The Steel Battalion’s Scholar, Athlete, Leader model:
The Athlete
“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”
-John F. Kennedy
The Steel Battalion emphasizes the importance of physical development and every cadet is an athlete. Cadets are required to meet not just Army physical standards but the Steel Standard as well. The Steel Battalion conducts morning physical training sessions three times a week, allowing cadets to challenge themselves physically through sophisticated and thoughtful training routines developed by upperclassmen and cadre that not only prepare cadets to excel on the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) but also hone their abilities in ruck marching, swimming and individual soldier skills.
No matter one’s fitness background, the Steel Battalion develops cadets into well rounded athletes who are prepared to succeed in strenuous, demanding environments. Steel Battalion cadets regularly earn perfect scores on ACFT and dominate in NCAA and club sports. For cadets seeking more guidance and direction with regards to holistic fitness, cadet coaches and trainers are available to ensure all cadets are supported, including offering help with nutrition plans, workout routines and resilience advice.
What is Physical Training like in the Steel Battalion?
Each day offers a new opportunity to improve. From ruck marches to weight room sessions to survival swimming, Steel Battalion cadets train to win in every domain. Cadets improve their physical fitness while also building esprit de corp, discipline and a foundation of Army Fitness knowledge. A first year cadet learns about movement drills and drill and ceremony while second year cadets lead formations through warm ups and cool downs. By their third year, cadets are planning training sessions for their formations, guided by fourth year cadets and cadre. Steel Battalion cadets and alumni head to advanced camp, summer training and BOLC (Basic Officer Leader Course) fit to fight and confident in leading Army Physical Training sessions.
The
Ranger Challenge
Team
Ranger Challenge
For cadets looking for an extra challenge, Steel Battalion Ranger Challenge team adds a tactical layer onto additional physical training as they train for and compete in military competitions at the regional level. This group of 12 cadets is selected through a highly competitive try out process that involves physical and mental assessments. Reigning Champions of the 2nd Brigade Ranger Challenge (placing first out of forty four teams) and three time invitees to the Sandhurst International Military competition, the Steel Battalion team excels in events from obstacle courses to field medicine assessments. Highly motivated and disciplined, this closely knit team is truly “Forged in Fire.”
The
Sandhurst Team
Sandhurst Team
By winning 2nd Brigades Ranger Challenge competition, the Steel Battalion team punches its ticket to Sandhurst International Military Skills Competition where they compete at an international level against ROTC programs from around the country, teams from each of the service academies and a host of international squads from foreign military academies. Hosted by the United States Military Academy at West Point, the Sandhurst competition features over 36 hours of grueling tactical challenges including well over 25 miles of ruck marching, humvee pushes, Zodiac events and much more. The Steel Battalion team trains daily to prepare for this rigorous April competition and works to develop themselves in mind, body and spirit as they prepare to display our “Strong as Steel” values on the international stage.
The Tactical Athlete: Forging mental grit through shared [physical] adversity.
The Army 10 miler team and Running Club
For cadets who love to run, the Steel Battalion Army 10 Miler team represents the program in America’s second largest 10 mile race. Each October, the team competes in Washington DC, running alongside Olympians, Generals, other cadets and the public as they push themselves and each other in athletic excellence. Placing in the top 11 ROTC and Service Academy teams in the nation for two consecutive years, Steel Battalion athletes prove that months of disciplined training and family ethos put them over their competition. After the race is over, the running doesn’t stop as the Ten Miler team transitions into the running club and participates in a variety of local and regional races of various distances, often placing in the top brackets of their age group.
B4-8 Challenge
Steel Battalion cadets are early to rise-by 8 AM, most have completed a physical training session, eaten breakfast together and are sitting in their military science classes. For many, this doesn’t change when class isn’t in session. Over summer and winter breaks, cadets encourage each other to maintain disciplined lifestyles by participating in the B4-8 challenge. So even at home, by 8AM, cadets have completed a workout, eaten a nutritious meal, planned the rest of their day and posted in the B4-8 Facebook group where fellow cadets and cadre alike offer encouragement and motivation. “Strong as Steel” takes no days off!
Bataan memorial death march
For Steel Battalion cadets who love to run and ruck, the “Bataan” team competes in White Sands, New Mexico at a memorial marathon tribute to the survivors and fallen of the Bataan Death March during World War II. For cadets in both the heavy (marching with a 35 lb ruck) and light (running with no weight) teams, it’s an extraordinary opportunity to both build physical strength endurance and esprit de corps while paying homage to those of the “Greatest Generation” who sacrificed for a grateful nation. Taking place over Spring Break, “Bataan” allows for cadets to walk alongside these heroes as well as other cadets, active duty military personnel and the general public while pushing themselves physically and mentally.