On October 7, 2006, The Gonzaga University Bulldog Battalion Black Team won the Task Force Big Sky Ranger Challenge Championship at Camp Seven Mile, WA defeating eight other teams from the University of Montana, Montana State University, and Boise State University.  The Black team took away the trophy by dominating in the 10k ruck march, the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), and winning the land navigation events as well as the hand grenade assault course.  The GU Gold team pushed the competition in coming in 4^th place overall and taking first in the APFT event. Gonzaga also fielded two practice teams that trained just as hard in preparation for the event.   

     This year CDT SGM Peter Gilroy  and CDT SRG George Kane, the OIC and NOIC of the GU teams, sent out letters to Bulldog Battalion graduates requesting them to send their combat patches to be worn on the day of the event. These patches would be worn as motivation and to honor those Officers, and their units, who had contributed to the 14 year winning streak that was ended the year prior. The response was overwhelming with support. The teams received numerous patches and letters containing various personal accounts detailing inspiring moments, as well as powerful words of encouragement. Letters came from as far away as Afghanistan to as close as the ROTC office at GU. Before each practice one of these letters was read to set the tone for that day’s training. The result was a harder work ethic, stronger determination, and a knowledge that GU grads across the globe were pulling for them.  Kane stated,” It was great to see that some of these alumni were in Iraq, possibly getting shot at, but still cared about the Ranger Challenge teams’ success.” Though taking the trophy back home was the mission, it is this new tradition that shows what is more important then winning. What was more important was building the camaraderie and unity needed to accomplish the mission and fight side by side with one another, starting as Cadets and continuing on as Officers.

   

    This support continued onto the competition day as the cadre, a myriad number of alumni, family, and friends came out to Camp Seven Mile to watch the Bulldogs compete. Kane noted how inspiring it was for the teams to see the faces of prior Black team members cheering them on all the way to victory.  In speaking about the Ranger challenge team members, LTC(R) Alan Westfield, the Recruiting Operations Officer at GU stated, “On Saturday they were strong, fast, tough, and smart, and they deepened their relationships with their friends and the Battalion while having fun and achieving superlative results.” The Bulldog Battalion’s Ranger Challenge teams showed up on Oct 7 2006 to avenge their loss in 2005, in doing so they followed in the footsteps of those who came before them in developing into committed and confident leaders in excellence while maintaining high standards and traditions.

Black Team members were Peter Gilroy, Seth Wilkin, Anna Gerding, George Kane, Nolan Johnson,

Mark Anderson, John Moffatt, Shay Logan, Forrest Hogue, Pat Constantino, and Mary Whitney Ferriter.