Ranger School....Back when it was easy?????

[ZoneIV]

Stumbled across these two videos produced by the US Army. I haven't seen them here so I thought I would post. I have no idea about a date or time period but I am assuming mid to late 50s???? Perhaps one of the FOGs here can ID. Heck, they may see themselves in it. There are a LOT of similarities Rangers of any era can identify with BUT one thing does stick out. There are absolutely NO rucksacks. Didn't spot a single one. Now how easy was that not having to lug a rucksack around????

Big Picture: Ranger: Mark of a Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZNtbmz- ... ture=feedf

Big Picture: Ranger Ready
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffCodOs3 ... re=channel

[Slowpoke]

I served with the guy taking out the Indian Guard.

[Furious George]

Looks like 1959, or thereabout somewhere. If you look at the first video you can see when in Mountain Phase, on the wall, they have dates listed with the last being 1959. About the second one, I couldn't be sure...when did they stop trying to look like Castro's troops with the cardboard inserts in their patrol caps?

Thanks ZoneIV, that was a good post.

[Jim]

My guess would be 1959. Pre Viet-Nam. Amazing for several items:
1. Shirt buttoned to the top.
2. No web gear except LBE and canteen.
3. Very small class. Looks like two small platoons. 50 - 75 students.
4. Noticed that a number of the students at graduation already were wearing awards and decorations.
5. Looked staged, students looked too relaxed.
Great find.

[ZoneIV]

My guess would be 1959. Pre Viet-Nam. Amazing for several items:
3. Very small class. Looks like two small platoons. 50 - 75 students.

My class only had about 60 students graduate so that didn't strike me.

5. Looked staged, students looked too relaxed.

Yeah.....the Ranger student vacant stare trait was certainly absent.
I thought the drone doing the aerial attack on the truck convoy was a really cool simulation blowing dirt up, etc.

[Jim]

In the second,"Ranger Ready," one of the characters is a SSG from the 508th Infantry when they were a separate regiment. The patch is similar to the 82d, except there is a Griffin instead of AA in the center. At one time the 508 was stationed in Japan. When I was assigned to the School of the Americas in Panama (1968 - 69), 3-508 was at Ft. Kobe. Of course, we all know that today the 508th is in the 82d.

In addition, please notice the Florida Camp Commander is Major Arthur "Bull" Simon, a Ranger/ SF legend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Simons

[Flesh Thorn]

I enjoyed watching this. It reminded me of a Disney production like used to come on Sunday evening back when we had one tv channel.

[ZoneIV]

In addition, please notice the Florida Camp Commander is Major Arthur "Bull" Simon, a Ranger/ SF legend.

Well if this is the same person, then the second video is dated between 51-54 since Wikipedia states he served:

1951 – 54: Amphibious and Jungle Training Camp, Ranger Training Camp, Ft. Benning, GA

[KW Driver]

they damn sure could have cut and pasted footage from different years. I ended up on the Discovery Channel for about 1.75 seconds that way. PAO film crew went on an EDRE LFX with my Squad, and it ended up on a cool guys show. I'm still waiting for my residual check.