75th Ranger Regiment (United States)

75th Ranger Regiment

75th Ranger Regiment shoulder sleeve insignia
Active 1984–present
1942–present (1st Battalion)
2006–present (Regimental Special Troops Battalion)
Country  United States of America
Branch  United States Army
Type Specialized light Infantry[1]
Role Special Operations
Size

3,623 personnel authorized:[2]

  • 3,566 military personnel
  • 57 civilian personnel
Part of U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ HQ: Fort Benning, Georgia
Nickname(s) Army Rangers
Airborne Rangers
Motto(s)

Sua Sponte ("Of their own accord")

Rangers Lead The Way
Engagements

Notable operations:

Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Marcus S. Evans
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Beret flash
U.S. Infantry Regiments
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74th Infantry Regiment 85th Infantry Regiment

The 75th Ranger Regiment, also known as Rangers, is a light infantry, special operations unit of the United States Army. The regiment is headquartered at Fort Benning, Georgia and is composed of one special troops battalion and three ranger battalions. The regiment is the U.S. Army's premier raid force, with specialized skills that enable them to perform a variety of missions. These include direct action, airfield seizure, airborne and air assaults, special reconnaissance, personnel recovery, and high-value target raids. It operates as a special operations force under the United States Army Special Operations Command.[3]

Origin

The regiment's history dates back to Colonial America, when rifle companies from Major Robert Rogers made long-range attacks against French forces and their Indian allies and were instrumental in capturing Fort Detroit. During the American Revolutionary War, many colonial commanders were former Rangers. One, General John Stark, commanded the First New Hampshire Militia, which gained fame at the Battles of Bunker Hill and Bennington. Stark later coined the phrase "Live free or die," New Hampshire’s state motto.[4][5]

American Ranger history predates the Revolutionary War to Ethan Allen and his guerrilla fighting group the Green Mountain Boys in Vermont. Captain Benjamin Church formed Church's Rangers, which fought hostile Native American tribes during King Philip's War.[6] In 1756 Major Rogers, a New Hampshire native, recruited nine Ranger companies to fight in the French and Indian War. They were known as "Rogers' Rangers." In 1775 the Continental Congress later formed eight companies of expert riflemen to fight in the Revolutionary War. In 1777, this force of hardy frontiersmen, commanded by Dan Morgan, was known as The Corps of Rangers. Francis Marion, "The Swamp Fox", organized another famous Revolutionary War Ranger element known as "Marion's Partisans."[5]

During the War of 1812, companies of United States Rangers were raised from among the frontier settlers as part of the regular army. Throughout the war, they patrolled the frontier from Ohio to Western Illinois on horseback and by boat. Rangers participated in many skirmishes and battles with the British and their American Indian allies. The American Civil War included Rangers such as John Singleton Mosby who was the most famous Confederate Ranger during the Civil War. His company's raids on Union camps and bases were so effective, part of North-Central Virginia soon became known as Mosby's Confederacy.[5]

After the Civil War, more than half a century passed without Ranger units in the United States.

World War II battalions

1st Ranger Battalion

On 8 December 1941, the United States entered World War II the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. At the time, Major William Orlando Darby, the founder of the modern Rangers, was assigned to be on duty in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Darby, frustrated with his lack of hands-on experience as General Russell P. Hartle’s aide, was put in charge of a new unit. General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, envisioned an elite unit of fifty men selected voluntarily from the 34th Infantry Division. He believed Darby was the man to do the job. On 8 June 1942, Darby was officially put in charge of the First Ranger Battalion under General Hartle.[7]

On 19 August 1942, fifty Rangers fought alongside Canadian and British Commandos in the ill-fated Dieppe Raid on the coast of occupied France. Three Rangers were killed and several captured. The first American soldier killed in Europe in World War II was part of this raid, Ranger Lieutenant E. V. Loustalot. During the mission, he took command after the British captain leading the assault was killed. Loustalot scaled a steep cliff with his men, was wounded three times, but was eventually cut down by enemy crossfire in his attempts to reach the machine gun nest at the top of the cliff.[8]

In November 1942, the entire 1st Ranger Battalion entered combat for the first time when they landed at Arzew, Algeria. The First were split into two groups in hopes of assaulting Vichy-French batteries and fortifications before the 1st Infantry Division would land on the beach. The operation was successful. The unit sustained minimal casualties.[7]

On 11 February 1943, the Rangers moved 32 miles (51 km) to raid an Italian encampment at Sened Station. Moving at night, the Rangers slipped to within 50 yards (46 m) of the Italian outpost and began their attack. It took the battalion only 20 minutes to overtake the garrison and achieve their objective. Fifty Italians were killed and another ten were taken prisoner. Darby, along with other officers, was awarded the Silver Star Medal for this action. The battalion itself gained the nickname the "Black Death" by the Italians.[7]

At the time, the Italians still held the pass at Djebel El Ank, located at the far east edge of El Guettar. The Rangers linked up with engineers elements of the 26th Infantry, First Infantry Division, to attack the area. The First Rangers orders were to move overland, on foot 12 miles (19 km) to outflank the enemy's position. In eight hours of fighting, the Americans captured the objective; the First Rangers took 200 prisoners.[7]

Creation of 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions

With the success of the First Ranger Battalion during the Tunisian campaign, Darby requested that the Rangers be expanded to a full regiment. The request was granted. The Third and Fourth Ranger Battalions were authorized shortly after and were trained and led by veteran officers and NCOs from the First Battalion. After getting the "green light" to expand, Darby ran into a problem: the Rangers only took volunteers. Darby, knowing that the best man for the job was not always a volunteer, sought out men around Oran. Although he was still limited in that he could only accept volunteers, he began to find ways around this. For instance, he began to give speeches, put up posters and encouraged his officers to scout around for eligible candidates. By June 1943, the three Ranger battalions were fully operational. 1st Rangers were still under Colonel Darby; the 3rd under Major Herman Dammer, the 4th commanded by Major Roy Murray.[7]

1st and 4th Ranger Battalions were paired together, and positioned to spearhead General Terry Allen's 1st Division, on the Sicily campaign. Landing outside Gela, the Rangers took the town just after midnight, and were quickly sent out to San Nicola. The Rangers seized the town with the help of an armored division. Despite the fact that they were under a constant attack from enemy artillery, tank, and air forces, they still succeeded in the completion of their mission.[7] This 50‑hour barrage would be one of the most unbearable experiences for the Rangers.

Following their success, the two Ranger battalions were then ordered to take the town of Butera, a fortress suspended on the 4,000-foot (1,200 m) high edge of the cliff at Butera beach. After almost withdrawing from the battle, and requesting artillery to level the city, a platoon of Rangers volunteered to breach the city. Two privates, John See and John Constantine, sneaked in behind enemy lines and tricked the Italians and Germans into surrendering the city.[7]

Meanwhile, the 3rd Ranger Battalion headed out into the area of Agrigento, where they marched through Campobello, Naro, and Favara successfully occupying each town. The 3rd was ordered to back track to the shores of Porto Empedocle. The beach itself was not occupied, but high in the cliffs heavy machine gun and cannon fire poured onto the Rangers. Scrambling, the Rangers made their way to each machine gun nest and disabled all enemy opposition before the supporting infantry battalion even hit the shore.[7]

Colonel Darby was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and was promoted by General George Patton; Darby, wanting to be closer to his men, turned down this promotion.[7]

Fall of 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions

Main article: Battle of Cisterna

On 30 January 1944, after Christmas break the Rangers were put together for a joint operation, to occupy the town of Cisterna, before the main infantry division moved in. That night the 1st and 3rd battalions moved into the town, passing many German soldiers that did not appear to notice the Rangers slip by.[9] The 4th Ranger Battalion met opposition almost immediately taking an opposite route by the road. During the night the 1st and 3rd Ranger battalions separated out about 2 miles (3.2 km), and when daylight caught the 1st Ranger Battalion out in an open field, the Germans began their ambush. Completely surrounded and unable to escape, the two Ranger battalions fought on until ammunition and resources were exhausted. The 4th Ranger Battalion tried to make a push to save their comrades but were unsuccessful and had to withdraw. After five hours of fighting, German tanks and motorized infantry defeated the Rangers. Out of the 760 men in the two battalions, only six escaped and the rest were killed or captured.[7]

This marked the end of the three Ranger battalions. The remaining 400 Rangers were scattered around the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and the 137 original Rangers were sent home. On 26 October 1944, the three original Ranger battalions were deactivated at Camp Butner, North Carolina.[7]

2nd and 5th Ranger battalions

2nd Ranger Battalion troops use rope ladders to scale Pointe du Hoc.

The 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions were trained at Camp Forrest, Tennessee on 1 April 1943. They first saw action 6 June 1944, during Operation Overlord. During D-day 2nd Rangers companies D, E, and F, were ordered to take a strategic German outpost at Pointe du Hoc. This coastal cliff was supposed to have several 155 mm artillery cannons aimed down at the beach.[10] Once they arrived at the bottom of the cliff they had an enormous climb to make up rope ladders while receiving a barrage of machinegun fire from the Germans above. The 2nd Rangers were successful in taking the area even with the intense German resistance but the guns were not in sight. A patrol scouting the area found the 155 mm coastal guns a mile away; the patrol party quickly disabled the guns and any resistance in the area. In the article "Rangers take Pointe" Leonard Lomell and Jack Kuhn are interviewed on the events that took place that day. Lomell explains

The guns had to have been taken off the Pointe. We were looking for any kind of evidence we could find and it looked like there were some markings on the secondary road where it joined the main road. We decided to leapfrog. Jack covered me, and I went forward. When I got a few feet forward, I covered him. It was a sunken road with very high hedgerows with trees and bushes and stuff like that. It was wide enough to put a column of tanks in, and they would be well hidden. We didn't see anybody, so we just took a chance, running as fast as we could, looking over the hedgerow. At least we had the protection of the high hedgerows. When it became my turn to look over, I said, "God, here they are!" They were in an orchard, camouflaged in among the trees.[11]

Meanwhile, the rest of the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions spearheaded the 2–16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, on the beach at Omaha. This is where the famous Ranger slogan comes from, when Major Max F. Schneider, commanding the 5th Ranger Battalion, met with General Norman Cota. When Schneider was asked his unit by Cota, someone yelled out "5th Rangers!", to which Cota replied, "Well then Goddammit, Rangers, lead the way!" This drive cut the German line allowing the conventional army to move in.[7] The 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions worked on special operation tasks in the Normandy Campaign. The two battalions fought in many battles such as Battle for Brest and the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest. The 2nd Rangers were responsible for capturing Le Conquet Peninsula, where they disabled a 280 mm gun and took many German prisoners. The 2nd Ranger Battalion also went on to take several tactical German positions, cutting the German line in the Rhineland. In Saar west of Zerf, the 5th Battalion took an overlooking German position cutting of all supply routes to German forces.[7]

6th Ranger Battalion

The 6th Ranger Battalion was stationed in the Pacific, and served mostly in the Philippines and New Guinea. All operations completed by the 6th Battalion were done in company- or platoon-size behind enemy lines. They were the first soldiers to hit the Philippines, three days before the army would launch the first invasion. The 6th Ranger Battalion conducted long-range reconnaissance, operating miles past the front line.[7]

At Cabanatuan, on the island of Luzon in January 1945, a company of the 6th Ranger Battalion executed the Raid at Cabanatuan. The Rangers penetrated 29 miles (47 km) behind enemy lines, including crawling a mile (1 mile (1.6 km)) across an open field on their stomachs. During their final assault the Rangers destroyed a garrison of Japanese soldiers twice their size and rescued 500 POWs.[7]

The 6th Ranger Battalion's final mission was to secure a drop zone for paratroopers 250 miles (400 km) into enemy territory. They linked up with the 32nd Infantry Division and ended the war in the Philippines.

Merrill's Marauders

Marauders Badge

In August 1944, after five months of fighting in China Burma India Theater with the Japanese Army, Merrill's Marauders (5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) ) were consolidated into then 475th Infantry, afterwards 75th Infantry. As a special force group led by Brigadier General Frank Merrill, to commemorate its companion Chinese Expeditionary Force (Burma), Merrill's Marauders put the National emblem of the Republic of China on its badge. The sun also represents daylight operations, the lightening bolt signifies the swiftness of their strikes, and the white star signifies night capabilities.

Korean War

The outbreak of hostilities in Korea in June 1950 again signaled the need for Rangers. Fifteen Ranger companies were formed during the Korean War. The Rangers went to battle throughout the winter of 1950 and the spring of 1951. They were nomadic warriors, attached first to one regiment and then to another. They performed "out front" work – scouting, patrolling, raids, ambushes, spearheading assaults, and as counterattack forces to regain lost positions.[12] In all six airborne Ranger companies, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th, averaging 125 soldiers in each company served during the conflict. Two other companies, the 10th and 11th, were scheduled for Korea but were deactivated in Japan.[13] During the course of the Korean War, 100 Rangers were killed in action and 296 were wounded in action.[14]

Vietnam War

12 Feb. 1968. 1st Cav Rangers making commo check prior to patrol

The history of Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP—pronounced "Lurp"), LRP, and Ranger units deployed during the Cold War in Europe and Vietnam is based on three time periods: 1) LRRP from late 1965 to 20 December 1967; 2) LRP from late December 1967 through January 1969; and 3) Ranger from 1 February 1969, to 1972 when the Vietnam War drew down and the U.S. Vietnam Ranger units were deactivated. However, in 1974 their colors and lineage were passed to newly formed Ranger Battalions based in the United States.[15]

The first period above began in Vietnam in November 1966 with the creation of a provisional LRRP Detachment by the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile); followed by the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; the 1st Infantry Division; and the 25th Infantry Division in June 1966. General William C. Westmoreland, commander of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), ordered the creation of provisional LRRPs in all Infantry brigades and divisions on 8 July 1966. By the winter of 1966 the 4th and 9th Infantry Divisions had operational LRRP units, and in January 1967 the 196th Light Infantry Brigade had the same. The 101st Airborne Division "main body," while still at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, converted its divisional Recondo School into a provisional LRRP unit in the summer of 1967, before the division deployed to Vietnam. This provisional company arrived in Vietnam in late November 1967.[16]

26 July 1968. Two 1st Cav LRP Ranger teams, Quang Tri, Vietnam.

The second period began in late June 1967, when the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Earle G. Wheeler, authorized the formation of two long-range patrol companies for I and II Field Forces. Company E (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol), 20th Infantry (Airborne) was activated on 25 September 1967 and assigned to I Field Force and stationed at Phan Rang. The nucleus of this unit came from the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division LRRP Platoon, along with soldiers from the replacement stream. Company F (Long Range Patrol), 51st Infantry (Airborne) was activated on 25 September 1967 and assigned to II Field Force stationed at Bien Hoa. Its nucleus came from the LRRP platoon of the 173d Airborne Brigade, along with soldiers from the replacement stream. Each of the two Field Force LRP companies had an strength of 230 men, and was commanded by a major.[16] In an apparent response to division commanders' tactical requirements, and bolstered by the combat effectiveness of the provisional LRRP units, in the winter of 1967 the Army authorized separate company designations for Long Range Patrol (LRP) units in divisions and detachments in separate brigades. The divisional LRP companies were authorized 118 men and the brigade detachments 61 men. The wholesale renaming of existing divisional LRP units occurred on 20 December 1967 in the 1st Cavalry, 1st Infantry, 4th Infantry, 9th Infantry, 23d (Americal), and 25th Infantry Divisions. LRP detachments were created in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade on 10 January 1968, in the 173d Airborne Brigade on 5 February 1968, and in the 3d Brigade 82d Airborne Division and 1st Brigade 5th Mechanized Division on 15 December 1968.[16]

On 1 February 1969, the final period of the existence of these units began when the Department of the Army redesignated the LRP companies and detachments as lettered Ranger companies of the 75th Infantry Regiment under the Combined Arms Regimental System (CARS). The "re-flagged" Ranger companies were: "A" V Corps Rangers, Fort Hood, Texas; "B" VII Corps Rangers, Fort Lewis, Washington; "C" I Field Forces, Vietnam; "D" II Field Forces, Vietnam; "E" 9th Infantry Division, Vietnam; F 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam; "G" 23rd Infantry Division, Vietnam; "H" 1st Cavalry Division, Vietnam; "I" 1st Infantry Division, Vietnam; "K" 4th Infantry Division, Vietnam; "L" 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam; "M" 199th Light Infantry Brigade, Vietnam; "N" 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vietnam; "O" 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Vietnam; "P" 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Vietnam; "D/151" Indiana National Guard; and "F/425 " Michigan National Guard.[17] The third period ended when the Ranger companies were inactivated as their parent units were withdrawn from the war between November 1969 (starting with Company O, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division), and on 15 August 1972 (ending with Company H, 1st Cavalry Division).[15][16][17][18] On 9 June 1972, H Company (Ranger) lost SGT Elvis Weldon Osborne Jr. and CPL Jeffrey Alan Maurer to enemy action. Three other US soldiers were killed by non-hostile action that day, but SGT Osborne and CPL Maurer were the last US Army infantrymen killed on the ground, as well as the last Rangers killed in the Vietnam War.[19]

Modern battalions

In January 1974, General Creighton Abrams, Army Chief of Staff, directed the formation of a ranger battalion. General Kenneth C. Leuer was charged with activating, organizing, training and leading the first battalion sized Ranger unit since World War II. The 1st Ranger Battalion was activated and parachuted into Fort Stewart, Georgia on 1 July 1974. The 2nd Ranger Battalion followed with activation on 1 October 1974. The 3rd Ranger Battalion and Headquarters Company received their colors on 3 October 1984, at Fort Benning, Ga. The 75th Ranger Regiment was designated in February 1986.[12]

The modern Ranger battalions were first called upon in 1980. Elements of 1st Ranger Battalion participated in the Iranian hostage rescue attempts. In October 1983, 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions spearheaded Operation Urgent Fury, conducting a dangerous low-level parachute assault to seize Point Salines Airfield and rescue American citizens at True Blue Medical Campus.[12]

The entire 75th Ranger Regiment participated in Operation Just Cause. Rangers spearheaded the action by conducting two important operations. Simultaneous parachute assaults were conducted onto Torrijos/Tocumen International Airport, Rio Hato Airfield and General Manuel Noriega's beach house, to neutralize Panamanian Defense Forces. The Rangers captured 1,014 Enemy Prisoners of War (EPW), and over 18,000 various weapons.[12]

Rangers from 1/75 during a training exercise 1989-1990 1LT Joe Yorio, CPT Jeff Jarkowsky and SSG Paul Johnson

Elements of Company B, and 1st Platoon Company A, 1st Ranger Battalion, deployed to Saudi Arabia from 12 February 1991 to 15 April 1991, in support of Operation Desert Storm. They conducted raids and provided a quick reaction force in cooperation with Allied forces.[12] In December 1991, 1/75 and the Regimental headquarters deployed to Kuwait in a show of force known as Operation Iris Gold. The Rangers performed an airborne assault onto Ali Al Salem airfield, near Kuwait City, conducted a 50 km foot march through devastation (including mine fields) left from the ground campaign, conducted a live fire exercises and exfiltrated by foot.

In August 1993, elements of 3rd Ranger Battalion deployed to Somalia to assist United Nations forces attempting to bring order to the chaotic and starving nation. On 3 October 1993, the Rangers conducted a daylight raid with Delta Force. For nearly 18 hours, the Rangers delivered devastating firepower, killing an estimated 600 Somalis.[12]

On 24 November 2000 the 75th Ranger Regiment deployed Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC) Team 2 and a command and control element to Kosovo in support of Task Force Falcon.[12]

After the events of 11 September 2001, Rangers were again called into action, in support of the War on Terror. On 19 October 2001, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment spearheaded ground forces by conducting an airborne assault to seize Objective Rhino in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On 28 March 2003, 3rd Ranger Battalion employed the first airborne assault in Iraq to seize Objective Serpent in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.[12] Following the invasion, the main 75th Ranger deployment to Iraq was known as Task Force North/Red who carried out operations in northern Iraq, supported by a small element of Delta Force operators. Other smaller ranger elements were deployed to TF West/Blue and TF Center/Green to support JSOC operations.

On June 18 2003, as part of Task Force 20, Delta Force operators and US Army Rangers flew from Mosul via helicopter to chase a vehicle convoy of Iraqis over the border into Syria; JSOC suspected that Saddam Hussein was part of the convoy, ultimately, Hussein was not in the convoy, but several of his cousins were.[20] On July 23 2005, Rangers acted as a back-up force for the British Special Boat Service during Operation Marlborough.[21]

On January 1 2006, Rangers from Task Force Red raided a remote farmhouse outside Baghdad (one of a large number of raids planned that night), the operation almost didn't launch because mechanical problems plagued one of its helicopters. The Rangers reached the farmhouse and breached it, they captured several gunmen without a fight and rescued British freelance journalist Phillip Sands, whom had been kidnapped a week earlier. In Ramadi, the Rangers of Task Force Red were often forced to launch daylight raids on insurgents despite the risks, as ther were finding that their targets were moving out of the city at night to avoid their raids.[22]

The Regimental Special Troops Battalion (RSTB) was activated on 17 July 2006. The RSTB conducts sustainment, intelligence, reconnaissance and maintenance missions which were previously accomplished by small detachments assigned to the regimental headquarters and then attached within each of the three ranger battalions. The activation of the RSTB is part of the shift of the ranger force's focus from short term "contingency missions" towards continuous combat operations without loss in lethality or flexibility.[12]

As of 2012, the 75th Ranger Regiment is conducting sustained combat operations in multiple countries, deploying from multiple locations in the United States—an unprecedented task for the regiment. Rangers continue conducting combat operations with almost every deployed special operation force, conventional and coalition force in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Ranger Regiment executes a wide range of diverse operations that include airborne and air assaults into Afghanistan and Iraq, mounted infiltrations behind enemy lines, complex urban raids on high-value targets (HVTs), and rescue operations.[12]

Ranger battalion operational tempo while deployed is high. The 1st Ranger Battalion conducted more than 900 missions in Afghanistan in one deployment: the battalion successfully captured nearly 1,700 enemy combatants (386 high-value targets) and killed more than 400.[23] While the Ranger Regiment has traditionally been considered an elite light infantry force, operations over the past decade have demonstrated the Rangers' capabilities of conducting a full range of special operations missions.

In November 2015, the U.S. military sent a company of Rangers to southeastern Afghanistan, as part of the War in Afghanistan (2015-present), to help Afghan counter-terrorism forces destroy an al-Qaeda training camp in a “fierce fight” that lasted for several days.[24]

75th Ranger Regiment
Rangers conduct a security halt in Iraq on 26 April 2007. 
A Ranger from the 2nd Ranger Battalion instructs fellow soldiers in a Jump Master course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 
Two Rangers inspect their gear before the Ranger Rendezvous, a mass tactical jump conducted by elements from the entire Regiment. 
Retired Colonel Ralph Puckett places the Ranger Scroll on two graduates of the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program. 
The Ranger honor platoon at the interment ceremony of General Wayne Downing at West Point, New York. 
Rangers practice fast roping techniques from an MH-47 during an exercise Fort Bragg in 2010. 
A Ranger from the 2nd Ranger Battalion performing an over watch during combat operations in Iraq. 
Ranger snipers from 1st Battalion, practice marksmanship on a range in Afghanistan prior to a night combat operation against insurgents, 7 May 2013. 

Organization

Unit Location
Regiment Headquarters and Headquarters Company

Special Troops Battalion
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Communications Company
  • Military Intelligence Company
  • Selection and Training Company
 Fort Benning, Georgia
1st Ranger Battalion
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • Alpha Company (rifle)
  • Bravo Company (rifle)
  • Charlie Company (rifle)
  • Delta Company (rifle)
  • Echo Company (support)
 Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
2nd Ranger Battalion
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • Alpha Company (rifle)
  • Bravo Company (rifle)
  • Charlie Company (rifle)
  • Delta Company (rifle)
  • Echo Company (support)
 Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
3rd Ranger Battalion
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • Alpha Company (rifle)
  • Bravo Company (rifle)
  • Charlie Company (rifle)
  • Delta Company (rifle)
  • Echo Company (support)
 Fort Benning, Georgia

Lineage

Consolidated with the 475th Infantry and unit designated as 475th Infantry on 10 August 1944
Inactivated on 1 July 1945
Allotted to the Regular Army on 26 October 1954
Activated on 20 November 1954
Inactivated on 21 March 1956
Reorganized with Headquarters on 1 July 1984
Consolidated with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Ranger Battalions, unit designated as 75th Ranger Regiment and reorganized under the Regimental System on 3 February 1986

Modern Ranger selection and training

Qualifications

Rangers take part in a raid during Operation in Nahr-e Saraj, Afghanistan.

Additionally Army officer applicants must:

Selection and training

Every volunteer for the regiment, from every new recruit to every officer and any senior leader selected to command in the regiment, will go through the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) to assess their ability and provide the basic skills required to be an effective member of the 75th Ranger Regiment.[28]

For new soldiers, RASP is conducted after applicants successfully complete their basic Military Occupational Specialty course and graduate from the Army’s Parachutists Course (Airborne School). For soldiers, both enlisted and officer, who have successfully completed their first tour of duty, and meet the recruiting qualifications, a RASP date will be scheduled upon application and conditional acceptance to the 75th Ranger Regiment.[28]

RASP is broken down into two levels of training: RASP 1 for junior non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers (pay grades E-1 through E-5) and RASP 2 for senior non-commissioned officers, officers and warrant officers. Candidates train on physical fitness, marksmanship, small unit tactics, medical proficiency and mobility. Training is fast-paced and intense, ensuring Ranger candidates are prepared to employ their skills in both continued training and worldwide operations upon reaching their assigned Ranger unit. Throughout the course all candidates will be screened to ensure that only the best soldiers are chosen for service in the Ranger Regiment. Regardless of the course, all candidates must meet the course requirements in order to serve in the Ranger Regiment. Upon successful completion of RASP, candidates will don the tan beret and 75th Ranger Regiment Scroll.[29]

Ranger Assessment & Selection Program 1 (RASP 1)

RASP 1 is an 8-week selection course for junior non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers (pay grades E-1 through E-5) that is broken down into two phases. Ranger candidates will learn the basics of what it takes to become a member of an elite fighting force by a grueling test of physical and mental endurance, road marches with rucksacks, land navigation, leadership skills, and weapons training—performed under continuous food and sleep deprivation.[30] Graduates will achieve the advanced skills all Rangers are required to know to start their career with the 75th Ranger Regiment. Phase 1 focuses more on the critical events and skill level 1 tasks and Phase 2 focuses on training in marksmanship, breaching, mobility, and physical fitness.[29]

Ranger Assessment & Selection Program 2 (RASP 2)

RASP 2 is a 21-day selection course for senior non-commissioned officers, officers, and warrant officers. Candidates are tested on their physical and mental capabilities while learning the special tactics, techniques and procedures of the regiment apart, and learning the expectations of leading and developing young Rangers.[29]

Continued training

To maintain readiness, Rangers train constantly. Rangers focus on the Big 5: marksmanship, physical training, medical training, small unit tactics and mobility.[31]

Throughout their time in the Ranger Regiment, Rangers may attend many types of special schools and training. Depending on occupation and job requirements, members of the 75th Ranger Regiment enjoy unparalleled access to countless military schools, including Jumpmaster, Sniper, Pathfinder, Military Freefall, Scuba, Survival-Evasion-Resistance-Escape (SERE), and others. Additionally, members of the regiment at all levels are afforded opportunities for joint training and non-traditional military and civilian schooling.[28]

Rangers are trained in "do-it-yourself" emergency medicine. Based on the premise that 90% of deaths from wounds are suffered before reaching medical facilities and that there are not enough medics and doctors to go around, the Regiment began to train Rangers to give themselves immediate, preliminary treatment. A 2011 study found a 3 percent death rate from potentially survivable causes in the 75th Regiment between October 2001 and April 2010. That compares with a 24 percent rate in a previously reported set of U.S. military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan, which included troops who didn't have the Ranger-style training.[32]

RFS/RFM

As a U.S. Army Special Operations Command unit, the Rangers maintain more stringent standards for their personnel. If at any point a Ranger is deemed to be failing to meet these standards he may be relieved and removed from the regiment. This is commonly referred to as being RFSed, short for "Released For Standards". A Ranger can be RFS'd for virtually any reason, ranging from lack of motivation to disciplinary problems. Similarly, a Ranger physically incapable of performing his mission through prolonged illness or injury can also be removed from the regiment through a process referred to as RFM or "Relieved For Medical reasons".

Honors, mottos and creed

The 75th Ranger Regiment has been credited with numerous campaigns from World War II onwards. In World War II, they participated in 16 major campaigns, spearheading the campaigns in Morocco, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio and Leyte. During the Vietnam War, they received campaign participation streamers for every campaign in the war. The regiment received streamers with arrowheads (denoting conflicts they spearheaded) for Grenada and Panama. To date, the Rangers have earned six Presidential Unit Citations, nine Valorous Unit Awards, and four Meritorious Unit Commendation, the most recent of which were earned in Vietnam and Haditha, Iraq, respectively.

Sua Sponte, Latin for Of their own accord is the 75th Ranger Regiment's regimental motto. Contemporary rangers are triple-volunteers: for the U.S. Army, for Airborne School, and for service in the 75th Ranger Regiment.

The motto "Rangers lead the way!" dates from 6 June 1944, during the Normandy Landings on Dog White sector of Omaha Beach. Then Brigadier General Norman Cota (assistant CO of the 29th ID) calmly walked towards Maj. Max Schneider (CO of the 5th Ranger Battalion) while under heavy machine gun fire and asked "What outfit is this?" Someone yelled "5th Rangers!" To this, Cota replied "Well then Goddammit, Rangers! Lead the way!"

The term "Ranger"

Organizations define the term "Ranger" in different ways. For example, the annual "United States Army Best Ranger Competition," hosted by the Ranger Training Brigade, can be won by pairs of participants from the 75th Ranger Regiment, or by ranger-qualified entrants from other units in the U.S. military. For an individual to be inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Association's "Ranger Hall of Fame" he "must have served in a Ranger unit in combat or be a successful graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School." The Ranger Association further clarifies the type of unit: "A Ranger unit is defined as those Army units recognized in Ranger lineage or history."[33] Acceptance into the U.S. Army Ranger Association is limited to "Rangers that have earned the U.S. Army Ranger tab, WWII Rangers, Korean War Rangers, Vietnam War Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol members and Rangers, and all Rangers that participated in Operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Storm, Restore Hope, Enduring Freedom, as well as those who have served honorably for at least one year in a recognized Ranger unit."[34]

Ranger term controversy

There is some dispute over the use of the word "Ranger." According to John Lock,

The problems of the Ranger Tab and indeed Ranger history is in large part caused by the lack of a clear-cut definition of who is a Ranger. The Ranger Department, the Infantry School, and Department of the Army have in the past carelessly accepted the definition of a Ranger unit to include the use of terms 'Ranger-type' and 'Units like Rangers,' and 'Special Mission Units.' In his book Raiders or Elite Infantry, David Hogan of the Center of Military History writes that 'By the time of the formation of LRRP units..., Ranger had become a term of legendary connotations but no precise meaning.' For the want of a definition of who and what is a Ranger, integrity was lost. As a result of Grenada, circumstances have changed. Since 1983, men have had the opportunity to earn and wear an authorized Ranger unit scroll or an authorized Ranger Tab or both. But there is a need for a firm definition of who and what constitutes a RANGER. Without that definition, we face the likelihood of future controversy.[35]

Beret change

In June 2001, Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki gave the order to issue black berets to regular soldiers. At the time, black berets were being worn exclusively by the Ranger Regiment. This created discontent within the 75th Ranger Regiment and even led to retired rangers going on nationwide road marches to Washington, D.C. to protest against the decision.[36] Because there was not a Presidential authorization to the regiment for exclusive wear of the black beret, they switched to wearing a tan beret to preserve a unique appearance, tan being reflective of the buckskin worn by the men of Robert Rogers' Rangers during the French and Indian War.[37] A memorandum for the purpose of changing the ranger beret from black to tan was sent and approved in March 2002.[38] Press releases were issued and articles were published all over the nation about this change in headgear after it was formally announced by the regimental commander, Colonel P.K. Keen.[39] In a private ceremony, past and present rangers donned the tan beret on 26 July 2002.[40]

Notable members

Rangers descend in an MH-6 Little Bird helicopter flown by pilots from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment during a staged demonstration.

See also

References

  1. ↑ USSOCOM Fact Book 2010 (PDF). USSOCOM. 2010. p. 13.
  2. ↑ http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/671462.pdf
  3. ↑ Army Command and General Staff College. "Special Operations Forces Reference Manual Chapter 3: US Army Special Operations Forces". Federation of American Scientists.
  4. ↑ Ankony, Robert C., "They Saw Us First," Patrolling, 75th Ranger Regiment Association, Winter 2014, vol 28. issue 1.
  5. 1 2 3 Ranger Handbook, Ranger Training Brigade, United States Army Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Georgia (2000).
  6. ↑ "Biography of Captain Church". Ranger Hall of Fame. United States Army. Archived from the original on 8 April 2005. Church commanded an independent Ranger company during King Philip's War (1675–1678) on the New England frontier where they conducted highly successful combat operations against Indians. Church's men were the first Rangers successful in raiding the Indians' hiding places within the forests and swamps.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 McGowen, Sam (January 1997). "Darby's Rangers surrounded at Cistema, World War II". 11 (5). Academic Search Complete: 38.
  8. ↑ 1st Ranger Battalion". U.S. Army Ranger Association. Fort Benning, GA. 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Interview with Private Harry Perlmutter, Part I". Special Operations History Foundation. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  10. ↑ Lehman, Milton, 1946, "The Rangers Fought Ahead Of Everybody," Saturday Evening Post; Vol. 218 Issue 50, pp. 28–52: Retrieved from academic Search complete
  11. ↑ Frederick, Michael & Masci, Joseph, May 2000, "Ranger take Point", World War II; , Vol. 15 Issue 1, p. 50, Retrieved from Academic Search complete
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 75th Ranger Regiment Heritage. GoArmy.com.
  13. ↑ Stanton, Shelby L., Rangers at War, Ivy Books, New York, 1993, pps 8-9
  14. ↑ Black, Robert W., "Rangers in Korea," VFW magazine, Kansas City, MO, Jun./Jul. 2010:42-43.
  15. 1 2 Ankony, Robert C., Lurps: A Ranger's Diary of Tet, Khe Sanh, A Shau, and Quang Tri, revised ed., Hamilton Books, LandHam, MD, 2009.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Gebhardt, James F. (2005). Eyes Behind the Lines: US Army Long-Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance Units. Combat Studies Institute Press. pp. 45–110. ISBN 978-1-4289-1633-3.
  17. 1 2 Patrolling magazine, 75th Ranger Regiment Association, Winter/Spring 2015, vol. 28, issue II.
  18. ↑ Mark Meadows, Maj. USA, "Long-Range Surveillance Unit Force Structure in Force XXI," thesis, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (2000):2-4.
  19. ↑ Last Days of the Infantry in Vietnam, 1972", VFW magazine, (Aug. 2012):36-42.
  20. ↑ "Six little-known stories about secretive Joint Special Operations Command, as told in a new book". the Washington post. 1 September 2015.
  21. ↑ Urban, Mark, Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq , St. Martin's Griffin , 2012 ISBN 1250006961 ISBN 978-1250006967,p.88
  22. ↑ Neville, Leigh, Special Forces in the War on Terror (General Military), Osprey Publishing, 2015 ISBN 978-1-4728-0790-8,p.212-214
  23. ↑ Dickstein, Corey (19 March 2012). "Hunter-based Army Rangers awarded for actions in Afghanistan". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  24. ↑ "The U.S. was supposed to leave Afghanistan by 2017. Now it might take decades.". the Washington post. January 26, 2016.
  25. ↑ army.com
  26. 1 2 "Join the Rangers". GoArmy.com.
  27. ↑ "Army Ranger Qualifications". Army.com. 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  28. 1 2 3 "Training". GoArmy.com.
  29. 1 2 3 "RASP 1&2". GoArmy.com.
  30. ↑ Ankony, Robert C., "Hotel Company/75th Infantry (Ranger)," Patrolling magazine, 75th Ranger Regiment Association, Fall 2015, vol 28, issue III.
  31. ↑ The Big 5 | Benning.Army.Mil
  32. ↑ Tanner, Lindsey (15 August 2011). "Do-it-yourself battlefield medicine saves lives". Associated Press.
  33. ↑ U.S. Army Ranger Association (2011). "Ranger Hall of Fame". U.S. Army Ranger Association, Inc. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  34. ↑ U.S. Army Ranger Association (2011). "Join USARA". U.S. Army Ranger Association, Inc. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  35. ↑ Lock, John (2005). The Coveted Black and Gold: A Daily Journey Through the U.S. Army Ranger School Experience. Arizona: Fenestra Books. p. 219. ISBN 1-58736-367-4.
  36. ↑ "Rangers protest black beret decision". USA Today. Associated Press. 19 June 2001.
  37. ↑ Bahmanyar, Mir (2011). Shadow Warriors: A History of the US Army Rangers. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-075-3.
  38. ↑ "DA Approves Ranger's New Headgear". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  39. ↑ "Adopting the Beret". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  40. ↑ "Private Ceremony". Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  41. ↑ Urgent Fury: the Battle for Grenada; Mark Adkin, 1989 pp. 195 ff.;ISBN 0-669-20717-9

Further reading

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