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    1. UNG
    2. News

    Cadets win ROTC title at Sandhurst

    May 2, 2022
    UNG's Ranger Challenge team earned a fourth consecutive ROTC championship and took home fourth place overall in the 2022 Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

    Article By: Clark Leonard

    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

    Esther Kim, a senior from Johns Creek, Georgia, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, was grateful to finish her college career strong.

    "Even though this is our last event together before commissioning, this is a memory we will have forever," Kim said.

    In addition to Kim, the UNG group included team leaders Austin Gabriel and Daniel Shearer, squad leader Hayley Farmer, Ian Bryan, William Buettner, Justin Collado, Haydn Griffin, Shane Henderson, Zane Parrish, and Noah Umezaki.

    The U.S. Air Force Academy took top overall honors, followed by a pair of U.S. Military Academy teams, UNG and Brigham Young University rounding out the top five.

    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."

    Contact the Author

    Japan Expo offers cultural learning

    Japan Expo offers cultural learning

    UNG will host its first Japan Expo on April 4 at the Dahlonega Campus. The event will feature an industry panel, a tea ceremony, a koto instrumental performance, and refreshments.
    Japanese students visit for two weeks

    Japanese students visit for two weeks

    A two-week visit to UNG by Nanzan University students provided language and culture exchange between the universities.
    Ethics events provide training for students

    Ethics events provide training for students

    UNG's Ethics Bowl team participated in its national competition March 4-5, and UNG's cadet Ethics Bowl team will host the first Senior Military College Ethics Bowl on March 25.
    Walter finishes fifth nationally in air rifle

    Walter finishes fifth nationally in air rifle

    UNG freshman Elysa Walter finished fifth nationally in air rifle at the NCAA championships March 11 at the University of Akron.

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