Bama Rangers teach students leadership, teamwork
by Jeremy Hitt
Staff Reporter
(01 March 1999)
As we crept slowly with our guns raised, ready to engage the
enemy, I didn't quite know what to expect.
The squad leader gave the signal for us to stop where we were.
All of a sudden we were under heavy fire from an OPFOR (opposing
force) that we couldn't see in the dark woods.
We dropped to the cold ground and began crawling to cover behind
nearby trees until we could get our bearings. We had nearly
walked into an ambush. As we lay there, members of our squad
began to drop under the onslaught of heavy fire.
Out from behind the dark brush and trees - SPLAT - I was KIA
(killed in action). Luckily, this was only a training exercise,
and the ammunition only paintballs.
This is just one of the many training exercises the Bama Rangers
participate in. These exercises are not meant for them to just
go into the woods and shoot at each other. They also teach
ordinary students leadership, teamwork and confidence.
"We pride ourselves in being like no other student organization
on campus," said Matt Albertus, commanding officer of the Bama
Rangers.
Words like leadership, confidence and teamwork are synonymous
with the Bama Rangers.
The Bama Rangers are designed to emulate the U.S. Army Rangers
and give students a feel of what the military is really like.
Becoming a Bama Ranger does not carry with it any obligation to
the military or the ROTC program here on campus.
Bama Rangers is a student organization interested in developing
esprit de corps and leadership qualities among all its members,
while maintaining a professional military manner.
They meet every Tuesday night at 1800 hours (6 p.m. to us
civilians), and it usually lasts two hours.
The meetings consist of five to10 minutes of physical training,
in which everyone participates.
There is absolutely no hazing involved with the Rangers. After
the PT, they meet for pre-combat inspections and instructions,
and head off for their weekly training activity.
These training activities include rappelling, water survival
training, patrolling, escape and evasion techniques, hand-to-
hand combat, bayonet training and land navigation. Each of these
activities are geared to teach lessons of leadership and instill
confidence.
As I participated in Tuesday's training exercise, I noticed that
each higher-ranking officer went to great lengths to make each
situation a learning experience for the inexperienced student,
so they would be able to get everything out of each situation.
Not all missions would go as planned, and this opened up new
opportunities to correct mistakes and learn a new lesson in each
experience.
Andy Spurgeon, a communications major and first sergeant in the
Rangers, said before he got involved with the Bama Rangers, he
was a soft-spoken person who was uncomfortable in front of a
crowd. Now he has no problem getting up and making public
speeches.
"We're a tight-knit group of students," said Jason Zarrilli,
Cadet 2nd Lieutenant of the Bama Rangers.
After each weekly meeting, the Rangers have a room reserved at
Buffalo Phil's where they can kick back, relax and talk about
anything and everything that went on during that night's
excursion. It is a great way to get to know students from around
campus and to make friends that become like close family.
C.O. Albertus said they are all buddies outside of the
organization.
The Bama Rangers have been around since the mid-'70s, and began
as a counter-guerrilla group during the '60s and the Vietnam
conflict.
For those who are interested in the military as a career and are
a part of the ROTC program, they have a Ranger Challenge Team
that competes against other universities from around the
country.
One can see that the Bama Rangers are more than just a student
organization. They are a close, tight-knit group whose main
goal is make ready the leaders of tomorrow.
The confidence, leadership and understanding of teamwork they
learn will prove more valuable later in their lives, and give
the Rangers head starts in any situation where a take-charge
person is needed.
For more information on the Bama Rangers you can check out their
web site at www.geocities.com/pentagon/6532 or call Dave at the
Bama Rangers Training Officer at 343-9388.
