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Not for the weak or fainthearted

Brothers team up to test themselves mentally, physically, tactically and technically

by Colleen Dixon

Capt. Jeff Soule ('02), 4th Ranger Training Brigade and Maj. Greg Soule, JMU ROTC instructor

Capt. Jeff Soule ('02), 4th Ranger Training Brigade and Maj. Greg Soule, JMU ROTC instructor

The sign said it all: "This event is not for the weak or fainthearted." The event in question was the Army's 25th annual Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition, which took place at Fort Benning, Ga., April 18-20, 2008. JMU was well represented at this contest to determine the most elite of elite soldiers. A team of brothers--Maj. Greg Soule, JMU ROTC instructor, and Capt. Jeff Soule ('02), 4th Ranger Training Brigade--represented JMU's ROTC and captured second place overall in the grueling contest.

How arduous was the competition? Almost half of the 28 two-man teams dropped out at some point during the event, many during the first night's road march following a day full of continuous, strenuous competition.

Capt. Soule competed in the BRC for the first time in 2007. His experience was a definite plus in preparing and training for this year's BRC. "Competing last year enabled me to strategize this year. Another huge benefit was that I knew how to train smarter and better this year, as opposed to my first year," he says.

The younger shall lead the elder

Because of his experience, Capt. Soule found himself in the position of leading his older brother. After all the previous years of looking up to Greg, Jeff found himself in charge. Capt. Soule says, "Not many people ever get a chance to compete in the Best Ranger Competition. To be able to do it a second time, and with my brother, was amazing."

"The Best Ranger Competition needs to consume you. This competition needs to be on your mind at all times. I was constantly trying to think of the best way to complete each event." -- Capt. Jeff Soule

"Jeff took the training plan from last year and fine-tuned it," Maj. Soule says. "There were many events that could potentially be in the competition, and you had to be ready for anything. Based on what he saw last year, he created a plan to train for not only physical events, but also technical stuff like weapons handling." Capt. Soule's experience was helpful in setting the pace during the three-day event. "During the competition, Jeff could give me an idea of what was coming up next and what we needed to do," says Maj. Soule. "He could also slow our tempo, so we didn't go too hard, too fast. ... You can't go at a dead sprint during a three-day competition."

The brothers made up one of the few sibling teams to compete in the history of the competition. Remarkably, they trained separately for all but nine days of their months-long preparation. Capt. Soule says, "Neither of us had nearly as much time to train as the other teams. We also didn't have half the assets available to other teams because we weren't stationed together and we weren't representing a Ranger unit."

Soule brothers maneuvering through an obstacle course.

Soule brothers maneuvering through an obstacle course.

Three days, 60 hours, 70 miles

The events in the BRC have their origins in actual Ranger combat operations from every conflict since World War II: a spot jump from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, a land navigation course through dense woods, obstacle courses, a night march and runs in standard battle dress uniform while carrying weapons are just a few events that are woven into the fabric of Ranger history.

Competitors knew ahead of time the types of events that might be in the BRC; however, the final list of events was a closely guarded secret until the contest's start.

In this year's BRC, a 3.5-mile buddy run started the contest. Uniform was "full battle rattle"--standard battle dress uniform, including boots and helmet and M4 carbine with ammunition pouches. During the stress shoot as competitors ran from range to range, they also lugged rucksacks containing approximately 65 pounds of equipment. A spot jump from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to land within a 20-foot diameter circle, exiting a UH-60 helicopter into frigid water and swimming to shore while pulling a raft, maneuvering through two different obstacle courses, a casualty simulation, and assembling five weapon systems while working against the clock were other course components.

Team Soule competing in casualty simulation.

Team Soule competing in casualty simulation. Maj. Soule says, "We won that event, but I ruined a set of uniforms because there was fake blood all over the place."

Catapulting into second place

The orienteering course on the second night was the pivotal event that propelled the brothers into second place overall, a spot they never relinquished. Capt. Soule, who regularly competes in extreme adventure races, is adept at land navigation. According to Maj. Soule, "that was probably the most trying time of the entire weekend. We were both tired and hurting already, but it was our chance to get second place."

"We didn't run, because it was a 12-hour course," says Maj. Soule, "but we walked very fast and we never stopped." Team Soule navigated the course in total darkness, save for a bright moon. The length of time out on the course meant no sleep for Team Soule before the next day's events began, and aside from the non-stop competitive events, the weather contributed to the contest's difficulty. Temperatures and humidity soared over the three days, putting contenders at risk for heat exhaustion or heat stroke during intense physical efforts.

Team Soule crossed the finish line with the highest score in the orienteering segment in recent competition history.

Team Soule crossed the finish line with the highest score in the orienteering segment in recent competition history.

Striving for the finish

By the final event of the third day, the Soule brothers had been awake for more than 60 hours. They had pushed their bodies to their maximum capabilities. All that stood between them and completing the BRC was another buddy run, this one for two miles. Maj. Soule says, "As we were running to the finish line as part of the top three finishing team, every Ranger in the group raised his weapon. The line of people waiting at the finish line stretched for about half a mile. We had been running so long holding our weapons up for the people cheering for us, I felt like I couldn't hold that weapon up a second longer." As the brothers neared the finish line, the elder wrapped his arm around the younger in a fitting gesture at the finish line--brothers triumphing together.

The Soule brothers

The brothers "like to mess with each other...We are more like great friends," says Capt. Jeff Soule.

Team Soule received the highest score in recent history for the orienteering segment, which won them the Richard A. Leandri award. The award commemorates Leandri, a civilian who was a staunch supporter of the military and sponsor of the BRC.

Capt. Soule graduated from JMU in 2002 with a bachelor's in business management. Just a few weeks after the BRC, he embarked on his next extreme adventure, a cross-country bike ride to benefit the National Brain Tumor Society. Learn more about Capt. Soule's journey at http://twoblokesonspokes.blogspot.com/ and http://www.firstgiving.com/jeffsoule/.

Maj. Soule graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., in ('97). He was assigned as an instructor for JMU's ROTC Battalion from May 2005 until June 2008.

About the author

Madison magazine staff writer Colleen Dixon, is also a freelance writer and editor and has served as an officer in the Navy Reserve for more than 17 years.