Airmen test skills during a pre-ranger screening course

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  For the first time in Air Force history, Airmen from all career fields and bases were invited to Moody Air Force Base to participate in a course that prepares and tests Airmen's skills as a precursor to U.S. Army Ranger training.

The 820th Security Forces Group has been hosting the Pre-Ranger Course for more than four years now, however, this is the first time they have offered training to groups outside of the 820th SFG.

"Our goal is to make sure that we send the best of the best to (U.S. Army) ranger training," said Master Sgt. Jason France, 820th SFG operations superintendent and U.S. Army Ranger course graduate. "We put them through extreme amounts of stress, training and physical exertion to see how they respond."

Sergeant France also said that every single Ranger must pass the pre-ranger physical training test and Combat Water Survival Test in order to be accepted into the program.

The U.S. Army Ranger physical training test and CWST consists of performing 55 push-ups and 65 sit-ups in two minutes, a 15-meter swim while holding a rifle and wearing a military uniform, boots and web belt. In addition, participants must maintain positive control of their weapon without dropping it or their equipment in the water and they must not show signs of fear.

Once the pre-rangers are in the course, instructors instantly begin to put pressure on them.

"We want to replicate what happens the first two weeks of the real U.S. Army Ranger training," said Sergeant France. "This year we have the Air Force liaison and two Army instructors from Fort Benning, Ga., to help us accomplish that."

The pre-rangers are allotted two meals-ready-to-eat a day and must perform duties for about 20 hours each day.

"We cut them loose for sleep at about 1 a.m. every night," said Sergeant France. "But they have responsibilities to clean their weapons and make sure their 'ruck sack' is in the exact order we tell them to have it in."

Those additional tasks mean pre-rangers must make a decision on what's most important to them, an extra few hours of sleep or a dirty weapon.

"Eventually they will have to take the punishment for dirty weapons or a messed up ruck-sack," said Sergeant France. "That's the point of the course, to take lead and assess your troop's needs."

According to Sergeant France, the first week is the most difficult.

During this time, Airmen must pass all evaluations including a 12-mile march, carrying 35 to 50 pounds of equipment in three hours, as well as all other pre-ranger physical training tests and CWST. And they must do it all while being sleep-deprived and hungry.

One of the biggest challenges for 2nd Lt. Michael Wettleson, a squad leader during the course, is motivating the Airmen who are enduring extreme amounts of stress caused from course participation.

"Being able to motivate the Airmen from all different Air Force Specialty Codes has been difficult," said Lieutenant Wettleson. "But we've started to come together, work together and succeed."

After they are done with the tests and evaluation phase they're put through what the instructors call a 'rite of passage.'

During the rite of passage Airmen are up at 4 a.m., with little to no sleep. Smoke grenades and weapons-fire are their alarm clock as the instructors prepare them for their entrance into the Army Ranger training.

Once they complete this portion of training, they begin to learn more combat tactics including ambushes and patrols in order to implement them in the field.

The goal of the 13-day training course is to send Airmen who are ready and capable of passing the real test into U.S. Army Ranger training at Fort Benning.

"We don't want to send just anyone to Fort Benning," said Sergeant France. "We want our people to thrive and the best possible way to ensure success is to screen the participants who meet the requirements and volunteer for the course."

Since 1955, there have only been about 220 Air Force personnel who have graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School.

The goal of this course is to make more successful ground leaders through execution, said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Villella, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing command chief.

"The 820th (SFG) provides the building blocks for success," he added. "They are teaching troop leading procedures, movement techniques and combat skills that will prepare these Airmen for Ranger School."

Graduation from the course however, does not guarantee that an Airman is going to be sent to Fort Benning for Ranger School.

"We will only send the best possible candidates to the school, that means if 12 of the Airmen are ready for the Army Rangers we will send 12," said Sergeant France. "But if there's only two that's all we will send."

For the Army instructors who came to Moody, this course has been a new experience.

"I've worked with a few Air Force members as an instructor at Fort Benning, but never a whole class of Airmen," said Sergeant 1st Class Todd Hitchings, Army Ranger instructor. "I really can't notice the difference between a class of these guys and a typical class of Army Rangers."

He also pointed out that the Air Force has a high graduation rate due to the pre-ranger training course.

"The 820th (SFG) does a great job weeding out the guys who don't stand a very good chance of making it through the actual ranger training," said Sergeant Hitchings. "The course really does help prepare these Airmen for the full course."

"With all of the joint operations going on in today's Armed Services it's important for the different services to work together," he added. "We love to see Air Force members come through the Army Ranger School."