Army Rangers Under Investigation For Firing Blanks Near Partying Civilians on Crab Island, Florida

Welcome to Florida, Where Even the War Games Are Unscheduled

On May 16, 2025, America’s favorite booze-fueled sandbar, Crab Island, went from Spring Break serenity to full-blown chaos when a group of Army Rangers allegedly turned it into an unauthorized live-action war movie—minus the bullets, but with all the panic.

Eighteen soldiers from the 6th Ranger Training Battalion (who are NOT part of the 75th Ranger Regiment), fresh off a sanctioned mock sea battle from the nearby Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, apparently got a little too into character. According to witness reports and video circulating faster than a TikTok conspiracy theory, these uniformed adrenaline junkies were spotted unloading blank rounds from automatic rifles while floating among civilians on small boats.

Yes, blanks. No actual projectiles. But let’s be real, the vast majority of civilians can’t tell the difference between the sound of blanks and the real deal. Watch for yourself below. The shooting begins at about 7 seconds in. Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot!

🇺🇸RANGERS GONE ROGUE: SOLDIERS FIRE BLANKS AT CROWDED FLORIDA BEACH

Nearly two dozen Army Rangers have been suspended after turning a pirate festival into a panic zone.

18 soldiers from the 6th Ranger Training Battalion reportedly fired rounds of blanks at a packed Crab Island… pic.twitter.com/Q7PM9Aq83O

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 23, 2025

Blanks, Boats, and a Baffled Public

The Ranger battalion, based out of Eglin Air Force Base, had participated in an approved event miles away at Fort Walton Beach, where their pretend war antics had the blessing of city officials and festival organizers. That gig came with all the trimmings: permits, public alerts, and safety protocols. They were good to go on that one. 

Crab Island, on the other hand, is a different deal. It was supposed to be just boats, beers, and bikinis.

Instead, beachgoers were treated to a surprise performance of Apocalypse Now: Panhandle Edition. Witnesses described a scene of sheer panic—people diving off boats, grabbing children, and ducking for cover. I don’t see any of that in the video we have, but I’ll take their word for it. 

Let’s not forget we had a deadly mass shooting here in the Sunshine State mere weeks ago. Residents are a bit gun-shy. Your’s truly and the Loadout Room‘s own Garfield were treated to the sound of small arms fire a couple of streets down while staying in our safe house in Ybor City during the recent SOF Week festivities. You get used to the sound of gunfire down here, but you never really get completely comfortable with it unless you are the one behind the trigger. 

More than one Crab Island local mistook the spectacle for an active shooter situation, which is totally understandable given recent events. 

Multiple 911 calls were made. And while no injuries were reported, the collective blood pressure of Crab Island surely spiked harder than a can of Four Loko in a microwave.

Army Accountability… Sort Of

In response to what we’ll diplomatically call “a catastrophic lapse in judgment” (less diplomatically, I’ll call it what it is…stupid, stupid, stupid), the Army suspended all 18 soldiers involved. These men—allegedly wearing clearly visible diamond-shaped Ranger insignias (and tabs if they were Ranger qualified) —have been sidelined from training duties, specifically the swamp phase of the elite Ranger School, until the investigation wraps up.

Army spokespeople were quick to call the situation “unacceptable” and promised to ensure accountability. That’s Pentagon-speak for: “We’re really hoping this doesn’t blow up into a congressional hearing.” I doubt it will, but somebody’s gonna get a good butt chewing. 

The Real Fallout: Trust, Trauma, and Timing

In a time when American trust in its institutions is eroding faster than the polar ice caps, the image of elite soldiers pulling a Hollywood war scene for laughs doesn’t help. We count on our Rangers to be disciplined, not the drunken leads of a rejected Call of Duty sequel.

The public reaction was swift and scathing. Some questioned whether the military’s culture is increasingly detached from civilian realities. Others—especially veterans—expressed a mix of disbelief and anger that elite troops would jeopardize public safety and the hard-earned respect of the uniform. I make no excuse for these guys, most of whom are in their early to mid-20s and overflowing with testosterone. Maybe the sun fried their brains just a little bit. If you’ve ever been around Rangers, and I’ve been around more then a few, you know they tend to skew on the cocky side. Nothing wrong with that. But firing off a few bursts of blanks to impress bikini-clad locals, yes, soldier, that’s crossing the line, and you know it. 

Again, to be clear: these men weren’t shooting real bullets. But when the line between simulation and recklessness gets this blurry, it’s not just a PR problem—it’s a leadership one.

Final Salvo

Billy Bowlegs weekend has long been a staple of weird and wonderful Floridian tradition. Pirates, parades, and a healthy dose of Gulf Coast eccentricity. But this year, the only thing louder than the fireworks was the crack of blanks echoing over a crowd that never asked to be part of a show.

If you’re a soldier—especially a Ranger—you carry not only a weapon, but a responsibility. That responsibility doesn’t get to take a boat ride to party island, sip a cold one, and play pretend combat for laughs.

-RLTW