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Posted on The Arms Guide: 3rd Ranger Battalion & The Big Four

by · January 23, 2013 · Posted In: USASOC
Markmanphip
Growing up in 3rd Ranger Battalion, the Big Four were constantly stressed and evaluated throughout all phases of training. These skills were how the Regiment plied their trade and were the backbone of the unit’s training and mission execution.

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If you couldn’t keep up physically you got smoked until you thought your eyes were going to bleed and then you were released for standards (RFS, AKA sent to the needs of the Army).

If you couldn’t form up with your team in a stack and clear a room properly, conduct battle drill 1A, or any of the other six battle drills without causing harm to yourself or another member of your team, no one would trust you and didn’t make it in Battalion.

If you couldn’t patch-up a buddy by properly applying a tourniquet, throw in a nasal cannula, or dress a wound with an Israeli bandage, then how were you ever going to save your ranger buddy’s life on the battlefield? What if you couldn’t shoot an E-type five meters to your front?

How can expert marksmanship take the pressure off the ability to perform infantry battle drills?

Read the rest here at TheArmsGuide.com.

About The Author

I served in 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment from 2003-2008. Almost four years of the time spent in 3/75 was spent in the sniper section. I am a graduate of US Army Airborne School, US Army Ranger School, US Army Sniper School, Special Forces Sniper Course, and the US Marine Corps Summer Mountain Scout Sniper Course. I have competed in the US Army International Sniper Competition as well as the US Army Small Arms Championships on three separate occasions. I currently live in Corvallis, Oregon and hold a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Oregon State University.
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Reaper375
Reaper375 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Awesome job Burkhart!

StormR
StormR like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

I've found the whole 'hearts and minds' thing a bit confusing - and I'm a civilian.  It seems like there are two completely different mission and warriors are expected to conduct both of them - at the same time - in the same place.  I understand that this is a war where the enemy is hard to distinguish from the population (unless they are shooting at you, of course), and I understand the intent of trying to make friends of the populace so as to deny the enemy a foothold in that town/village.  But in practical terms, how does one make friends or present a friendly image when one can't let their guard down for a moment?  

isaiahzb
isaiahzb like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 6 Like

 @StormR You bring up a valid point. It is very difficult to "make friends" with the local populace when you can't let your guard down. There is a reason the 75th Ranger Regiment has lost so few soldiers compared to the number of missions that have been run. We weren't there to make friends and we NEVER let our guard down. But, that wasn't our mission.

StormR
StormR like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @isaiahzb I'm not very familiar with Rangers, although I'm learning quite a bit from SOFREP.   My nephew did 3 deployments (Stryker).  We occasionally mailed toys for him to hand out.  I found it impossible to imagine the contradictions of his life between active combat, the ROE's and handing out toys.  Maintaining a level of constant alertness requires a strength of will that is far past what I'm capable of.  I'm the little old lady that stops in the middle of a sentence to say, "oh look..there's a squirrel."

375DOC
375DOC like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 7 Like

shooter first.  All the medical skills in the world won't win a war.  Placing your enemy in the ground will. 

 

Txazz
Txazz like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

I've enjoyed finding out more about the Rangers and have had some great articles at REP.  Now, we have one by you, IB and appreciate it.  You caused me to visualize what goes down on the battlefield and I have high regard for the Rangers.  Thank you.

Txazz
Txazz

To clarify a bit I was thinking of one of the REP 'related articles' which was about training with live animals  It is rare to be able to combine the two skills of combat and medical in the extreme.  Truly amazing.