Cadets win ROTC title at Sandhurst

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Ranger Challenge program shows no signs of slowing down. UNG earned its fourth consecutive ROTC title and finished fourth overall out of 48 teams from around the world at the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition held April 29-30 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Ranger Challenge is the varsity sport of Army ROTC, and teams compete against other colleges in events such as patrol, marksmanship, weapons assembly, grenade assault course, Army Combat Fitness Test, land navigation, and road march.

Retired Army Maj. Donovan Duke, the team's coach, said Sandhurst was the culmination of months of preparation, and it showed the dedication of UNG's cadets to their craft.

"Our program continues throughout the year," Duke said. "It's a marathon, not a sprint. You have to build up to it."

Col. Bryan Kirk, UNG professor of military science, lauded the cadets' tenacity at Sandhurst.

"The preparation, sacrifice and dedication of this team are inspiring. They enter each competition knowing every other ROTC team is out to take their spot, and the academies know that we are consistently within striking distance," Kirk said. "The mental and physical strength of this team is clear in their consistent ability to compete at the highest levels."

The preparation, sacrifice and dedication of this team are inspiring. They enter each competition knowing every other ROTC team is out to take their spot, and the academies know that we are consistently within striking distance. The mental and physical strength of this team is clear in their consistent ability to compete at the highest levels.

Col. Bryan Kirk

UNG professor of military science

Other U.S. service academies, ROTC units from across the nation, and international military academies all took part in the competition. Fellow senior military college Texas A&M University finished in ninth place overall.

"There is always an element of the unknown in competition," Duke said. "But our cadets performed well across the board."

Duke said kinesiology faculty members Dr. Parker Hyde and Dr. Sabrina Maginnis provided valuable insights that helped UNG's team physically prepare for Sandhurst and that their assistance will be vital going forward.

Austin Gabriel, a senior from Athens, Georgia, pursuing a degree in criminal justice, said he and the other more experienced cadets have enjoyed working alongside younger teammates this year, all with the goal of making sure this type of success is possible in the future.

"The younger guys have mentors to help them know how to train for future competitions," Gabriel said. "We didn't always have that during COVID-19."