Boston University’s top ROTC cadets competed in the annual Ranger Challenge competition, held last Saturday in Fort Devens, and fought their way to a third-place tie with Syracuse University in a competition consisting of a 10-kilometer forced march with a 30 lb. backpack.
This year, about 260 cadets from 22 different schools in the New England area gathered for the arduous two-day competition. Captains Michael Weisman and Ally Iram led the two teams from BU, Black and Gold.
The 26 teams competed in eight different events such as crossing a gorge on a one-rope bridge, basic rifle marksmanship with an M-16 A2 weapon, timed land navigation, the Army physical fitness test, a leadership reaction course, weapons assembly, an obstacle course and the march.
Each team consisted of ten cadets who volunteered to participate in the competition. After the rough physical training, the cadets that are most physically fit are selected to compete, according to Major Paul Cancelliere, a coach for the team.
All of these events require great physical fitness, but captain Michael Weisman said running with a ruck, or backpack, was the hardest thing the cadets had to do.
‘The hardest event is on Sunday, which is the 10 kilometer ruck run,’ Weisman said. ‘We have to be in full uniform with our 30 pound ruck sack, and rifles.’
Starting in early September, the team practiced extensively for the competition, meeting six days a week at 6 a.m. for its physical training.
‘The team went through long hours of practice and put their heart into it,’ said Platoon Sergeant David Puzzo. ‘Weisman put us together into a good team.’
Cancelliere also spoke highly of the team.
‘I am proud of what they have accomplished. The team faced many obstacles and overcame a lot of the obstacles through dedication, perseverance, leadership,’ Cancelliere said. ‘Those are the traits that we are looking for in order to commission officers and to lead our army.’
Despite the coach’s compliments, Weisman said he regretted the team did not place as well as they did last year.
‘We made many mistakes on Saturday, but if we didn’t, we would’ve done much better. I am still proud of our overall performance,’ he said. ‘This year is more of a rebuilding year, where five or six seniors from last year graduated, but hopefully, next year, our team will come back stronger.’
Weisman, who ran the ruck run with his own ruck as well as one of another teammate, was forced to encourage his team with every means possible.
‘You start off with a full sprint,’ said team member David Whit of the ruck run. ‘We were tied for third place; it was purely adrenaline. It was insane at the first 100 meters, and we still had six miles to go.
‘You just say to yourself, ‘It’s go time,” he said.
In this year’s competition, Norwich University placed first and Rochester Institute of Technology placed second.
‘I guess its not so bad,’ Whitt said, ‘You sleep when it’s all over. You suck it up for a few weeks and then its done.’