MACON – Thirty-four cadets in Mercer University's ROTC program joined cadets from Georgia Military College and Marion Military Institute Sept. 25-26 to participate in the second annual GMC Internal Ranger Challenge Competition.
Teams of cadets competed in land navigation, weapons disassembly, medical scenarios, a 10K road march, a one-rope bridge, a grenade assault course and a grueling Commander's Challenge event. Mercer's top team placed second overall.
“The Internal Ranger Challenge event is designed to develop cadets' technical skills and intangible leadership traits. The success of our cadets demonstrates the winning attitude and work ethic that we seek to develop in the Army ROTC program,” said 2nd Lt. Sam Winsor, Gold Bar Recruiter for Mercer's Army ROTC program.
Mercer will send 20 cadets to the 31st annual Army Ten-Miler Oct. 11 in Washington, D.C. The event, sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, is the second-largest 10-mile race in the country. Last year's race included over 26,000 finishers and 649 military and civilian running teams.
The University will also send an 11-person team to the annual Ranger Challenge competition later this month in Fort Knox, Kentucky. That event allows ROTC programs from institutions across the country to compete in completing military tasks. Cadets participate in a written examination, physical fitness drills and field exercises.
Mercer's ROTC program was activated in 1947. Today, the program commissions officers into one of the 16 basic U. S. Army branches and into the active Army, U.S. Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. With military science instruction and associated activities, ROTC courses, which are open to all students as electives and without obligation, aim to develop leadership and managerial potential, provide an understanding of the requirements and organization for national security and instill a strong sense of personal integrity and individual responsibility.
