiers from 4-399th Cadet Summer Training (CST)

Battalion supported U.S. Army Cadet Command’s 1st Brigade in conducting what amounts to a Superbowl for 16 elite ROTC teams from eight ROTC Battalions gathering at Fort Knox from across the Nation.

What makes the Spartan Ranger Challenge so tough? It is specifically designed to test each team’s ability to complete a taxing series of mental, tactical, and physical tasks in conditions of little sleep with back-to-back movements and no outside assistance allowed. Add to this, the competing Cadets have no knowledge of the events to come, a test of itself to remain flexible and sharp during the unknown.

Alpha and Bravo Companies out of Fort Knox, KY, and Fort Campbell, KY, respectively, set up lanes and served as certified instructors and graders for 17 events spread across 3 days. (Alpha Company also provided Combat Life Saving personnel which was critical to the mission’s overall safety).

Soldiers manned each event no matter if it was day or night as the Cadets’ fortitude and teamwork was duly tested. Events ran the gamut from timed team runs, ruck marching, knowledge of military doctrine, weapons assembly, and obstacle courses to rifle and pistol marksmanship, land navigation, the use of hand grenades, and even a Zodiac boat race.

Through time spent coaching, evaluating, and even just simply interfacing at the lanes or ranges, 4-399th CST Soldiers directly helped develop these top-notch Cadets’ leadership, professionalism, Warrior Ethos, and Winning Spirit. It is always time well spent.

This year’s top two qualifying teams, Virginia Military Institute and Texas A&M, will go on to represent Cadet Command’s 1st Brigade Spartans in the renowned Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the United States

Partnering with Cadet Command has been an invaluable opportunity for this Battalion year after year, enabling us to represent both 1st Brigade and the 104th Training Division well. However, what is most humbling is this final observation:

208 motivated Cadets successfully completed an undisputedly rigorous training experience to develop themselves as future Leaders of the World’s Greatest Military.