Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade

Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade. It is a major training command within the United States Army responsible for conducting the Army's premier leadership and small-unit tactics courses. Headquartered at Fort Moore in Georgia, the brigade administers the physically and mentally demanding Ranger School and the Basic Airborne Course. Its mission is to forge elite light infantry leaders and qualified paratroopers for the U.S. military and allied nations.

History

The brigade's lineage traces to the establishment of the Ranger Training Command in 1950 at Fort Benning, following the successes of World War II Ranger battalions like the one led by William Orlando Darby. The modern brigade was formally activated in 1974, consolidating airborne and ranger training under a single command. Its history is intertwined with the evolution of Airborne School, which began in 1940 at Fort Benning, and the rigorous standards set by early leaders like Colonel John G. Van Houten. The unit has continuously adapted its curriculum, incorporating lessons from conflicts such as the Vietnam War, Operation Just Cause, and the Global War on Terrorism.

Organization

The brigade is organized into several distinct training battalions and a headquarters company located at Fort Moore. Primary subordinate units include the 4th Ranger Training Battalion, which conducts the rugged mountain phase in the Chattahoochee–Oconee National Forest, and the 5th Ranger Training Battalion, responsible for the swamp phase in the coastal regions of Florida. The Airborne School operates as the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Infantry Regiment. This structure ensures specialized instruction across diverse environments, supported by permanent party Infantry School personnel and cadre from across the United States Department of Defense.

Training programs

The brigade's flagship program is the 61-day Ranger School, a combat leadership course divided into the Benning, Mountain, and Swamp phases, testing students in woodland, mountaineering, and amphibious warfare operations. The three-week Basic Airborne Course teaches static-line parachuting techniques, culminating in five jumps from aircraft like the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III. Additional training includes the RASP for the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Pre-Ranger Course. Instruction emphasizes small-unit tactics, patrolling, and mission planning under extreme stress and fatigue.

Notable graduates

Thousands of soldiers have earned the Ranger tab or Parachutist Badge, including numerous high-ranking officers and national figures. Notable graduates include former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell, former United States Secretary of State and retired General David Petraeus, and Medal of Honor recipient James Doolittle. Renowned figures from Special Operations Command such as General Stanley A. McChrystal and Delta Force founder Colonel Charles Alvin Beckwith are also alumni. These leaders exemplify the brigade's impact on the U.S. Army and NATO leadership.

Unit insignia and traditions

The brigade does not have a unique unit patch but falls under the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Moore. Its most recognized symbols are the Ranger tab and the Parachutist Badge, awarded upon course completion. Enduring traditions include the "Ranger Creed," the awarding of the distinctive tan beret to graduated Rangers, and the "Airborne Creed." Ceremonies like the Prop Blast for new paratroopers and the final outbrief at Darby Field honor the legacy of units like Merrill's Marauders and the Korean War-era Ranger Companies.

Category:Training brigades of the United States Army Category:Fort Moore Category:United States Army Rangers Category:Airborne units and formations of the United States