ROTC Ranger Buddy Competition set for this weekend

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas Army ROTC Cadets will be among 340 ROTC Cadets from across the United States challenging them to find out just how physically and mentally strong they can be.  

Two-person teams from 34 colleges and universities in 13 states will compete at the 22nd annual KU Army ROTC Ranger Buddy Competition on Saturday, April 9, at the Sesquicentennial Park area at Clinton Lake southwest of Lawrence. Teams will compete from as far as North Dakota, Nevada and Tuskegee University, Alabama. The contest is a spectator event that is free and open to the public. Cadets on male, female or co-ed teams will go through a series of events as they vie for the title of Best Ranger Buddy Team.  

KU looks to defend its first-place finish in the Male division. The “Top Battalion” award will go to the school with the best finish in Male, Female and Co-ed divisions.  

Competition will begin at 5 a.m. with a 15-kilometer buddy team ruck march, followed by 19 skill tasks event and a final 5-kilometer buddy run. 

Cadets will face challenges that will require knowledge of knots, military reporting formats, individual movement techniques, first aid tasks, weapons tasks and more.

The event timeline is as follows:

    5 a.m. – First formation/opening address
    5:15 a.m. – Buddy Team 15 km forced ruck march
    8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.  – Group Events (Round Robin)
    2 p.m.-3 p.m. – Buddy Team 5 km buddy run
    4 p.m. – Closing/Awards Ceremony

For more information regarding this event, please check out KU Army ROTC’s website or contact Joe Midgley at 785-864-1113, joemidgley@ku.edu.