North Dakota in the LEAD!

CAMP DODGE, Iowa - Cadets from the University of North Dakota race to the finish line moments before the three and a half hour deadline for the 2nd Lt. Richard B. Brian Gienau Land Navigation Course at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge. The North Dakota team is currently in lead.

The cadets had three and a half hours to find up to 40 points worth of the 60 markers on the land navigation course. Points were worth 5 to 25 points depending on the distance from the starting point. 

The course was named for Gienau, an alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa Army ROTC Program, was killed in action on February 27, 2005 in Ramadi, Iraq.

The challenge was named for two of the brigade’s 11 alumni who died in combat, Nebraska graduates, 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers and Capt. Joel E. Cahill. 

Where did they go, where did they go?

CAMP DODGE, Iowa - Cadets from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities found a marker worth 5 points during the 2nd Lt. Richard B. Brian Gienau Land Navigation Course at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

The cadets had three and a half hours to find up to 40 points worth of the 60 markers on the land navigation course. Point were worth 5 to 25 points depending on the distance from the starting point.

The course was named for Gienau, an alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa Army ROTC Program, was killed in action on February 27, 2005 in Ramadi, Iraq.

The challenge was named for two of the brigade’s 11 alumni who died in combat, Nebraska graduates, 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers and Capt. Joel E. Cahill.

Cadets from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities found a marker worth 5 points only moments before the end of the three and a half hour 2nd Lt. Richard B. Brian Gienau Land Navigation challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge. 

All Female Teams a Success

CAMP DODGE, Iowa - Elizabeth Berends, 21, a cadet from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse tried low crawled through the Matthew Nielson Hand Grenade Assault Course Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

Nielson, an alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa Army ROTC Program, was killed June 29, 2011 in Al Badrah, Iraq

“I’m glad they are giving females a chance,” said Nielson, a member of one of the five all-female teams competing simultaneously with the co-ed teams. “I’m excited to be able to come out here and show that we can do the same thing they do and hack it.”

Nelson, whose boyfriend is currently in Afghanistan, said she wished that civilians understood what she and her fellow Soldiers went through to protect their freedoms.

As a nursing student she is happy to honor the Nielson and the other former cadets the challenge is memorializing.

Elizabeth Berends, 21, a cadet from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse throws a hand grenade during the Matthew Nielson Hand Grenade Assault Course Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

The challenge was named for two of the brigade’s 11 alumni who died in combat, Nebraska graduates, 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers and Capt. Joel E. Cahill. 

Natural Point of Aim

CAMP DODGE, Iowa - Andrew Moore, 20, a cadet from Wheaton College tried his hand at archery during the Capt. Edward D. Iwan and 1st Lt. Benjamin John Hall Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

It was one of the mystery challenges.

“It was kind of a curve ball,” Moore said of the mystery challenge. “But it gave us an opportunity to exude mental agility and react to our surroundings.”

The course was less about making the shot then about gaging cadet leaders ability to think on their feet, said Cadet Trenton Burgess, 23, of the University of Dubuque.

“It’s not necessarily about shooting the bow but more about developing their leadership skills,” said Burgess, who was manning the station. “It’s an opportunity for the team leader to figure out who his Subject Matter Expert and to teach and mentor others.”

Iwan, a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was killed November 2004 in Fallujah Iraq while assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

The challenge was named for two of the brigade’s 11 alumni who died in combat, Nebraska graduates, 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers and Capt. Joel E. Cahill.


To keep up with your cadet team follow us on these social media sites:

3rd Brigade Headquarters, Army ROTC "Black Hawk Brigade" - Facebook

BlackHawkBde - Twitter

Black Hawk Brigade - Blog

The mystery is revealed!

Cadets from the University of North Dakota pulled a Humvee around a traffic circle during the Lt. Benjamin John Hall Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

It was one of the mystery challenges, which included repelling, a tire toss, and a Humvee pull.

Hall, a graduate of Michigan Technological University, was killed July 31, 2007 in the Chowkay Valley, Afghanistan while assigned to D Co., 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503^rd Infantry Regiment from Vicenza, Italy.

To keep up with your cadet team follow us on these social media sites:

3rd Brigade Headquarters, Army ROTC "Black Hawk Brigade" - Facebook

BlackHawkBde - Twitter

Black Hawk Brigade - Blog

Two cadets from the University of North Dakota negotiate flipping an industrial size tire during the Lt. Benjamin John Hall Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

The challenge was named for two of the brigade’s 11 alumni who died in combat, Nebraska graduates, 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers and Capt. Joel E. Cahill. 

Location of the pick-up site: Camp Dodge, Iowa

CAMP DODGE, Iowa - Oluwaseun Adedeji, 20, a cadets from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities provides security while his teammates call in a nine line MEDEVAC request during the Capt. Shane Mahaffee Medical Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge. 

Adedeji, who emigrated from Nigeria in 2002, said the challenge has offered excellent opportunities for the cadets to think on their feet and taught them to plan for the unexpected. 

“I love the Army,” said Adedeji, a member of the Minnesota National Guard, who plans to become on Infantry officer once he graduates. “This is my calling, I believe.”

The medical challenge was named for Mahaffee, an alumni of the Southwest Missouri State Army ROTC Program, died May 5, 2006 in Al Hillah, Iraq when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive. Three other members of his team were killed in the attack. They were attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Iraq. 


He is survived by his spouse, Jennifer, and children, Adelia and Ethan, of Gurnee, IL.


9 Line MEDEVAC Request

Cadets from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities execute a causality evacuation during the Capt. Shane Mahaffee Medical Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

The challenge was named for two of the brigade’s 11 alumni who died in combat, Nebraska graduates, 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers and Capt. Joel E. Cahill.

2nd Lt. James Michael Goins One-Rope Bridge Challenge

CAMP DODGE, Iowa - Truman State University cadet Tyler Woods, 20, pulled himself across a small creek during 2^nd Lt. James Michael Goins One-Rope Bridge Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

“That was a challenge,” Woods declared after the challenge was finished. The Truman team was penalized for their equipment touching the ground, improperly tied knots, and not giving proper directions.

Regardless, Wood said he is confident in his team’s ability.

“We did the best we could with what we were given,” Wood said. “That’s all we can do.”

The one-rope bridge challenge was named for Goins, who was killed August 15, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Goins, the ROTC Wildcat Battalion company commander, competed in four Kansas State University Ranger Challenges. His team won first place in the one-rope bridge during his last year.

He is survived by his wife, Paula; his parents, Jim and Tammy Goins; and two sisters, Mandy and Sarah.

Truman State University cadet Mariah Cook, 20, pulled himself across a small creek during 2^nd Lt. James Michael Goins One-Rope Bridge Challenge at Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 17 during the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge.

The challenge was named for two of the brigade’s 11 alumni who died in combat, Nebraska graduates, 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers and Capt. Joel E. Cahill. 

Whose the Fittest of Them ALL!

3^rd ROTC Bde. cadets wait for signal to start before the run portion of the Jared Southworth Fitness Challenge at the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge Saturday morning, March 17. The challenge was named for two of the brigade’s 11 alumni who died in combat. Both University of Nebraska graduates, 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers and Capt. Joel E. Cahill, were killed in Iraq. The challenge named for 1^st Lt. Southworth, an Illinois National Guard, killed with one of his Soldiers February 8, 2009 by an improvised explosive device during road clearing operations near Kabul, Afghanistan.

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The Army Physical Fitness Test results are in and the APFT scores are off the chart. Wheaton college took first in the 9 person team with a combined average of 345; Iowa State took second place with a 343 average.

Individual winners are:

Push-ups - male: 111 - Kyle Ippensen - Truman State University; female: 76 - Ashley Collier - Northern Michigan University

Sit-ups - male: 119 - Rafael Alverio - Iowa State University; female: 103 - Amanda Veen - Iowa State University

2 mile run - male: 10:43 - James Greene - Wheaton College; female:12:52 - Carolyn Rice - Marquette University

Overall Score: Extended Scale (300 is 100%) -  male: 387 - John Heisler - Truman State University; female: 367 - Ashley Collier - Northern Michigan University


2012 U.S. Army APFT Score Card

Creighton University cadet Jenifer Edmondson, 20, holds, Katherine Joyce, 19, during the sit-up portion of the Jared Southworth Fitness Challenge at the first 3rd ROTC Brigade Gaspers-Cahill Ranger Challenge Saturday morning, March 17. Joyce did 70 sit-ups.