75th Ranger Regiment duo wins 34th Annual Best Ranger Competition

After a grueling three-day competition, the 75th Ranger Regiment team of Capt. Michael Rose and Master Sgt. Josh Horsager finished on top Sunday at the 34th annual David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning.

The win was the second for Rose, who took home the honors in 2014 while stationed with the 25^th Infantry Division in Hawaii. Over the three-day event, the competitors traveled over 58 miles with a series of tests that included running, shooting, 20-mile road march, maneuvering through a 4-mile obstacle course, swimming and more.

Only 21 of the 53 teams entered were able to complete the course.

For Rose, it was the second time he took first place in the grueling three-day event.

In 2014, he won with his partner 2nd Lt. John Bergman.

Abbie Rose was not present when her husband, Michael, finished first in the 2014 event.

“We were stationed in Hawaii,” she said.

So she watched the live-stream on the internet.

Seeing it in person is different, though.

“It is very intense,” she said. “At times, it is almost hard to watch.”

Even though her husband did not compete the last two years, she believes the experience of 2014 helped.

“He had that knowledge base of what to expect,” she said.

She is glad to see his hard work pay off.

“We are all proud of him,” she said.

1. The top three placing teams were as follows:
   75th Ranger Regiment (Team 35 of Capt. Michael Rose and Master Sgt. Josh Horsager)
2. 82nd Airborne Division (Team 15 of Staff Sgt. Carlos Mercado and 2009 winner Master Sgt. Chad Stackpole)
3. National Guard (Team 43 of 2016 winners Capt. Robert Killian and Staff Sgt. Erich Friedlein)

The annual competition is the Ironman challenge for the Rangers, all competitors have to be a graduate of the school.

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Photo Courtesy of US Army