75th Ranger Regiment
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| 75th Ranger Regiment | |
|---|---|
 US Army Institute of Heraldry · Public domain · source | |
| Unit name | 75th Ranger Regiment |
| Caption | Regimental scroll and flash |
| Dates | 1974–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Special operations forces |
| Role | Airborne light infantry, direct action, special reconnaissance |
| Size | Regimental headquarters and multiple battalions |
| Garrison | Fort Moore, Georgia |
| Nickname | Rangers |
| Motto | "Rangers Lead the Way" |
75th Ranger Regiment is an elite airborne light infantry unit of the United States Army specializing in direct action raids, airfield seizure, special reconnaissance, and personnel recovery. The Regiment operates under United States Army Special Operations Command and coordinates with United States Special Operations Command, NATO, United States Army Forces Command, and joint task forces. Its lineage traces to colonial ranger units, World War II Ranger battalions, the Korean War, and Vietnam War formations that influenced doctrine used in contemporary operations.
History
The Regiment's heritage draws on early colonial figures such as Benjamin Church and units like Rogers' Rangers, continuing through World War II formations including the 1st Ranger Battalion (United States), the 2nd Ranger Battalion (United States), and the 3rd Ranger Battalion (United States). Post‑World War II reorganizations after the Korean War and doctrinal experiments during the Vietnam War led to the creation of modern Ranger companies and the institutionalization of Ranger training at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore (Georgia)). The formal activation of the 75th Ranger Regiment in 1974 consolidated Ranger units under a regimental structure, influenced by lessons from the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Operation Urgent Fury, and advisory roles during Operation Eagle Claw planning. The Regiment's tactics and organization evolved through engagements in Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Gothic Serpent, and large‑scale contingencies including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Organization and Units
The Regiment comprises a Regimental Headquarters and multiple Ranger battalions: the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Ranger Battalions and the Regimental Special Troops Battalion, with a Regimental Reconnaissance Troop and support elements. Each battalion fields companies designated A through C (and additional companies as task‑organized) and maintains airborne status with parachute and air assault capabilities, coordinating with U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, and conventional aviation units such as 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and 82nd Airborne Division. The Regiment integrates intelligence support from organizations like the Defense Intelligence Agency, liaison relationships with Joint Special Operations Command, and sustainment links to United States Army Logistics formations to enable expeditionary operations.
Selection and Training
Selection begins with the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and culminates in graduation from the Ranger School, a course run at locations including Fort Moore (Georgia), Camp Merrill, and environments similar to those used in Operation Anaconda‑era training. Candidates often attend the Basic Airborne Course and advanced courses such as SERE School and language training coordinated with Defense Language Institute. Ranger candidates come from diverse branches including Infantry Branch (United States Army), Field Artillery Branch (United States Army), and Military Police Corps (United States Army), and undergo rigorous small‑unit tactics, demolitions, marksmanship, close quarters battle, and urban operations training informed by after‑action reviews from operations like Battle of Mogadishu (1993).
Equipment and Insignia
Rangers employ a range of weapons and equipment standardized with other U.S. Army and special operations units: variations of the M4 carbine, Mk 17 Mod 0 (SCAR‑H), M249 SAW, precision rifles such as the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, and systems like the AN/PRC-152 radio. Mobility and force projection rely on aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Boeing CH-47 Chinook, and rotorcraft from U.S. Army Aviation Branch and close coordination with United States Air Force tanker and lift platforms. Insignia includes the regimental scroll, the tan beret instituted for Army Rangers, unit patches, and the Ranger tab awarded to graduates of the U.S. Army Ranger School, symbols seen alongside decorations like the Distinguished Service Cross and the Bronze Star Medal earned by members.
Operations and Deployments
The Regiment has conducted high‑profile operations spanning conventional and irregular warfare: airfield seizures during Operation Just Cause, direct action raids in Operation Gothic Serpent, and large‑scale airborne assaults in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Rangers provided rapid reaction and special reconnaissance across Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, interdicted insurgent networks during the Iraq War (2003–2011), and supported counterterrorism efforts in the Global War on Terrorism. They have participated in multinational exercises with NATO partners, supported embassy reinforcement operations alongside United States Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, and conducted noncombatant evacuation operations akin to Operation New Arrivals and contingency plans used during Hurricane Katrina responses.
Notable Members and Honors
Notable Rangers include decorated veterans and leaders who served in operations such as Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom, recipients of awards like the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and Legion of Merit. The Regiment's personnel have been featured in accounts and memorialized in works relating to the Somalia intervention, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and biographies of figures associated with Joint Special Operations Command operations. Unit citations include Presidential Unit Citations and Valorous Unit Awards recognizing actions in campaigns alongside formations such as the I Marine Expeditionary Force and XVIII Airborne Corps.