Best Ranger Competition

Best Ranger Competition
Name	Best Ranger Competition
Established	1982
Frequency	Annual
Location	Fort Benning
Country	United States
Participants	Ranger-qualified teams
Organizer	United States Army

Best Ranger Competition

The Best Ranger Competition is an annual United States Army event that pits elite Ranger-qualified soldiers from across United States services and allied militaries against a series of physically and mentally demanding tasks. Held on and around Fort Benning (now Fort Moore) and drawing units from Ranger School, 75th Ranger Regiment, Airborne School, and other formations, the competition showcases endurance, navigation, marksmanship, and small-unit leadership. Competitors typically include representatives from specialized units such as Delta Force, United States Special Operations Command, Navy SEALs, United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, and international partners.

History

The competition traces origins to ad hoc Ranger trials in the early 1980s that echoed proficiency contests like the Best Sniper Competition and endurance tests practiced by units such as the 1st Ranger Battalion and 3rd Ranger Battalion. Formalized in 1982 at Fort Moore (then Fort Benning), the event evolved through influences from exercises connected to the Vietnam War veterans' institutional knowledge, the post-Cold War restructure following the Goldwater-Nichols Act, and lessons from operations such as Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. Over time the competition incorporated best practices from institutions including United States Army Infantry School, United States Army Ranger School, and the United States Army Special Operations Command. Notable milestones include expanded participation after the Global War on Terrorism and occasional integration of allied teams from countries like United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and South Korea.

Competition Format

Teams of two competitors navigate a multi-day course designed by staff from 75th Ranger Regiment and United States Army Infantry School personnel. The format emphasizes paired teamwork similar to tactics taught at Ranger School and mission profiles practiced by units such as 101st Airborne Division and 82nd Airborne Division. Stages blend timed lanes, unknown-distance navigation inspired by Patrol Base operations, and casualty evacuation tasks akin to protocols from United States Army Medical Command. Scoring balances speed, accuracy, and adherence to safety standards enforced by judges from commands including United States Army Military Police Corps and United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne).

Events and Challenges

Typical events mirror training and operational tasks drawn from schools and operations: sustained road marches reminiscent of Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol routines; obstacle courses and confidence courses similar to those at Fort Bragg; marksmanship lanes reflecting standards from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit; combat lifesaver scenarios following doctrines from Combat Lifesaver Course; and navigation problems equivalent to exercises in Advanced Individual Training. Other challenges include waterborne tasks inspired by Naval Special Warfare techniques, casualty carries reflective of MedEvac procedures, and decision-making scenarios that echo after-action reviews seen in Operation Enduring Freedom. Equipment and kit often reference standard items used by units such as 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, EOD, and Military Police. Course planners have introduced specialized lanes influenced by doctrines from Joint Special Operations Command and historical tactics from the Korean War and Iraq War.

Participants and Eligibility

Eligible teams are usually Ranger-qualified soldiers drawn from active-duty units including 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st Ranger Battalion, 3rd Ranger Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 82nd Airborne Division, and special operations units such as Special Forces, Navy SEALs, and Marine Raiders. Invitations have extended to allied units from British Army, Canadian Armed Forces, Australian Army, and others under bilateral agreements with commands like United States European Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command. Eligibility rules align with Ranger School graduation records maintained by United States Army Human Resources Command and with medical standards similar to those of Defense Health Agency protocols. Teams register through their chain of command with endorsements often required from brigade or division headquarters such as III Corps or XVIII Airborne Corps.

Notable Winners and Records

Winners include teams from historic units like 75th Ranger Regiment and individuals who later advanced to commands such as United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, and positions within United States Special Operations Command. Record performances have been recorded by Rangers who later participated in operations like Operation Gothic Serpent and Operation Anaconda. Noteworthy competitors have backgrounds from Ranger School honor graduates, U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame inductees, and athletes who competed at events including the Army Ten-Miler. Teams representing joint commands and allied militaries have set course records in endurance and marksmanship that influenced training updates at institutions such as United States Army Infantry School and United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence.

Training and Preparation

Preparation draws on programs at Ranger School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, and unit-level programs in 75th Ranger Regiment. Physical conditioning uses protocols from Army Physical Fitness Test traditions updated by Holistic Health and Fitness initiatives and guidance from U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training. Training cycles incorporate wilderness navigation akin to courses at National Outdoor Leadership School partnerships, survival techniques inspired by SERE school curricula, and marksmanship improvement methods from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. Many competitors cross-train with personnel from United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy teams, and draw logistical lessons from Joint Readiness Training Center rotations and rotational exercises like Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Category:United States Army competitions