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US Special Forces
(Click on the graphics for links to sources and additional information)
Part II - ARMY RANGERS
"Don't forget nothing." — first standing order of Maj.Robert Rogers, "Rogers Rangers," 1759.  WHO ARE THEY: The premier light infantry units of the U.S. military that constitute the 75th Ranger Regiment.
NICKNAME: "Snake-eaters." MOTTO: "Rangers lead the way." UNIFORM: Tan berets, replacing the black berets that are now worn Army-wide. ORIGIN: Regiment activated in 1969, but they can trace roots to "Rogers Rangers," the rugged frontier units led by Robert Rogers in 1756 that fought in the French and Indian War. Modern rangers have close ties to the legendary World War II infantrymen who scaled the cliffs of Normandy on D-Day. SPECIALTIES: Dropping in uninvited. Parachute drops into the heart of the action, specialized raids and ambushes, seizing airfields. They're trained for arctic, jungle, desert, and mountain operations, and are on alert to be anywhere within 18 hours' notice. GEAR: Parachutes, M-16 rifles, M-4 assault rifles, grenade-launchers, M-60 machine guns, night vision sights and goggles, motorcycles, modified Land Rovers. EXTREME TRAINING: Trainees are blindfolded and forced to walk off the end of a 10-foot diving platform into a pool, where they have to remove the blindfolds underwater and swim to safety without losing any equipment. WORKING GROUPS: They can participate in Normandy-like parachute drops en masse, or work on clandestine reconnaissance missions of just a handful of men. EXPERIENCE: Vietnam 1969-72; part of Iranian hostage rescue mission in 1980; conflicts in Grenada, 1983; Panama,1989; Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991; and ill-fated 1983 mission to capture a warlord in Somalia that left 18 dead and 84 wounded in an ambush. HOME BASES: Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. HOLLYWOOD'S VERSION: "Saving Private Ryan," 1998; "Darby's Rangers," 1958; "Black Hawk Down," to be released in 2002. BOOKS: "Airborne Rangers," by Allen M. and Freida W. Landau, 1992; "Black Hawk Down," by Mark Bowden, 1999; "U.S. Army Rangers and LRRP Units," by Gordon L. Rottman, 1987; "Raiders or Elite Infantry," by David W. Hogan Jr., 1992. — Scripps-Howard News Service. 
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The Ranger Creed Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers. Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier. Never shall I fail my comrades I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some. Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress, and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow. Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country. Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor. |
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Ranger Mission
The mission of the Ranger Regiment is to plan and conduct special military operations in support of United States policy and objectives. This mission is accomplished by strike, light infantry, and special military operations against targets, and under conditions, which require the unique capabilities of the unit. Targets for the Ranger Regiment are strategic, of significant tactical value, extremely time sensitive or of a critical nature. Operations conditions require the Ranger Regiment to be highly trained, highly deployable, flexible, and totally reliable.
The primary Ranger mission is Direct Action (DA). Ranger missions may include:
- Deep penetration raids
- Precision Ambushes
- Recovery/Rescue Operations (Personnel and Equipment)
- Airfield Seizures
- Short Duration Reconnaissance Operations
- Demolition Missions
- Mount a US "Show of Force" World Wide
Rangers may be deployed in any type of terrain, under any type of condition. They are experts in infiltrating by land, sea or air. Surprise and shock are two of the greatest Ranger weapons. Rangers are typically limited to three day operations. Longer operations require resupply. Bottom Line: As history has proven, whenever the US is involved in a conflict, a Ranger force has and will be involved.
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Standing Orders, Roger’s Rangers
Rangers were organized in 1756 by Major Robert Rogers, a native of New Hampshire, who recruited nine companies of American colonists to fight for the British during the French and Indian War. Ranger techniques and methods were an inherent characteristic of the frontiersmen in the colonies, but Major Rogers was the first to capitalize on them and incorporate them into a permanently organized fighting force. His “Standing Orders” were written in the year 1759. Even though they are over 200 years old, they apply just as well to Ranger operations conducted on today’s battlefield as they did to the operations conducted by Rogers and his men.
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1. Don’t forget nothing.
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2. Have your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, sixty rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute’s warning.
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3. When you’re on the march, act the way you would if you was sneaking up on a deer. See the enemy first.
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4. Tell the truth about what you see and what you do. There is an Army depending on us for correct information. You can lie all you please when you tell other folks about the Rangers, but don’t never lie to a Ranger or officer.
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5. Don’t never take a chance you don’t have to.
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6. When you’re on the march we march single file, far enough apart so one shot can’t go through two men.
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7. If we strike swamps or soft ground, we spread out abreast, so it’s hard to track us.
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8. When we march, we keep moving till dark, so as to give the enemy the least possible chance at us.
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9. When we camp, half the party stays awake while the other half sleeps.
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10. If we take prisoners, we keep ‘em separate till we have had time to examine them, so they can’t cook up a story between ‘em.
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11. Don’t ever march home the same way. Take a different route so you won’t be ambushed.
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12. No matter whether we travel in big parties or little ones, each party has to keep a scout twenty yards ahead, twenty yards on each flank and twenty yards in the rear, so the main body can’t be surprised and wiped out.
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13. Every night you’ll be told where to meet if surrounded by a superior force.
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14. Don’t sit down to eat without posting sentries.
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15. Don’t sleep beyond dawn. Dawn’s when the French and Indians attack.
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16. Don’t cross a river by a regular ford.
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17. If somebody’s trailing you, make a circle, come back onto your tracks, and ambush the folks that aim to ambush you.
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18. Don’t stand up when the enemy’s coming against you. Kneel down, lie down, hide behind a tree.
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19. Let the enemy come till he’s almost close enough to touch. Then let him have it and jump out and finish him up with your hatchet.
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Murphy's Laws of Combat
Murphy was a grunt.
You are not a superman.
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If it's stupid but works, it's not stupid.
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Don't look conspicuous, it draws fire.
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When in doubt, empty your magazine.
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Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are.
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Remember: Your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
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If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush.
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No plan survives the first contact intact.
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All 5-second grenade fuses will burn out in 3.
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Try to look unimportant. The enemy may be low on ammo.
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If you are forward of your position the artillery will always fall short.
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The important things are always simple.
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The simple things are always hard.
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The easy way is always mined.
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If you are short of everything except enemy, you're in combat.
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When you have secured an objective, don't forget to let the enemy know about it.
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Incoming fire has the right of way.
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If the enemy is in range, SO ARE YOU.
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No combat ready unit ever passed inspection.
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Beer math: two beers times 37 men equal 49 cases.
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Body count math: two guerillas plus one portable plus two pigs equal 37 enemy KIA.
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Things that must be together to work usually can't be shipped together.
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Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately.
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Anything you do can get you shot, including doing nothing.
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Tracers work both ways.
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The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
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Make it tough for the enemy to get in and you can't get out.
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If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share of objectives to take.
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When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose, they are both right.
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