Ten weeks in Thailand: 1st SFG (A) Green Beret is first U.S. Soldier to complete Royal Thai Army’s Ranger School

[webfact]

Ten weeks in Thailand: 1st SFG (A) Green Beret is first U.S. Soldier to complete Royal Thai Army’s Ranger School

Story by Sgt. Anthony Bryant 

1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)  

 

Photo By Sgt. Anthony Bryant | A Green Beret assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) rappels down a mountainside October 2020, in the Kingdom of Thailand. He attended the Royal Thai Army’s Ranger School Oct. 17 to Dec. 29 and earned his Ranger Badge, becoming the first U.S. service member to attend and graduate the course in more than 40 years.

 

Wearing Royal Thai Army (RTA) fatigues and black leather boots, a U.S. Army Green Beret wades waist deep through a swamp carrying a heavy rucksack and an old-fashioned Mannlicher M1888 bolt-action rifle. With soaked feet and pain spreading through tired muscles, there are still miles left to trudge.

The night prior, he slept an hour because of a successful patrol in the swamps. On nights where the patrols are unsatisfactory, he’s lucky for a half hour of uninterrupted sleep in the quagmire. Twenty-two hours out of the day are devoted to patrolling.

The other 72 days of the RTA Ranger School are just as relentless. Earning the Royal Thai Army Ranger Badge is a grueling effort, but high attrition rates are unusual for the course. The candidates rely on one another to push each other through to the end, whether it means carrying another’s rucksack for five weeks due to a broken ankle or a quick nudge to awaken a tired teammate. From Oct. 17 to Dec. 29, 2020, a Green Beret with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) attended the RTA’s Ranger School in the Kingdom of Thailand and earned the Thai Ranger Badge along with recognition as the course’s distinguished graduate.

 

Full story: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/386463/ten-weeks-thailand-1st-sfg-green-beret-first-us-soldier-complete-royal-thai-armys-ranger-school

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-01-08

 

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[Bender Rodriguez]

and still those rangers cannot keep the borders tight

[SomchaiCNX]

Congratulations Sgt.

 

[SomchaiCNX]

43 minutes ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

and still those rangers cannot keep the borders tight

Must be, they allowed you in ???? . Oh yes that was the immigration. Mr. Rodriguez how much time did you spend in the jungle on the border with Burma? By the way that's the job of another unit, the border police.

[2530Ubon]

How much did he have to put in the tea tin?

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

and still those rangers cannot keep the borders tight

Unlike in your country of course where there are no illegal immigrants.

[Somtamnication]

That is a tough course and I congratulate him!

[tifino]

26 minutes ago, 2530Ubon said:

How much did he have to put in the tea tin?

or 'coffee money' in his US speak ???? 

[sungod]

50 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Unlike in your country of course where there are no illegal immigrants.

Build a wall!!!

[PETERTHEEATER]

4 hours ago, SomchaiCNX said:

Congratulations Sgt.

 

The individuals rank is not stated.....

[Dragonboat Ronin]

Well done. Salutes.

[Scot123]

Many years ago I worked with their elite and I was not impressed and they couldn't even finish a run but mind you I wasnt impressed with the American 1st sgt who couldn't finish the run (only 3 out of usa platoon finished) but boy he really new how to tear a live chickens throat out with his teeth....

 

The question is why would he want to do it unless it's a swap/share attachment And, 24hrs without sleep when was that a military hard ship? Is the Thai special forces now more enduring than american GB's? I'm sure his endurance wasnt stretched or it shouldn't have been. 

[SomchaiCNX]

2 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

The individuals rank is not stated.....

Correct, I stand corrected. The writer is a Sgt. In my country most of these exchanges are  reserved for Officers sometimes NCO's.

[Irrumator]

Sending anyone to train with the shower that masquerade as SF here is a bit like making tea in a chocolate teapot.

[SomchaiCNX]

24 minutes ago, Scot123 said:

Many years ago I worked with their elite and I was not impressed and they couldn't even finish a run but mind you I wasnt impressed with the American 1st sgt who couldn't finish the run (only 3 out of usa platoon finished) but boy he really new how to tear a live chickens throat out with his teeth....

 

The question is why would he want to do it unless it's a swap/share attachment And, 24hrs without sleep when was that a military hard ship? Is the Thai special forces now more enduring than american GB's? I'm sure his endurance wasnt stretched or it shouldn't have been. 

As a young Sgt I won the weekly battalion cross country sometimes. By the time I was 1 Sgt I had problems with knees and my back and was just average. When going for Sgt Major I was happy I could finish the cross country. All this stuff takes a lot of energy and is not really good for your body in the long run. 

[unblocktheplanet]

I trust this foreigner did his time in an ASQ hotel for 14 days. There must be NO exceptions!

[Psimbo]

10 hours ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

and still those rangers cannot keep the borders tight

How's the Wall?

[Enoon]

"Earning the Royal Thai Army Ranger Badge is a grueling effort, but high attrition rates are unusual for the course"

 

Very diplomatic.

 

94% passed the course.

 

[spiekerjozef]

He must be the first one they gonna test the vaccine on.

[spiekerjozef]

So what visa is he on?

 

[Letseng]

10 hours ago, Irrumator said:

Sending anyone to train with the shower that masquerade as SF here is a bit like making tea in a chocolate teapot.

Did you do it? You seem to have insider experience. Pls share 

[Irrumator]

3 hours ago, Letseng said:

Did you do it? You seem to have insider experience. Pls share 

 

Didn't need to, I spent 5 years in 23 SAS in the UK in the 70s.  Genuinely.  

 

What have you ever done? 

 

<cue all the wannabes and Walts lining up to claim what they want people to think they did>

Edited January 9, 2021 by Irrumator

[norfolkandchance]

I bet he couldn’t do the RAF Regiments 5 miler of death.

[HAPPYNUFF]

He now, of course, qualified for the highly sought after Thai  medal,  the Pepsi Star, with  Lao Khao leaf cluster.

[Bell1234]

Not hard is it .. Try the British Army not a 3rd world one and then see how hard it is.

[Letseng]

16 hours ago, Irrumator said:

 

Didn't need to, I spent 5 years in 23 SAS in the UK in the 70s.  Genuinely.  

 

What have you ever done? 

 

<cue all the wannabes and Walts lining up to claim what they want people to think they did>

I was just genuinely interested. Find it fascinating. 

Thaivisa seems to be a playground for all sorts of hobby experts. Expertise usually changes with current topics. Hard to distinguish between genuine and  know it all.

No, I wasn't an SAS member. No such unit in our armed forces. 

[wotsdermatter]

On 1/7/2021 at 10:34 PM, Somtamnication said:

That is a tough course and I congratulate him!

Why congratulate somebody for completing an easy course?   SAS, SBS, RAF Regiment, and Royal Marine Commando courses are far harder and I have known some SEALS who tried some of their courses and could not finish.  For example, when they do a speed march they have wear full-kit and carry a Bergen containing 32 lb and they have 8 hours to complete the 30 miles over some really rough terrain.  Don't forget that weight will increase due to the addition of weight from sweat and water from rain and going through streams, etc.  Sounds easy?  Try doing 1 mile with a backpack with 5 lb at full marching pace and you will find it ain't as simple as it sounds.  The person in the photograph probably would not finish that part of the course.  The complete course is six months and few finish it.

[Boomer6969]

Masochistic self pleasuring. 

 

[rott]

Did he get his leg over for less than 500.? As per the initiative test. 

[herfiehandbag]

9 hours ago, Letseng said:

I was just genuinely interested. Find it fascinating. 

Thaivisa seems to be a playground for all sorts of hobby experts. Expertise usually changes with current topics. Hard to distinguish between genuine and  know it all.

No, I wasn't an SAS member. No such unit in our armed forces. 

I think anyone who has served in (any) military capacity will have an opinion.

 

I served ( for quite a long time) in the British Infantry. My stepson did his national service (18 months) in a "Special Forces Battalion". In that short time he amassed more badges, and colourful berets, and almost as many medals as I did! 

 

The training this chap undertook sounds - challenging. 

 

I don't wish to express any further opinion!????