Bear Battalion Ranger Team Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Missouri State University’s Department of Military Science is keeping busy with a flurry of fall activities.

The department has already been busy, with its ROTC color guard leading this year’s homecoming parade Oct. 21 while contributing a rockets-and-space themed float to the festivities.

More is on the schedule, though, including field training exercises, ranger task force competitions and Veterans Day celebration activities.

Field training exercise at Camp Crowder Oct. 26-29

The battalion will take part in a four-day field training exercise at Camp Crowder near Neosho, Missouri, Oct. 26-29.

The Camp Crowder exercises are designed to train junior class cadets for a five-week leadership training event to be held summer 2024 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, according to Maj. Eric Wahner, assistant professor of military science.

During the Fort Knox event, cadets will rotate “through various leadership positions and skill training lanes,” Maj. Wahner explained.

To prepare cadets for the session at Fort Knox, the Camp Crowder training exercise features rifle qualifications, land navigation training using maps and compasses, obstacle courses, machine gun and pistol familiarization and qualification ranges and squad tactical situational lanes, Maj. Wahner added.

Black Hawks on campus

Black Hawk helicopters are scheduled to land on campus Oct. 26-27 to transport cadets and some MSU staff to Camp Crowder who want to watch the training.

If inclement weather prevails, however, the Black Hawks will be cancelled. Buses will be on standby to transport the cadets, according to Maj. Wahner.

“Our training will continue with or without the helicopters,” Maj. Wahner said. [Read more…] about MSU’s Military Science Department stays busy with fall activities

Difficult and complex competition

The Bear Battalion competed in the 11-person team challenge, according to Major Eric Wahner, assistant professor of military science.

Maj. Wahner described the difficulty and complexity of the competition.

“The competitive tasks the team faced on the first day of competition included a very difficult timed obstacle course with monkey bars, rope bridges, cargo nets and rope climbing,” Maj. Wahner said.

After that, the team interacted with a “call for fire” digital trainer, which tested the cadets’ ability to request artillery against an enemy target.

Next, the team completed a land navigation written exam, followed by a competitive test at a chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear defense station, which required donning protective equipment and performing several dexterity tasks.

The team concluded with a fitness event that required them to run one mile while carrying two 40-pound kettle bells and two ammo cans.

“The entire 11-person team crossed the finish line together, as a team, in a record seven minutes,” Maj. Wahner said.

And that was just Day 1.