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Update: R-Games date moved to April 26

  • Published
WASHINGTON --  The Reserve Officers Association's R-Games date has changed to April 26 at Camp Barrett, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.

Individuals and three-person teams can register by visiting www.roa.org/rgames.

The R-Games is a one-day military skills competition to determine the top reserve team, which will receive an all-expenses paid trip to represent the United States at the 2014 CIOR International Games in Fulda, Germany. Team categories to qualify to advance to the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers event are open to men and women in all service branches, active and reserve, officer and enlisted.

The R-Games consists of an 800-meter run, a combat obstacle course, marksmanship trials and a 5-kilometer orienteering course. The objective of the all-day event is to have 100 three-person teams competing to determine which branch has the endurance, strength and discipline to be named the toughest reservist in uniform. The games begin at 7 a.m. and run until 5 p.m.

The $50 entry fee per person covers snacks and beverages for all participants, a post-event barbecue awards dinner, R-Games t-shirts and competition medals.

Organizers say there is no lodging available on the Marine base, and transportation to and from the event site and overnight accommodations are the responsibility of each participant.

Registration is limited to the first one hundred teams of three. Teams may register all three members at one time or individuals may sign up separately and then be assigned to a team.

In addition to the ROA, other organizations are also conducting tryouts to select teams to represent the United States in CIOR games in Germany.

In 2012, Air Force Reserve Maj. Brendon Ritz, an operations officer with the U.S. Pacific Command J3, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, teamed up with Pennsylvania Army National Guard Staff Sgts. Matthew Stern and Mark Jones. They won the novice team award at the CIOR competition in Hoevelte, Denmark.

"Before we got here, our coaches thought we had a chance, but once we got here it was about just doing our best," said Ritz at the overseas competition. "As novice, we just wanted to come out here and not make mistakes."

Another member of the U.S. team gave a different perspective.

"The purpose of CIOR is to strengthen the alliance and build our partnerships with our NATO allies," said Navy Cmdr. Grant Staats. "More than medaling, representing the USA as leaders and professionals in the partnership program is what we aim to do. Achieving these goals will bring the strong finishes to us every time."

The CIOR competition consists of a pentathlon with rifle and pistol marksmanship, land and water obstacle courses, and a 10-15 kilometer orienteering course, as well as a combat casualty care evaluation and a written Laws of Armed Conflict test. At the CIOR competition, team and individual awards are given for each event as well as best overall performance.

For further information, please also visit the R-Games Facebook page at www.facebook.com/events/241382172682537/.