Daily Ranger

THE DAILY RANGER
Or
WHAT I DID FOR FUN AFTER COMMISSIONING
by
2LT FRANCIS Q. HOANG
RANGER CLASS 9-95

THE DAILY RANGER
Dedicated to
USMA Class of J 995,
whose support and encouragement made all the difference,
and John Brennan,
the best Buddy a Ranger could ask for
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Pre-Ranger
Ranger Assessment Phase
Darby Phase
Mountain Phase
Florida Phase
Appendix A: r..1RE Recipes
Appendix B: f.1RE Contents
Appendix C: Supply List
Appendix D: Glossary
Copyright © 1995, by Francis Q. Hoang
Permission to copy this material for non-commercial distribution is given.
The Long Gray Line © 1989 by Rick Atkinson

INTRODUCTION
This journal traces the experiences of a newly commissioned Second
Lieutenant experiencing Ranger School in the summer of 1995, merely a week
after Graduation and before OBC. Iwrote it out of a desire to help future .
Ranger Students and as a way of repaying fellow Lieutenants for their support
and encouragement during the toughest two months of my life.
Ranger School is the Army's most difficult course. "The Ranger Course
develops the leadership skills of selected officers and enlisted men by requiring
them to perform effectively as small unit leaders in a tactically realistic
environment, under mental and physical stress approaching that found in
combat ... Fatigue, hunger, the necessity for quick, sound decisions, and the
requirement for demonstrating calm forceful leadership under conditions of
mental and emotional stress are all contained in he Ranger Course. The
physical condition of the Ranger student at times approaches exhaustion."
Graduates are awarded the Ranger Tab, also known as the "Coveted Black and
Gold."
This journal is part guidebook and part storybook. To fight off sleep and
pass time, I kept a journal during Ranger School. In this journal, I kept records
of major events, do's and don'ts, as well as memorable moments. From these
records. Iwrote this journal.
For all Ranger Students-to-be reading this, I hope you find something that
will help you as you undertake a unique challenge. I do not claim to have the
answers or the approved solution ... the notes I wrote were merely what I found
worked for me as I struggled to pass each phase and earn the Tab. Every leader
is different; every situation is unique. My solutions may not be the best ones or
appropriate for everyone. Take from this journal what you want.
Ranger School has a way of making each person face their individual
weaknesses -- whatever they may be. For those who have the desire and the
determination, Ranger School provides the opportunity to learn about one's
limits, character, and leadership abilities. The most important thing about
Ranger School is not the Tab, but earning the right to wear it. Good Luck.

PRE RANGER TRAINING
MAJOR EVENTS
None.
COMMENTS
MAJ Goudreau, the Military Police Branch Rep at USMA, notified me that I
had a Ranger School slot on May 11, 1995. I had approximately one month
until Ranger School started, minus Graduation Week, which gave me about
three weeks to prepare. I would not be able to attend Zero Week since it started
the day after Graduation.
My training consisted of little more than cramming as much running, road
marching, swimming, and common task training as I could in three weeks. By
the end of the three weeks, I had run 50 miles, road marched 75 miles, and
spent nearly 10 hours in the pool. My common task training consisted of
scrounging the required weapons and equipment and spending countless hours
with FM's learning fundamentals.
Journal Entry, 10 May 1995 (R-Day -33)
I found out today that I can have a slot for Ranger School this summer.
Yippee! The only catch is it starts 12 June, just a little over a month away.
Well, good training is good training -- I can't pass up this opportunity. I took
the slot.
John Brennan, myoid Ranger Buddy from the 'Ner, has taken on the role
of my trainer. It seems that preparing me for Ranger school is a class project ...
I have people coming out of the woodwork offering to help me. I'll need it.
I went for a 5 mile run today in 36:30. That meets the Ranger Standard
but I'll have to speed it up. I weighed myself in at 143 pounds -- I'll have to
put on some more pounds, too, before Ranger School begins. I got 7 hours of
sleep tonight. Thank goodness ... I needed it. I ate 4 meals.
Journal Entry, 12 May 1995 (R-Day -31)
I woke up at 0520 and went for a little swim. Boy, did I look pitiful. I had
a hard enough time getting from one side of the pool to the other. Bobbing and
traveling made me look like an extra off the set of Baywatch -- one of the
extras whom the lifeguards save. I'll definitely need more pool time. The
Ranger Swim Test consists of a 15m swim with equipment, a 10m drop and
swim, and equipment removal. I've done it all before in Rock Swimming, so
it's just a matter of training myself up to the standard again. No problem.
This afternoon I went for a little run up the ski slope where John reviewed
Land Nav basics. I started reading through FM 7-70. I got 6 hours of sleep
tonight and ate 5 meals.

RANGER ASSESSMENT PHASE DAY 1 12
JUN 95
Meals: 1 Ran 2 miles
MAJOR EVENTS
 Inprocessed at 0700. I arrived in my own POV, parked it in a lot, and took' my
bags to Camp Rogers. I joined a formation of Ranger Students who were waiting
to be picked up by Ranger Instructors (Rl's), .
 APFf. After the RI's picked us up, we took the Army Physical Fitness Test. The RI's
took those who failed immediately to Gulag.
 Combat Water Survival Test (CWST). We bused to a pool, where a bunch of
yelling and screaming RI's led us through the CWST. The first event was a 15
meter swim in BDU's with boots, rifle, and an LCE (wI empty mag pouches and
filled canteens). We had to swim the distance without showing undue fear and
the rifle could be carried beneath the surface. The second event was to Jump off
a 10 meter board with equipment (same as above), recover any lost equipment
and swim to the side. The RI's took our BDU caps and placed them backwards on
our heads with earflaps down to blindfold us. The final event was to jump into
the pool, drop rifle and LBE, and surface. The equipment was attached to me by
a line so I didn't have to recover it. After each event, we had to report to an RI
and recite a memorized phrase -- any mistakes resulted in pushups, sit-ups,
flutterkicks, etc.
 Unpacking. We then returned to Camp Rogers, where we held a mass formation,
dumped all our belongings and repacked them. Mistakes and failure to follow
the RI's instructions resulted in mass punishment. Thus, this process took several
hours before we moved into barracks. We spent the rest of the day and night
standing around (literally) or being smoked.
COMMENTS
• Show up with your head completely shaved. Even high and tights are considered
too long.
• Report in as early as you can. If possible, attend Zero Week -- you'll get the PT
Test out of the way, familiarize yourself on the Land Nav course, and see the five
mile course. If you can't attend Zero Week, report as early as possible on the
report date. You won't wait around as long.
• Do pushups and sit-ups in perfect form. The RI's care about quality, not quantity
or speed. They will stop you when reach the minimum, so concentrate on doing
them right, not fast. If you start off blazing off reps, the RI's won't count them.
• Don't run all out on the 2 mile. You just have to pass and you won't impress
anyone by your speed. Don't waste energy that you will need later.
• On the CWST, wear jungle books, black dress socks, and summer BDU's. This will
make you much lighter in the water.

JUN 95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 1 hr 30 min Ran 6 miles
MAJOR EVENTS
 Five mile 11m. We woke up bright and early for this. We ran in companies and
stayed on our pace of 8 min/mile +/- 15 seconds. The course was somewhat hilly
and took a number of turns.
 CIF. In the middle of the morning, we ran in BDUs 1 mile down the road to the
CIF Building. After picking up our TA-50 we marched back to Camp Rogers.
 Inoculation. At the medical building, we received massive shots in the butt.
 Land Nav classes. The Rl' s led us through some basic Land Nav classes, with a
strong emphasis on the peculiarities of the terrain and roads in this area.
 CQC. In the evening, we endured 3 hours of Hand to Hand in the CQC Pit.
COMMENTS
• To avoid unnecessary attention, be loud when talking to Rl's, don't highlight
yourself in any way, and avoid eye contact with the RI' sunless they are talking to
you. Staring down an RI is a good way to get "special treatment. "
• Drink lots of water and be sure to eat the salt out of your MREs. Dehydration is
not a pleasant experience.
• Whenever given the opportunity to do anything (get water, eat, repack, use the
latrine), take advantage of it, even if you don't think you need to. You don't
know when the next opportunity will arise.
• The shot will make you butt sore for a while. Rubbing helps, but be prepared for
a lot of standing up.
• Bring all your necessary paperwork (to include 10 copies of orders). It will save
you a lot of hassle. Double-check your orders before arriving to insure you have
all the correct forms.

JUN 95
Meals: 1 Sleep: 1 hr Marched 3 miles
MAJOR EVENTS
 Land Navigation Test. We woke up at Oh-Dark Thirty for a combination day/night
test that required us to find 5 out of 6 points in 4 112 hours. The points are
marked by orange and white markers and most have trails leading to and from
them.
 Ranger Demonstration. We then marched out to Victory Pound where the RI's
gave us a demonstration of Ranger skills ranging from CQC to rappelling to
demolitions. Pretty Cool.
 Water Confidence Test (WCT). After the Ranger Demo, we took the WCT. The
first event was the Beam Walk -- a flattened log 35 feet above the water that
shakes from side to side even when you're not walking. At the end of the beam
walk, Iclimbed out onto a rope hanging above the water. On an RI's signal, I took
a nice 35 foot (it seemed like 80 foot) rope drop into Victory Pond. After climbing
out, I worked my way up an 80 foot tower for the suspension traverse -- Islid
down a line strung across the pond using a pulley, letting go when an RI signaled
me with two flags.
 CQC. After marching back to Camp Rogers, we had another 3 hours of Hand to
Hand in the CQC Pit.
COMMENTS
• On the Land Nav course, use the roads, but keep a pace count. There are a lot of
roads on the course that are not on the map and it's easy to take a wrong turn.
Make sure that the turn you take is the one you want by checking your pace.
• On the Beam Walk, the log will shake quite a bit. Go first, if possible.
• On the Rope Drop, pop off when speaking to the RI's -- they won't keep you up
as long.
• If you graduated from West Point, then make sure you know the "Definition of
Leather" before you go -- RI' s know that you are supposed to know it and will
ask you recite it at the most awkward times.
• In the CQC pit, the RI' s will have you run around the edge of the pit at times. To
avoid being the target of unnecessary attention, pop off as you run, run with a
partner, and stay in the middle of the pack.
• If you go in the summer, the sun may bum your newly shaved scalp. Bring
sunblock.
• Mornings are very rushed. If your feet need it, moleskin before you go to bed
each night.

RANGER ASSESSMENT PHASE DAY 4 15 JUN
95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 2 hr Ran 3 miles
MAJOR EVENTS
 Land Navigation Retest. For those lucky enough, there was a second chance to
excel on the Land Nav course this morning. While everyone else got a little extra
sleep and a hot meal, I went and proved my worth on the Land Nav course. The
retest was held on the same course, but I was assigned a different lane.
 Ranger Stakes. In the vicinity of the Land Nav course, we went through Ranger
Stakes -- a series of GOINO GO tests on 12 different tasks that we were
supposedly qualified on before arriving at Ranger School. The RI's told us we had
to get a GO on at least 8. We had two chances at getting a GO for each task.
Ranger Stakes took most of the morning and afternoon.
 Malvesti Smoke Session. Although not an official training event, Ithought this
was significant enough to mention. Right after dinnertime (not that we had
much time to eat dinner), the RI's took us out to Malvesti Field and smoked us
for I 1/2 hours. We did several hundred pushups, fiutterkicks, mountain-climbers
and jumping jacks.
 Malvesti Run. Immediately following the above smoke session, we went on the
Malvesti Run -- a 3 mile run at a 7:00-7:30 minute/mile pace.
 Malvesti Obstacle Course. Once we finished the run, we broke up into squads
and went through the Malvesti Obstacle Course. This consisted of a pull-up bar
(we had to do 6), followed by the Worm Pit -- a long trough filled with mud that
was covered by barb wire. There was just enough room to get on our faces and
crawl through it -- if anyone poked their head up, they probably got a nasty cut
from the wire. After the Worm Pit, we had to traverse a series of monkey bars
hanging over a deeper mud pit -- all the more difficult since you and the bars are
covered in mud. Following the bars, we had to climb up a tall wooden ladder
with rungs just far enough that we had to let go of one rung to reach for the next
one -- again, everything on this tall obstacle was coated with mud. The final
obstacle called us to climb up a cargo net and then slide down a rope hand over
hand. We then returned to the barracks and were washed off with fire hoses.
COMMENTS
• There is some really wicked vegetation around Benning. When on the Land Nav
course, try to use deer trails or trails made by your fellow Rangers, rather than
breaking through brush yourself. It'll save you a lot of grief.
• Bring Neosporin for your cuts and Lanolin for your hands. They will take a
beating.
• You don't gel nearly as hungry if you snack throughout the day, rather than
eating your entire MRE at once.

95
Meals: 2 Sleep: Ihr Moved 12 miles
MAJOR EVENTS
 Forced Road March. We woke up very early, for a 12 mile forced road march at
15 minute/mile (all on asphalt roads), with 45 pound rucksacks. There were short
waterbreaks at the 2, 4, and 8 mile marks. Anyone who ran or fell more than an
armslength behind the man in front of them was sent to the rear of the platoon
formation. If one ran or fell more than an armslength behind the formation, the
Rl's told the person they were a fallout.
 Warning Order/OPORD Classes. After a hot breakfast, went to an outdoors
classroom where we all proceeded to fall asleep during classes on Troop Leading
Procedures, Warning Orders, and OPORDs.
 CQC. That night, we had our last session of hand to hand fighting. We proceeded
to kick, punch, and throw even though almost everyone looked and felt like a
zombie.
COMMENTS
• Get as close to the front of the formation as possible for the road march. The
closer you are to the front, the more consistent the pace will be because the
back suffers from the "accordion" affect as people drop out.
• Never run on the road march, just learn to really step off and take large steps.
• Move out and yell in the CQC pit to keep the Rl's off you. Also, put some pep in
your punches and kicks to your partner, otherwise an RI will come and show you
(using your body as an example), how to really kick and punch.
• Rl's seem to like it when you are loud and motivated when you talk to them
-- pretend you're a plebe again.

95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 2 hr, 30 min
MAJOR EVENTS
 Demo Class. We did a short march to a training area where we received training
on demolitions and were taught how to build a marking charge. Each buddy
team then buill and designated a small charge.
 Squad Combat Technique Classes. We spent the rest of the day in classes on .
Squad Movement, Squad Battle Drills, Departing/Reentering Forward Friendly
Lines, and Crossing Danger Areas.
 Airborne Prep. That night, Airborne Personnel were issued Airborne Equipment
and went through basic prep for the next day's jump.
 Squad Assignments. We were assigned to our squads for the Darby Phase of
training and set about packing our gear and cleaning the barracks.
COMMENTS
• Cockroaches are big at Benning. Show them the proper respect. Also, don't leave
open food out or you will find insect friends where you don't want them.
• Being a Leg is actually better than being Airborne Qualified at Ranger School. You
don't have to risk getting injured on a jump and while the Airborne Rangers
jump, you pull Landing Zone Security (read: rack).
• Don't lose equipment. Losing equipment is a quick and easy way to draw
attention and to get spot reports. Keep accountability of everything and don't let
anything (including your Ranger Handbook), get more than an armslength from
you unless a guard has been posted.

DARBY PHASE DAY 1 (7) 18 JUN
95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 3 hr
MAJOR EVENTS
 Airborne Drop. All the Airborne qualified personnel loaded onto C-130s and
jumped out of a perfectly good plane. No injuries, although we did have one
mid-air collision.
 Landing Zone Security. All the "dirty, nasty legs" pulled Landing Zone security.
Basically, the legs waited for hours until all the Airborne Ranger students hit the
ground and found their company. (Translation: rack).
 Movement to Darby. After companies reformed, everyone loaded onto cattle
trucks (normal capacity: 20, Ranger capacity: 50+), and trucked 14 miles to Camp
Darby. Consisting of little more than small shacks and some Quonset huts, Darby
marked the beginning of our patrol training.
 Classes: Squad Recon. Upon arriving at Camp Darby, we broke into companies
and received our first block of instruction on how to conduct Squad Recons.
COMMENTS
• A lot of raspberries can be found around Darby -- however, if an RI catches you
eating one, you could get an SOR.

DARBY PHASE DAY 2 (8) 19 JUN 95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 4 hr Marched 3500m
MAJOR EVENTS
• RI Led Squad Patrol. We split up into squads, and each squad went to its own
"Squad Bay" -- a wooden shack that served as the planning area for each squad.
An RI went to each squad and walked it through the planning bay process. We
received the warning order, conducted inspection, planned, received the
OPORD, and did all our checks before moving out. The RI led my squad on a short
recon patrol that went through a small swamp. We started planning early in the
morning and didn't return from our patrol until midnight. During this phase, we
slept in the open outside the company shack at Camp Darby.
COMMENTS
• Know what to do if you get lost ("The Lost Ranger Policy") and use it if you get
separated .
• Have everyone set their alarms to get up in the morning. Don't rely on fireguards
or one individual to wake everyone up.
"Hey, where did everyone go?"
"Where the hell did everyone go?" asked my fellow Ranger. We sat alone, two
confused Rangers, in the middle of the dark with no idea where the rest of our squad
was.
Moments earlier, we had been placed at the rear of our squad's position with
the M60. The squadleader for this mission, our RI, had told us to stay still and stay
awake. It was pitch black -- we couldn't see our hands if we put them in front of our
faces. The RI had gone off to search for the passage point back to Camp. Meanwhile, my
fellow Ranger and I waited.
Suddenly, we heard movement, however no one said anything. Normally, when
our squad moves, someone whispers, "Moving" or our squadleader came back to tell us
that we were moving out. After several minutes, we realized that the squad had moved
out.
"We should follow them," my fellow Ranger said.
"Do you know which way they went?" I asked.
"Not exactly," he replied. The squad was headed towards the passage point-
- the location of which we did not know.
"Well, it's probably better if we stay put. They'll realize that we're not with them
soon enough and come back for us." Soon enough, our RI returned, the illumination
tape on his walking stick moving like a firefly through the woods. He was not a happy
man. Soon, we rejoined our squad.
We both received a Major Minus.

MAJOR EVENTS
• Student Led Squad Patrol (Nongraded). A nongraded opportunity for students to
practice their patrolling skills. A real mess.
COMMENTS

95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 4 hr 30 min Marched 5000m
MAJOR EVENTS
• Student Led Squad Patrol (Graded). This was the first day of graded squad
patrols. All of the patrols for the next three days were squad recons. The RI's
assigned the M-60 Gunner, AG, and RTO to make sure the positions were rotated
among squad members. After every patrol, the RI assigned to our squad (who as
different every day), counseled the student leader on how they had performed
COMMENTS
• Do what you're told.
• Dealing with food is all mental-- you really don't need as much food as you think,
you aren't really as hungry as you feel, and the less you think about it, the better
you are. Be hard.
• Don't eat your entire fvfRE at once. Divide it up and eat it throughout the day.
You'11 have more energy and be less hungry.
• When you do eat, take small bites and drink lots of water with each bite. This will
make you feel more full and help you hydrate.
• Eat the salt. It helps keeps your body's chemistry in sync and will help you stay
hydrated.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Student Led Squad Patrol (Graded). This was the second day of graded squad
patrols.
COMMENTS
• When a leader, lead. When a follower, follow.
• Be decisive as a leader.
• Dealing with sleep is also mental. You are not as tired as you feel, but are
probably more tired than you think. Tell yourself it's no big deal. You are as tired
and hungry as you think you are.
• One way of dealing with sleep and food deprivation is to detach yourself and
look at it as merely an "interesting" experience. Keep a good sense of humor
about it.
Sleepwalking
Ranger students live, breath, and sleep Ranger School. Even asleep, students
sometimes acted in strange ways. More than once, students wandered off, only to wake
up later wondering where they had been or what they had done.
While asleep in the barracks one night, two of my fellow Rangers climbed out of
their bunks and staggered to their lockers. Somehow, they managed to open their
ockers, get dressed, and were in the process of putting on their LBE when they
suddenly woke up. They looked at each other, looked at their watches, and wondered
how they had gotten dressed.
Another of my classmates was at a friend's house during an eight hour break
when he fell asleep on the sofa. Suddenly, he stood up, still asleep, and started walking
around the house with one arm out, holding an imaginary compass. He "took point"
around his friend's home for a few minutes before waking up.
I had my own share of antics. One night, my Ranger Buddy came to wake me up
for my guard shift, but I wasn't in my bed. He looked around the barracks and finally
found me asleep in another bed on the other side of the bay. He shook me awake and
told me to get back to my bunk and prepare for my shift. He returned to his bunk and
waited for me. When I didn't show up, he went looking for me once again. He found me
stumbling around on the other side of the barracks, going from locker to locker trying
each one. I was no where near where my locker was. Shaking his head, he put me back
in my bed.
I don't remember any of this. Even when he told me the next morning, all I
recalled was a pleasant night's sleep.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
 Student Led Patrol (Graded). This was the third day of graded squad patrols.
COMMENTS
• Keep your cool.
My First GO
We sat in woodline next to the PZ. Off in the distance we could hear Blackhawks
approaching. My squad was tired, but it was the final day of graded Squad Patrols. The
Rl walked up to me.
"Hoang, you're the new squadleader. Change Command before the birds arrive,"
he said. I sprung into action, doing a quick change of command and telling my
teamleaders the plan once we set down in our LZ.
The birds came down like giant black dragonflies. I led my squad as we ran to the
open door of the lead helicopter. "Go, go!" I threw my pack-down and jumped in. After
a short flight, we set down in the LZ, executing the same drill in reverse. We threw our
rucksacks out, jumped down, grabbed a pack, and ran in the direction of the Objective.
After breaking into the woodline, we moved a few hundred more meters, then
stopped for a Security Halt. Listening for sounds of enemy activity, we paused. Nothing.
We continued to move forward, skirting around the edge of a huge clearing we
encountered.
As we moved across the side of a small gully, automatic weapon fire erupted
from the trees to our left. Smoothly, my squad took cover behind trees and started
returning fire. I barked orders as quick as I could.
"Alpha team, lay down fire. Bravo team prepare to move forward, 50 meters, 12
O'clock." My squad threw multiple smoke grenades which suddenly erupted into
rainbow clouds of smoke. The M60 opened up with thunder. We moved on, breaking
contact.
Almost a kilometer later, after crossing several creeks and roads, we rounded the hill
which was our objective and stopped to recon a good ORP. As the squad waited, I took a
small group of Rangers to clear the ORP. We inched up the side of the hill which our
objective, an enemy encampment, sat on. My team cleared the ORP and we returned to
where the squad waited. The RI appointed a new squadleader.
That night, after we returned from the mission successfully, I met with the
RI.

"I can't tell you if you have a GO, but I am recommending you to go on to the
Mountains. Take that for what it's worth."

DARBY PHASE DAY 7 (13) 24
JUN 95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 5 hr 30 min
MAJOR EVENTS
 Darby Queen. Our first Saturday at Darby began with the Darby Queen -- a'
series of 26 obstacles spread over I 112 miles of hillside. It resembled every other
obstacle course in the Army, but the obstacles seemed to be on steroids.
Everything seemed just a little bigger and taller. We went through the Queen in
buddy teams and cooperation is required on certain obstacles. We ran from
obstacle to obstacle and while waiting to climb, jump, or crawl the next obstacle,
RI's yelled at us and made us do pushups, jumping jacks, and flutter kicks. Every
obstacle which a student failed to negotiate resulted in a minor spot report -- if
someone failed three obstacles, they failed the whole Darby Queen. Only two
obstacles, the Dirty Name and the Tarzan, gave students real trouble, The Dirty
Name required us to jump from one log to another one higher than the first and
just out of arms reach. A lot of people had their manhood bruised. The Tarzan
consisted of a series of monkey bars that were too big to wrap our hands
around, so we had to hook our whole hand over each rung and hope our wrists
didn't give out. The whole thing took over an hour .
 Survival Day. After a quick wash under some garden hoses, we took our gear to
the Survival Training class. RI's gave us a series of classes on traps and snaps,
edible plants and animals, survival shelters, improvised weapons, and how to
cook in the wild. The RI' s also showed us how to calm and kill chickens and
rabbits -- a class which included a live demo. At the end of the day, each squad
was given two thawed chickens, a bucket of vegetables, and ammo cans. We
cooked our own dinners and made improvised weapons -- the squad which
made the best weapon got extra chow.
COMMENTS
• On the Dirty Name, go to the right-side obstacle, and don't touch the side or the
rope until you go over the top log .
• For the Survival Day meal, boil the chicken then throw in the vegetables to make
broth. There will be more food to go around this way.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Classes: Platoon Movement and Battle Drills. This entire day consisted of classes
on platoon operations -- duties and responsibilities, ambushes, movement, etc.
First the Rl's would explain a concept, procedure, or drill. Then we would go
outside and rehearse it in platoons. Finally, we would run through the whole
thing at full speed without any RI guidance. Classes were dry -- we had Rangers
literally dropping out of their seats as they fell asleep.
COMMENTS
• To stay awake, stand up.
• Keep a journal or write lots of letters in your down time to pass the time.
• Don't let others' bad attitude infect you. Stay positive.
Droning
Ranger students use the term "droning" to describe someone who has reached a
point of exhaustion, delusion, or both. The intense physical demands of patrol operation
combined with continuous operations make it easy to "drone."
Students droned at Darby, most noticeably during classes. The warm room and
dry presentation virtually guaranteed unconsciousness within minutes. To fight off the
"Z Monster," students stood, did pushups, or came up with interesting games to stay
awake. A few members of my squad made a rule among themselves: if they saw anyone
sleeping, they were allowed to punch them as hard as they wanted. The first punch was
normally a love tap, but the following punches normally came harder and harder. One
poor fellow who couldn't stay awake no matter how many times he was hit, ended up
being almost knocked out by a KO punch from a fellow student.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Classes: Platoon Warning Order and OPORD. The last of our platoon operations
training, today we went over the process of planning a platoon mission. We once
again used the crawl, walk, run method.
COMMENTS
• If it rains, and the RI' s let you, sleep in the squad bay.
• You never know how much time you have, so establish a priority of work for
yourself. My first priority was to help my fellow Rangers. My second priority was
care of equipment: cleaning my weapon at every opportunity, filling my
canteens, checking my tiedowns, cleaning my TA-50. My next priority was
Hygiene : cleaning my cuts, changing socks and powdering feet at least once per
day, checking myself for ticks, putting lotion on my hands, brushing my teeth,
and taking a Wetwipe to my face, underarms, etc. My last priority was personal
items: writing in my journal, writing letters, eating, sleeping.
• When assuming command, make sure the equipment being handed off to you is
squared away -- especially night vision and commo.
• Whenever in a leadership position (especially PL and SL), have your compass and
map out, constantly check the pointman' s azimuth, and pinpoint your location.
• When moving in long Ranger files at night, get head and pace counts every 200
meters.

MAJOR EVENTS
• Student Led Platoon Patrol (Non-Graded). Today was the first of two days of
non-graded platoon patrols, an ambush.
COMMENTS
• When passing obstacles at night, pull a Security Halt once you've cleared it and
wait for an "up" from the rear before proceeding. A lot of break- incontacts
occur around obstacles.
• Ensure that all key leaders have commo and working night vision when moving
at night.
• RI's get lost too -- don't be afraid to disagree with them if you're the PL and you
know where you're at.
Disaster at Dawn
Darkness had already settled, and the entire platoon sat on a road when I heard
my name called out as the new Platoon Leader. A hundred thoughts races through my
mind -- this was the first night we had to move as a platoon, and I had never had to lead
a patrol at night before. Nervously, I plotted a route with my pointman and we broke
through the treeline.
We stayed on our azimuth for 1700 meters, then crossed our last trail before the
FFL. Something was wrong, though. The terrain did not match the map. We were too far
west to be on our correct azimuth. I hadn't noticed it until then and had allowed the
pointman to drift way off course. I halted the patrol.
Five minutes and several map checks later, I still couldn't pin point our location.
"He doesn't know where the hell he is," one of the RI's said out loud. The RI's told me to
take the patrol into the dry streambed up ahead and pointed out our location on a map.
I calculated the distance we had to travel before we reached our passage point.
As we headed into the streambed, the RI' s began to argue among themselves as
to where we were. My pointman's NODS suddenly went bad, though I didn't know it at
the time. Somewhere, in my confusion, we marched pass our passage point. Heading up
a hill, we crossed several rows of barb wire and scaled some steep slopes. Rangers,
scrambling up the hill in the darkness, literally clotheslined themselves against barbwire
strung at ankle, knee, chest, and neck level. Angry and bleeding Ranger students cursed
my name in tones just loud enough for me to hear.
When we finally reentered Camp, my fellow student, bleeding and exhausted,
glared at me. "Goddamn, Second Lieutenant," someone muttered.
The worst thing to do at Ranger School is to fail your fellow students.

MAJOR EVENTS
• Student Led Platoon Patrol (Non-Graded). Today was the second of two days of
non-graded platoon patrols, another ambush.
COMMENTS

MAJOR EVENTS
• Student Led Platoon Patrol (Graded). Today was the first of two days of graded
platoon patrols, an ambush. The leadership positions that the RI's evaluated
during a platoon patrol were Platoon Leader, Platoon Sergeant, 3 Squadleaders,
and Weapons Squad Leader. Squadleaders and the Weapons Squad Leader were
24 hour positions while the Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant changed once,
sometimes twice, over the course of a day.
COMMENTS
• Communication is key: use your commo gear.
• Stop for map checks when you get disoriented. Don't be afraid to get help from
fellow students. Stay oriented.
• Adjust your formation as M-TETI dictates. Night travel normally calls for a long
Ranger file.
• Handle danger areas the same way at night as you would during the day.
• For a night movement, PL should be third man from the front of the formation,
behind the pointman and paceman, while the PSG should be at the rear of the
formation with commo to pick up stragglers. Communication between_PL and
PSG is very important.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Student Led Platoon Patrol (Graded). Today was the second of two days of
graded platoon patrols, an ambush. Our last patrol at Darby.
COMMENTS
• Be motivated, be loud.
• Think ahead.
• As a leader, encourage, motivate, and inspire.
The Pig
Rangers students affectionately call the M60 Machine Gun the "Pig." It's a love-hate
relationship. Students love to fire the Pig, but hate to carry it. With the additional
ammunition and cleaning supplies, the Pig is one of the heaviest loads a student will
carry during Ranger School.
On patrol during Darby, Ihad the distinct pleasure of carrying the M60. Our RI
was a big man -- the kind of man who looked like he used concrete for chewing gum,
flossed with barb wire, ate napalm, and pissed fire. Not only was he big, but he took big
strides. To top it off, he had a special liking for artillery simulators.
Our platoon came under attack and when we didn't react fast enough, the RI
threw an artillery simulator. We heard the distinct high whistle which sounded like
incoming rounds.
"Incoming!" we yelled.
Everyone hit the dirt as the simulator exploded. "Twelve O'clock, 300 metersl"
screamed the platoon leader. Ipicked up my Pig and with AG and Ammo Bearer in tow,
took off sprinting. Several hundred meters later, myself and another M60 crew broke
into a small clearing of trees. We hunkered down, establishing a small perimeter. The
rest of the platoon came one by one, some walking.
The RI was not pleased. We knew this because he grabbed another artillery
simulator off his belt and tossed it. We ran another 300 meters. He threw another
simulator.
This cycle repeated itself for almost 2 kilometers.
I ran. I crawled. I got really upset with life, the universe, and everything. And
throughout it all, the Pig hung around my neck, cradled in my arms. Like I said, it's a
love/hale relationship. On this particular day, 1 loved to hate it.

DARBY PHASE DAY 14 (20) 1 JUL95
MAJOR EVENTS
 Equipment Cleaning. We spent the rest of the night preparing to leave Darby.
We cleaned all our weapons and equipment and turned in all the heavy weapons
and platoon items.
 Peers. Next, each squad did peer evaluations. We had to rank order all the
students in our squad from best to worst. Based upon the rankings received,
each student got a peer rating from 0-100. We had to have at least 60% or else
we were "peered." Ranger students who were "peered" were automatically
moved to another company and were more likely to be kicked out for other
deficiencies. If a student was "peered" twice, they were dropped.
 Course Critiques. After peer evaluations, we wrote AARs on Camp Darby. Most
people had illegible scrawls on their sheets -- writing was a major effort due to
exhaustion.
 Counseling. Each student was then counseled on their performance during
Darby, to include spot reports, peer ratings, and patrol competence.
 Boards. Those students in danger of being recycled or dropped were notified and
had to appear before the Ranger Company Commander for counseling and a
"board." Common causes for boards: low peers, failed patrols, failed critical
tasks, or a combination of these. They were told at the board whether they
would move on, recycle, or be dropped.
 DOGEX. Rl' s held a Dog Exercise the next morning -- they sold us sodas, hot
dogs, and dessert cakes until we were about to burst.
 Movement to Camp Rogers. We boarded buses for the movement back to
Rogers. Upon arrival, the students who weren't going on to the Mountain Phase
were moved to a separate formation.
 End of Cycle Break. After the Mountain RI' s took charge of us, they released us
for an eight hour break starting at 1600.
COMMENTS
• For your break, it is best if someone can pick you up. You waste less time and
money than getting a taxi.
• The best thing you can do during your break is do laundry, go to Ranger Joes, get
a haircut, eat, and sleep.
• When eating, be careful not to overstuff yourself. Stick to healthy, starchy foods
like pasta. You digestive system won't be able to handle sweets, junk food, or
greasy fast food and you'll get sick.

MOUNTAIN PHASE DAY 1 (21)
2JUL 95
MAJOR EVENTS
 Movement to Dahlonega. After returning from our break, we boarded buses for
Camp Merrill at Dahlonega, Georgia. The 3 112 hour ride took us to the foothills
of the Appalachian Mountains.
 Inprocessing. Once we arrived at Camp Merrill, which was mocked up to look like
a Guerrilla Camp complete with gate guards, we Inprocessed, moved into our
barracks (luxurious by Ranger standards), had our bags checked for contraband,
got a Medical Considerations Class, and received an in-brief by the Battalion
Commander. Recycles from the last class joined our companies.
 Lower Mountaineering Training. After Inprocessing, we moved down to the
"Lowers," a valley located near Camp, where we did Knot Corral and Belay Test
training. This would be the first of three days of Lowers training. The first five
days at Camp Dahlonega are called "Mountaineering" and are divided into three
days at "Lower Mountaineering" and two days at "Upper Mountaineering."
During Mountaineering, we lived in barracks, ate three meals a day (two hot
meals in a mess hall, one lvlRE), and got at least 4 hours of sleep a night. We
even had a little time to ourselves most days.
COMMENTS
• For your rucksack, buy all the padding you can (shoulder and kidney pads), put
them on and tape them down. They make your ruck more comfortable. The only
drawback is that when wet, all your pads weigh an additional 12 pounds. We
really weighed this!
• Waterproof everything.

MOUNTAIN PHASE DAY 2 (22) 3
JUL 95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Lower Mountaineering Training. This was the second day of Lowers training.
During a round-robin, we went through a number of classes. We did more
training on knots and belaying. We also performed a number of basic rappels on
a 30 foot wall and 60 foot cliff: walk, bounding, and equipment. We had classes
on fixed rope installation, Australian rappels, and rope bridges.
COMMENTS
• Watch for cellulitis -- it's an infection of the body where you basically start to rot
alive. On your hands, the first sign is when your skin peels back from your
fingernails. On your legs, the flesh becomes cold and loses its elasticity. On your
toes, your flesh becomes pus-like. Taking time for personal hygiene, wearing
gloves and knee pads, will help prevent cellulites
• Volunteer for details. Most of the time, everyone ends up doing work anyway
and you help out the chain of command when you do so.
• The key to knots is taking your time and doing it right. Dress your knots properly
and tighten every strand.
• The key to the belay test is simply not spazzing.
• Whenever you're doing hands-on training during Round Robin training,
volunteer to be on the work/demo team, even if you don't know what you're
doing. You '11learn more that way.
• RI's give out spot reports for improperly hook-ups, rappels, or safety violations,
so pay attention.
• Good posture while sitting actually helps you stay awake during classes.

MOUNTAIN PHASE DAY 3 (23) 4 JUL 95
MAJOR EVENTS
 Lower Mountaineering Training. This was the last day of Lowers training .. We
took a number of tests, performed buddy and equipment rappels on the 60 foot
cliff, and constructed A Frames. There was a lot of down time.
 Knot Test. This test consisted of correctly tying 8 out of 12 knots, each within a
certain time limit. Failure meant a retest later in the day. A second NO GO meant
automatic recycle.
 Belay Test. This test allowed the RI' s to evaluate each student's ability to
correctly react to a falling climbing while belaying. Like the knot test, two failures
meant a recycle.
 Fall Test. For this test, students had to climb up a 30 foot wall and demonstrate
the proper body position for a fall. A fellow student at the top of the wall
belayed the falling climber (not exactly reassuring).
COMMENTS
• On the knot test, learn a technique and stick to it. Many people fail because they
don't have a set technique and do something different every time they attempt
to tie a knot.
• On the fall test, just keep your arms and legs extended straight out in front of
you and you'll be fine. People get hurt when they try to stop their fall or grab the
rope.
• On the buddy rappel, lean forward since your buddy is strapped to your back. It
will help keep your buddy's weight over your center of gravity.
• Take your job as a safety seriously. Your Ranger Buddy depends on you and RI's
hand out Major Minuses for errors.
• Take time to get to know your fellow Rangers -- they are among the best and
most motivated soldiers in their unit and have a lot of experience and
knowledge.

Meals: 3 Sleep: 6 hr 30 min Marched 3 miles
MAJOR EVENTS
 Yonah Road March. We woke up early and were bused out to the base of Mount
Yonah (45 minute ride), tallest mountain in Georgia at 3800 feet. We did a 3 mile
road march up switchbacks to a spot near the top ofYonah – in 51 minutes and
with 40 pound rucks.
 Upper Mountaineering Training. After setting up GP Medium tents, we headed
out to training sites for the first of two days of "Yonah." We performed a basic
buddy climb, free climb, free and bounding rappels, as well as learned about
anchor rope installation.
 Yonah Skits. That night, each company put on a skit for the RI's. The winner got
extra chow at breakfast the next morning. We slept in the open near the top of
Yonah.
COMMENTS
• Avoid the blue lane on the basic buddy climb -- many people get a NO GO on
that lane because they can't mount the rock initially. Also avoid lanes 8 and 2 on
the free climb -- they are more difficult than the other lanes.
• Always double-check your seats and ties -- you get a Major Minus for any errors.
• The first mile of the Yonah Road March is a smoker, but once you hit the
switchbacks, it's all a gut check.
Step by Step
I didn't like road marching. I didn't like mountains. Combine the two, and you
come up with something I really despised. Like all Ranger students, I came up with my
own unique ways to overcome and service.
On the Yonah road march, I felt like my chest was a furnace and that my legs
were Jell-O. I had to do something to get my mind off the pain and misery I was in.
I thought of John Brennan and our days of training at West Point. I told myself
that I'd do the next 100 steps for him, and imagined what he would say to me if he were
walking alongside me. After those 100 steps, I thought of Stephanie. Then Paul. Then
Jeff. Then Devon. Then Paula. Then other friends. One friend and 100 steps at a time, I
made my way up Mount Yonah. When I finally crested the top, and dropped my
rucksack on the ground, I thanked God that I had a lot of good friends. They carried me
up that mountain.

Meals: 3 Sleep: 7 hr 30 min Marched 3 miles
MAJOR EVENTS
 Upper Mountaineering Training. Today was the second of two days of "Yonah."
We performed a direct aid climb (smoker), advanced buddy climb, and additional
rappels.
 Yonah Road March. We then did the Yonah Road March in reverse and came
back done the mountain -- the RI's ran us part of the way until one student
crashed, burned, and twisted his ankle.
 Weapons and Equipment Issue. Upon returning to Camp Merrill, we drew heavy
weapons and special equipment in preparation for Combat Techniques training.
 G2ITerrain Briefing. After drawing supplies, we received an intelligence and
terrain briefing concerning our upcoming combat operations in the area. We met
our combat techniques instructors that night (one set of RI' s teach combat
techniques, while another set teach mountaineering), We spent the rest of the
night prepping equipment in the barracks.
COMMENTS
• When road marching downhill, take long strides and avoid running.
• On the advanced buddy climb, lane 2 is a good choice.
• On the direct aid climb, lane 5 is best. Brace with the leg opposite the one in the
harness and make sure your buddy helps you out. You'll understand this when
you see it.

Meals: 3 Sleep: 3 hr 30 min Marched 7900 m
MAJOR EVENTS
 Class: Terrain Association. Today was the first of four days of combat technique
(also called" 15") training. We learned about the peculiarities of terrain and land
navigation in mountainous terrain.
 Pace Course. Next, we did a 900 meter pace course to determine our pace count
in various terrain.
 Terrain Walk. After the pace course, we did a 7000 meter terrain walk to
familiarize us with the terrain in which we would conduct patrols.
 Class: Air Assault and Aerial Resupply. We learned about Air Assault operations,
the procedures associated with airmobile operations and aerial resupplies.
 Class: MEDEVAC Class. Medics taught us about lvIEDEV AC and showed us the
helicopters and equipment used for extraction.
 Class: Link-Up Operations. We spent a couple of hours learning about how to
conduct a link-up during combat operations.
 SOPs. We took the rest of the night to develop Standard Operating Procedures
for our platoon. We spent the night in the barracks during 15 training.
COMMENTS
• The biggest thing which the RI' s will grade you on is your leadership ability.
There are five things they look for:
-- Take Charge. Make sound, timely decisions when required.
-- Give clear, specific instructions.
-- Supervise. Use briefbacks and spot-checks.
-- Set the example.
-- Take the initiative.

JUL 95
Meals: 3 Sleep: 4 hr Marched 1650 m
MAJOR EVENTS
• Classes: Combat Techniques. This was the second day of 15 training. We learned
and practiced how to conduct a platoon raid. Next, we broke into squads and
conducted recons under RI supervision in the woods near Camp Merrill. We
spent the rest of the day learning about patrol base operations. We spent the
evening working on SOPs.
COMMENTS
Lifeline to the Outside World
There are four things that keep a Ranger student going: graduation, food, sleep,
and mail. Of these, mail is the most important. Thoughts of graduation give you a goal to
aspire to and something to dream about, but such thoughts can also be maddening.
Food and sleep give you energy and strength, but you never got enough to feel good.
Mail, however, meant encouragement, support, and inspiration from friends. Mail, in
other words, gave one hope ... the most powerful thing a Ranger student can have on
their side.
I got more than my share of mail. Although most of them thought me insane for
volunteering to go so soon, my West Point classmates showed tremendous support for
me as I entered Ranger School. I was, in the words of one classmates, the "advance
recon" for our class -- really advanced. My address at Ranger School was passed along to
many classmates. Consequently, I averaged 10-15 letters and postcards at every mail
call. Most of these came from close friends who wrote regularly, but some came from
classmates who I hardly knew, but who, for some reason, took pity on me as I trudged
from stage to stage.
Classmates sent me letters from every continent except Africa and Antarctica.
From Korea to Australia to Moscow, I received encouragement and support. It helped
ease the loneliness I felt and gave me the strength to keep going. I was truly lucky ...
there were husbands who received less mail from their wives than I did from my friends.
The closing line from one of these letters read:
"I don't know why the hell you're doing this, but I'm behind you all the way."
I couldn't ask for beuer friends than that.

JUL 95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Classes: Combat Techniques. This was the third day of 15 training. We spent
most of the morning going over ambush technique and learned how to conduct
squad point ambushes and platoon area ambushes. After some practical
exercises, we headed out of Camp Merrill and conducted 2 raids. We returned
afterwards, worked on SOPs, and slept in the barracks.
COMMENTS
Read Between the Lilies
There's a saying in the Mountain Phase: "The Rl's don't need to smoke you
because the terrain will." Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains,
Dahlonega has been home to the Mountain Ranger Camp for many years. A more
perfect location could not be found.
When I first came to Dahlonega, I marveled at the beautiful forests and rolling
hills. In the back of my mind, however, was a disturbing thought: "I'm going to have to
march through those forests and over those hills." I wondered just what the terrain
would be like around Dahlonega.
During a briefing, I finally got my hand on a 1:50,000 map of the terrain over
which we would patrol. Although the map was covered in contour lines and hills, I was
actually relieved. The frequency and spacing of the lines indicated that the terrain
wasn't any steeper or more difficult than the hills around West Point, which I was
familiar with. The movements would be harder than at Benning, but not impossible.
Suddenly, I noticed something printed at the bottom of the map. Yes, the maps
of West Point and Dahlonega had similar contour lines, but there was one glaring
difference. The contour interval on the West Point map was 10 meters. The contour
interval on the Dahlonega map was 40 meters.
I drooped my head. This was going to be a long phase.

JUL 95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Classes: Combat Techniques. This was the fourth and last day of 15 training. The
morning started ofIwith a review of squad recons. We then headed out to the
woods to conduct point ambushes, perform a link-up, and set up two patrol
bases. We returned to the barracks that night to finalize SOPs and prep for the
10 day FTX.
COMMENTS
• Over the course of Ranger School, I learned to keep certain items handy at all
times because I always used them:
-- In my left BOU cargo pocket, I kept my Ranger Handbook (waterproofed),
protractor, and journal.
-- In my right BOU cargo pocket, I kept MRE toilet paper.
-- In my left BOU shirt pocket, I kept my ID and meal cards.
-- In my left ammo pouch on my LBE, I kept 2 magazines, a notepad, pen, and
laminated map.
-- In my right ammo pouch on my LBE, I kept a barber's brush, AP brush, lighter,
flashlight, knife, mirror, camo stick.
-- In my canteen cover pouches, I kept iodine tablets.
-- Somewhere on my LBE, I normally kept a roll of black electrical tape.

MOUNTAIN PHASE DAY 10 (30) 11 JUL
95
Meals: 3 Sleep: 4 hr Marched 2800 In
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day I. We trucked to the base of a massive ridge. After crawling our way
onto the ridge, we scaled the side of a small mountain, and set up a patrol base
on one of the spurs. The only positive thing was that we received bread
supplements to our MREs during this phase.
COMMENTS
• You'll do your best if you think of the FTX as real -- don't linger drill anything.
• Go in with the attitude that you came to learn, not to just earn the tab. The tab is
just something you sew on your uniform -- the knowledge and skills stay with
you always.
• As RTO, move out, call in all your spares, set up antennae properly, do frequent
radio checks, and know your radio procedures. It's an easy way to earn a Major
Plus.
• When taking a field dump, use a log to keep from falling over.
• If people continue to fall asleep, have them take a knee, stand, or put a rucksack
on their back. All these things will help them stay awake.
• To make your camo appear best, put some Skin-Sa-Soft on first, apply the light
stick, then apply the dark stick.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 2. We conducted squad recons and returned to Camp Merrill.
COMMENTS
• To waterproof your Ranger Handbook, cover the front and back with heavy tape,
ensuring that you fold the tape over the edges to strengthen the cover. Then,
poke holes through the tape over the preexisting holes in the handbook. Tie 550
cord or place a metal ring through the holes. Keep the handbook in a heavy
plastic bag when not in use.
Follow Mel
Our platoon trudged up the side of a long hill. It was dark and the only way I
could follow the Ranger ahead of me was to fix my gaze on the glowing "cateyes" on the
back of his patrol cap. Ahead of me I could see a long line of glowing cat eyes leading up
the hillside.
As we moved, Rangers tripped over branches and vines they could not see in the
darkness. Too tired to stop themselves, they just fell forward onto their weapons with a
loud grunt. Slowly, they picked themselves up and continued.
I moved quietly in the darkness, concentrating my sight and hearing on the
Ranger ahead of me. All of a sudden, my foot caught on a vine and I fell forward. My
face went into a pile of grass as I landed on my rifle and felt the
weight of my rucksack fall on me.
I scrambled to my feet, disoriented from the fall. How long had it taken me
to get to my feet? I couldn't see the cat eyes ahead. I looked around nervously.
Then, I saw it ... a line of lights moving along the hillside. I moved off quickly after the
cat-eyes, returning to my place in the column of marching Ranger students.
Suddenly, I heard voices crying out: "Hoang! Hoang! Get back here! Where
the hell are you going?" I turned around, and saw the dim silhouettes of my fellow
Rangers students climbing the hill. I suddenly realized that I had been following a bunch
of fireflies floating down the hillside. Sheepishly, I returned to the formation.
According to my fellow students, they heard me fall and my cat-eyes
disappeared from sight. When my glowing cat-eyes reappeared, my classmates
watched them make a 90 degree turn away from the long line of cat –eyes moving
uphill. They realized that I was "slightly disoriented" and yelled for me to return. Good
thing they did so. Who knows where those fireflies were headed.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 3. We held religious services, performed bay planning for raids, moved
back up the mountains, and established our patrol base.
COMMENTS
Tree Hugger
Continuous operations took their toll on everyone. Even the most physically fit
and mentally alert Ranger reached their point of exhaustion. Once you reached it, no
amount of chewing tobacco, cigarette smoking, or coffee packets would keep you
awake. Eventually, you would start to "drone."
Ranger students droned while on patrol. Several times, during night movement, I
saw a fellow Ranger standing off the side of the trail, apparently catatonic, weapon still
in hand. I approached the Ranger and gave him a heavy shake. Suddenly, his eyes would
open. He would look around in a daze, and start moving down the trail to catch up with
his squad, which was already far ahead.
Ranger students also droned while in patrol bases. Rangers literally fell asleep
on their feet. One moment they would be standing up, the next moment they would be
stumbling forward, falling asleep. Most the time, they woke up before they fell over.
This stutter step forward was called the "two-step drone." Sometimes, really tired
Rangers just flopped forward as they fell asleep. I remember once a Ranger in my squad
fell asleep on his feet, fell forward, and, waking up just before he hit the ground,
screamed as his face hit the dirt.
In order to combat sleep, I picked up a unique habit. I hugged trees. In patrol
bases, when I was really tired, I stood next to trees and put one or both arms around it.
That way, if I fell asleep, I would catch myself before I hit the ground or the tree. It
worked.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 4. We conducted a raid and set up a new patrol base.
COMMENTS

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 5. We conducted a raid, then returned to Camp Merrill for refit.
COMMENTS
Haliucillatiolls
The mind is a fragile thing. Deprive it of a little sleep, a little food, place some
stress on it, and it starts to play tricks on you. Hallucinations among Ranger students
were common, even as early as Darby.
During a patrol, I was the Assistant Gunner, pulling security in the ORP while the
Squadleader was out on a recon. My Gunner and I were in position next to a large tree
stump, looking out into the woods.
Suddenly, 50 meters in front me, I saw a corpse. An honest to goodness corpse
of a man on his back, one arm across his chest, one leg still bent. I blinked twice, looked
away, then looked back. The corpse was still there.
I tapped my Gunner on the shoulder. "Hey, I think there's a corpse in front of us
about 50 meters. You see it?"
He squinted, looking out over the top of his M60. "Hoang, I think you're seeing
things. All I see is a pile of logs."
I pointed out towards the corpse I saw. It was as clear as day, the sun was out,
and I didn't feel sleepy. "I see a corpse. I swear. Right next to that fallen tree at 12
O'clock."
He looked at me with a strange face. "I think you're hallucinating. That's a pile of
sticks."
I shrugged. For the next hour, I sat in position and looked into the woods. The
corpse never went away.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• ITX Day 6. We performed bay planning for ambushes, moved up a ridgeline,
ambushed a IDv1MWVpatrol, then received mass casualties.
COMMENTS

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 7. Moved to a new patrol base in the morning, conducted an ambush
that night, and performed another mass casualty exercise.
COMMENTS
The Long Wait
It had been a long day and an even longer night. We were moving along the top
of a ridgeline to our patrol base. It was dark and the night seemed to press in our us like
a suffocating blanket. We hadn't had more than an hour's sleep in the last three days,
and Ranger students were behaving in all sorts of strange ways.
After a short halt, one of my fellow students waited in a crouch for his Ranger
Buddy ahead of him to move. He could see that the platoon was starting down the trail
again.
"Psst, The platoon's moving.," he whispered. His Ranger Buddy didn't budge.
Other students were starting to pass him.
"Come on, man, we're falling behind," he said, a little louder than before. He felt
tired and he knew that his Ranger Buddy was tired too.
Finally, he pushed his Ranger buddy. "Let's go!" he said. Nothing. Another
student passing by stopped and asked, "What are you waiting for?"
"My Ranger Buddy's droning and won't move," he said. The passing Ranger
student looked around. He shook his head.
"You're standing behind a bush, man. I don't think it's going to move anytime
soon," he said.
The Ranger student moved forward. His "Ranger Buddy" was a small bush,
which, from behind, had the silhouette of a man. The student moved down the trail,
wondering where his real Ranger Buddy was.

95
Meals: 2 Sleep: I hr Marched 6100 m
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 8. We conducted squad ambushes, performed a link-up, and set up a
new patrol base.
COMMENTS
• Breakdown your M60s down to the gas tube. A number of M60s failed to fire
because the gas tube had carbon build-up or because the piston was placed in
the tube backwards.
• Breakdown your M16s as far as you think you can still find the parts. Most of the
time we only took them down to the bolt, leaving the bolt intact because of the
small parts. The most important part of maintaining your' M16s is to keep sand
and dirt off the bolt assembly, yet keep the assembly well oiled.
• A new set ofRI's arrived early every morning. It normally took them one hour to
exchange information and change-over -- an hour when no one watched the
Ranger students. This was an excellent time to grab a quick snack, do field
hygiene, or even to get a short nap.
• Field hygiene was normally done while the RI's changed-over in the morning. As
quickly as possible, brush your teeth, clean your face using wetwipes, shave, and
recamo. When the medics arrive to check feet, change socks and t-shirts. You'll
feel like a million bucks.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 9. We conducted a platoon ambush, then set up a patrol base near a
mountaintop.
COMMENTS
• On night movements, learn to take night steps -- step up and over, not just
straight forward. Otherwise, you'll be falling over every log and root in the
Appalachians.
• Eye protection is highly recommended.
• When stepping over obstacles, kick them so that the Ranger behind you knows
that it's there.
• If you bend branches back, don't let them snap back and hit the person behind
you in the face.
• On night movements, use commo every time you move to ensure that there's no
break-in-contact. Often, the lead squads will leave the rear squads behind when
they move out. All it takes is one droning Ranger student.
• If you are really tired and falling asleep on movements, grab the person's ruck in
front of you when the formation stops. That way, if you fall asleep and he moves
out, you'll be jerked awake. Trust me, this works. I was jerked around quite a bit.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
 FTX Day 10. We conducted a raid, moved to a PZ, and were airmobiled back to
Camp Merrill. The FTX was finally over.
 We spent the rest of the night cleaning weapons and equipment and enjoying a
Hot A meal.
 Peers and Course Critiques. Once again, we had to fill our peer reports and
course critiques for the RI's. We spent the night in the barracks -- beds never felt
so good.
My Second GO
"Ranger Hoang, get out here," the Rl said. We had returned to Camp Merrill after
a long and mistake-filled mission. I had been the Platoon Sergeant and the RI was about
to give me my evaluation. I needed this GO to get out of the Mountains ... I didn't have
my hopes up, though. I expected the worst.
It had been a terrible mission. After taking over as Platoon Sergeant, the platoon
had been a cluster as it left the patrol base. My status card had not been completely in
order when the RI asked for it. Within 300 meters of leaving the patrol base, my
pointman had become lost and separated from the platoon. Worst, I had made a
mistake on the headcount and didn't realize it immediately. When we finally reached
the objective, the PL compromised himself on the recon of the objective. I organized a
hasty attack and moved to his position. In the confusion that followed, the PL got
himself killed and I took over the platoon. OUf mission was to recover a key piece of
enemy equipment. Well, not only did my platoon have 15 soldiers killed out of 40, but
we also destroyed the key equipment when we blew up the objective. I recovered all
the wounded and reorganized the rest of the platoon as best I could. On the movement
back, the PL's clement got lost and we had a break in contact. After my element located
the rest of the platoon, we returned to Camp. Overall, a horrible mission -- virtually
every major mistake that could be made was made. I stood in front of the Rl and braced
for the bad news.
"Well, Ranger Hoang, this probably surprised you, but I'm giving you a GO. The
only GO, in fact, that any Ranger received for today's mission."
I was dumbstruck. "But, Sergeant, I thought if you a lost Ranger or compromised
yourself on the OBJ or had a break in contact that you were an
automatic NO GO. We had all three."
He looked at me grimly. "Well, Ranger, all those things happened, but none of
them were your fault. I evaluated you on how well you did your job and you did a hell of
a job tonight making the most of bad situations. Everyone else might have been ate-up,
but you tried your best. That's why you got a GO."

Christmas had come early for me. I was going to Florida.

MOUNTAIN PHASE DAY 20 (40) 21 JUL9S
MAJOR EVENTS
 Counseling. The RI's took us into Company Headquarters and counseled us one
by one. Those who would be boarded were notified. Boards were held that same
day and the unfortunate recycles reported to Mountain Gulag within an hour.
 EquipmentlWeapon Cleaning. In our down time, we continued to clean our gear.
 PX Visit. The RI's gave us the opportunity to visit the Post PX (very small), to
purchase any needed supplies. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to buy any
food.
 Super Supper. That night, the Mountain Mess Hall put together a Super Supper
for the students -- a heaping meal which covered two full plates and was mouth-
watering. Steak, fish, cake ... our stomachs never had it so good.
 NCO Club. After we had turned in all our weapons and equipment, we headed to
the NCO Club where we could buy pizza, hamburgers, and all kinds of junk food
which our bodies craved but could not handle. We lounged around, watched TV,
and farted up a storm. Never before have I seen so much sugar and chocolate go
down throats so fast.
COMMENTS

95
MAJOR EVENTS
 Movement to Benning. We woke up at Oh-Dark- Thirty for a 3 1/2 hour ride back
to Camp Rogers.
 End of Cycle Break. Upon arrival at Fort Benning, the Florida RI's took . control of
us and released us for an 8 hour break.
 Movement to Florida. Upon our return, we boarded buses for a six hour ride to
Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, for the final phase of Ranger School.
COMMENTS
A New Look
I weighed about 135 pounds while at West Point. Before leaving for Ranger
School, I weighed about 145 pounds. By the time I finished the Mountain FTX, I weighed
120 pounds. How is possible to lose so much weight?
A student burns a lot of calories during Ranger School. Besides being awake for
21-24 hours a day, there's a lot of physical demands placed upon you. A Ranger student
very quickly burns up the meager calories in their IvlREs. The body responds by
switching to an alternative source offuel: one's body fat. This lasts for a while, but
eventually, even this energy runs out. (It runs out sooner if you're lean like 1 was). What
happens next is interesting: your body starts burning muscle.
You can tell because your body odor changes ... it smelled like ammonia to me,
but different students smelled different things. When you start burning muscle, your
body weight drops fast (I guess muscle isn't a very good source of energy compared to
fat).
When I returned from the Mountain FfX and looked in the mirror for the first
time, I was shocked at what 1 saw. The face in the mirror had deep sunk eyes, no fat
around the cheeks, and my skin stretched tight around my skull. I looked like a POW or
concentration camp survivor. My fellow Rangers looked the same. Our families and
friends would not be happy with what they saw.

FLORIDA PHASE DAY 1 (42) 23 JUL
95
MAJOR EVENTS
 Inprocessing. After a late night arrival at Eglin Air Force Base, we off loaded and
moved into the barracks. Recycles from previous classes joined us. The facilities
were impressive -- particularly the graffiti on the stalls left by generations of
previous Ranger students.
 Battalion Commander Briefing. The next morning, the Battalion Commander
gave us quick pep talk -- he told us that the light was at the end of the tunnel,
but we still had to perform.
 Class: Medical Considerations. We learned about the various dangers we faced
from heal, exposure, and disease while in Florida.
 Class: Reptiles. Several RI' s -- all qualified snake handlers -- gave a talk on snakes
and reptiles, complete with live specimens (they even brought out a baby
alligator). Methods of avoidance, what to do if bitten, and affects of snake bites
were all covered. No one slept through this class.
 Class: Patrol Bases. We reviewed the basics of patrol bases, and learned about
the peculiarities of patrol base operations in Florida (digging-in, 25% security,
different priority of work). We spent the rest of the night drawing weapons and
equipment, squaring it away, and DX-ing TA-50.
COMMENTS

FLORIDA PHASE DAY 2 (43) 24
JUL 95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 6 hr Moved 1200 m
MAJOR EVENTS
 Classes/STX. This was the first of four days of round robin classes and practical
exercises. We rotated between classes on patrol bases, booby traps, survival
skills, and medical evacuation procedures. At the end of the round robin, we
went on an RIled recon, followed by establishing a patrol base (we didn't have to
dig in). We spent the night out in the field.
COMMENTS
• Wet wipes are the key to field hygiene. Get a bunch.
The Gator
Everywhere one looks at the Florida Ranger Camp, one sees gators. Gators are
painted on the buildings, on signs, on inside walls. The Florida Ranger Camp T-shirt has
two Ranger students chest deep in a swamp. The lead student, compass in hand, looks
lost while his fellow student has an alligator over his head, jaws open down to the
student's waist. The bar at the Florida Ranger Camp is called the "Gator Lounge."
Live gators can be found as well. Old Joe is the Florida Camp's mascot. He lives in
a fenced in pool located behind the HQ building. Older than the camp itself, and
weighing several hundred pounds, Old Joe is bigger than a man. The RI' s feed him live
chickens regularly, an event which always draws a
crowd. Somehow, you get the feeling that Old Joe would prefer something
bigger and more tender (although a Ranger Student would probably make a
poor meal: not enough meat and too smelly).
During the Reptiles class, the Rl' s bring out a small gator which they are raising.
They demonstrate that although an alligators jaws are tremendously strong and can
crush bone between them, the jaws are very weak in the opposite direction. A man can
keep a gator's jaws closed using only hand (just don't let go).
Also, the Rl' s informed us, much to our dismay, that a grown alligator can outrun
a man on level ground. Even with a headstart, a man would be caught by an alligator in
a straight-line race. However, alligators cannot turn vel)' well due to the structure of
their body. Thus, the best way to escape a pursuing alligator is to make a sharp 90
degree turn when they close in. However, you must be careful not to make another
<)0degree turn in the opposite direction and zig-zag or the alligator will cut your turn off
and have you for lunch.
We listened to all this with wide-eyed attention. No student had ever been killed by a
gator attack, we were told, but there was always a first time.

JUL 95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Classes/STX. This was the second of four days of classes and practical exercises.
After a series of ambush classes and exercises, we conducted an ambush
mission, then returned to our patrol base.
COMMENTS
Excerpt from "The Long Gray Line"
Earlier this morning, the men had boarded buses for the 150 mile-trip to Egline
Air Force Base in Florida. Near Field 7. after they had transferred to deuce-and-a-half
trucks for the final few miles, the convoy drove through an ambush scene. A truck was
ablaze and soldiers lay on the ground in feigned death. "The enemy," one instructor
warned ominously, "is all around us."
Oh, shit, the new lieutenants murmured, here we go. That was on thing
everyone had heard about the major: he was nothing if not theatrical. Sitting the dingy
tarpaper shack, they wondered what would happen next.
KA-BOOM! A deafening explosion rocked the shack. Two hundred drowsy
Rangers leaped with fright, their ears ringing violently from the grenade simulators.
Several even committed the mortal sin of dropping their M-14s and rifles clattered on
the bleachers like pickup sticks.
The door to the shack burst open and the major staggered in. He wore black
pajamas, soaked and smeared with mud from a recent wallow in Holly Creek; his boots
trailed a tangled clump of swamp weeds, and he carried an AK-47. Big and brawny, he
had a parabolic slash for a mouth and jowls that looked like something from a meat
locker. He spoke with the thick drawl of his native Schley County in south Georgia.
"I just came out of the swamp where I was fightin' the guerrillas. The guerrillas
are mean and tough. They are not to be taken lightly." A mad glint lit his eyes as he
paused, shaking himself like a Labrador retriever. "Here's what they did to me."
Ripping open the pajama top, he displayed a fearsome, knotted scar running
vertically from navel to clavicle.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Classes/STX. This was the third of four days of classes and practical exercises.
After a series of raid classes and exercises, we conducted a raid mission, then
returned to the barracks to sleep.
COMMENTS
• When you get tired and annoyed and feel like kicking everyone's butt, remember
to keep everything in perspective.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• Classes/STX. This was the last day of classes and practical exercises. We spent all
day practicing one-rope bridges, learning about the RB-15 Zodiac, and preparing
for waterborne operations.
COMMENTS
• Whatever you do, keep a positive attitude. Worrying about your next patrol,
your next march, does nothing for you. Believe in yourself.
• Everyone deals with the stress of Ranger School differently -- a lot of students
take it out on each other. Remember that as you deal with your fellow Rangers.
• The Ranger style of leadership is just a tool. It may not be appropriate in every
situation.

JUL 95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 1. We conducted bay planning for the FTX. We spent the night in the
barracks so that airborne students could rest for the next day's jump.
COMMENTS
• If you have to sew your own cateyes on a PC, use the following pattern with the
thread:
• Sew a large piece of illumination tape inside the top of your PC and use it to
write mission notes on.
• For mass casualty exercises, use two 2-quart straps and the pack-strap method
to carry bodies. Ask any medic to explain the technique if you're not familiar
with it ... it is better than any poncho or buddy carry.
• A great technique for getting assault/ambush squads on line is to bring the
squad forward in a column, with squad leader in the lead. At the surveillance
point, the squadleader turns 90 degrees with the squad following. The
squadleader paces off each position and emplaces each squad member by
peeling them off the column behind him.

95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 2. Airborne personnel went away for jump refresher training while the
Legs sat in the shade and attempted to look like they were awake. The jump
ended up being canceled due to high winds. After a truck movement, we had a
slow movement to our ambush site. Our setup of the patrol base was ate-up and
we ended up with little sleep.
COMMENTS
• If you put the showers on high in the Florida barracks, they give a great back and
neck massage.
• Shoe-Goo is great for fixing boots that tear. Wear boots that are comfortable.
Whether jungle or all-leather, the best pair of boots are the ones that your feet
are used to. I wore the same set of boots for every FTX during Ranger School. I
think there's more Shoe-Goo than leather in those boots now.

JUL 95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 3. We conducted a recon, followed by a raid. In Florida, we typically
spent the day planning in the patrol base we established the night before.
Between 1700-1900, we would move out as the temperature dropped, and
arrive at our ORP between 3-4 hours later. We typically finished actions on the
objective some time past midnight. We would then conduct a forced road march
across soft sand (the RI's set the pace --lucky us) to our new patrol base site.
COMMENTS

JUl 95
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 4. After a 14 km truck movement, we conducted an ambush, then road
marched to our next patrol base site. The RI's were kind enough to walk us
through a creek up to our thighs before we started the march – the combination
of sand and water left holes in our feet by the next morning.
COMMENTS
Pocket Reminder
In my pocket, I kept a card with some reminders to myself during Ranger
School. This is what I wrote:
1. It’s all a mind-game -- take it one day at a time
2. Keep your composure
3. Everyone else is going through the same thing -- lesser men than you have
made it through just fine
4. Laugh -- Keep a sense of humor
5. Be a team player
6. Perform consistently -- don't spotlight
7. Keep a low profile
8. Keep your RI informed

FLORIDA PHASE DAY 10 (51) 1 AUG 95
Meals: 2 Sleep: 2 hr Moved 10,000 m
MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 5. We had a long movement to our raid site, then conducted
another speed march to our patrol base site.
COMMENTS

MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 6. We were supposed to move nearly 12 km for our next mission, a raid.
However, Hurricane Erin was moving rapidly in our direction and our mission was
cut short. We were trucked to the Objective, conducted our raid, then trucked
back to barracks, where the RI' s locked us down for 36 hours.
COMMENTS
Tabbed Out
Finally, my chance to prove my worth. The RI's had just told me that I would be
the Weapons Squad Leader for the day's mission. If I got a GO 011 this mission, Iwould
be "tabbed out."
The RI assigned to grade me was very quiet and low key. As I prepared the squad
in the patrol base and dug in, he never came by to talk to me. He merely visited each of
my positions, asked my squad a few questions, and checked the lay of my weapons.
Some RI' s believed that they could tell everytime about a student's leadership ability by
talking to their subordinates. If a squad knew what was going on and their positions
were squared away, then the squadleader was doing a good job.
We had completed almost all of our planning and preparation for the mission,
when a FRAGO was issued. A hurricane was headed our direction and although Rangers
lead the way, they yielded right of way to natural disasters like hurricanes.
Minutes later, we loaded onto trucks. The RI's told us we would disembark
within 1000 meters of the objective. When we jumped off the truck, we discovered we
were within 150 meters of the objective -- in fact, if we stood up in our ORP, we could
see the objective!
Quickly, we set out on a recon. The PL, somewhat ignorant of terrain and its
uses, silhouetted himself against the sky and compromised our position. Small arms fire
erupted from the objective. We hastily organized an attack. I grabbed the M60s and set
up a quick support position.
The attack finished quickly -- we had taken the objective, an enemy camp, with
only a handful of casualties (including, predictably, the platoon leader). We boarded
trucks and returned to camp early in the afternoon.
That night, the RI told me in so many words that I had a GO. I was "tabbed out"
and for the first time in two months, I felt at peace with the world.

MAJOR EVENTS
• Lockdown. Hurricane Erin moved into the Ranger Camp with the wrath of . God.
We were locked into the barracks with two JvfRE's and our bunks. Never have so
many slept so well.
COMMENTS
• Bring extra PC's and ensure they fit snugly. The woods have a way of eating them
up, particularly during night movements.

MAJOR EVENTS
• FTX Day 7. We moved back out to the field) where we saw what must have been
the greatest assemblage of blow-down that any Ranger Class has ever seen.
After a very smooth ambush, we retired to a patrol base.
Mike's Three Rules of Thumb
It was Florida, it was summer, and it was hot and humid. As I dragged myself and
my equipment down the sandy trail, I thought back to the weeks just before I started
Ranger School. I remembered talking to everyone I could about Ranger School, trying to
find sound advice that would help me. One of the most useful advice I received was
from a classmate and a friend: Mike Cerniaskus.
Mike, who served in Panama with a Ranger Battalion and is one of the finest
human beings I know, had completed Ranger School before coming to West Point. I
remember returning from the pool one day when I met Mike in the latrine. Standing in
my wet BDU's, TA-50 in hand, I saw Mike smile.
He told me his Three Rules of Thumb regarding Ranger School:
"First," he said, "Don't quit." Ifyou make the decision even before starting at
Ranger School not to quit, you've removed a lot of your fear and doubt. These two
things -- fear of failure and doubting yourself -- cause more students to fail Ranger
School than just about anything else. As Mike told me, you have to be "mentally tough."
The most important muscle to develop before you get to Ranger School is the one
between your ears.
"Second," he said, "You already know everything you need to know." Ranger
school teaches its students all the skills and tactics which they need to succeed and pass
the course. As officers-lo-be, I had the basic soldier skills I needed to start the course. I
had to have confidence in my ability to learn the rest.
"Finally," he said) "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." People
remember things at Ranger School. If you are kind to someone, they will repay that
kindness. If you screw your buddy, they remember that too. Individuals always fail
Ranger School -- to graduate, students must learn to work as a team. Part of this
teamwork is valuing your fellow student's welfare as much as you value your own,
maybe even more. Ranger students know when they have a selfish individual in their
midst and they take appropriate actions. Sometimes it's a poor peer rating,. Sometimes
it's a late night lesson in teamwork.
I kept Mike's Three Rules of Thumb with me on a small card. From Rogers to
Graduation, his advice served me well.

Meals: 2 Sleep: 16 hr Moved 10,000 m
MAJOR EVENTS
• FIX Day 8. After an extremely long movement, we conducted an ambush, then
spent most of the morning moving to a new patrol base. The mission was
interrupted for an hour while we conducted a practice MEDEVAC, complete with
helicopter and skidcoe litter. The mission itself was a disaster -- our platoon
literally moved onto the objective without realizing it, then marched in circles for
almost an hour.
COMMENTS
• Stretch out your hands every once in awhile. After days and weeks of gripping
your weapon, they will begin to cramp up and curl up painfully on their own if
you don't.
• Your LBE snaps in the back can dig painfully into your back. Either adjust them up
or down so that the kidney pad no longer rests on them, or break them off and
replace them with 550 cord.
Run, Francis, Run
The most valuable lessons I learned at Ranger School were about myself. I learned who I
was and what I would do when I was tired, hungry, and under stress. I learned that I
wasn't as tough as I wish I were, but I a was a hell of a lot tougher than I thought I was.
It was Day 8 and we were nearing the end of the Florida ITX. My platoon was
crossing a bridge when we indirect fire began raining down on us. One of the first men
to go down was the platoon leader, who lay on the far side of the bridge. As I ran across
the bridge, coughing up phlegm from an Upper Respitory Infection I had developed in
the last few days of Florida, I saw Ranger after Ranger pass by the platoon leader. The RI
told me he was supposed to be alive, but had both legs blown off by shrapnel. I was mad
that my fellow students had ran by him.
What the hell, I thought. I dropped my ruck and yelled, "cover me!" as I grabbed
the platoon leader and threw him on my back. As I began to run, artillery simulators
going off everywhere, I saw the reason why the rest of the platoon had passed the
platoon leader by: our rendevous point was 300 meters away and located on top of a
hill. Straining under the platoon leader's 170 pound weight, I grunted my way up to the
rendevous point, then collapsed from exhaustion. The rest of the platoon stared at me
in stunned silence.
I had promised myself that I would never desert a fellow soldier, nor leave a
friend behind. I kept my promise that day.

Meals: 2 Sleep: 3 hr 30 min Moved 12,000 m
MAJOR EVENTS
 FTX Day 9. 'f'e conducted a raid relatively close to our patrol base, then went on
what we would later call "The Bataan Death March." It was a speed march across
soft sand trails, led by Rl's, which went over 8 km. Rangers fell like flies.
Rl Advice
1. Teamwork is essential
2. Comply with instructions
3. Keep everything serviceable
4. Drink water -- heat exhaustion makes you a NO GO
5. Don't mess with wildlife
6. Gulag attitude is to be ignored
7. Mail is key.
8. Keep wounds clean and dry
9. Being lost won't necessary make you a NO GO -- don't quit
10. Know the Definition of Leather -- they may ask it
11. Ask questions of fellow students
12. Memorize the Ranger Creed
13. Take care of teeth
14. Volunteer for RTO, Terrain Model, and Team Leader Positions
15. Clean the Gas Tube of your M60
16. Use the roads on Land Nav
17. Take care of your feet -- keep them powdered, change socks, and premoleskin
before road marches
18. Mental Toughness is the key -- "All it takes is a little heart". Go in hungry
19. Support when you are supposed to support, lead when you are supposed to
lead
20. Do equipment layouts right - make it easy on the Rl
21. Status reports must be accurate -- don't finger drill
22. Don't be in the back of the line for the PT Test
23. Be the type of Ranger who is a doer, not just a talker --let your actions
speak for you
24. Don't eat all your food at once
25. When you have a chance, change your socks, powder your feet, brush your
teeth, shave, and change your shirt -- it does wonders
26. Use the resident experts in your fellow Ranger Students
27. Review OPOP..DS and TLP -- use Ranger Handbook for GPORDs

Meals: 3 Sleep: 2 hr 30 min Moved 4000 m
MAJOR EVENTS
 FTX Day 10. We moved 2.5 km to our raid site, then an additional 1.5 km to our
truck embarkation point. The RI' s kept telling us that we were road marching all
18 km back, but trucks picked us up and brought us back to the barracks.
 Brass/Ammo Check, Peers, Critiques. After a quick brass and ammo check (they
make you dump out everything), we once again filled out peer ratings and course
critiques.
 Counseling. While we cleaned weapons, we were called in by squads to get our
final counseling. Rangers were notified if they would graduate, recycle, or be
dropped .. Of tile 262 Rangers who started with Class 9-95, approximately 97
graduated, along with 30 recycles from other classes.
 DOGEX. After we finished our work, the RI' s held a DOGEX for us at the Gator
Lounge. For a mere $5.00, we could buy 3 hot-dogs, a butterfinger, a nutter
butter bar, and 2 cokes.
Shade under trees is better than shade under a poncho. There is little air circulation
under a poncho.
Melt your camo with a lighter before applying it. The camo goes on easier and
thicker.
COMMENTS

MAJOR EVENTS
Outprocessing. After a well-deserved shower, we listened to a final outbrief from
the Battalion Commander. We finished cleaning our heavy weapons and
equipment and turned them in. After getting high and tight haircuts and visiting
the mini-PX, we were given time to make phone calls and received our packages
filled with pogie bait from home. That night, we spent several hours drinking
beer and eating food in the Gator Lounge. After filling our stomachs (not to
mention intoxicating our systems), we staged for the bus ride back to Camp
Rogers .
Movement to Camp Rogers. The buses arrived and we rode the six hours back to
Benning in high spirits, with full stomachs and visions of Graduation dancing in
our head.
COMMENTS

OUTPROCESSING DAY 1 (59) 9
AUG 95
MAJOR EVENTS
Outprocessing and Break. After arriving at Camp Rogers, we spent a whole' day
doing nothing but running from place to place cleaning weapons, turning them
in, picking up bags, getting medical records, and filling out critiques. We were
given a short 5 hour break that evening. During these last two days, we slept in
barracks located away from Camp Rogers and ate two meals in the mess hall
along with an lv1RE each day.
COMMENTS

OUTPROCESSING DAY 2 (60) 10 AUG 95
MAJOR EVENTS
Outprocessing. We held practices for graduation, turned in TA-50, filled out
outprocessing forms, had our class picture taken, and picked up our POVs today.
The Ranger Association visited, asked us to join their organization, and sold us all
sorts of Ranger Memorabilia. That night was "family night" - - friends and
families could visit students in the vicinity of the barracks.
COMMENTS

GRADUATION DAY 61 11 AUG
95
MAJOR EVENTS
Graduation. After a few more rehearsals, and short talk by the Battalion
Commander, we held Graduation Exercises on Malvesti Field. After the
ceremony, we walked back to headquarters, picked up our diplomas and said
good-bye to Camp Rogers forever.
Journal Entry, 11Aug 95
The time had finally come: graduation. Freedom, food, sleep – these things had
taken on a whole new meaning to me in the last two months. I would never take them
for granted ever again.
I moved into the woodline with my Ranger Buddy. The plan called for us to hide
in the woods lining Malvesti Field before the ceremony began. For the last time, I took
up a position in the woods with my Ranger Buddy. Of course, we did what all good
Rangers do when they lie down in the woods: we fell asleep.
Nearly an hour later, we woke up the sound of thunder nearby. The crowd now
in place in stands facing Malvesti Field, the Rl's threw smoke grenades followed by arty
simulators. We rushed from our hiding places (some groggily) with a loud shout and
formed in our Ranger Companies on Malvesti Field under a giant black and gold Ranger
Tab. The crowd cheered.
After speeches and awards, we were given five minutes to have friends and
family pin on our Ranger Tabs, which we had all carried anxiously in our pockets all
morning. I looked around for my classmates and friends. After a couple of minutes I
gave up hope ... no one had made it to my graduation.
Suddenly, I heard a shout behind me, "France!" I turned around to see not just
one, but a dozen classmates in BDU's with shiny gold lieutenant bars on their caps. I
almost saluted until I remembered that I, too, was a Lieutenant. I had been in Ranger
School a long time.
Quickly, my classmates and I formed a circle. I handed the Ranger Tab to Mrs.
Gribschaw who passed it to my classmates. They, in turn, passed it around the circle --
one by one, my classmates carried the Tab I had worked so hard for. There was
significance to this little ceremony. My classmates and their encouragement had carried
me through some of the hardest moments of Ranger School, while COL and Mrs.
Gribschaw had opened their home and hearts to me during my arrival at Benning and
during each break. The Tab reached the hands of Stephanie Arnold, who pinned it on my
left shoulder.
Finally, I wore the coveted Black and Gold.
After reciting the Ranger Creed, we were released with a shout of joy. Never in
my life have I ever felt such relief. It was time to go home.

APPENDIX A: MRE RECIPES
Chocolatc C.'cam Pic
Ingredients:
1 Chocolate Nutcake
2 Crackers
1 Cheese Spread
1 Cocoa packet
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
Directions: In a package, mix together crushed Chocolate Nutcake, crushed Crackers,
sugar, cream, cocoa. Add Cheese Spread and stir until smooth.
Chocolate Covercd Fruit
Ingredients:
1 Dried Fruit Mix
1 Cocoa packet
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
Water
Directions: Open Dried Fruit package and sugar, cream, and cocoa. Add just enough
water to soak fruit. Stir until smooth.
Black Forest Cake
Ingredients:
2 Crackers
1 Cocoa packet
1 Cherry Beverage Base Powder
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
Water
Directions: In a package, mix together crushed Crackers, cocoa, beverage base powder,
sugar, and cream. Add water and stir to a smooth consistency.
Chocolate Oatmeal
Ingredients:
1 Oatmeal Cookie Bar
1 Cocoa packet
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
Water
Directions: In a package, mix together crushed Oatmeal Cookie Bar, cocoa, sugar, and
creamer. Add a small amount of water and stir.

Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients:
1 MRE Shelf Bread packet
1 Ham Slice
1 Cheese Spread packet
Directions: Cut shelf bread in half and spread cheese on one slice. Put a ham slice
between the pieces and enjoy. For an extra special treat, spread on Ham Jubilee (see
below) instead.
Ham Jubilee
Ingredients:
1 Ham Slice
1 Apple Jelly Packet
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamier packet
Directions: Open Ham Slice packet and add jelly, sugar, and creamer. Using spoon, mix
ingredients together until smooth. Eat with crackers.
Apple Pie
Ingredients:
2 Crackers
1 Applesauce
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
Directions: Open applesauce packet lengthwise. Crush crackers and sprinkle on top of
applesauce. Add sugar and creamer on top of crackers.
Sugar Taffee
Ingredients:
1 Beverage Base Powder (any flavor)
1 Jelly packet (any flavor)
Water
Directions: Add jelly and a little bit of water to a beverage base powder packet.
Stir until thick and smooth.
Lasagna
Ingredients:
1 Spaghetti main meal
2 Crackers
Directions: Crush crackers and add with Cheese Spread to Spaghetti main
meal. Stir well.

Ranger Puading (light)
Ingredients:
1 Cocoa packet
1 Coffee packet
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
Water
.Directions: Mix ingredients together in a package. Add water and stir to make a paste.
Runger Pudding (heavy)
Ingredients:
2 Crackers
1 Cocoa packet
1 Coffee packet
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
Water
Directions: Crush crackers and mix with other ingredients in a package. Add water and
stir to make a paste.
Peach Cobbler
Ingredients:
1 Dried Peaches Mix
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
Water
Directions: Add creamer and sugar to Dried Peaches. Add water and stir,
Sweet COI·ncd Bcef Hash
Ingredients:
1 Corned Beef Hash main meal
1 Applesauce
1 Apple Jelly packet
Directions: Add applesauce and apple jelly to Corned Beef Hash.

Cheesecake
Ingredients:
2 Crackers
1 Sugar packet
1 Creamer packet
1 Beverage Base Powder or Cocoa Packet
Water
Directions: In a package, mix crushed crackers, cheese spread, sugar, and creamer. To
this add your choice of beverage base powder or cocoa. Add water and stir until
smooth.
Sugar Au Gratin
Ingredients:
1 Potatoes Au Gratin meal
1 Sugar packet or Beverage Base Powder
Directions: Add sugar or a beverage base powder to Potatoes Au Gratin. Stir.
Reeses Peeses
Ingredients:
1 Cocoa packet
1 Peanut Butter packet
2 Crackers (optional)
Water
Directions: In a packet, mix cocoa, peanut butter and water. Stir. Add crushed crackers
for a thicker meal.
Sugar Crackers
Ingredients:
1 Cracker
1 Beverage Base Powder
Directions: Spread cheese onto crackers. Sprinkle beverage base powder on top.
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients:
1 Chicken and Rice Main Meal
1 Grape Beverage base Powder
Directions: Mix grape beverage base powder into chicken and rice main meal.

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