Ranger (United States)

Ranger (United States)
Unit name	Ranger
Dates	1670–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Light infantry
Role	Direct action, airborne and air assault operations, Special reconnaissance
Command structure	United States Army Special Operations Command (75th Ranger Regiment)
Garrison	Fort Moore, Georgia (Regimental HQ)
Motto	"Rangers lead the way!"
Battles	King Philip's War, French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, American Civil War, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Just Cause, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq War
Notable commanders	Robert Rogers, William Orlando Darby, James Earl Rudder

Ranger (United States). United States Army Rangers are an elite light infantry and special operations force with a storied history dating to the colonial era. Modern Rangers, primarily organized under the 75th Ranger Regiment, are part of the United States Army Special Operations Command and are trained for high-risk direct action, airborne, and air assault missions. The unit's famous motto, "Rangers lead the way!", was first used during the Normandy landings at Pointe du Hoc and remains a core ethos.

History

The Ranger tradition originates in 17th-century colonial North America, with early companies like Benjamin Church's Rangers fighting in King Philip's War. The most famous early Ranger was Robert Rogers, who wrote the seminal "Rogers' Rules of Ranging" during the French and Indian War. During the American Revolutionary War, units such as Thomas Knowlton's Knowlton's Rangers and Francis Marion's partisans conducted irregular warfare. The modern lineage was forged in World War II with the creation of the 1st Ranger Battalion by William Orlando Darby, which saw intense combat in campaigns including the North African campaign, the Allied invasion of Sicily, and the Battle of Cisterna. The Ranger Battalions also included the famed 2nd Ranger Battalion, which scaled the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc on D-Day. Rangers fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, with units like the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) conducting long-range reconnaissance.

Organization

The premier Ranger unit is the 75th Ranger Regiment, a permanent, special operations-capable regiment headquartered at Fort Moore, Georgia. The regiment is a direct reporting unit within the United States Army Special Operations Command and consists of three maneuver battalions: the 1st Ranger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, the 2nd Ranger Battalion at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, and the 3rd Ranger Battalion at Fort Moore. Each battalion is highly flexible, containing specialized companies for reconnaissance, support, and headquarters functions. The regiment maintains close operational ties with other United States Special Operations Command components, such as the Delta Force and Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

Training and selection

Prospective Rangers must first complete the rigorous Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP), which assesses physical endurance, mental toughness, and tactical skills. All enlisted soldiers and officers, regardless of prior military occupational specialty, must pass RASP to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment. The cornerstone of Ranger training is the United States Army Ranger School, a two-month leadership course known for its extreme stress and demanding patrolling exercises at locations like Fort Moore, the Mountain Ranger Camp at Dahlonega, and the Florida Ranger Camp in the Apalachicola swamps. Graduates earn the Ranger tab, but serving in the regiment requires the additional RASP selection.

Equipment and insignia

Rangers employ a wide array of specialized equipment, including the M4 carbine, Mk 48 machine gun, and M107 sniper rifle. They utilize advanced mobility platforms like the MH-60 Black Hawk and MH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The primary uniform insignia is the Ranger tab, worn above the unit patch on the left shoulder. Members of the 75th Ranger Regiment wear the distinctive Ranger Beret in tan, with the regiment's shoulder sleeve insignia featuring a blue background with a white star and red lightning bolt. The Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge are commonly worn by qualified personnel.

Notable operations

Rangers have been at the forefront of numerous critical modern special operations. Key missions include the disastrous attempted POW rescue at Cabanatuan in World War II, the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia (1993), and the initial airfield seizures in Operation Just Cause in Panama. During the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Rangers conducted the first conventional ground assault in Operation Rhino. In the Iraq War, they were instrumental in hunting high-value targets and played a key role in the rescue of Private First Class Jessica Lynch. More recent operations include direct action raids against high-profile targets of ISIL and the Taliban.

In popular culture

The Ranger ethos and specific operations have been depicted in numerous films, books, and video games. The Battle of Mogadishu is dramatized in the book and film Black Hawk Down, which features Rangers from the 3rd Ranger Battalion. The World War II Rangers at Pointe du Hoc are portrayed in films like The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan. The video game series Call of Duty: Modern Warfare includes a playable Ranger faction, and the unit is frequently featured in novels by authors such as Tom Clancy and Brad Taylor.

Category:United States Army Rangers Category:Special operations forces of the United States Category:Military units and formations of the United States Army