Lightning Strikes 44 Soldiers and Instructors at Army Ranger School

Military dot com ^ | Aug 13, 2015 | Matthew Cox

[LeoWindhorse]

Forty students and four Ranger instructors in the swamp phase of Ranger School were struck by lightning Wednesday afternoon.

All 44 were evacuated to a local hospital, but many were discharged, according to a press release from Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade. Eleven soldiers remained hospitalized Thursday evening, according to a news report.

“At the time of the incident, they were conducting lightning-protection protocols when lightning struck nearby,” the release states.

[IYAS9YAS]

Yes, one of my cousins was killed by a lightning strike on a clear blue day. He was in basic training, had been digging ditches, and was on the way back to the barracks.

I've heard reports of lightning striking more than ten miles from the cell.

[red-dawg]

All 44 were evacuated to a local hospital, but many were discharged..

They ALL had to get discharged.

[Boogieman]

“At the time of the incident, they were conducting lightning-protection protocols when lightning struck nearby,”

---

Well, it looks like those protocols could use a little work, eh?

[Boogieman]

“FL leads the nation in lightning deaths...”

I’m not surprised. Seems if it is anything weird or unusual, Florida is in the lead.

[FreedomPoster]

Nothing like what is around Eglin. Not really a real swamp of any size.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

No, ‘I Was There’ statement from Brian Williams? *SMIRK*

[RegulatorCountry]

A lot of thunderstorms and a lot of people outdoors, especially golfers.

[yarddog]

The last month or so has been rough at Eglin. Two special ops airmen were killed in a training accident only a few weeks ago.

I think 11 were killed just a few months ago. There are a lot of special ops training going on at Eglin and Hurlburt which is actually located on Eglin.

[smokingfrog]

No. You’re supposed to do what they call the Lightning Crouch.

[Gaffer]

Please go back and read what I actually wrote.

Do you know why not to lay down vs. crouch in a small footprint and profile?

[Boogieman]

Ah yeah, the golfers. Hadn’t thought about that but it makes sense.

[Yosemitest]

Camp Rudder on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 04, 2015.

I've got over 5 years in the Eglin AFB Control Tower and Duke Field Tower.
I've seen lightening do very strange thinks there.
Ive seen lightening strike the ground within 50 feet of very tall pine trees, where normally it would have struck the pine tree.
I've seen lightening strike the runway and blow holes in the runway, blowing out chances of concrete.

[driftdiver]

It usually strikes the ground or close to it. ;)

[eartrumpet]

While doing some training in Fort Gordon we were told a certain tree was our rally point in case of lightning. I thought, “That’s kind of stupid as tall trees are more vulnerable.”

I’d rather we all moved into one of the gullies.

You would get in the way of the flash flooding training group there.

[sauropod]

Prayers up for the soldiers.

[wrench]

“Do you know why not to lay down vs. crouch in a small footprint and profile?”

Step voltage?

I, myself, have been hit 3 times. Either I am doing something right, or very wrong. Still trying to figure this lightening thing out.

[LegendHasIt]

Golly, you beat me by ten seconds!
GMTA!

[Gaffer]

I you are lying down on the ground fully extended you risk the potential that the voltage (extremely high) will enter at one end and exit to the ground at the other end. That extent of body has at least some resistance and that high of a voltage differential created between the ends could generate enough current to kill you dead.

The “couch” is to present the least voltage potential difference with respect to resistance on the ground - smaller potential difference, less ultimate current.

[wrench]

Sounds like step voltage

[21twelve]

I think it was Jack Nicholas that said he wasn’t afraid of golfing in a lightening storm.

“I always carry a 1-iron. Even God can’t hit a 1-iron.”