The Ranger Challenge Tab is the only
United States Department of the Army
The United States Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the U.S. The Department of the Army is the federal government agency within which the United States Army (U.S.) is or ...
individual qualification tab awarded exclusively to
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces.
Overview
While ROTC graduate officers serve in al ...
cadets, and approved by the
Institute of Heraldry
The Institute of Heraldry, officially The Institute of Heraldry, Department of the Army, is an activity of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army solely responsible for furnishing heraldic services to President of the United ...
.
This award is presented annually to cadets who compete in regional ROTC
Ranger Challenge competitions.
Description and history
The Ranger Challenge Tab is an embroidered quadrant patch worn on the upper left sleeve of a military uniform. The cloth tab is black with gold embroidered letters. As with similar
Department of the Army decorations, this tab consists of a subdued and nonsubdued version. On the
ACU uniform
The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the current combat uniform worn by the United States Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Space Force. Within U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, it is referred to as the OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) Unifor ...
, the tab is worn on the left sleeve pocket flap.
The purpose of the Ranger Challenge Program is to challenge cadets in tough mental and physical competition, enhance leader development, develop team cohesion, develop healthy competition among the battalions, and provide a highly visible and dynamic recruiting and retention vehicle.
Other persons eligible
Cadets enrolled in the
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC -- commonly pronounced "JAY-rotsee") is a Federal government of the United States, federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools acr ...
are also eligible to receive this tab.
Other tabs
The
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
currently authorizes four permanent individual skill/marksmanship tabs. Under current Cadet Command regulation, cadets are specifically authorized to wear the
Ranger Tab and the Ranger Challenge Tab, as well as those "approved by The Institute of Heraldry" (TIOH)
Other tabs approved by TIOH include the
President's Hundred Tab
The President's Hundred Tab/Brassard is a badge awarded by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) to the 100 top-scoring military and civilian shooters in the President's Pistol and President's Rifle Matches. The tab is authorized for wear on m ...
, the
Special Forces Tab, and the
Sapper Tab.
Only three may be worn at one time.
See also
*
Military badges of the United States
Military badges of the United States are awards authorized by the United States Armed Forces that signify rating, qualification, or accomplishment in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain a ...
*
Awards and decorations of the United States army
Awards and decorations of the United States Army are those military awards including decorations which are issued to members of the United States Army under the authority of the Secretary of the Army. Together with military badges such awards pr ...
*
Awards and decorations of the United States military
*
List of military decorations
References
{{United States Army ROTC
United States military badges
Reserve Officers' Training Corps