Army Rangers go where others fear to tread. That's why any soldier who wears a Ranger tab on his uniform does so with pride, confidence and authority. It signifies completion of one of the toughest courses of special training the U.S. Army has to offer. In military confrontations, Rangers are usually the first soldiers on the scene. They drop in behind enemy lines on specialized missions to lay the groundwork for infantry and armor, who move in later. All Rangers are airborne qualified. But instead of jumping in large groups from aircraft at 1,300 feet, Rangers specialize in small surprise attacks. They make jumps in small groups of three or four, from high altitude and touch down silently in the night, undetected. These soldiers are known as HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) jumpers. To be part of this elite group, you have to be among the best of the best.
Link to Ranger Recruiting:
http://www.goarmy.com/job/branch/sorc/75th/index.htm
You hook up your static line. You check your parachute equipment. You move toward the door of the aircraft - and then it's your turn. The cold air hits you in the face and, suddenly one step later, the only thing between you and the ground is 1,300 feet of air. And, of course, three weeks of intense training that have thoroughly prepared you for this moment. Talk about a rush! Having successfully survived jump school, soldiers graduate and are given their Airborne wings. Wings are a mark of courage, daring and skill. But jump school is more than an airborne academy. It's a confidence school, a leadership school. And soldiers who complete the course leave with a greater respect and awe for themselves and the skills they have acquired. That's something they have for the rest of their lives.
"The Best of the Best"