US Army Rangers

Official force name

75th Ranger Regiment
Rangers

Other names

Airborne Rangers
Army Rangers
Task Force Ranger
U.S. Army Rangers

Branch

U.S. Army

Chain of Command

USASOC

Description

Special Operations Force, rapidly deployable light infantry force.

Readiness

Each battalion can deploy anywhere in the world with 18 hours notice.

Specializations

Conducting conventional or special light-infantry operations, conducting direct action operations, conducting raids, infiltrating and Fort Benning, Georgia
United States of America

Motto

Rangers Lead The Way! (RLTW)
Sua Sponte ("Of their own accord")

Battalions

1st Battalion:

Hunter Army Airfield,

2nd Battalion:

3rd Battalion:

Equipment

84mm Ranger Antitank Weapons System (RAWS), 60mm Mortars M240B machine guns, 81mm Mortars Mark 19 RP MM grenade launcher, 120mm Mortars stinger.

Insertion date

June 19, 1942

Reason of creation

America's entry to WWII.

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, 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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Background

The term ‘Ranger’ first appeared in 1670 in Church's Rangers, though the WWII reference was taken from Roger's 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 all but a handful of the 1st and 3rd were wiped out or captured.

Prior to the 5th Ranger Battalion landing on Dog White Sector, Omaha Beach in WWII, three Companies of the 2nd Ranger Batt. 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.

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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 training. Upon graduation of Airborne School, the soldier will be assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment to attend the Ranger School and earn their Ranger Tab before assuming any leadership position within the regiment. The unofficial motto of Ranger students from the regiment is "With the tab, or on a slab" - that they will only return to the regiment with their Ranger Tab, or dead - possibly a varation on the Spartan wives' saying of "With your shield, or on it."

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Motto: Rangers Lead The Way!

On D-Day, Dog White sector of Omaha Beach, General 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, General Cota replied “Well, goddamn it then, Rangers, lead the way!”. It was at this time and place the Ranger motto was born.

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