Our cadets thrive on challenge, taking part in a wide range of Army ROTC extracurricular teams and opportunities. Whether competing in physical events or presenting the Colors at major ceremonies, they proudly represent the Big Red Battalion at competitions across the country.
Color Guard
The Color Guard reflects the pride and professionalism of our cadets, presenting the colors at athletic events, memorials, and ceremonies across campus and throughout the community. Regularly featured in local media, they proudly represent the Big Red Battalion alongside the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force ROTC programs.
Ranger Challenge
The Brigade Ranger Challenge is the Army ROTC’s varsity sport, where teams train intensively early each semester. Teams, consisting of nine cadets, two alternates, and at least one female member, compete nationally in events like patrolling, marksmanship, land navigation, and a ten-kilometer road march. The top two teams from each brigade advance to the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at West Point.
Ranger Buddy
The Ranger Buddy Competition is a day-long event designed to test cadets’ mental resilience and physical endurance following months of rigorous preparation. Two-person teams (male, female, or co-ed) gather in Lawrence to compete in a series of challenges, including multiple 4.5-mile road marches, a written land navigation test, and individual Soldier tasks such as weapons operation, first aid, identifying and employing hand grenades, and tactical combat casualty care. The competition culminates in a demanding 5K buddy run and sled drag. Overall performance is assessed based on results in both the ruck marches and tactical lanes, with all tasks evaluated according to Expert Infantryman Badge standards.
Northern Warfare
The Northern Warfare Challenge is an 18-mile ruck march through the bluffs of La Crosse, Wisconsin, designed to test cadets' physical endurance, cold-weather survival skills, and mental resilience. Teams from across the country compete in what is often called “The Hardest Race in ROTC,” covering over 3,500 feet of elevation through snow-covered trails and bitterly cold winds, with six skill stations testing knots, cold weather injuries, clothing systems, and casualty evacuation. Cadets finish by placing their hands on the symbolic flagpole that marks the end of the course, a testament to their grit and readiness to operate in extreme conditions.
