There were some reserve Ranger units, back during the Vietnam era when "Ranger" meant LRRP units. There are Nat'l Guard LRS units these days, who are generally pretty sharp in my limited experience with them. Then, of course, there are National Guard Special Forces units, who are extremely sharp. I don't know that it would work for a Ranger battalion(s), though -- what, exactly, is their mission going to be? If a reserve unit, rapid deployment is probably not viable. With adequate funding and the right attitude from the leadership, they could probably be a very sharp unit, even with the limited training drill status would allow, but they'd still need several weeks or more to get polished up to deployable status. In a major deployment they could train up and help meet mission surge, but have the three battalions really been that stressed, even recently? In a related note, I believe that the National Guard has always had a pretty difficult time with maintaining units on jump status for various reasons. I know there were, historically, some line airborne infantry units (72nd Bde, TX ARNG, if memory serves correctly), but they've all gone away except for SOCOM, LRS, and CSS units, if I'm not mistaken.

- In a major deployment they could train up and help meet mission surge, but have the three battalions really been that stressed, even recently? From what I remember the 3 battalions are usually quite stressed (relatively speaking) one battalion is always held in reserve and on hightened status (3 hour recall) if the other two are deployed. This generally prevents the regiment from deploying in force.

I would think that having a few reserve Ranger btns wouldnt be that bad of an idea. Maybe even just have them as independant Ranger companies attached to existing NG brigades or divisions. They would probably be more suited for a sitution similar to Korea where the divisions had Ranger companies assigned, rather than as part of a larger Ranger force acting as a consolidated unit. Here's an idea as far as readiness and jump status ... increae the obligations of the enlistess. People that really wanted to be NG rangers would probably not be dissuaded by 18 drills a year and a one month a year camp.

Also ... if there were NG Ranger btns, and if the operational tempo of the active units was such that two of the three were deployed on assignments that had some length to their obligation, then the NG units status could be bumped up to any contigency callup. Maybe have them on 24 or 48 hour alert to cover the chance the third active btn got the signal.

Can someone explain to me the function of the Rangers. People on this site seem to refer to them as Special Forces, but what exactly is their role in a war. I am English, so could you give me a direct comparison with an equivalent British formation.

Rangers are a light/airborne infantry formation, using basically the same organization as other American non-mech infantry formations (though with some ranger-specific variation). One big mission for them is airfield seizures. Raids are another big mission. And more generally, they are SOCOM and JSOC's force on hand when you need a conventional sort of gun-heavy unit -- i.e. QRF, perimeter security for Delta operations (Mogadishu), etc. While I am not a huge fan of the book (primarily because I think his projections for the future are daft), Colonel Daniel Bolger's book _Death Ground_ is a pretty good primer on the kinds of infantry units fielded by the US and their specific capabilities, etc.

So; the same role that the 3 battalions of the Paras perform. Where do the 82nd fit into this, and how does their role differ from the Rangers?

Yes, I would say the Rangers are very similar to the Paras, we did some cross training with the Paras when I was in the Rangers... Great bunch of errr... chaps. I would have to say the Rangers are less conventional then the Paras (as airborne units go) in that their missions generally envolve special operations forces (Delta, 160th Avn, Seals ect.). The 82nd can also perform some of the same missions but tends to be used mainly as the US's rapid deployment division. Also something else to note... In addition to the general requirement of all the Ranger NCOs are to be Ranger Qualified, many of the Rangers have received additional training. (Sniper, Halo, Pathfinder, Scuba, SERE, ect.) All members of the Rangers must pass RIP (Ranger Indoctrination Program) prior to assignment. Ranger physical standards must be kept, which include: Run 5 miles in formation <= 40 mins, Road March w/50 lb ruck 12 miles <= 3 hrs, and pass the swim test. Military discipline and bearing in the Rangers is maintained very high by the NCO corps. Failure to maitain these standards will result in termination from the Ranger Regiment.

>>So; the same role that the 3 battalions of the Paras perform. Where do the 82nd fit into this, and how does their role differ from the Rangers << Grenada and Panama may be illustrative -- Rangers seized airfields, 82nd followed on. The 82nd could do airfield seizure missions, but that's a mission the Ranger battalions train for extensively, to include integration with other SOCOM assets also used in the mission. And, as Brigand noted, they also work closely with other SOCOM assets, sending out detachments to serve as the quick reaction and raiding force for Joint Special Operations Task Forces, for instance (i.e. the raid Rangers and CAG made into Afghanistan early in the US intervention). Also as he noted, the Rangers are "ultra-orthodox" if you will, in terms of military discipline, customs and courtesies, etc, especially compared to groups like SF, etc.

As regards working with special forces, the paras often operate in support of the SAS. In Sierra Leone it was the Paras that secured the bases while the SAS did recce. When armed intervention (to rescue hostages) was required, it was a combined Para/SAS force that were involved. "The West Side Boys, a faction of the former Sierra Leonean army loyal to the military junta that ruled the country 1997?98, kidnapped 11 British soldiers, along with Sierra Leonean government troops, on 26 August 2000. The British soldiers were part of a contingent of 400 troops training a new Sierra Leone army. They were captured for the West Side Boys to use as a bargaining tool to seek fresh supplies and the release of their leader, known as General Bomb Blast. Five of the British soldiers were released on 30 August. The hostage crisis ended dramatically on 10 September when British paratroopers and the SAS stormed the West Side Boys?s hideout and rescued the six remaining Britons. In the dawn raid, one Briton and more than 20 rebels were killed."