The Ranger tab is a service school qualification tab of the United States Army, awarded to any soldier who completes Ranger School[1] at the U.S. Army Fort Moore, Georgia. Soldiers who are awarded the Ranger tab are authorized to wear it for the remainder of their military careers.[1][2] The Ranger tab is considered the pre-eminent award for soldiers in combat arms branches within the United States Army. It is considered an unwritten rule in the Infantry Branch that a Ranger tab is required to achieve full career success,[3] with the majority of commissioned and non-commissioned officers serving in battalion and above leadership roles (within brigade combat teams and infantry divisions) holding the award.
The Ranger tab was created in 1950 and is an embroidered quadrant patch worn on the upper left sleeve of a military uniform. The cloth tab is 2+3⁄8 inches (6.0cm) long, 11⁄16 inch (1.7cm) wide, with a 1⁄8 inch (0.32cm) yellow border and the word "RANGER" inscribed in yellow letters 5⁄16 inch (0.79cm) high. A metal Ranger badge is authorized for wear on mess/dress and class-B uniforms. The metal badge is black enameled background and gold letters and border.[4]
The original design of the tab had a black and red color scheme, spelling the word RANGERS. This design was an adaption of the traditional Ranger scroll, intended to recognize those who completed training for the Ranger companies that previously existed.[5]
At the time of its creation, the Ranger bab was retroactively awarded to any Army soldiers who previously completed a Ranger course conducted by the now-defunct Ranger Training Command. In addition, as set forth in Army regulations, veterans of certain categories of former wartime service are also eligible for retroactive awards of the tab. Among these are:[1]
Any person who successfully completed a Ranger course conducted by the Ranger Training Command at Fort Benning, Georgia
Any person who was awarded the CIB while serving during World War II as a member of a Ranger BN (1st through 6th inclusive) or in the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) and 475th Infantry Regiment (Merrill's Marauders)
867th Attack Squadron MQ-9 Reaper pilot wearing a Ranger tab
The Ranger Course was conceived during the Korean War and was known as the Ranger Training Command. On 10 October 1951, the Ranger Training Command was inactivated and became the Ranger Department, a branch of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. From 1954 to the early 1970's, the Army's goal was to have one Ranger-tabbed NCO per infantry platoon and one officer per company. In an effort to better achieve this goal, in 1954 the Army required all combat arms officers to become Ranger qualified.[6]
Today, the Ranger tab is considered mandatory for all soldiers serving within leadership positions in the 75th Ranger Regiment.[7] Outside of the 75th Ranger Regiment, it is considered a highly desired award for career progression. It is the goal of the infantry branch to provide all infantry lieutenants with the opportunity to earn the Ranger tab following Infantry BOLC. Earning the tab is considered an indication that an officer possesses the skills and stamina necessary to effectively lead soldiers in the infantry. All other branches also highly encourage their lieutenants to attempt to earn the Ranger tab. It is highly encouraged that those who will serve within an Infantry Brigade Combat Team or will serve as a Special Forces Officer have their Ranger tab.[8]
Successful completion of a Ranger course conducted by the U.S. Army Infantry School
Any person who successfully completed a Ranger course conducted by the Ranger Training Command at Fort Benning, Georgia
Any person who was awarded the CIB while serving during World War II as a member of a Ranger BN (1st through 6th inclusive) or in the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) and 475th Infantry Regiment (Merrill's Marauders)
Other tabs
The Ranger tab is one of four permanent individual skill/marksmanship tabs (as compared to a badge) authorized for wear by the U.S. Army. In order of precedence on the uniform, they are the President's Hundred tab, the Special Forces tab, the Ranger tab, and the Sapper tab.[1] Only three may be worn at one time.[2]
Colonel David Haskell Hackworth was a United States Army officer and journalist, who was decorated in both the Korean War and Vietnam War. Hackworth is known for his role in the formation and command of Tiger Force, a military unit from the 101st Airborne Division that used guerrilla warfare tactics against Viet Cong in South Vietnam.
The United States Army Special Forces (SF), colloquially known as the "Green Berets" due to their distinctive service headgear, is the special operations branch of the United States Army. Although technically an Army branch, the Special Forces operates similarly to a functional area (FA), in that individuals may not join its ranks until having served in another Army branch.
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers in the rank of colonel and below, who fought in active ground combat while assigned as members of either an Infantry or Special Forces unit of brigade size or smaller at any time after 6 December 1941. For those soldiers who are not members of an infantry, or Special Forces unit, the Combat Action Badge (CAB) is awarded instead. For soldiers with an MOS in the medical field they would, with the exception of a Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D), receive the Combat Medical Badge. 18D Special Forces Medics would receive the Combat Infantryman badge instead.
The Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) is a special skills badge of the United States Army.
The Special Forces Tab is a service school qualification tab of the United States Army, awarded to any soldier completing the Special Forces Qualification Course at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Liberty, North Carolina. Soldiers who are awarded the Special Forces Tab are authorized to wear it, as well as the green beret for the remainder of their military careers, even when not serving in a Special Forces command.
The Air Assault Badge is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingloading operations; and rappelling from a helicopter.
The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces. Some services, such as the Marine Corps, officially refer to it as an insignia instead of a badge. The United States Space Force and United States Coast Guard are the only branches that do not award the Parachutist Badge, but their members are authorized to receive the Parachutist Badges of other services in accordance with their prescribed requirements. The DoD military services are all awarded the same Military Parachutist Badge. The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force issue the same Senior and Master Parachutist Badges while the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps issue the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia to advanced parachutists. The majority of the services earn their Military Parachutist Badge through the U.S. Army Airborne School.
Badges of the United States Air Force are specific uniform insignia authorized by the United States Air Force that signify aeronautical ratings, special skills, career field qualifications, and serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments.
The Combat Action Badge (CAB) is a United States military award given to soldiers of the U.S. Army of any rank and who are not members of an infantry, special forces, or medical MOS, for being "present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy and performing satisfactorily in accordance with prescribed rules of engagement" at any point in time after 18 September 2001.
Colonel is a Canadian Forces rank used by commissioned officers who wear the army, air force or special operations uniform. Captain(N) is the equivalent rank for officers who wear the navy uniform. A colonel is senior to the army and air force rank of lieutenant-colonel or the naval rank of commander, and junior to the army and air force rank of brigadier-general or the naval rank of commodore.
Unofficial badges of the United States military are those badges or emblems that do not appear in United States military regulations but that many individuals serving in the United States military wear or display. Unofficial badges may also be bestowed for a one time action or be authorized under the authority of a local commander.
The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942, at the direction of Major-General Frederick "Boy" Browning, commander of the British 1st Airborne Division. It was first worn by the Parachute Regiment in action in North Africa during November 1942.
The tan beret, also known as a beige beret, has been adopted as official headgear by several special operations forces as a symbol of their unique capabilities.
In the United States (US) military, a beret flash is a shield-shaped embroidered cloth that is typically 2.25 in (5.72 cm) tall and 1.875 in (4.76 cm) wide with a semi–circular base that is attached to a stiffener backing of a military beret. These flashes—a British English word for a colorful cloth patch attached to military headgear—are worn over the left eye with the excess cloth of the beret shaped, folded, and pulled over the right ear giving it a distinctive appearance.
The Ram's Head Device is a military special skill badge of the United States Army National Guard. The Ram's Head Device is awarded to any soldier after completion of the Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS), based at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont.
Brigadier General Hector E. Pagan is a United States Army officer who is the first Hispanic of Puerto Rican descent to become Deputy Commanding General of the U.S.Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Liberty, North Carolina.
In the United States Army, tabs are cloth and/or metal arches that are worn on U.S. Army uniforms, displaying a word or words signifying a special skill. On the Army Combat Uniform and Army Service Uniform, the tabs are worn above a unit's shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) and are used to identify a unit's or a soldier's special skill(s) or are worn as part of a unit's SSI as part of its unique heritage. Individual tabs are also worn as small metal arches above or below medals or ribbons on dress uniforms.
The United States Army has used military berets as headgear with various uniforms beginning in World War II. Since June 14, 2001, a black beret is worn by all U.S. Army troops unless the soldier is approved to wear a different distinctive beret. A maroon beret has been adopted as official headdress by the Airborne forces, a tan beret by the 75th Ranger Regiment, a brown beret by the Security Force Assistance Brigades, and a green beret by the Special Forces.
The 172nd Infantry Regiment is a Vermont Army National Guard infantry regiment which specializes in mountainous and cold weather operations. It falls under the command of the Vermont Army National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain). Before the creation of the Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2008, the regiment was recognized as the only conventional unit in the United States Army trained and equipped for mountain operations. The regiment draws heritage from the original 10th Mountain Division, which fought during World War II, both in the type of training they conduct and in the specialized equipment the unit maintains.
The Tennessee State Guard (TNSG) is the state defense force of the state of Tennessee. The TNSG is organized as a military reserve force whose members drill once per month unless called to active duty. The TNSG is a branch of the Tennessee Military Department, alongside the Tennessee Army National Guard, the Tennessee Air National Guard, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. The State Guard acts as a force multiplier for the state's National Guard. As a state defense force, the Tennessee State Guard cannot be federalized, and is not deployed outside the borders of Tennessee, as it is a purely state-level unit. It answers solely to the Governor of Tennessee, unlike the dual federal and state controlled National Guard. The creation of a state military force is recognized under Tennessee Code Annotated 58-1-401.
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