2019 Best Ranger Competition Yearbook

2019

In July 1981, The Ranger Department was COMPETITION HISTORY
asked to design and conduct a "Ranger
Olympics" in order to identify the Best two- Pictured: The "Dirty Dozen'
man Ranger buddy team in the Ranger Dept. Best Ranger Competitors from
From the very beginning the objective was
clear: the competition should place extreme 1982.
demands on each buddy team' physical,
mental, technical and tactical skills as In 1982, buddy teams from each of the three
Rangers. The standards of performance were Ranger Dept. Divisions competed against
to test the mettle of those Ranger qualified each other in the first Best Ranger
Soldiers who dare to compete. The Best Competition. The competition expanded in
Ranger Competition was named in Honor of 1983 to include teams from the Ranger
Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr., former Ranger Battalions and Special Operation Units
Instructor, Ranger Dept. Director, and throughout the Army. In 1985, the
Commanding Gen. of Fort Benning, 2nd ID, competition was further expanded to include
and the US Sixth Army. Mr. Richard A. Leandri, light infantry units and by 1987 the increased
a close personal friend of Gen. Grange, interest in the competition resulted in an
formed the Chairborne Rangers of Clearwater, Army wide invitation to all units with Ranger
FL, in 1979 to financially support the coded positions. Many of the participating
competition and provide awards to the commands conduct preliminary competitions
winning teams. to select the teams which will represent them
at Ft. Benning each year, resulting in only the
In 1981, Col. Duane Cameron, Commander, best Ranger qualified Soldiers competing.
Ranger Dept., developed the operational
concept and schedule of events for the first The Best Ranger Competition inspires a week
Best Ranger Competition, which was further of activities that feels like a family reunion. A
refined by his successor, Col. Eugene week that embraces a community of leaders,
Hawkins. active service members, veterans, family
members, associations, industry, and
civilians.  It is like an orchestra when all come
together with the same purpose.  The
purpose to espouse and enhance the history,
customs, traditions and esprit de corps of the
RANGER community.

Competitor Week Final Layout

54 Teams
27 Units
1 Goal

Monday - Thursday

Competitor Photos

Swag Bags

I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-
percent and then some.

Army Ranger Creed

2019 DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BRIGADE

"Our God and our Creator, this morning, surrounded as we
are in a Ranger Hall of Fame by so great of cloud of
witnesses who have upheld the honor, prestige and high
esprit de corps of the Rangers. We recognize this elect
group of ranger leaders who have contributed greatly to
our mission. Mainly, to send highly sharpened stone cold
killers to our formations that they might fight and win our
nation's wars with boldness and violence of action.
Almighty God, these DM have truly set the example for
others to follow. Granted that we may walk in their
footsteps with the coveted black and gold on our shoulders
and the creed in our hearts. Amen." -Chaplain Kramer

Inducted into the 2019 Distinguished Members of the
Brigade are:

CSM Victor Ballesteroos, LTC Daniel Albert, 1SG Jason
Wistowski, 1SG Joseph Amerling, SGT (R.) Timothy Spayd
(Honory)

Thursday, April 11

WHEN TWO WORLD'S COLLIDE

In 2019, we honored the 75th Anniversary of the invasion of
Normandy Beach, known as D-Day. Merrill’s Marauder Robert

“Bob” Passanisi and 5th Battalion Ranger Rudolph "Roy"
Huereque with the shotgun start for the 2019 Best Ranger
Competition. This year we dedicated the BRC theme to honor

WWII era Rangers.

...and we're off

Day One

54 Teams
27 Units
1 Goal

Friday, April 12

0545 - 0630
Opening Ceremony Camp Rogers

0630 - 0800
Mass Start Run Camp Rogers

*0715 - 0900
Malvesti Malvesti Field

*0730 - 1000
Weighted Carry Malvesti Field

*0800 - 1000
Victory Pond Swim Victory Pond

*0815 - 1200
Body Armor Run Victory Pond

*0900 - 1400
Urban Assault Course Selby CACTF

*0930 - 1500
FRIES / Air Assault Oscar 9

*0930 - 1900
Oscar Ranges Oscar Range Complex

*2000 - 0100
Foot March Foot March Route

In 1942, William O'Darby

led the way and commanded the new elite unit, known as, Darby's Rangers. During their
Army Ranger training in Scotland, the future Rangers endured log-lifting drills, obstacle
courses, and speed marches over mountains and through frigid rivers under the watchful
eye of British commando instructors. In addition, they received weapons training and
instruction in hand-to-hand combat, street fighting, patrols, night operations, and the
handling of small boats. The training stressed realism, including the use of live ammunition.
On one occasion, a Ranger alertly picked up a grenade that a commando had thrown into a

boatload of trainees and hurled it over the lake before it exploded.
- Henry David Thoreau

FLYER DEFENSE ICEBREAKER

Blackbird Anthem

SOMMA

While competitors are on the road march, we break the ice.

FLYER DEFENSE ICEBREAKER

APRIL 12, 2019

Day Two

28 Teams
16 Units
1 Goal

Saturday, April 13

Saturday 13 April 19

*0100 - 0600
Night Stakes Galloway Range

*0900 - 1630
Day Stakes Todd Field

*1630-1800
Weighted Carry Babbit LZ

*2000 - 0800
Night Orienteering Darby or Dahlonega

Donor Social

Saturday, April 13, 2019

In memory of PFC Bagley.

We honored PFC Luther "Buck" Bagley's family. Bagley, a member of the Merrill's
Marauders during World War II, was sent to the China Burma India Theater, and in late
May 1944 became one of the 5307th Composite Unit Provisional replacements, fighting

with K company in Burma.

PFC Bagley was KIA July 25, 1944, attempting to capture the town of Myitkyina, Burma. He
was later listed as MIA and today - 75 years after his death - the Army is still actively
searching for his remains. He is one of 72,000 WWII American soldiers still MIA.

Day Three

16 Teams
10 Units
1 Goal

Sunday, April 14

Sunday, 14 April 19

*0830 - 1000
Darby Queen Camp Darby

*0900 - 1000
HELOCAST Victory Pond

*0930- 1130
CWSA Victory Pond

*1230 - 1430
Final Buddy Run Camp Rogers

*1530 - UTC
Super Supper Camp Rogers

Congratulations to

Capt. John Bergman and Capt. Michael Rose,
Team #19, from the 101st Airborne Division. They
are the 2019 Best Ranger Competition winners!

Super Supper

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Our Supporters are a
critical part of our

community. Their support
and PRESENCE make the

Best Ranger Competition
the most revered

military competition.

With Us Every Step Of The Way



Johnnie Downs LTC (Ret) Joe and Rita Rippetoe

Why is the The David E. Grange Best Ranger Competition the
greatest event on the planet?

You can glorify physical toughness and mental stamina all day
long, but if you don't bring the community together to
surround it, you have missed layers upon layers of

opportunities to build each other up, to smile, find renewed
hope and restored faith, to give freely and generously, to
recognize each other for individual achievements, to

appreciate one another, to save each other from the toll of life
and to sustain legacy.