Thread: Any Vietnam Vets

Best Ranger: Ranger Training 1972: Building Toughness : Video : The Military Channel

Does this differ from Marine Corps Special Forces Training or did everyone do the same in the beginning?

PcDad

I dont know what the Corps does, but this is an advanced Infantry course in the Army. After 2 months of boot, 2 months of Infantry you can elect to go Ranger, usually this is done after 3 weeks of jump school (Airborne). It was nice to see Ft Benning again, brings back a lot of memories.


BTW I missed 'nam by a couple of years. Thank you Jesus!

V Vet? I R 1, FWIW.

The "Rangers" I was aquainted with received training in country. The LRRP companies were not designated part of the 75th until early 1969.

Special Forces training was conducted at Ft. Bragg's School for Special Warfare during this period of time.

I should add that the training was very different as the mission of the LRRP-Ranger and Special Forces in Viet Nam was different.

Lot's of OJT in the Nam going on during my time there in 66/67, slick door gunners was a big one, early long range recon work and Pathfinders were in short supply. I participated in training Pathfinders when time allowed with the
11th CAB out of Phu Loi, most on the job.
And Fort Benning......"stand in the door".....

I was a supply sergeant for 5th SFG(A) my last 3 years in the Army. When we were in Afghan in 2001/02, a group of the top heads from Regiment came to Afghan to do the jump in so they could get the mustard stains.

They literally flew in, jumped, got back on a plane and flew back to the states. Rangers are hardcore no doubt but that was low class IMO.

I chatted to my old mans best friend who was USMC SF in 69-72 platoon leader along the Laos/Cambodia border...he had said in the NAM years he felt were more about morals n values at least for the GI's going in..perhaps things have changed today or "easy access" were those guy's MO

PcDad