Modern Era History

Of the Ranger Companies developed to conduct combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam only two were retained. The two companies, A/75 and B/75, were deactivated in 1974 in order to provide an experienced base of soldiers to form two new Ranger Battalions. The traditional missions in Vietnam were primarily raids, ambushes, and reconnaissance. Due to changes in war fighting scenarios, the modern Rangers trained for and conducted more direct-action missions and less reconnaissance work, while the Army created other LRRP units to focus on reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

Rangers participated as a supporting force for the attempted rescue of American hostages in Iran in 1980. In October 1983, 1st and 2nd Battalions, 75th Infantry (Ranger), led the invasion of Grenada with a combat parachute jump in Operation Urgent Fury.

One year later, a third Ranger Battalion and Regimental Headquarters was created and in April 1986, the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) was redesignated the 75th Ranger Regiment. The lineage, honors, awards and campaign credits of W.W. II and Korean Ranger units were added to the 75th Ranger Regiment, which had originally drawn its lineage from the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional). Not since Darby's W.W. II Ranger Force have so many Rangers been assembled into a single fighting unit.

The 75th Ranger Regiment led the way with two combat jumps into Panama in 1989 during Operation Just Cause. Rangers participated in Desert Storm in 1991 with the duties of conducting raids and providing a reaction force. Alpha and Bravo Companies of the 3rd Ranger Battalion participated in the United Nations' missions in Somalia in 1993. Their actions in Mogadishu, Somalia clearly demonstrated the superiority of Ranger training and adaptability on the field of battle.

The modern Ranger has to volunteer three times, first for the Army, second for Airborne School, and finally for the Ranger Regiment. Training, for these volunteers, includes a selection course called the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP), which follows the successful completion of Airborne School. After graduating from RIP, the volunteer is assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment.

The training of the modern Ranger is year-round and extremely arduous. It is not uncommon for deaths to occur due to live fire exercises and the extreme environmental conditions used to replicate the stressful conditions of war. This physical and mental conditioning not only earns the privilege of wearing the coveted Black Beret, but also the responsibility of deploying to any location in the world with only a few hours notice. Rangers enjoy a bond the average person cannot understand. The satisfaction of serving with other like-minded and dedicated individuals is an experience which very few units enjoy. The modern Ranger must live up to the standards created by Rangers who have killed, and died fighting, for over 300 years on the world's battlefields.