鈥�

橘子视频’s ROTC program, the Eagle Battalion, earned a ninth-place finish this year at the 6th Brigade Ranger Challenge, a regional military skills competition held at Fort Benning, Georgia after partnering with the University鈥檚 Exercise Science program to create a rigorous, individualized training regimen.聽

The Ranger Challenge took place Jan. 23-25 and featured ROTC programs from both junior and senior colleges across the Southeast and Puerto Rico, showcasing the mental and physical talents of highly skilled cadets. 

鈥淔inishing ninth out of 43 teams in the 6th Brigade 2026 Ranger Challenge is a testament to the grit, discipline and resilience of our Georgia Southern Battalion,鈥� said Georgia Southern Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Nick Bingham.

Against a field of 470 cadets and trekking more than 28 miles of rugged terrain in just 48 hours, the Eagle Battalion stands ready to pursue success and overcome every challenge with the support of Eagle Nation鈥檚 experts by their side.

Bridget Melton, Ed.D., and graduate student Spencer Bolling of the Waters College of Health Professions鈥� Exercise Science program conducted comprehensive screenings and baseline testing for each cadet. This included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, which measure bone mineral density, and physiological assessments to establish team performance profiles. From there, unique training programs were designed to improve each cadet鈥檚 skills, providing a streamlined approach to train each individual. 

鈥淭his team trained in the dark, pushed through injuries and fatigue, and showed up ready to fight for each other when it mattered most,鈥� said Sgt. 1st Class John Hay, MS III instructor and Ranger Challenge coach. 鈥淩anger Challenge exposes who you are under pressure, and these cadets proved they have the toughness and heart to compete with anyone in 6th Brigade.鈥� 

Through this multidisciplinary collaboration, the progress of each cadet was tracked and analyzed, with deliberate adjustments implemented throughout the training process to improve recovery, reduce risk of injury and enhance overall performance leading up to the Ranger Challenge.

鈥淭his competition demanded excellence under extreme physical and mental stress. Our team proved they belong among the best in the brigade,鈥� Bingham said. 鈥淭he Eagle Battalion didn鈥檛 just compete; they set the standard and built a foundation for even greater success.鈥�

鈥淭his finish isn鈥檛 the ceiling, it鈥檚 the baseline,鈥� Hay said.

Events in the 2026 Ranger Challenge included:聽

Day One Events:

M17 Marksmanship Range
Day one opened with pistol marksmanship, where each cadet was individually graded on accuracy and the number of targets hit with the M17, emphasizing fundamentals under pressure.

Weapons Assembly / Disassembly
Cadets demonstrated technical proficiency by assembling and disassembling infantry squad weapons under challenging conditions. This included blindfolded M4 assembly and identifying and correctly assembling mixed components of the M240B and M249, testing muscle memory and attention to detail.

Communications (COMMO) Lane
Teams were evaluated on their ability to accurately transmit and receive information using military communications equipment, with an emphasis on proper radio procedures and clear, concise military language.

Malvesti Obstacle Course
A physically demanding obstacle course designed to test agility, endurance and teamwork as cadets maneuvered through a series of strength and coordination-based challenges.

Hand Grenade Assault Course
Cadets executed three different grenade throws from varying distances and positions, engaging targets while demonstrating proper technique, accuracy and tactical awareness.

Zodiac Lane
A mentally and physically demanding event requiring teams to maneuver a Zodiac raft through an obstacle course while simultaneously solving complex tasks, emphasizing teamwork, communication and adaptability under stress.

Functional Fitness Lane
Teams competed in a series of ACFT-style functional fitness events, aiming to complete the maximum number of repetitions within a 20-minute time limit, testing strength, endurance and team synchronization.

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Lane
Cadets were required to rapidly assess and treat simulated casualties while moving through obstacles. Teams were evaluated on speed, correctness of care and the ability to operate effectively under realistic combat conditions.

Movement Between Lanes
Each event was linked by foot movement, requiring teams to conduct ruck marches between stations. Cadets covered over six miles throughout the day, compounding physical fatigue and testing endurance.

Night Land Navigation
Following the final daytime lane, teams transitioned directly to land navigation. This event included both a practical night land navigation course and a written exam, extending into the early hours of day two and demanding precision despite exhaustion

Day Two Events: 

Eight-Mile Ruck March to Simulation Center
After a short rest period, teams conducted an eight-mile ruck march to the simulation center, reinforcing endurance and mental toughness before the final set of graded events.

Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) & Call for Fire Simulation
Cadets demonstrated tactical proficiency through simulated weapons engagement and call-for-fire scenarios, testing decision-making, communication and understanding of indirect fire procedures.

Titan Challenge (Final Event)
The competition concluded with the Titan Challenge 鈥� a culminating event combining intense physical demands with complex mental tasks. Teams were required to work collectively to overcome obstacles and problem-solve under extreme fatigue, pushing through to the finish line and officially closing the 6th Brigade Ranger Challenge.

For the fifth year in a row, 橘子视频 has been named a Military Friendly school by Viqtory Media, earning a gold-level distinction in the large public school category for 2021-22. The University has also been named a Military Friendly Spouse School.

鈥淚 am truly grateful and so proud of Eagle Nation,鈥� said Retired Col. George Fredrick, Ed.D., director of Military and Veteran Services. 鈥淎 recognition like this, becoming a Military Friendly 2021-22 Gold School, reflects the culture and the phenomenal efforts of a great University. Similarly, we are equally proud of our recent distinction as a Military Friendly Spouse Institution for 2020.鈥� 

Viqtory Media rates schools on academic policies compliance, graduation and career outcomes, culture and commitment, military student support and retention, admissions and orientation, and financial aid and loan repayment. 

鈥淢ilitary-connected students, including active-duty, veterans, guard and reserve members, student military spouses, and students who are children of military members are vital to Georgia Southern’s success,鈥� Fredrick said. “We are so thankful for our military-connected students who chose Georgia Southern.”

Fredrick said the civilian population of Georgia Southern has also played a large part in obtaining the gold distinction.

鈥淲e must congratulate our University leadership for their vision and support to create a university character that values and provides great opportunities and transforms lives through our personal interactions,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e also must recognize our faculty, staff and student population for all of their support of our strategies to recruit and provide the best possible support to this population.鈥�

橘子视频, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 140 different degree programs serving almost 27,000 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

The U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, announced Tuesday that 橘子视频鈥檚 Army Reserve Officers鈥� Training Corps (ROTC) program was one of the eight winners of the prestigious MacArthur Award for the 2014-2015 school year. Georgia Southern was selected as the top program from 6th Brigade Army ROTC, which includes 39 programs from six states and Puerto Rico. This marks the Eagle Battalion鈥檚 third MacArthur Award since 2009. Lt. Col. Erik Kjonnerod, professor of military science, praised the Battalion for its recent accolades. 鈥淐ongratulations to all of our cadets, cadre and staff on winning the coveted General Douglas MacArthur Award for 2015,鈥� he said. 鈥淵our commitment, dedication and determination is evident on a daily basis. I am proud to serve with all of you and thank you for consistently going above and beyond the call of duty! Strength and Honor!鈥� Cadet Command oversees eight Brigades comprised of 275 senior Army ROTC programs nationwide. The award recognizes the top program from each of the eight Brigades and is presented by Cadet Command and the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation. Awards are based on overall performance, National Order of Merit List standings and cadet retention rate. “This award is a well deserved honor and a testament to the dedication of those involved in the ROTC program. We are excited to watch these cadets continue to excel in their endeavors,” said Interim University President Jean Bartels, Ph.D, R.N. Other MacArthur Award winners for FY15 include:

• 1st Brigade — Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia
• 2nd Brigade — University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
• 3rd Brigade — University of Wisconsin鈥揝tevens Point, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
• 4th Brigade — University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
• 5th Brigade — University of Houston, Houston, Texas
• 7th Brigade — Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee
• 8th Brigade — University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

The Eagle Battalion was also recently recognized by the 6th Brigade for having the Top Nursing Program for 2015, Highest GPA for Mission Set 17, and exceeded the contract goal for STEM Cadets for Mission Set 17. The Georgia Southern Eagle Battalion ROTC program will soon have a new home on campus with construction currently underway for the University鈥檚 new Military Science building. The new 32,000-square-foot building, located on campus at the corner of Forest Drive and Old Register Road, will consist of a large auditorium, meeting rooms, classrooms, storage space and faculty and administrative offices. In April 2014, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal approved the state budget, which included $9.5 million in funding allocated to build the new building. 橘子视频, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125 degree programs serving nearly 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education.

Today, 橘子视频 broke ground on the new Military Science building. 鈥淭his is an extraordinarily wonderful day for Georgia Southern, as it is any time we have a new opportunity and space for our students,鈥� said Jean Bartels, Ph.D., R.N., interim University president. 鈥淭his, in particular, is special because of the connection we have with our ROTC program for this groundbreaking.鈥� In April 2014, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal approved the state budget, which included $9.5 million in funding to 橘子视频. The funding was allocated to build a new Military Science building, scheduled to open in Fall 2016. 鈥淲e are grateful to the Governor and our legislators whose work moved us forward in a very positive way to secure the funding for this building,鈥� said Bartels. Present at the ceremony were Georgia state Senator Jack Hill, R-Reidsville; Representative Butch Parrish, R-Swainsboro; state Representative Jan Tankersley, R-Brooklet; Regent Lori Durden; and Colonel Jeffrey Edge, Georgia National Guard, among others. 鈥淏ecause of the efforts of those involved聽in the project, we will now have a world-class facility at Georgia Southern for our cadets to enjoy and to better aid in their development,鈥� added LTC Erik Kjonnerod, professor of Military Science at Georgia Southern. The new 32,000-square-foot building replaces the space the Eagle Battalion ROTC program has occupied for nearly a decade. The new building, located on campus at the corner of Forest Drive and Old Register Road, will consist of a large auditorium, meeting rooms, classrooms, storage space and faculty and administrative offices. 鈥淓veryone here is excited and cannot wait to step foot in our future Military Science building,鈥� said Kjonnerod. 橘子视频, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit .