06-87
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2006
www.jcu.edu
Contact: Christine Somosi, 216.397.4663

John Carroll University’s Army ROTC Attends the
Ranger Challenge as Nine and Leaves as One

Cleveland, OH – From October 20 – 22, 2006, 300 cadets from Kentucky and Ohio colleges and universities set out to Ft. Knox, Kentucky, to compete in the Eastern Region (ROTC) 7th Brigade’s Ranger Challenge, a competition aimed at fostering camaraderie and testing individuals’ leadership abilities.

The Ranger Challenge, featuring the best cadets from participating schools, is established to test physical and mental stamina through the evaluation of military proficiency and basic competence. The Department of Military Science at John Carroll University proudly sponsored one team consisting of nine students who have been training for the competition since the beginning of the academic year. The invitation to participate was extended to students from John Carroll, as well as other local area colleges and universities, regardless of whether he/she is a contracted ROTC cadet.

The challenge hosts eight events for both individual and team participation. The Army physical fitness test, consisting of two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and ending with a two-mile run, and the hand grenade assault course, which focuses on targeting and following the proper procedure for employing the grenade, both allow for an individual’s accumulation of points. Team challenges, such as the construction and execution of a one-rope bridge, which tests the entire team’s ability to cross water without losing weapons or equipment, provide an opportunity to increase scores, as well. Other events included patrolling, basic rifle marksmanship, weapons assembly, orienteering, and a 10K road march. Team scores were based on an average of individual performances for most events while others were based solely on group times.

John Carroll’s team returned from the competition ranking among the third tier of group contenders. While the various schools set out to compete against one another, each team also learned how to work in alliance with their fellow competitors to surpass the challenges set to improve upon an individual’s strengths and weaknesses.

While participation in the Ranger Challenge distinguishes the elite of the entire ROTC community, John Carroll’s participation garnered more than just a superior status.

“Everyone from our team walked away from the event feeling extremely rewarded for the
opportunity to participate,” said Ryan Martz, team captain. “The best part was recognizing that we train so hard to compete against those who will one day stand at our side as officers in the same Army.”

John Carroll University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a liberal arts university grounded in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. The university has some 3,350 plus undergraduates and just over 750 graduate students. U.S. News & World Report’s 2007 annual college guide ranks John Carroll University among the top five master’s-degree granting universities in the Midwest and second in average graduation rate. Originally founded as St. Ignatius College in 1886, the university was renamed in 1923 to honor America’s first Catholic bishop, John Carroll of Maryland. John Carroll is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities located in the United States.

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