Seven cadets from Carroll College’s Army ROTC program recently competed in the annual Ranger Challenge, a demanding, multi-day competition often referred to as the “varsity sport of ROTC.” Spanning two and a half days, the event tested cadets’ physical endurance, technical proficiency, and ability to work as a cohesive team.
Throughout the competition, the team completed more than 16 miles of ruck marching while carrying heavy equipment across challenging terrain. Cadets also took part in 10 graded events designed to evaluate essential soldier skills, including weapons assembly and disassembly, land navigation, knot tying, and constructing and crossing a one-rope bridge. Additional events included marksmanship on the M17 pistol range and a hand grenade assault course.
“Ranger Challenge pushes cadets to apply the leadership, resilience, and tactical skills they develop throughout the academic year,” said CPT Wyatt Smith '17, Assistant Professor of Military Science for Carroll College ROTC “The team’s participation reflects the ROTC program’s continued commitment to developing disciplined, capable future Army officers.”
Cadets emphasized both the challenge and the camaraderie of the experience. “Although we didn’t take home hardware, I would say it was a successful weekend for our young team,” said Tucker Love, a junior from Charlo, MT. “They battled through adversity and showed true grit and determination.”
“Ranger Challenge 2026 was a great experience,” added Davis Greenwood, a junior from Boise, ID. “Not only did I spend time with some awesome teammates from Carroll and UM, but I also got to push myself physically and mentally.”
For Aurora Salinas, a sophomore from Butte, MT, the difficulty of the competition became motivation. “Ranger was really challenging, and though in the moment it was easy to get discouraged, it acts as good motivation for how I want to train and perform in the future.”
