INSTITUTE, W.Va. — ROTC cadets from five colleges in West Virginia teamed up for an annual event Friday to prepare for an even bigger test.
West Virginia State University hosted this year’s Ranger Challenge Scrimmage. Marshall University’s ROTC battalion faced off against the Yellow Jacket Battalion that’s made up of cadets from WV State University, WVU Tech, Glenville and the University of Charleston.
The exercise is all about testing the cadet’s physical and mental endurance.
“It starts with an inspection of the equipment. Then it involves safety/first aid training. It also involves a one-rope bridge where you take equipment and personnel across the bridge,” explained Major Charles Beirne, the executive officer of the Yellow Jacket Battalion.
Other training activities included rifle marksmanship, road marches and the disassemble and reassemble of a M16A2 rifle.
The scrimmage was timed but cadet commanders stressed it’s not the fastest team that wins but the one with the least errors. The training they participated in helps when they head to the 4th Brigade Army Cadet Command Competition later this month.
“This is our one opportunity to get the team together and practice before we go to the actual competition at Fort Pickett, Virginia two weekends from now,” said Beirne.
Thirty-six cadet battalions will be competing in that challenge including the University of North Carolina, South Carolina State, Duke, Maryland and WVU.
Beirne explained that his cadets get something from the training that they wouldn’t just competing among themselves.
“The more opportunities that you have to work with other schools, other programs, the better off your cadets will be,” said Beirne.
Friday’s scrimmage took place across the WVSU campus in Institute and at neighboring Shawnee Park.