About Army Ranger Training

The US Army Rangers are an elite light infantry unit, and the Army's Ranger School is considered one of the most demanding training programs in the world. However, there is a great deal of confusion about what constitutes "Ranger Training," since going to Ranger School is not actually required for troopers in the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Who Goes to Ranger Training?

Not everyone who goes to the US Army's Ranger School is intended to become a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment. The Ranger badge is a highly desired feather in the cap of many an Army soldier, and many seek it, even those not in the infantry. Conversely, not all soldiers in the 75th Ranger Regiment are graduates of the Ranger School, although it is absolutely required for any leadership position within the regiment.

Minimum Requirements: 75th Ranger Regiment

To join the 75th Ranger Regiment, a soldier must be qualified in their Military Occupational Speciality (MOS) and have graduated from Airborne School. Additional requirements are nine weeks of Basic Combat Training, a visit to Advanced Infantry Training and then the four-week Ranger Indoctrination Program.

Ranger School: Fort Benning

This phase consists of a physical evaluation (roughly twice as demanding as the standards for Basic Training), combat water testing, land navigation testing, demolitions training and an airborne refresher, and a combination of rugged runs, obstacle course work and route marching. Combat exercises include basic squad-level operations.

Ranger School: Mountaineering Phase

As suggested by the name, this phase focuses on mountaineering skills at Yonah Mountain, Tennessee. The combat exercises focus on platoon operations against a conventional opposition force.

Ranger School: Florida Phase

Phase 3 is at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. This phase includes training for operations in swamps and rain forests. There are further small unit combat exercises.

Graduation: Physical Demands

Graduating from Ranger School demands standing up to severe physical stress. Rangers train 20 hours a day, get few meals, and average 3.5 hours of sleep per day.

Graduation: Leadership

Students are rotated through various leadership positions, and graded on how well they perform in each. They are also reviewed by their peers, and can be flunked out by their fellow students, who constitute the men to be led in the course.

Resources

• Army Ranger website