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The Ranger Training Brigade's mission is to conduct the Ranger, Long Range Surveillance Leader and Infantry Leader courses and to develop the leadership skills, confidence and competence of students by requiring them to perform effectively as small unit leaders in tactically realistic environments. The scope of the Ranger Training Brigade's mission extends not only to U. S. Army personnel but also to other services, international soldiers and to government agencies involved in counter-narcotics operations such as the Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Interior, U. S. Customs Service and others.
The Ranger course is designed to further develop leaders who are physically and mentally tough and self-disciplined and challenges them to think, act and react effectively in stress approaching that found in combat. The course is over nine weeks in duration and divided into four phases: Benning phase, Fort Benning, Georgia; Desert phase, Fort Bliss, Texas (closed); Mountain phase, Dahlonega, Georgia; and Swamp phase, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The Infantry Leader Course is designed to prepare company level infantry leaders to lead and train their units in critical skills and selected mission essential task list tasks. The Long Range Surveillance Leader course is designed to train long range surveillance leaders to better prepare them for the training and tactical leadership of their units/teams.
Reprinted with permission from the Ranger Training Brigade.
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Ranger training at Fort Benning, Georgia, began in September of 1950 with the formation and training of 17 Airborne Ranger companies during the Korean War by the Ranger Training Command. In October, 1951, the Commandant of the United States Army Infantry School established the Ranger Department and extended Ranger training to all combat units in the Army. The first Ranger class for individual candidates graduated on 1 March, 1952. On 1 November, 1987, the Ranger Department reorganized into the Ranger Training Brigade, and established four Ranger Training Battalions.
