United States Army Rangers

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{{Infobox Military Unit |unit_name= 75th Ranger Regiment |image=Image:75th Ranger Regiment insignia.gif |caption=75th Ranger Regiment Shoulder Sleeve Insignia |nickname= Airborne Rangers
Army Rangers |motto= Rangers Lead The Way! (RLTW)
|colors= |march= |ceremonial_chief= |type= Special Operations |branch=United States Army |dates= June 19, 1942 – |country=United States |allegiance= |command_structure=U.S. Army Special Operations Command |size= |specialization=Conducting conventional or special light-infantry operations
Conducting direct action operations
Conducting raids and Airfield Seizure |challenge= |response= |current_commander= |garrison= |battles= Operation Eagle Claw
Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Just Cause
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Battle of Mogadishu
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= }}

The 75th Ranger Regiment —also known as the United States Army Rangers— is a special operations force of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC); with headquarters in Fort Benning, Georgia. The Regiment is a flexible, highly trained and rapidly deployable light infantry force with specialized skills that enables it to be employed against a variety of conventional and special operations targets.

The force specializes in airborne, air assault, light-infantry and direct action operations, conducting raids, infiltration and exfiltration by air, land or sea, airfield seizure, recovery of personnel and special equipment, and support of general purpose forces (GPF) among others. Each Ranger battalion can deploy anywhere in the world with 18 hours' notice.

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History

Image:486px-Rangers-pointe-du-hoc.jpg The term ‘Ranger’ first appeared in the 13th century in England and in the colonies in 1670 in Church's Rangers, though the World War II reference was taken from Rogers' Rangers of 1756, whose Standing Orders are still quoted today. In May 1942 during World War II, the 1st Ranger Battalion was sanctioned and recruited from forces in Northern Ireland and trained in Scotland by the British Commandos. Together with the ensuing 3rd, and 4th Ranger Battalions they served in North Africa and Italy under William O. Darby until the Battle of Cisterna (January 29, 1944) when most of the 1st and 3rd battalions were captured.

Prior to the 5th Ranger Battalion landing on Dog White Sector, Omaha Beach in WWII, the 2nd Ranger Battalion scaled the 150 foot cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, a few miles to the west, to destroy a battery of five 155mm guns. Under constant fire during the climb, they found only a small company of Germans on the cliffs and the artillery withdrawn some 500 metres. The guns were later found and destroyed, and the Rangers cut and held the main road for two days before being relieved.

Meanwhile the 6th Ranger Battalion fought in the Pacific theater. They led the invasion of the Philippines and were credited for the daring Raid at Cabanatuan.

After World War II, the Rangers were disbanded. However, the training regime was kept in place, though only senior NCOs and officers were able to attend training. With the outbreak of war in Korea, the Rangers were reactivated, and formed into Ranger Companies. The Chief of Staff assigned the Ranger Training Program to Colonel John Gibson Van Houten. Members of the 505th Airborne Regiment and the 80th AA Battalion reported in, and together they would become the 2nd Ranger Company, the only all-black Ranger unit to serve in Korea. During the course of the war the Rangers patrolled, probed, scouted, destroyed, attacked and ambushed the enemy. The 1st Rangers destroyed the 12th North Korean Division in a daring night raid. The 2nd and 4th Rangers made an airborne assault near Munsan-Ni where Life Magazine reported that Allied troops were now patrolling above the 38th Parallel. The 2nd Rangers plugged a crucial gap made by the retreating allied forces, the 5th Rangers helped stop the Chinese 5th Phase Offensive. After the Korean War the Rangers were disbanded.

In February of 1969, under a new Combat Arms Reorganization System, U.S. Army Rangers were reformed in Vietnam as the 75th Ranger Infantry Regiment (Airborne). Thirteen companies of Rangers (only 12 of which were in Vietnam) were raised from units that had been performing long range missions in Vietnam since 1966 as LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol) and LRP (Long Range Patrol) companies. These new Rangers were given a unit history somewhat curiously traced to Merrill's Marauders. In Vietnam, the Rangers were organized as independent companies (C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, and P) and each company was attached to a major American combat unit. Rangers in Vietnam conducted long range, covert reconnaissance into denied areas. They collected intelligence on these missions, planned and directed air strikes on previously unidentified targets, acted as force multipliers to conventional operations, carried out bomb damage assessment in enemy controlled areas, executed hunter-killer missions at night and in daylight by set ambush or by hasty ambush and surprise, and specially trained and equipped Ranger snipers killed individual enemy soldiers with well placed rifle shots from concealed positions.

In addition, Rangers attempted recovery of friendly POW’s, captured enemy personnel for search and interrogation, employed wire taps on communication lines used by the enemy in his established base areas and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and Rangers mined enemy trails and motor vehicle transportation routes.

After Vietnam, division and brigade commanders saw that the Army needed an elite light infantry unit capable of rapid deployment, so in 1974 Gen. Abrams created the 1st Ranger Battalion. Eight months later the 2nd Ranger Battalion was formed and in 1984 the 3rd Ranger Battalion plus HQ. In 1986 the 75th Ranger Regiment was formed and their lineage formally authorized. The 4th, 5th, and 6th Ranger Battalions are Ranger Training Battalions and not organized as units of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Ranger elements participated on several operations, including the 1979 aborted attempt to rescue the hostages held in Teheran (Operation Eagle Claw), and Operation Urgent Fury on Grenada in 1982.

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Mottos

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Ranger motto: Rangers Lead the Way!

On 6 June 1944, during the assault landing on Dog White sector of Omaha Beach as part of the invasion of Normandy, General Norman Cota (assistant CO of the 29th ID) while under heavy machine gun fire, calmly walked towards Maj. Max Schneider, CO of the 5th Ranger Battalion and asked “What outfit is this?”, someone yelled "5th Rangers!". To this, Cota replied “Well, Goddamn it then, Rangers, lead the way!”. From this, the Ranger motto ("Rangers lead the way!") was born.

Rangers lead the way is often abbreviated RLTW among Rangers.

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Regimental motto: Sua Sponte

Sua Sponte, Latin for "Of their own accord" is the 75th Ranger Regiment's regimental motto. New Rangers often have the motto impressed upon them, through their superiors demands that they complete all their expected tasks with minimal or no prompting.

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Becoming a Ranger

To become a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, prospective Rangers must begin with the nine weeks of Basic Combat Training (BCT). Upon completion of basic training the soldier will then attend Advanced Individual Training (AIT) to obtain a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). This training varies in length, depending on the selected MOS. Next, the soldier must complete Airborne School. Upon graduation of Airborne School, the soldier will be sent to the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP), for grades E-4 and below, and the Ranger Orientation Program (ROP), for grades E-5 and above. Upon graduation of RIP/ROP, the new Rangers will be assigned to either one of the three Ranger battalions or the 75th Regimental Headquarters, where they are now authorized to wear the Ranger tan beret [1] and the Ranger Scroll [2].

Final career development requires that all members of the 75th Ranger Regiment attend and pass Ranger School and earn their Ranger Tab. A Ranger cannot become a leader within the 75th Ranger Regiment if he hasn't successfully completed and graduated from Ranger School.

The unofficial motto of Ranger students from the Regiment is "No tab, hit the slab" — that they will return to the regiment either with their Ranger Tab or dead. This may be a variation of the Spartan mothers' directive to their soldier sons, to return "With your shield, or upon it."

Upon successful completion of all 3 phases of Ranger School, the new Ranger is awarded the Ranger Tab and returns to his unit, a fully qualified and operationally deployable Ranger. The three phases take place at Fort Benning, Camp Frank D. Merril in Dahlonega, Georgia, and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

Rangers in the Ranger Regiment believe that the term "Army Ranger" is reserved solely for someone who serves within the 75th Ranger Regiment. A popular phrase within the Ranger Regiment regarding this issue is: "The tab is a school, the scroll is a way of life" (the scroll being the insignia of the 75th Ranger Regiment). A person who passes Ranger School is considered Ranger Qualified as he has passed Ranger School.

Regimental Rangers are issued a tan beret, while the regular army soldiers are issued a black beret, Paratroopers of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division are issued maroon berets, and the Army Special Forces wear green berets. The Rangers adopted the tan beret when the decision was made by Army Chief of Staff General Shinseki to issue black berets to regular soldiers in June 2001, in order to make them appear elite. This created a lot of discontent within the 75th Ranger Regiment and even led to ex-Rangers going on nationwide roadmarches to DC to protest the decision. Due to the fact that there wasn't 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 sand on the battlefields on which they've fought.

Image:United States Army Ranger Tab (embroided).gif

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Ranger Creed

Main article: Ranger Creed.

Image:US Army Rangers on night recon.jpg Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment.

Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move farther, faster and fight harder than any other soldier.

Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be. One-hundred-percent and then some.

Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well-trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.

Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.

Rangers lead the way!

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Operations

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Famous Rangers

William Orlando Darby - led Darby's Rangers which later evolved into the U.S. Army Rangers

Robert Law - Ranger/Patroller during the Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor post-humously.[3]

Frank Merrill - led the 5307th CUP (Composite Unit [Provisional]) aka Merrill's Marauders during the Second World War. This unit was the founding parent organization for the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 75th Infantry (Ranger). The modern 75th Ranger Regiment drew its original lineage and history from the 5307th until 1986 when the lineage of other Ranger units including Darby's Ranger were officially authorized to the 75th Ranger Regiment. Previously held by U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets).

Henry A. Mucci - led and trained the 6th Ranger Battalion, responsible for the Raid at Cabanatuan, one of the most successful rescue operations in U.S. military history.

Robert Pruden - Ranger/Patroller during the Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor post-humously.[4]

Lazlo Rabel - Ranger/Patroller during the Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor post-humously.[5]

Phil Stern aka Snapdragon - world famous Hollywood and Jazz photographer who joined Darby's Rangers as official photographer during the Second World War.[6][7]

Pat Tillman - professional American football player who, with brother, Kevin Tillman, joined Rangers in response to 9/11.

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See also

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Further reading listed alphabetically by author

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External links

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Official sites

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Reenacted Rangers

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Former Rangers websites

Rangers in Viet Nam Why, Whergibbse, and How We Fought* [8]

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References

  1. U.S. Army. GoArmy.com Ranger Recruitment: Entrance Information for Rangers. United States Army. United States of America.
  2. USASOC (2003). 75th Ranger Regiment: Fact Sheet. U.S. Special Operations Command. United States of America.
  3. U.S. Army Rangers. Rangers on night recon (photo). Fort Benning, Georgia (USA): 75th Ranger Regiment.
  4. 75th Ranger Regiment, A Documentary about the training and formation of the Ranger's (Military Channel)
  5. U.S. Army Ranger Association. [14]. U.S. Army Ranger Association. United States
  6. Inside Delta Force by CSM Eric Haney (one of the first Delta Operator's, and participated in Operation Eagle Claw
  7. Contemporary oil portrait by Cecy Rose of the founder of U.S. Army Rangers, Major Robert Rogers can be viewed at [15]de:United States Army Rangers

fr:Merill's Marauders sl:75. rangerski polk

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