Contact: Kimberly Osborne (304) 766-3363 kosborne@wvstateu.edu

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University (WVSU) Army ROTC Yellow Jacket Battalion recently competed in the rigorous one-day Ranger Challenge at Fort Pickett, Va.
Thirty-Eight schools from throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast region of the United States competed in the Oct. 17, 2015, event.
The Yellow Jacket Battalion’s 11-man team consisted of 10 Cadets from WVSU and one from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
Teams completed the challenge in full field gear, complete with helmets, rifles and packs. The competition was both mentally and physically challenging, as the Cadets completed over 10 miles of marching between the 13 separate events.
WVSU ROTC Cadet Vincent Bird, the team’s captain, said, “With the challenges we faced training a decentralized team and competing against larger universities, we were very pleased with how well we placed overall, and how each team member performed.”
The Ranger Challenge competition focuses on basic infantry skills, with teams competing against other schools in pistol and rifle marksmanship, constructing a rope-bridge, completing an obstacle course, disassembly and reassembly of an M16A2 Rifle, a grenade assault course, multiple timed road marches and other events.
The purpose of the Ranger Challenge Competition is to challenge cadets in tough mental and physical competition, enhance leadership, develop team cohesion, and to develop healthy competition amongst the 38 ROTC battalions assigned to 4th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command.
The Yellow Jacket Battalion at West Virginia State University features students from WVSU, the University of Charleston, Glenville State College and the West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
For more information about the WVSU ROTC program, contact Enrollment Officer Bill Kinsey at or (304) 766-3295.
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