What parts of ARSOF 2022, in your opinion, apply to the 75^th, and how do you see that affecting your unit in the years ahead?

Actually ARSOF 2022 provides significant detail and responsibilities for the 75^th Ranger Regiment. The USASOC commanding general has provided a very clear vision on what roles he sees the regiment providing to the nation. ARSOF 2022 describes the use of Army special operations across the continuum of conflict from pre-conflict to post conflict operations and the commanding general has tasked the regiment with very challenging and specific responsibilities. ARSOF 2022 gives our nation’s leaders capabilities and provides great tools for our nation that were not previously described well. The regiment provides one of those tools, which may or may not be appropriate given a set of conditions and a specific environment. Before 9/11, we were known as a force that seized airfields and conducted raids. But now, after almost 13 years of continuous combat, our capability has outgrown that narrow mission set. We have an interoperability capacity with the conventional forces that allows us to conduct anything in support of an operation from special operations missions to infantry related tasks. That capacity will continue to grow as we integrate into major training events with conventional forces at the National Training Center, the Joint Readiness Training Center, and even the Korea Training Center. We have also developed the capability of training and partnering with a host nation special operations force. In Afghanistan, we have partnered with and operated on the battlefield with the most capable Afghan SOF in the nation for over half of a decade. We also have a charter from the current Chief of Staff of the Army. Gen. [Raymond T.] Odierno laid out his expectations for the 75^th Ranger Regiment. His expectation is that we will always continue to be a premier special operations force, the proponent for forcible entry mission, the link between the SOF community and the conventional combat brigades, and the most elite infantry force in the world.

As a result of ARSOF 2022, what future requirements do you see coming down the line for the 75^th Ranger Regiment, and do you see additional roles and missions in its future?

As a result of ARSOF 2022 and the emerging environment, we truly need to be ready for any type of mission and that is why we will continue to train to remain proficient in a multitude of tasks. It is important that our battalions continue to train consistently on the forcible entry mission. We must remain able to provide our National Military Command the capability to gain a foothold and operate in a hostile environment, whether to destroy an enemy, facilitate follow-on forces as part of a larger operation, or to conduct a non-combatant evacuation. We will continue to train our special operations capabilities at the platoon and company levels to remain proficient in synchronizing joint assets and attack enemy networks. And now we are also focusing on training with units outside the special operations community, brigade size and above, in preparation for a more conventional fight. The 75^th Ranger Regiment will have a mission in any type conflict and across the full spectrum of operations.

It goes without saying that the 75^th Ranger Regiment has been fully engaged since being committed after 9/11. Do you see any further expansions for the regiment in the years ahead, or the possibility of forming a second dedicated Ranger formation down the road?

Further expansion will be difficult in the near term, with budget constraints and a draw down in the overall force. Additionally, growing in size comes with parallel degradation in quality. This has been re-learned since the first hostilities among mankind. The 75^th Ranger Regiment is focused on maintaining the Army’s premier special operations capable infantry while institutionalizing the hard lessons learned over the past 12 plus years in combat. Our growth in intelligence capabilities has been crucial in our ability to find, fix and finish the enemy by adding the ability to exploit and analyze. Our Multi-Purpose Canine Program has been critical to the success of our forces in complex environments with an enemy that hides among a populace that is being terrorized. And our Regimental Selection and Training Company has been decisive in producing the highly trained Rangers that have filled our ranks for the last 13 years. The 75^th Ranger Regiment will always adapt to an always-adapting enemy threat, but currently we are focused on keeping those valuable capabilities we developed and need in order to meet tomorrow’s mission.

In the face of constrained budgets and the overall draw down of the Army, future growth is unlikely. However, the regiment is committed to capitalizing on the critical capability advancements across its formations to ensure these gains are fully institutionalized and right sized for future contingencies. We will continue to share the lessons we’ve learned in our continued integration with the conventional forces.

As potentially the last of the wartime (Global War on Terror) 75^th Ranger Regiment commanders, how would you summarize the performance of your regiment and your Rangers during the period following 9/11?

As I look back at more than 13 years of continuous combat, in both Afghanistan and Iraq, I am humbled by the performance of the 75^th Ranger Regiment and specifically those assigned to the regiment who have served their nation so faithfully and often with so much sacrifice. Our battalion commanders and command sergeants major have 4-6 cumulative years of combat experience and yet only want to serve their nation to their greatest ability. And they are representative of every Ranger in the organization. It is also important to recognize what has been asked of our Ranger families. The spouses, mothers, sons and daughters, fathers, and brothers and sisters who have not had the convenience of having their Ranger home for so many holidays and special occasions that it’s almost become acceptable. And finally I remain incredibly humbled by those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the loss of their Ranger. Based on a desire of so many of these heroic families to maintain a tie to their Ranger, we have developed a Gold Star Family program that directly links these special families to our regiment. The outpouring of continued support and resilience has been truly spectacular and it’s made our regiment even stronger. The valorous awards that have been awarded to the Rangers of the 75^th Ranger Regiment speaks volumes to their commitment and dedication to our nation and to each other. One Medal of Honor, one Distinguished Service Cross, more than 600 Purple Heart Medals, 49 Silver Stars and more than 300 Bronze Star Medals for Valor.

Finally, I join the rest of the nation in honoring the service of this truly unique formation of selfless servants. I am amazed by the character, resilience and commitment of each of our Rangers. While the vast majority of our nation has remained remarkably supportive of our service members and our Rangers, they have done so while living in relative security that our Rangers provide as they conduct exceptionally dangerous operations in combat every day or night. The Rangers that serve in the 75^th Ranger Regiment are the best our country has to offer.