As challenging as OCRs can be, both CPT Killian and SSG Friedlein agreed that they do not compare to the way the Best Ranger Competition tests a Soldier. Best Ranger is a multi-day event with no scheduled sleeping or eating for the participants. Spartan World Championship is a two-hour obstacle course race.
There are similarities though. In fact, the Best Ranger competition now incorporates a Spartan race. On day two of Best Ranger, four hours after completing an up-to-20-mile ruck march, competing Rangers and Ranger-Qualified Guard Soldiers are up early at the starting line of a Spartan Race. The Army competitors share a course with civilians competing in the race, but the Soldiers start on the course a half hour before the civilian competitors to ensure continuity for the Best Ranger contest.
“It’s fun to be sharing the course with civilians because they get to see the Rangers out there, and then they get exposed to what the Best Ranger competition is,” SSG Friedlein said. “They realize that they can go watch it. A lot of people end up [coming] from the Spartan and sticking around to watch the Best Ranger competition.”
This year the Best Ranger competition was April 13–15. At the time of publication, CPT Killian had no specific plans to compete for what would be his sixth time at the Best Ranger event, but SSG Friedlein did. The Army National Guard planned to field four two-man teams for Best Ranger. The staff sergeant noted that oftentimes competitors get injured during the two-month training leading up to the contest and that contingency team members are sometimes needed.
“If somebody got hurt, Rob would be a perfect person [to fill in],” said SSG Friedlein. “He’s just always an animal. He could show up with very minimal specific training and do well because he is so strong and has that base already.”
If needed, CPT Killian said he told his old partner that he would be willing to participate in the 2018 event at a moment’s notice.
