Twenty-one ROTC students from Missouri S&T will head to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, on Friday, Oct. 15, to push themselves to the limits in a three-day competition against teams from seven other Midwestern universities. The team that wins the ROTC Ranger Challenge will advance to the broader regional round.

The challenge is designed to develop adaptive leaders who can manage mental and physical stresses similar to those experienced while conducting military operations.

Beginning with a rifle marksmanship qualification on Friday, Oct. 15, the competition will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 17, with a mystery event starting at 3:30 a.m., immediately followed by what’s known as the crucible—a two-hour undertaking that combines physical and skills challenges. Over the course of the weekend, participants will move up to 20 miles with all their gear, as a team, but will also be scored individually on challenges. Those challenges range from land navigation and the ability to provide emergency medical treatment to tying knots, crawling under barbed wire and marching six miles with rucksacks that weigh up to 35 pounds.

“I encourage any Missouri S&T student interested in developing these types of physical and mental skills to check out what ROTC has to offer,” said Maj. Matt Burmeister, chair of military science at Missouri S&T. “This program, among the many others building the range of leadership skills required for Army officers, sets our students up for success in military and professional settings.”

Master Sgt. Kyle Cox, senior instructor of military science, is the cadre coach for the upcoming Ranger Challenge.

The following students are members of the team representing Missouri S&T’s Army ROTC:

• Dale Crosman, captain, a junior in mechanical engineering from Edwards, Illinois
• Emily Chambers, a senior in architectural engineering from Ridgedale, Missouri
• LeeAnn Ford, a freshman environmental engineering from Pryor, Oklahoma
• Ethan Gatzemeyer, a senior in aerospace engineering from Waynesville, Missouri
• Jacob Ewing, a freshman in electrical engineering from Neosho, Missouri
• Reece Fritz, a senior in chemistry from Leavenworth, Kansas
• Eric Alcante, a junior in undergraduate studies from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
• Aaron Lucio, a junior in undergraduate studies from Waynesville, Missouri
• Michael Radlund, a sophomore in civil engineering from Linn Creek, Missouri
• Brandon Neil, alternate, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Collierville, Tennessee

In addition to the Army ROTC team, the Air Force ROTC program at Missouri S&T is the only Air Force ROTC program in the country to participate in the Army ROTC Ranger Challenge. The following students are members of the team representing Missouri S&T Air Force Detachment 442:

• Thomas Wachter, captain, a senior in mechanical engineering from Chenango Forks, New York
• Silas Angel, a freshman in mechanical engineering from Mascoutah, Illinois
• Andrew Budd, a freshman in mechanical engineering from Eureka, Missouri
• Joshua Carpenter, a junior in geology and geophysics from Belleville, Illinois
• Conner Grumbles, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Naperville, Illinois
• Grant Hoevelmann, a freshman in aerospace engineering from Union, Missouri
• Kevin Marshall, a senior in nuclear engineering from Lees Summit, Missouri
• Sarah Steers, a senior in mechanical engineering from O’Fallon, Missouri
• David Thurlo, a senior in aerospace engineering from Kansas City, Missouri
• Nathan Guy, alternate, a freshman in nuclear engineering from Forsyth, Missouri
• Abigail Jones, alternate, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from Wappapello, Missouri

To learn more about similar programs, email armyrotc@mst.edu or call 573-341-6808.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,200 students and is part of the four-campus University of Missouri System. Located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 101 different degree programs in 40 areas of study and is ranked by CollegeFactual as the best public university to study engineering. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu