RALEIGH, N.C., April 9, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Orion International, the single largest provider of military-trained talent to corporate America, is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Best Ranger Competition to be held April 26 - 29 in Fort Benning, Georgia.
Held once a year at the home of the Rangers, the competition pits two-man U.S. Army Ranger teams against one another in a "Ranger Olympics" to determine the toughest, roughest team in the entire Armed Forces. For the 20th year in a row, these teams will meet at Benning and face 60 continuous hours of physical, mental, and emotional endurance testing, spanning 60 miles of wilderness terrain.
The Competition is a labor of love borne of one man's desire to honor a fellow soldier, LTG (R) David E. Grange, Jr., former Director of the Ranger Department and Commanding General of Fort Benning. In 1982, Dick Leandri joined with several businessmen to form the civilian support group, Chairborne Rangers, expressly to sponsor this competition. Over its 20-year history the two-man "buddy" competition has grown from a small contest between the three Ranger Training camps, hosted at Benning, Dahlonega, and Eglin Air Force Base, to a major battle featuring two-men Ranger-qualified teams from the entire military. Most participating commands now hold preliminary competitions to determine whom they will send on to the contest.
Orion International CEO Jim Tully, himself a former Army Airborne Ranger and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, is excited about this year's contest. "It's hard to put into words what these guys go through during this competition," he said. "They barely eat or sleep during a time when they are taxed to ultimate levels of personal endurance. The test is not for a large cash prize or a chance to be on television. The prize is honor, and it is earned solely through teamwork and leadership." Mr. Tully will be on hand to greet the winning team with other Orion employees who are also former Rangers, along with several other honored guests.
Rangers are trained specifically to perform in small units and are challenged to think, act, and react under combat-stress situations. The Modern U.S. Army Airborne Rangers have served in every major armed forces conflict, from Korea, to Somalia, to present-day Afghanistan, often unknown and unsung. The Best Ranger Competition, then, truly represents the Best of the Best. Orion is proud to be a major sponsor of this event.
For additional information or a sample copy, contact:
Michelle Kidd, Press Relations, Orion International 5511 Capital Center Dr., Ste 216, Raleigh, NC, 27606 PH: 800-872-5002, ext. 160 FAX: 919-851-0129 EMAIL: info@orioninternational.com WEB: http://www.orioninternational.com
Orion International is the single largest placement firm in America that specializes in military-trained talent, and is owned and operated exclusively by former military personnel.