Central State University ROTC Marauder Battalion Among Winning Teams Selected to Compete in Historic Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at West Point

Central State University ARMY ROTC placed first amongst 38 Senior ROTC programs within 7th Brigade, United States Army Cadet Command and will compete at the US Army Military Academy, West Point.

Each year, hundreds of Military Science students from across the nation as well as international teams gather to compete in a grueling 48-hour contest that tests endurance, military preparedness, leadership and unit cohesion. This year the Central State University ARMY ROTC—Marauder Battalion, will be counted among these elite groups of competitors.

The Sandhurst Military Skills Competition is an annual event featuring teams from domestic military academies, ROTC Battalions, and international teams; and was established to promote military excellence among the US Corps of Cadets by showcasing tactical and technical proficiency, leadership abilities, and physical prowess. It is further designed to build relationships across institutions and nations.

The Marauder Battalion; comprised of students from Central State University (CSU), Cedarville College, Wilberforce University (Wilberforce, OH), and Wittenberg University (Wittenberg, OH), will compete April 29 and 30, 2022., 2022 at the United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point. This will be CSU’s second trip to Sandhurst in four years.

“In November of 2021, the Marauder Battalion’s Ranger Challenge Team competed at Fort Knox, Kentucky against other Army Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs spanning five states including Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana and Tennessee) and won! No small task to say the least,” says Central State University Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Samuel Dallas Jr., who leads the Marauder Battalion 7th Brigade (BDE)—seated in the College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture (CESTA)1890 Land-Grant Program.

“All participants from the other 37 programs are winners in their own right, but I am especially excited that our team of future officers, who trained hard in the months preceding the competition, rose to the occasion, and won against the best of the best from other universities,” added Lt. Colonel Dallas.

Much like the international competition at West Point, University teams from five states competed over the span of 48 hours, challenging themselves physically, mentally and emotionally in an effort to be counted as 7th BDE's representative(s). Competing teams included but was not limited to: The Ohio State University, Michigan State University, Indiana State University, Norte Dame, and Kentucky State.

“It felt great to win, especially over the larger programs,” said the current Battalion Cadet Commander, Ethan McCall.

“Hats off to the Historic Central State University ROTC Marauder Battalion! You are the epitome of strength courage and grit. We are in awe of this accomplishment,” says Michelle Corley, Ph.D., Dean CESTA/Director 1890 Land-Grant Programs at CSU.

“We are so grateful to have a world class cadre committed to excellence,” said CSU President Dr. Jack Thomas. “This team is up to the task of coaching, training and mentoring. They are 21st Century leaders!”

To learn more about the Army ROTC Program at Central State University visit centralstate.edu/academics/CHAS/rotc/index2.php?num=7
or follow them on social media at https://www.facebook.com/Central-State-University-Army-ROTC-Marauder-Battalion-363253840382021

Photo 1: Winning Central State University Marauder Battalion Cadre. Pictured from Left to Right are: Front Row—CDT Justice Bassette, CDT Caleb Kowalewski, David Abraham, CDT Hayden Stokes, CDT Ethan McCall (Squad Leader), CDT Moriah Barber

Back Row — LTC Samuel Dallas Jr, MSG John Meyer, CDT Enoch Flint, CDT Caleb Arreguin, CDT Skyler Arny, CDT Cynthia Stokes, CDT Daniel Heiple, CPT Devan Cureton, and the current Cadre Officer in Charge, on the far right, 1LT Harald Juergens.