Indiana National Guard Rangers compete for Best Ranger slots

Photo By Staff Sgt. William Henry | Indiana Army National Guard Ranger, Sgt. Adam Sanford, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry, from Lafayette, Ind., works his way to the end of the “Tarzan Swing” obstacle during a National Guard Best Ranger assessment competition at the Warrior Training Center, Fort Benning, Ga., in the early morning hours Nov. 17, 2010. The assessment determined who will compete in the Army Best Ranger Competition scheduled to be held there in April. Three of the four Indiana Rangers who competed will be returning to participate, to include Sanford.  

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES

11.23.2010

Story by Sgt. William Henry 

Indiana National Guard Headquarters

FORT BENNING Ga. - Indiana National Guard Army Rangers converged on the National Guard's Warrior Training Center at Fort Benning, Ga., Nov. 15-18 to test their skills among the best Army Rangers in the National Guard.

The soldiers competed for the chance to participate in the U.S. Army Best Ranger Competition scheduled to be held at Fort Benning, April 15-17.

The Indiana Rangers were Sgt. Adam Sanford, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry, from Lafayette; 2nd Lt. Andrew Burns, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry, from Indianapolis; 1st Lt. Robert Tugurian, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry, from Valparaiso; and Capt. Matt Herrmann, 38th Infantry Division, from Centerville.

The four Indiana soldiers were among 13 soldiers from different states competing for the chance to advance in seven open slots. Among those states were men from Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi and New Mexico.

Three of the four Indiana Rangers were chosen to return to Fort Benning in April to compete, Burns, Sanford and Tugurian. They are assigned to the same battalion of the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.

Sanford, who took a six-year break in service before returning to the military, said this was the first competition he has entered as a member of the Army, and it tested what the Ranger Creed stands for.

“I expected it to be about as brutal as what it was. It tested physical endurance, your intestinal fortitude and really everything the Ranger Creed says,” said Sanford. “To have this kind of opportunity I feel blessed and lucky to be part of it.”

According to the assessment team leader, Capt. Brian Deaton, A Company commander, WTC, the competition limits the amount of National Guard participation by only offering a few slots for teams. He said this year had a better turnout compared to last year's nine Rangers. The Rangers who were selected will participate in a 60-day training program prior to the competition.

“Getting a chance to train here at Fort Benning on the same ground that the competition occurs on is a huge benefit,” said Deaton. “The opportunity for all these different Rangers from across the Guard to come here and compete against each other, it builds camaraderie across the states.”

The soldiers who will return to train for the competition at the WTC prior to the competition will improve their physical training, soldiering skills and Ranger Stakes. Ranger Stakes include knowledge of weapons systems, communications equipment and other various Ranger tactical and technical skills.

Herrmann said he was somewhat satisfied on how he performed, for him it was an eye opening and humbling experience.

“Even though it was a competition and you’re going against the guy next to you, there is a definite sense of camaraderie for the shear fact that everyone is enduring the same mental and, especially, physical challenges,” said Herrmann. “An experience like this reiterates just how small the Army is,” stated Herrmann after realizing he and Sanford were in the same Ranger Indoctrination Program.

Burns said this is something he has wanted to do for approximately four years now, and is proud to be able to represent the Indiana National Guard and the National Guard Bureau in April.

“The time we had to prepare to come down here and the showing that we actually put in was outstanding,” said Burns. “It was great coming down here and representing the state National Guard and doing well. We're going to have to step up the training from here on out and hopefully we can do as well representing the National Guard Bureau as we did here.”

Tugurian said he would have liked to perform better, but his showing was enough to place him as a competitor in the competition.

“This is a pretty big honor, not too many guys get to go,” said Tugurian. “Last year was the first year the National Guard was able to sponsor two teams to go and they actually did pretty well, 10th and 14th. That's pretty astonishing for a National Guard team to be in the top 10 amongst active duty SOCOM guys, active duty 75th guys as well as guys in the Ranger Training Brigade.”

The Rangers started their physical assessment in the early morning hours finding points on a land navigation range. Each competitor was given 15 minutes to plot their points before moving out into the darkness.

Then the men tested their physical fitness abilities by completing a Ranger physical fitness test, which included pushups, sit-ups, a five-mile run, and pull ups.

The next event was the obstacle course. It included obstacles like “The Tough One,” comprised of a rope climb, slate walk, ladder climb and cargo net decent, and “The Dirty Name,” a high jumping log obstacle.

The Rangers proceeded to an unknown distance road march where they moved for roughly two hours along their route.

Next, the soldiers participated in a 25 meter M4 stress firing test. They were given 40 rounds of ammunition and fired from prone supported and unsupported, kneeling and standing positions.

Then all soldiers had one last unknown-distance run that ended the assessment competition. The run was two miles in boots with their load bearing vest and weapons.

All of the Indiana Rangers mirrored the same thoughts on the professionalism and high standards given by the National Guard WTC cadre and leaders alike. Each competitor felt they were judged fairly in the assessment and had nothing but great things to say about the fidelity of the WTC.

The battalion commander, Lt. Col. Wesley Russell, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry, came to Georgia and personally congratulated the Rangers on their performance and said he is proud of the soldiers in his battalion.

“This says a lot about these Indiana National Guard soldiers willing to take their own personal time to come here and compete,” said Russell. “These are three of the best soldiers not only in the battalion but also in Indiana.”

• Date Taken: 11.23.2010
• Date Posted: 11.23.2010 11:58
• Story ID: 60724
• Location: FORT BENNING, GA, US