75th Ranger Regiment Unit Rings
The special operations light infantry
unit of the US Army, the 75th Ranger
Regiment or the Rangers, are the ones that
go where everybody else failed,
and they always lead the way.
“Rangers, lead the way” is the Regiment’s motto – and the Regiment lives up to it!
The Regiment has a rich history, and today, it’s organized in one Special Troops Battalion and three rapid-deployment spec ops battalions that are handpicked and have a wide range of specialized skills making them the #1 choice when it comes to spec ops missions, including but not limited to air assault, direct action operations, airborne, raids, exfiltration by air, infiltration, airfield seizure, besides recovery of equipment and personnel and support for GPF (general purpose forces).
The three line battalions of the 75th Ranger Regiment are always rotating, being the “Ranger Ready Force”, meaning that at any time, one of these three battalions are ready to deploy anywhere in the world. The 75th Ranger Regiment is always ready to respond to these emergencies and they are expected to be anywhere in the world within 18 hours!
The history behind today’s 75th Ranger Regimen
Even if the Rangers were an important part of the World War II and helped the Allied Forces win many victories, the end of the war seen the Rangers scattered, due to the fact that 3 regiments were killed in the war and the two remaining regiments were discharged at the end of the war.
However, today’s 75th Infantry Regiment (Rangers) was born in the fire of the Vietnam War. On the 1st of January 1969 the U.S Army Combat Arms Regimental System who included the U.S Army Rangers, reorganized them as the 75th Infantry Regiment.
To create this elite force, the best of the best were recruited from long range reconnaissance units and long range patrol companies, creating fifteen Ranger companies. These companies were independent and were attached to a Division or Brigade.
In the Vietnam War, the Rangers were used for long range reconnaissance behind enemy lines. Their mission was to collect intelligence, direct and plan air strikes, execute sniper attacks and day and night ambushes, and also to recover friendly prisoners.
The end of the ‘Nam saw the Rangers as the only ones capable of becoming an elite force of light infantry, always ready for rapid deployment. And that’s how the modern history of the battalion began.
75th Ranger Regiment Modern History
The 1st Ranger Battalion was created by General Creighton Abrams in 1974, and it was assigned lineage from the C Company 75th Infantry First Field Force Vietnam. The second Ranger Battalion came eight months later, and the 3rd Ranger Battalion and regimental headquarters in 1984.
1986 was the year when today’s 75th Ranger Regiment finally was formally created and authorized, with the reactivation of Ranger Battalions 4, 5 and 6 (previously discharged at the end of WW2). These latter battalions became the Ranger Training Brigade, parts of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command School.
The 75th Ranger Regiment was an active part in Operation Just Cause (Panama 1989), conducting two operations resulting in the capture of over 18,000 arms and 1,014 enemy prisoners of war.
The Regimental Special Troops Battalion (RSTB) was activated on 17th July 2006 as a result of the increasing change in warfare and the need of a sustainable and agile Ranger Force. RSTB is an elite force that conducts reconnaissance, sustainment intelligence, and maintenance missions. Prior to the activation of RSTB these operations were accomplished by small detachments that were assigned to the Regimental Headquarters and each of the three ranger Battalions.
Timeline of modern 75th Ranger Regiment battles and operations:
- From 12 February 1991 to 15 April 1991 the Rangers were deployed in Saudi Arabia as support for the Operation Desert Storm.
- August 1993 company B of the 3rd Ranger Battalion were deployed in Somalia to assist UN forces in Operation Restore Hope.
- October 3 1993 saw the Rangers conducting Operation Gothic Serpent resulting in the capture of two of warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid’s lieutenants.
- In 1994 the 1st and 2nd Battalions and a Company of the 3rd Battalion were deployed in Haiti for an operation that was cancelled right after it began as President Bill Clinton’s team of negotiators headed by former President Jimmy Carter persuaded General Raoul Cedras to surrender his power. However, the 1st and 2nd Battalions operated in-country until order was restored.
- November 24th 2000 saw the Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment Team 2 in Kosovo to support Task Force Falcon.
- 19th October 2001 the 3rd Ranger Battalion conducted and airborne assault in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to seize “Objective Rhino”.
- March 28th 2003 seen the 3rd Battalion in an airborne assault in the Operation Iraqi Freedom to seize “Objective Serpent”.
Modern Ranger training
In 2011 the soldiers who wanted to join the 75th Ranger Regiment had to be Airborne qualified and qualified in their Military Occupational Specialty in order to become prospective Rangers. Only if these requirements were met, the prospective would have to attend 9 weeks of basic training then either One Station Unit Training (for the infantrymen) or Advanced Individual Training. After that, the prospects would have to go to a three week prep course (the Pre-RASP). Upon completion of the Pre-RASP soldiers have to attend to RASP I for two months. The ones who successfully completed RASP I would attend the US Army Airborne School and would have to complete the Basic Airborne Course, then they would advance to a two-week pre-Ranger course (the SURT or Small Unit Ranger Tactics) then they would spend 8.5 weeks in Ranger School.
In case of soldiers who are already airborne the route to becoming a range is a bit different. First they need to go to the Ranger Assessment and Selection programs, then attend RASP1 or RASP2. After the graduation from RASP 1 or 2, the Rangers are assigned to one of the three Battalions or Regimental Headquarters or RSTB, and they can wear the famous Ranger tan beret, and the Ranger Scroll and , naturally the well known all-black uniform.
However, the training for a Ranger is never complete, all rangers having to attend various special schools and specialized training that means: combat driver qualification course, jumpmaster, pathfinder, lifesaver, language training, military free-fall, Mountain warfare, as well as many other types of courses and training.
Due to the fact that 90% of deaths from battle wounds occur before reaching a medical facility, Rangers are trained in self emergency medicine. As of a study conducted in 2011 the 75th Regiment during 2001 and 2010 has only 3% death rate as compared to 24% for the rest of the military who didn’t have Ranger Training.
The Ranger’s Creed and Motto
Being credited with almost countless campaigns from WW2 onward, the Regiment can take pride in earning six Presidential Unit Citations, nine Valorous Unit Awards and four “Meritorious Unit Commendation”.
The regimental Motto is “Sua Sponted” meaning “of their own accord” in Latin, besides the well known “Rangers, lead the way” that dates from 6 June 1944. The story is that during the Normandy Landings, under heavy fire, General Normal Cota walked towards Maj. Max Schneider (commanding officer of the 5th Ranger Battalion) asking “What outfit is this?” when someone yelled “5th Rangers” and General Cota replied “Well then, God damn it, Rangers, lead the way!”
75th Ranger Regiment Rings
Our 75th Ranger Regiment rings are a great way to celebrate service with the Rangers.
Each ring includes the particular unit insignia, they can also be inscribed with the soldiers name, rank, even details of overseas deployments.
