History:
In July 1981, the Chairborne Rangers, a civilian organization that supports Rangers, asked the Ranger Training Department to design and conduct a "Ranger Olympics" to identify the best two-man Ranger team in the Army. From the beginning, the objective was clear: the competition should place extreme demands on the team's physical, mental and technical abilities as Rangers. The standards of performance must vastly exceed those required by the average soldier.

The first two Best Ranger Competitions were held as competitions between teams from each of the three Ranger Department Camps. In 1984, the competition expanded to include teams from throughout the Army. Interest in the Best Ranger Competition has risen to such a high level that many of the participating commands now conduct preliminary competitions to select the teams that will represent their unit at Fort Benning each year.

The competition is a three-day event consisting of physical and mental tasks undertaken with very little rest between events. Participants must complete selected events to remain in the competition. The historical attrition rate averages approximately 60 percent. Competitors are not aware of how the tests will be sequenced until they arrive at the test site.

Events:
Day One: The competition begins at 0600 hours at the Ranger Training Brigade Headquarters with a briefing and inspection. The two-man teams then begin a grueling sequence that starts with an obstacle course and proceeds to a low-level parachute spot jump. The teams are then tested on their marksmanship and later begin an exhausting 21-mile road march.

Day Two: With the conclusion of the road march, soldiers must test their skills, strategy and nerve throughout a series of tactical tests, including weapons assembly, a medical first responder, grenade assault course, stress shoot and the infamous Prusik climb. But all these challenges pale in comparison to the final event of day two: the daunting land-navigation and night-orienteering course. To excel, these soldiers will need to push themselves to the brink of failure.

Day Three: The Best Ranger Competition finishes on day three. While all the competitors put their heart and soul into this last day's fight, only one team will walk away Best Ranger. After the conclusion of the 12-hour land-navigation and night-orienteering event, the remaining Ranger teams compete at the 26-obstacle Darby Queen course. Testing their strength, stamina and mental acuity, the weary competitors move on to the water events, including the helocast and swim. The 60-hour competition finishes with a two-mile buddy run and culminates with the awards ceremony.