Army Ranger - Camp James E. Rudder

The next best thing to staying out of “Harms Way” is knowledge of what to do when you get there. As the United States military is being called upon to carry the fight for America’s safety to an ever-hostile world there is a small group of young men that are taking out a little extra “Combat Life Insurance.”

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Entrance to the Admin Compound at Camp Rudder. Students parachute in and never see this until they finish.	Spc Travis Higgins of Spring Hill, FL is re-enlisted by Col. K.K. Chinn while in the middle of training. Col Brewer and MSGT Spangle hold the flag behind them.	Col K.K. Chinn and Spc Travis Higgins are all smiles after a cool dip in the river. It was a hot day, but a good day for America.

Col. K. K. Chinn coined the term “Combat Life Insurance” when he was describing what the Army Ranger School is all about. You cannot purchase a policy with dollars. There is only way to obtain this insurance and that is to complete “Ranger” training at Camp James E. Rudder, in Northwest Florida.

United States Army Ranger training consists of three distinct yet connected stages. The first stage is at Ft Benning Georgia, followed by mountain training in North Georgia. Camp Rudder on the vast Eglin Air Force reservation is the final stage of “Ranger” training. Those that make it trough the weeks of training earn the right to wear the coveted “Ranger Tab” on their uniform.

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Col Brewer, the Commanding Officer, keeps a close eye on everything that happens at Camp Rudder.	A young Ranger Instructor displays some of the weapons that Rangers are training with.

An Army Ranger is expected to move farther, faster and fight harder than anyone else on the battlefield. He is expected to use his brain equally to his muscle power. He is taught over and over how to improvise while learning the basic techniques to overcome the objective. This is what Col. Chinn meant when he said Ranger training was a combat life insurance policy. A Ranger is ever observant to his surroundings. It is a Ranger's mission to be the one delivering any surprises on the battlefield.

This past week Brigadier General Mike Ferguson provided two local and very influential groups a greater understanding of what it meant to be an Army Ranger and how terribly important Camp Rudder is to the training mission.

The two groups were several top management officials from Gulf Power and the Northwest Florida elected delegation. Every individual was very impressed with what these young men have to endure to win their designation as a United States Army Ranger.

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State Representatives Don Brown and Ray Sansom wonder how well the State Legislature would fare in the school	Susan Story, President of Gulf Power straps on an 85 to 100 lb back pack that each man carries everywhere he goes. Her staff around her "could not handle the load." Col. Yarborough says he would be proud to have someone like her on his staff.	State Representatives Dave Murzin, Greg Evers and General Ferguson watch as a Ranger instructor demonstrates how some of the equipment is to be used.

Camp Rudder is probably one of the best-kept secrets in Northwest Florida. Isolated on part of the massive Eglin Air Force Base reservation thousands drive past it everyday and never know that it is there. The camp has been on the Eglin reservation for over fifty years. They occasionally hold public open house and Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia residents should make every effort to visit and see the great work being done by a very small group of instructors.

If you would like more information about the United States Army Ranger School at Camp Rudder send an Email to Gen. Ferguson and we will be glad to answer all your questions.

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wish to communicate with Brigadier General Michael Ferguson - Click here.