Ranger Rendezvous 2017
The 75th Ranger Regiment hosts its bi-annual change of command activities - Ranger Rendezvous - at Fort Benning, Georgia beginning Monday, June 26 and ending Friday, June 30, 2017. Ranger Rendezvous 2017 marks the beginning of a 15 month celebration of the 75 year anniversary of the modern American Ranger during World War II with the establishment of 1st Ranger Battalion on June 19, 1942 and Merrill's Marauders on Oct 3, 1943.
Ranger Rendezvous 2017 is the 30th anniversary of the Rendezvous held in 1987. The four-day event begins on Monday, June 26 with a mass tactical airborne assault. The following morning on Tuesday, June 27, Rangers begin the day with a PT run, conduct a State of the 75th Ranger Regiment brief, and induct Ranger Regiment legends as Distinguished and Honorary Members of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Wednesday, June 28 features Ranger tactical and physical competitions to include a combat-focused stress shoot, a Best Ranger-style endurance event, boxing, combatives and team sporting events. In the afternoon, the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade inducts the Class of 2017 into the Ranger Hall of Fame followed by the no host Ranger BBQ. The week culminates on Thursday, June 29 with the 75th Ranger Regiment's Change of Command at the National Infantry Museum Parade Field.
Throughout the week, there are a variety of fellowship opportunities for Ranger veterans, families and guests. Click on the dates above to see a list of each day's activities. The schedule of events is continuously updated.
Monday, June 26
| Time | Event | Location | Audience | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:45 AM | Ranger Airborne Operation | Fryar Drop Zone | Open to all | |
| 7:00 PM | United States Ranger Association (USARA) Ranger Appreciation Night | Doubletree Hotel | Registered USARA members and invited USARA guests | Dress is casual civilian. |
Tuesday, June 27
| Time | Event | Location | Audience | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:20 AM | Ranger PT | Peden Field | Open to all | Begins with Ranger Creed at 6:20 AM, Reveille at 6:30 AM followed by a 3.7 mile run. |
| 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | USARA Ranger Expo | McGinnis-Wickam Hall, Main hall | Open to all | Ranger associations and Care Coalition partners register with MAJ Tony Mayne at anthony.mayne@socom.mil |
| 1:00 PM | State of the 75th Ranger Regiment Brief | Marshall Auditorium, McGinnis-Wickam Hall | Open to all | |
| 2:00 PM | Distinguished and Honorary Members of the 75th Ranger Regiment Induction Ceremony | Marshall Aditorium, McGinnis-Wickam Hall | Open to all | |
| 5:00 PM | Ranger Hall of Fame Dinner. | National Infantry Museum | By invitation only event | Social hour followed by 6:00 PM dinner. |
Wednesday, June 28
| Time | Event | Location | Audience | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5:00 AM-UTC | Endurathon | Begins at Peden Field and ends at Ranger Memorial | Open to all | Event includes long movements via foot, bike and water. |
| 8:00 AM-UTC | Ranger Physical Assessment Test and Stress Shoot | Begins at Honor Field, shooting at Farnsworth Ranger, and ends at Ranger Memorial | Open to all | Champion to be announced at 10:15 AM at Ranger Memorial. |
| 8:00 AM-UTC | Boxing and Combatives Prelims and Semi-Finals | Smith Gym | Open to all | |
| 8:00 AM-UTC | Team Sports Competitions: Flag Football, Soccer, Softball, Basketball | Stewart-Watson Field, Engineer Field, Smith Gym | Open to all | |
| 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | USARA Ranger Expo | McGinnis-Wickam Hall | Open to all | Ranger associations and Care Coalition partners |
| 11:00 AM | Ranger Association and Ranger Military/Veteran Support Organization Brief | Fenty Room, McGinnis-Wickam Hall | Ranger associations and M/VSOs | |
| 1:00 PM | Ranger Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony | Marshall Aditorium, McGinnis-Wickam Hall | Open to all | |
| 3:00 PM | Boxing and Combatives Finals | Smith Gym | Open to all | |
| 5:00 PM | USARA Ranger Expo tear-down | McGinnis-Wickam Hall | Particpants | |
| 5:00 PM | No Host BBQ | Freedom Hall, Lawson Army Airfield | 75th Ranger Regiment - active duty, veterans and family members | Price TBD |
| 7:00-10:00 PM | Big Sky Bravery Concert | Downtown Columbus | Open to all |
Thursday, June 29
| Time | Event | Location | Audience | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Change of Command | National Infantry Museum Parade Field | Open to all | |
| 10:00 AM | Meet and Greet with WWII Rangers | National Infantry Museum, 1st floor | Open to all | |
| 1:00 AM | The Darby Project Ranger Veteran Leader Award Ceremony | National Infantry Museum, 2nd floor, Ranger Hall | Open to all | Awardees include: MSG Ret. Leroy Petry (MoH), BG Ret. Joseph Stringham, MSG Ray Castillo, MSG Ret. Yandell, Mrs. Shelia Dudley, and Miss Kristina McNichol. |
| 1:00 PM | GallantFew Board Meeitng | National Infantry Museum, 2nd floor | GallantFew board members and The Darby Project Ranger Veteran Leaders (RVL); follows The Darby Project Veteran Leader Awards Ceremony. | RSVP to Karl Monger at karl@gallantfew.org. |
| 6:00 PM | 75th Ranger Regiment Association (RRA) Dinner Guest Speaker: GEN Ret. Stanley A. McChrystal | National Infantry Museum | Registered RRA members and invited RRA guests | |
| 6:00 PM | Descendants of WW II Rangers Memorial Ceremony | Hilton Garden Inn | Open to all | Memorial wreath laying ceremony honoring WWII Rangers. |
Friday, June 30
| Time | Event | Location | Audience | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5:30 PM | USARA President's Reception & Banquet Guest Speaker: TBA | Doubletree Hotel | Registered USARA members and invited USARA guests | Reception begins at 5:30 pm followed by dinner at 6:30 pm. Dress for USARA Members and Guests is business casual or coat & tie. Dress for active military is the Army Service Uniform (ASU) or service equivalent. Color guard dress is the Army Combat Uniform (ACU). |
Saturday, July 1
| Time | Event | Location | Audience | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Big Sky Bravery Ranger Rendezvous 5K | Downtown Columbus | Community event |
Ranger Expo 2017
New to Ranger Rendezvous 2017, Ranger associations and United States Special Operations Command Care Coalition partners will line the main hall of McGinnis-Wickam Hall at Fort Benning on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 27 and 28 to provide exposure to the myriad of resources available to the Rangers and their families that “move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier”.
The Ranger Expo will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. allowing all guests the opportunity to visit with loyal Ranger supports before the State of the Regiment Brief and Distinguished and Honorary Members of the 75th Ranger Regiment induction ceremony on Tuesday and the Ranger Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Wednesday.
Notes:
- Register for Ranger Expo with your organization’s point of contact information to 75rgrpao@soc.mil.
- Participating Ranger associations must provide valid not-for-profit status to register.
- No organization participating in the Ranger Expo may exchange goods or services for profit, fundraising, or membership; this includes raffles.
Media
The 75th Ranger Regiment does not support non-Department of Defense media requests during Ranger Rendezvous 2017 on or off the Fort Benning installation at 75th Ranger Regiment sponsored events. The Ranger Hall of Fame induction events are not conducted by the 75th Ranger Regiment and may host media if coordinated through the Fort Benning and Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade Public Affairs Offices.
All members of the 75th Ranger Regiment are required to gain approval for interviews and digital recording of their image before engagement with non-Department of Defense media. Please contact the 75th Ranger Regiment Public Affairs Office at 75rgrpao@soc.mil as required.