2009 EPISODE 1 of 12: READY TO COMPETE

Tensions are high as Soldiers prepare for 59 hours of grueling competition.

The BRC is three days of Ranger tasks spread out over 100 square miles. Over the next 59 hours, these Rangers will cover more than 65 miles on foot with a 60 pound ruck on their back competing across more than 22 individual events with very little sleep.

From the beginning, the objective was clear: the competition should place extreme demands on the teams' physical, mental and technical abilities as Rangers. The standards of performance must vastly exceed those required of the average Soldier. The harsh reality is half the field will not finish the 59 hours. These Soldiers, competing in this year's event, will execute in three days what it normally takes a Soldier attending the Ranger school 61 days to learn. Last year, Staff Sergeant Cherry and Staff Sergeant Broussard were able to command the field in several events to win the competition.

All of the competitors have converged on Fort Benning. Now, with less than 36 hours to the start of the event, the Rangers receive the final instructions on the tasks they will face, and prepare their individual equipment. The first order of business, sighting your weapon.

SSG Mitchell R. Tisserand: Some of the weapons you see here, during the familiarization, is what we'll be using during the competition. This is a M1911, which was standard issue, pretty much up until the early '80s, when they switched to the M9s, like the M1 Garand, which was familiar with my grandfather.

Command Sergeant Major Mark Collazos: These guys are definitely in the warrior mode. Heart rate is a little high. Anticipation of the competition. This is the Army's best. These teams have been training for anywhere from three to six months. So, tensions are pretty high. There's some stare down going on, some assessment, because everybody here right now is a potential winner.