UCF ROTC to host fifth annual Iron Knight Competition

Helicopters and skydivers will kick-start the fifth annual Iron Knight Competition on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The Iron Knight Competition is a four-and-a-half-mile race consisting of eight courses set up around Gemini Circle, including the trail next to parking garage C. The race was designed by the Special Forces and Airborne Ranger-qualified UCF Army ROTC instructors.

"It's an endurance competition," Maj. Tali M. Hillsgrove of UCF Army ROTC said. "It's also a way to highlight Army ROTC. It just shows what the cadets do because they run the whole program. They do the whole Iron Knight thing. They're in charge of it from top to bottom."

The race consists of two divisions of competitors broken into three categories. There is a Pro slot, which is open to anyone over the age of 18 and usually consists of CrossFit members, sororities and fraternities; the Junior slot is open to anyone 18 years old and under and usually consists of JROTC and high school students. UCF ROTC members are not allowed to compete since they have to remain impartial to the competition.

Each team consists of four members and can either be all male, all female or coed. There is a total of 30 Junior slots and 17 Pro slots. As of 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 20, there were only four Pro slots and one Junior slot left open.

The first group begins the race at 9 a.m., and the rest of the teams will start at four-minute intervals. The teams have to run from the start to each of the course areas. Each course has a time limit of five minutes. If a team goes over the time limit, it is penalized.

Each team has to run from the start to the first course, which consists of push-ups. The Pros have to do 300 push-ups, and females team members and Juniors have to do 250 push-ups. The amount of push-ups can be divided among the team members.

At the next course, teams have to carry one of their members on a stretcher while negotiating the obstacles to the finish line. This course is known as the downed pilot. The team is not allowed to drop the member on the stretcher.

The third course is sit-ups. The Pros have to do 300 sit-ups, and the female team members and Juniors have to complete 250 sit-ups. The amount of sit-ups done by each team member can be divided among the team.

The half-way point of the race consists of pull-ups. The Pros have to complete 60 pull-ups, and the female team members and Juniors have to complete 40 pull-ups. Once again, the number of pull-ups can be distributed among team members.

The fifth course is the equipment relay. Teams have to carry four rucksacks, four M-16 training aids and six sandbags 50 meters to a turn-around-point and then back to the starting line. All team members have to make it to the turn-around point and back with all of the equipment issued.

The next course is the tire toss. Each team has to flip a tire end over end for 25 meters and then back 25 meters to the starting line. Different sized tires are given to the different types of teams.

Course No. 7 is the blind minefield. Teams have to designate a captain to guide the other "blind" members across a "minefield" successfully. Each member can only hit a landmine once. All members must cross the minefield. If one team member does not, the team is disqualified from the course.

Cadet Christopher Brooke, a graduate history major, has been working the Iron Knight Competition for three years and finds the minefield to be the most challenging course.

"I would honestly say the blind minefield has to be the worst because you're actually blind folded and another [team member] will be directing you," Brooke said. "They're saying, ‘Take three steps forward, two steps back, take a half step forward,' and the entire time you've got little tiny plates that you're trying to step over."

The final event is the Humvee push. Teams have to push a Humvee 50 meters until the rear tire passes the finish line.

A large trophy and medals will be given to the teams placing first in both divisions. Second- and third-place winners will receive medals indicating their final standing. An overall winner with the best time will also be declared.

"The competition is fierce," Hillsgrove said.

The purpose of the competition is to recruit high school students and JROTC members to UCF Army ROTC.

"It's going to be very physically demanding for some of these high school kids," said Mick Bicknese, senior political science major and ROTC cadet. "They may think they're in shape, but once they actually start doing all this they may look at it a different way."

The Iron Knight Competition starts at 7 a.m. on Jan. 28 when the National Guard will be landing its helicopters. The race doesn't start until 9 a.m. For more information on the Iron Knight Competition go to ucfrotc.com.