2009 EPISODE 4 of 12: SPOT JUMP

With more than 160 pounds of equipment on their backs, competitors race to see who will be the first to cross the finish line.

Traditionally, for the Spot Jump, the teams would prepare for a low altitude jump, get on a Blackhawk and fly to Lee DZ, the drop zone. Make a jump from 1,500 feet, attempting to land in the target circle. But this year the weather's not cooperating. Sergeant First Class Matthew J. Deleon: "Originally, it's the Spot Jump, and they'll go ahead and jump from 1,500 feet. From there, they'll go ahead and locate the center circle and their whole purpose is to actually try and land their bodies inside the circle. From there they'll go ahead and collect their air items and all their gear from the center, with their litters and all the air items, and they'll go ahead and run from that circle point all the way to the finish point, which is noted right there with the PS17 panel."

SFC Matthew J. Deleon: "The ceiling was low. It was about 800 AGL. We had to make an adjustment and go to the alternate event. And so, we had to go to the truck early this morning. And, as it cleared out, we got enough so that the pilots could at least identify the markings on the ground."

SFC Matthew J. Deleon: "There's 50 competitors out here and to finish number one, or even just to place, I would think in my personal perspective, in the top ten would be an achievement in itself because you're going against the best of the best."

Team 31, Sergeants Munchie and Antia, placed 18th in the Buddy Run. Now, after the Darby Queen and the Spot Jump, they've moved up to 12th position. From there, they move up the hill to the next event, a 2.5 mile Buddy Run to Malone 12. Now, with the stress of the Spot Jump behind them for just a minute, Team 31 can relax.

SSG Miguel A. Antia: "Less ah. You know, you have a chance to get hurt. So, now that they took it out so then that's more chance for me to stay in. I mean, we're tracking."

The Rangers are now making their way across Fort Benning to the Malone Ranges for the next several events. Five hours into the competition and well into the fourth event, strength, stamina and strategies are on everyone's mind as they arrive at Malone 12: the Machine Gun Range. Next time on BRC 2009: The Rangers will face 21 pop-up targets at 400 to 800 meters using crew-served weapons, machine guns.