U.S. Army Rangers must master a wide variety of skills in two months before they are sent to hot-spots around the world to defend America and our allies.
Part of their training — the “mountain phase” — takes place at the 5th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Merrill outside of Dahlonega, Georgia. Rangers are taught how to be victorious in mountainous battlefields.
Once a year, Camp Merrill has an open house to demonstrate their skills, as they did on April 26, 2014. I am thankful that I was there and that the Rangers allowed me access to share these photographs with you.
One of the necessary skills is called HALO: High-Altitude Low-Opening parachute jumps.
- Rangers jump out of a perfectly good helicopter safely flying a mile off the ground.
- Rangers don’t open their parachutes until the last moment.
- They often are fired upon on their way to the ground.
- They land, defend themselves and regroup.
- Alive. Together.
The mountain phase of Ranger training only allows soldiers a few hours of sleep and one or two meals daily. They are in the field up to 20-hours a day in order to learn how to carry out their duties in the most harsh conditions.
This is what HALO looks like from the ground. I don’t want to know what it looks like any closer than this.
As you might imagine, fluttering to the ground while holding smoking flares was only for the enjoyment of the hundreds of people gathered at the open house.
Click Here for the 7th Ranger Training Battalion’s Facebook Page
Click Here for More Ranger Open House Pictures
