For the third year in a row, Penn State's Army ROTC Ranger Challenge Team won the 2nd Freedom Brigade Ranger Challenge Competition on Oct. 6. Over a 12-hour period, 45 universities from the region competed in the annual event, including teams from the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Pittsburgh. Each team consisted of nine individuals, with at least one member from each academic class (freshmen through senior) and one female. The teams competed in a wide array of physically and mentally challenging events that tested their military acumen. The tested skills included weapon assembly, obstacle courses, rope bridge, a combat first aid simulator, hand grenade assault course, rappelling and several other events, spanning a 7.5-mile course. Penn State took first place in four individual events and was awarded the title of overall 2nd Brigade Ranger Challenge Champions for a third straight year. Cadet Jacob Ahle (senior; Economics), a four-year member of the team and its current commander, stated "The camaraderie within the team is what helped make the team successful this year."

Penn State Air Force ROTC Detachment 720 is welcoming home 22 of its active-duty graduates to share a wealth of knowledge with new students and cadets. Penn State graduates and now-active-duty officers from various career fields around the globe will be sitting down with current cadets and interested students and sharing their stories of success during the inaugural Air Force ROTC alumni career day. The event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on April 20 on the first floor of the Wagner Building on the University Park campus and is open to all students interested in pursuing a career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Most Army ROTC seniors don't know what and where their first official assignment for the U.S. Army will be until close to their college graduation. Penn State senior Michael Miller of Macungie, Pa., does. The secondary math education major was ranked seventh among 5,643 Army cadets on the nationwide Order of Merit List. Cadets ranked in the top 10 of their national graduating class get to choose their future. Miller chose to work as a signal officer, and will most likely be stationed just outside of Augusta, Ga., at Fort Gordon.

A prisoners of war -- missing in action (POW-MIA) vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 16, on the Old Main lawn at Penn State's University Park campus. The event is sponsored by The Penn State Air Force ROTC Arnold Air Society - Harry R. Armstrong Squadron. An opening ceremony of 30 to 40 minutes will begin the vigil, which also will include a missing-man table ceremony and a 21-gun salute. For the next 24 hours, members of the Penn State Detachment 720 Honor Guard will stand watch in remembrance of all fallen soldiers, prisoners of war, and members of the United States military who are still missing in action. The event is free and open to the general public and all are welcome, particularly military veterans and those who have family members serving in the U.S. military.