Benning Phase

The Benning Phase of Ranger School is designed to develop and assess the military skills, physical and mental endurance and confidence a Soldier must possess in order to successfully negotiate and accomplish combat missions. Ranger training is designed to inculcate within the Ranger student the ability to sustain himself, his subordinates, and maintain his mission essential equipment, under difficult field training conditions, during all phases of Ranger School. Soldiers reporting to Ranger School in poor physical condition will suffer extreme difficulties maintaining pace with their peers.

The Initial Phase is conducted in two parts; the first part, Ranger Assessment Phase (RAP), is conducted at Camp Rogers in the Harmony Church area of Fort Benning. This phase consists of a Ranger Physical Fitness Test requiring 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, an individual 5-mile release run event finished in 40 minutes or less, concluding with the execution of six chin-ups. In addition, RAP week consists of Students conducting the Combat Water Survival Assessment at Victory Pond; land navigation test; individual 12 mile foot march; and the Malvesti obstacle course preceeded by a 3 mile buddy run in ACU, FLC, and weapon.  Advanced physical training assures physical and mental endurance and the stamina required for obtaining basic Ranger characteristics; commitment, confidence and physical and mental toughness. Additionally, the student executes demolitions training and airborne refresher training.  Airborne Soldiers will exit from a high performance aircraft and conduct tactical assembly area procedures.

The second part of the Benning Phase of Ranger School is conducted at Camp Darby. The training focus emphasized is primarily on patrolling techniques and execution of squad and platoon combat operations culminating in a three day Platoon FTX. The Ranger student receives instruction on field craft, negotiates the Darby Queen Obstacle Course, and receives extensive training in the fundamentals of patrolling and principles of mission planning/Troop Leading Procedures. The fundamentals of combat operations include battle drills, ambush and reconnaissance patrols and air movement operations. This phase employs the crawl technique during the FTX, allowing the student to incorporate planning principles and fundamentals of combat missions and develop techniques that enable his squad and platoon to achieve success. The Ranger student must demonstrate his leadership skills and patrolling expertise through a series of cadre and student led tactical combat training operations. This training enhances the Ranger student's ability to gain tactical and technical proficiency, leadership experiences, confidence in himself and his squad members; and culminates with their moving forward to Phase II (Mountain Phase) of Ranger School.

Benning Phase Video