822nd SFS Airmen train for, compete in annual ranger competition

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Andrea Thacker
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Two Airmen from the 822nd Security Forces Squadron recently competed in the 27th annual David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Ga.

Master Sgt. Michael Miller, 822nd SFS Bravo Flight sergeant, and 1st Lt. Daniel Norwood, 822nd SFS Charlie Flight commander, began training in February for the three-day competition designed to challenge Ranger-qualified Airmen in events testing their physical conditioning, Ranger skills and team strategies in events scheduled around-the-clock from start to finish.

"I think you have to be a little bit crazy to try this sort of thing," Sergeant Miller said. "My wife definitely thinks there is something wrong with me because I like pushing myself as far as I do.

"It has been a challenge balancing work, home and training, but the biggest thing is the support we have from work so we were able to take care of training for the competition," he added. "At home, my wife has been very supportive and understanding about the long hours and physical stress I have been putting my body through."

The team dedicated five to six hours a day, six days a week to their training.

Since the competitors are unaware of the sequence of events until they arrive, they prepared by basing their training plan on previous competition events such as repelling, medical training, ruck marching, weapons firing, knot tying and running Moody's obstacle course.

"The training has been tougher on our bodies than either of us expected," said Lieutenant Norwood. "It seems like every week we have been trading off who is fighting some kind of injury. Putting a 75- to 80-pound pack on your back and going for hours at a time just wears you out and does damage. Ruck marching has been the most mentally challenging aspect of the training for me because it hurts, it's boring and lasts for more than four hours during some training sessions.

"As for actually giving up, that's not an option," he added. "Not only are we both internally driven and committed to being the first Air Force Rangers to compete as a team, but I'm pretty sure my group commander would judo chop me in half if the thought entered my mind, so that's always a good external motivator."

Ruck marching may not be their favorite form of physical training, but combined with pride and good old fashion teamwork, it seems to drive both Lieutenant Norwood and his partner.

"Sometimes you are walking with the ruck on your back and you don't want to be there because it just takes a long time, but I don't think about quitting," said Sergeant Miller, a Ranger since 2005. "At Ranger school from day one, they drill it into your head; Rangers never quit. In the Ranger creed, it says, 'Never shall I fail my comrades,' and 'Surrender is not a Ranger word.'"

As a fellow Ranger, the 820th Security Forces Group commander can vouch for the reputation of both his Airmen and the tough demanding competition.

"I am absolutely thrilled that for the first time in Air Force and Army Ranger history, the Air Force was represented by an all-Air Force Team in this competition," said Col. Donald Derry, 820th SFG commander. "The Best Ranger Competition is an established event in which Rangers throughout the military community regard as one of the toughest, most physically demanding competitions in the world.

"To support this ultimate test of physical, mental and technical abilities, many hours of planning, preparation and coordination are necessary," he added. "Not only am I very proud of them because they are from my unit, and I'm also a Ranger, but the entire U.S. Air Force should be very proud that the 820th SFG fielded a best ranger team. Congratulations to Master Sgt. Miller and Lieutenant Norwood; they flew the Air Force flag very proudly."