RANGER SCHOOL

Learn the skills necessary to become one of the Army’s elite leaders.

BECOME A SOLDIER

Take the first step toward becoming stronger than you ever imagined.

AIRBORNE SCHOOL

See where Army Rangers learn to jump and parachute from airplanes.

About this video:

SPOT JUMP

Soldiers perform an aerial jump from 1,500 feet, attempting to land in a target circle. They must then gather all their gear and run to the finish line.

Get ready for a leap of faith in the Spot Jump event. Time to Ranger up.

Last time, Malone 3 was the backdrop for a live fire exercise: shoot, move and communicate.

Master Sergeant Turk and Master Sergeant Ross were able to maintain their lead.

Ranger: Made it to the end. Shot as many as we could.

The Ranger buddy teams will rough march over 2 miles to Lee Field and the PZ for the start of the Spot Jump, where mistakes are not tolerated or survived.

Team 6 continues their hold of the lead position, with Team 19 right behind. Competitors must completely rig themselves and their equipment in 30 minutes.

SFC Randy Martinez: They’re here to rig up their equipment, also properly rig up a MC6 series parachute. When they come up to us, we inspect the parachute; we conduct a JMPI to make sure that there are no deficiencies.

Full inspection is required, with penalties if warranted before teams are given the all-clear.

Sergeant First Class Chad Stackpole: Airborne Rangers are a unique asset to the Army. It gives us the capabilities to insert anywhere at any time behind enemy line. With a UH60 aircraft, it’s a great means of insertion for us to get into the fight with a smaller element without being compromised by the enemy.

Team 6, Master Sergeants Turk and Ross, have just minutes to battle plan before it’s time to board the aircraft. Wearing two parachutes and his M4 rifle, the Rangers’ combat jump weight is well over 120 pounds.

Ranger teams are in for an 8-minute flight aboard a UH60 Blackhawk from Lee PZ to Friar DZ, the drop zone, where they will try to land inside a 40-meter circle or as close as possible. This is a timed event. Their time starts as soon as they hit the ground, then ends once both team members and all of their gear are inside the circle.

The temperature is climbing as we approach midday.

SSG Michael Ayotte: At the moment, the heat is really what’s killing us, just the all-around conditions. As long as we keep our pace steady, we should be good though.

Stackpole: For these guys as they approach the drop zone, these guys are trained in airborne operations. They’re looking for a particular mark on the drop zone; they’re listening to the wind readings from the jump master, as well as reading the smoke. These guys have to be able to make a sound tactical decision as far as when they want to depart the aircraft, and hopes and regards they’ll land on the appropriate spot at the drop zone.

After the thumbs up by the jump master, it’s all clear.

Team 22, Greenwood and McKinney, are currently in seventh place. They are charging hard, and timing is critical on the Spot Jump.

The stopwatch is still ticking and Team 23, Sergeant Billings and Sergeant First Class Mirador, must get all their gear to the circle to stop the clock. The draining heat continues to be a factor.

Sergeant Jeremy Billings: Today is one of the hottest days I have ever experienced at Fort Benning. It’s extremely hot out, I feel like I’m going to go down, I have to keep on drinking water, and I have to Ranger up and move up and complete the mission.

Team 7 started out the day in third place. They have maintained that position after the Spot Jump. Sergeant Major Moran was one of two Rangers to actually land on the target. The other one was Master Sergeant Turk, as Team 6 won the event, still in the lead after Day 1.

Day 2 brings out the best in the Ranger, fighting for your life and rope tricks.

SEE WHAT THEY'RE UP AGAINST

Photo of Soldiers running

THE BUDDY RUN

Without knowing the course length, teams set out at dawn on this 7.2-mile trek.

Photo of Soldiers

THE DARBY QUEEN

26 obstacles spread over 2,000 meters make this one of the most difficult obstacle courses known to man.

Photo of Soldier firing weapon

MACHINE GUN RANGE

Using different weapons, teams must engage several targets while making sure they don't misfire.

Photo of Soldiers in shooting drill

STRESS SHOOT

Teams sprint to different shoot points where their firing skills are tested using different weapons.

Photo of Soldiers assembling weapon

WEAPONS ASSEMBLY

Teams will be timed as they try to assemble weapons from various mixed parts.

Photo of Soldier administering emergency care

ADMINISTER IV

Under stressful conditions, soldiers will be required to administer emergency care.

Photo of Soldier climbing tower

TRI-TOWER CHALLENGE

Three massive towers that competitors will attempt to climb, then rappel down using fast-rope techniques.

Photo of Soldiers jumping from helicopter

HELOCAST-SWIM

Teams must jump from moving helicopters into Victory Pond, then compete in a swim event.

MEET THE COMPETITION

Team 1
SFC Mark Breyak / SFC Steven Fields
JFK Special Warfare School & Center NCOA

Team 3
MSG Joshua King / CPT Kevin Toth
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Team 5
SSG George Sankey / MSG Kevin Quant
US Special Operations Command

Team 6
MSG Eric Ross / MSG Eric Turk
US Special Operations Command

Team 7
SGM Evert Solderholm / SGM James Moran
US Special Operations Command

Team 8
LTC Thomas Foster, COL Argo
US Special Operations Command

Team 9
SGT Anthony Vasquez, SSG Keith Back
3rd Infantry Division

Team 10
SSG Danny Shedd, SSG Warren Cash
3rd Infantry Division

Team 11
SSG Brett Graves, SSG Joshua Sullivan
82nd Airborne Division

Team 12
SSG Jeremiah Waggoner, SSG Bernado Mota

Team 14
SGT William Cole / 1LT Lauren Gore
1st Infantry Division

Team 15
SSG Raymon Santiago / SFC Mason Riepe
4th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 16
CPT Jeremy Shute / SFC Jared Sarten
4th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 17
SFC Larry Forrest / SFC James Anderson
4th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 18
CPT Andrew Smith / CPT Aaron Chonko
5th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 19
SSG Thomas West / SFC Jose Magana
6th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 20
SSG Kyle Skaggs / SSG Michael Ayotte
6th Ranger Training Battalion

Team 21
SGT Michael Malchow / SGT Jesse Collins
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 22
SFC William Greenwood / SFC Gerald McKinney
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 23
Eugene Mirador / SGT Jeremy Billings
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 24
SFC Brett Johnson / SSG Joshua Horsager
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 25
SSG Charles Cogle / SGT Frank Horbay

Team 26
SPC Cristob Cruz / SSG Wilton Gleaton
75th Ranger Regiment

Team 27
CPT Adam Patten / CPT Darrell Fawley

Team 28
CPT Sean Justi / MAJ Robert Risdon
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 29
CPT Ashton Ballesteros / CPT Luke Bandl
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 30
SSG Rommel Hurtado / SFC Cedric King
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 31
SSG Mark Taylor / CPT John Intile
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 32
CPT James Lostroscio / CPT Eric Schmitz
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 33
CPT Joseph DeChauny / 1LT Kevin Alger
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 34
CPT Mark Breugem / CPT Owen Broom
199th Infantry Brigade

Team 36
MSG David Roels / MSG Joseph Schoch
Asymmetric Warfare Group

Team 37
CPT Derrick Anderson / SSG Christopher Malone
3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

Team 38
1LT Daniel Norwood / MSgt Michael Miller
USAF 820th SFG

Team 39
SFC Vernon Kenworthy / SFC Justin Brekken
3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

Team 40
CPT Christopher Ahlemeyer / SSG Robert Tobin
Rhode Island Army National Guard

Team 41
1SG Kevin Dylus / CPT Robert May
North Carolina Army National Guard

Team 42
SFC Robert Hoffnagle / MAJ Jamison Kirby
Army National Guard Warrior Training Center

Team 44
1LT Matthew Schachman / CPT John Campbell
25th Infantry Division

Team 45
MAJ Ryan Hanson / SFC Keith Bishop
95th Civil Affairs Brigade