Mini-ARM During Ranger Rendezvous 2009

 

Fort Benning will host Ranger Rendezvous 2009 (RR) during the first week of August.  For those USARA members who would like to attend, the Southern Region and the Board of Directors have made lodging arrangements and planned some activities for us as a group.  The focus of the mini-ARM will be on the Ranger Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Wednesday afternoon and the Ranger Regiment Change of Command Ceremony on Thursday morning, along with some social time.  We have tried to keep costs low and followed the KISS Principle.  Details follow.

 

A block of room has been set aside under the USARA name at the Doubletree Hotel Columbus, 5351 Sidney Simons Blvd., Columbus, GA 31906.  Phone number is 706-327-6868, fax number is 706-327-0041.  The hotel is located just off I-185 at Exit # 8 and the Airport Thruway, only one mile from Columbus Metropolitan Airport (CSG).

 

The rooms are blocked for Tuesday night August 4th and Wednesday night August 5th.  The room rate is the per diem rate, or $92 per night plus taxes.  For those who wish to come earlier or stay later, the hotel has agreed to extend the rate for your stay - Ask for this when you book your room.  There is a Houlihan’s Restaurant on site as well as a bar.  If enough USARA members book rooms there then USARA will contract for a meeting room on Tuesday night for a mixer and social activities.  We will either use the hotel bar and pay for our drinks as we go, or members may want to bring their own to the meeting room (if we get one).

 

To reserve a room please contact the hotel directly and ask for one of the rooms reserved for the USARA at our special rate.  Use code “CDTATK.” The room block is valid only through July 14th, after that date the rooms are released back to the hotel.  We suggest you book now, and if plans change then you can cancel later.  (Remember to cancel in advance or you may be billed for your room.)  If you have any problems at the front desk with your reservation ask for Barbara Fuller, Sales Coordinator for the Doubletree Hotel.  The web site for Doubletree Hotels is:  http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/index.do

 

The latest schedule (subject to change) for events during the Ranger Rendezvous is:

 

Monday, Aug 3   1700 hrs   Regimental Mass Tactical Jump -- Fryar DZ

Tuesday, Aug 4   0630-0800   Regimental PT -- Peden Field

                            0930-1100   State of the Regiment Brief -- Infantry Museum

                            1100-1230   Distinguished/Honorary Member of the Regt Ceremony --  Infantry Museum

                            1500-UTC:  Check In at Doubletree Hotel (USARA)

                            1800-UTC:  Doubletree Mixer and Dinner on Site (USARA)          

Wednesday Aug 5   0700-1130   Team Sports -- Peden/Engineer Fields

                            1330 (1430?)  RHOF Induction Ceremony -- Location TBD

                            1400   Boxing Finals -- Hangar 301-LAAF

                            1700-UTC   No Host Bar-B-Q -- Hangar 2491-LAAF

                            1800-Dinner at local restaurant or Houlihan’s at the Doubletree Hotel (USARA-if we decide we don’t want to attend the BBQ)

Thursday Aug 6    0830-0900   Awards Ceremony -- Infantry Museum

                               0900-0955   75th Ranger Regt Change of Command Ceremony -- Infantry Museum Parade Field

                               1000-UTC   COC Reception-- Museum Building

 

We will have a mixer on Tuesday evening to welcome those attending.  We will share some beverages and have dinner as a group.  At the mixer we will disseminate the latest information on RR activities, times and locations, and USARA plans during the RR.  We will also ask those present on Tuesday night whether they wish to attend the Wednesday evening BBQ at Lawson AAF or to dine as a group at a local restaurant, and if the latter we will solicit ideas on where members would like to go.

 

USARA will attend the Ranger Hall Of Fame (RHOF) Ceremony as a group, and the Summer USARA Uniform is appropriate: tan beret, white shirt, black trousers and shoes.  We should endeavor to be together at the other events where members are in attendance.

 

This mini-ARM is meant in no way to “compete” with our ARM in September in Las Vegas, which we strongly encourage all members to attend.  We know that some USARA members plan to attend both the RR and the ARM.  This mini-ARM is our first attempt to provide USARA representation at both events since they do not coincide.  If you have to pick one event to attend, we encourage you to choose the ARM.

 

If you will be at the RR then please join us at the Doubletree Hotel and attend the events with other USARA members who will be present.  The Board is open to your suggestions as to how we can make this mini-ARM a success.

 

On behalf of the Southern Region I wish to thank President Linc German, Executive Vice President Frank Casey, International Region Director Butch Nery, Deputy Director Southern Region Matt Bacik and Past President Jim Grimshaw for their help, ideas, advice and support.

 

RLTW!

 

Wade Lnenicka

Southern Region Director