SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - As the creed states, a Ranger is a more elite Soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air. From April 13 to 15 a team of Guard members lived this Creed while competing at the 29th Annual David E. Grange, Jr. Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Ga.
During the competition they were known as Team 50, but in the end Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Madiar, from the Illinois Army National Guard's Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, and Army Sgt. 1st Class Zach Phillips with the Oregon Army National Guard placed third among 50 two-man Ranger teams.
This is the highest a National Guard team has ever placed. Along with the Wisconsin National Guard team, they were part of only two National Guard teams that qualified for the competition who also placed in the top six with only 34 of 50 teams completing the 60-hour competition.
"I was physically and mentally exhausted after the Darby Queen obstacle course," Phillips said. "That was the one and only time I questioned if I was going to make it to the end."
Not only did the team finish, they excelled. Before the obstacle course, Rangers began the competition with a three-mile buddy run that transitioned into a 15-mile foot march. After the obstacle course, the team was flown by helicopter to the urban assault course. Both National Guard teams were in the top five standings for the day. Only 34 teams remained after the first day of endurance events.
Day two began with timed skill events. The high-stress shoot at the Krilling Range was one of the most successful events, Madiar said. The 500-yard course consisted of moving a stretcher with a simulated casualty throughout the obstacle with periodic stops at various ranges to fire five vintage rifles at steel and six-inch targets.
The teams then moved by a Stryker fighting vehicle for eight, round-robin timed stations. The major event of the day was the Tri-Tower Challenge, where competitors climbed a 60-foot wall, 30-foot collapsible ladder and a 20-foot knotted rope, rappelling down in between each climb.
Team 49, consisting of Colorado Army National Guard Capt. Robert Killian with the and Wisconsin Army Guard 1st Lt. Nicholas Plocar, set the course record with a time of 6 minutes, 32 seconds.
"Back's a little stiff," Plocar said during a meal break on Day 2, when Team 49 was in third place. "No mistakes today - hopefully that will put us right where we want to be."
Night two finished up with a six-hour night orienteering course, which was the most challenging event, Madiar said. The long distance, time constraints and rough terrain made it the toughest event.
Day three consisted of water events. Competitors jumped from a helicopter into a pond, then swam 100-meters to shore followed by a water confidence course. Once completed, both National Guard teams were airlifted to start the timed leadership skills event where Team 50 came out about two and a half minutes quicker then Team 49.
"When it came time, we did everything exactly the way we practiced and it worked out well for us," Phillips said.
The final event of the day was the three-mile Buddy Run where Team 49 came in first and Team 50 in sixth place.
"All I was worried about was just finishing," Madiar said. "We weren't tracking the standings because they changed so much."
The 10-week intense pre-training program leading up to the competition paid off for the Guard members. Team 50 was awarded third place overall for the competition, while team 49 came in fifth.
Madiar and Phillips both said they would like to compete again next year as long as they are partners.
"If it works out, we can capitalize on our success and come back a little stronger and smarter next year," Phillips said.
- The Wisconsin National Guard and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy E. Beck, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team contributed to this story