| 75th Ranger Regiment - Regimental Reconnaissance Company | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1984 - Present |
| Country | USA |
| Branch | US Army |
| Type | Special Operations |
| Role | Tier 1 Special/Close Target Reconnaissance |
| Size | ~25 - 30 Operators |
| Part of | Joint Special Operations Command United States Army Special Operations Command United States Special Operations Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Benning, GA |
| Nickname | RRC, RRD |
| Engagements | Operation Just Cause Operation Desert Storm Operation Uphold Democracy Task Force Falcon Operation Enduring Freedom |
The 75th Ranger Regiment's Regimental Reconnaissance Company (formerly known as Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment/RRD) is a unit that has rumored to be the newest operational member of the Joint Special Operations Command. The unit is believed to have been formally invited to join JSOC in 2007 due to its extensive training and unique capabailities to conduct special reconnaissance and close target reconnaissance (CTR) operations.
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Based out of Fort Benning, GA RRC is among the premier special reconnaissance units of the U.S. military.
RRD, as it was originally called, was activated in October 1984 with the formation the 75th Ranger Regiment Headquarters at Fort Benning, GA. The detachment was tasked with providing worldwide reconnaissance and operational preparation of the environment in support of the 75th Ranger Regiment and other units within USASOC and JSOC. Traditionally RRD was divided into three six-man teams, each team to support each of the three Ranger battalions [1]. The unit has three primary tasks: Active Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Direct Action. While performing these tasks, the teams can:
When the 75th's Regimental Special Troops Battalion was officially activated in October 2007, RRD changed it's name to the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC) and opened it's selection course to any soldiers in the U.S. Army who met the established pre-requisites.
Since the units inception in 1984; the only candidates eligible for "operational" duty with RRC were members of the 75th Ranger Regiment who were traditionally seasoned Ranger infantrymen with the rank of E-6 or above. In 2007 this traditional selection practice changed when RRC was "supposedly" placed under JSOCs umbrella. The RRC selection course for operational-based positions is now open to any male soldier who is Ranger School and Airborne qualified as well as graduate of the Reconnaissance Surveillance Leaders Course (RSLC). This was done in an effort to attract more reconnaissance soldiers from the U.S. military, primarily from the Long Range Surveillance/LRS units from the conventional Army. [2]
Following the two week selection course which is administered twice a year (March and September), the candidates are thrust into an intensive 29-week operator training course that includes free-fall training, computers, advanced communications, digital photography, photo editing, reconnaissance reporting formats, fieldcraft and stalks, infiltration and exfiltration methods, close-air support, advanced driving techniques, demolitions, tactical man-tracking and advanced medical techniques.[3]
It is assumed that RRD/RRC was involved in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 and Desert Shield/Storm in 1990/1991 as elements of the Ranger Battalions were deployed in both conflicts.
In 1994 the 1st and 2nd Battalions and a Company of the 3rd Battalion were in route to Haiti. The operation was canceled within five minutes of its execution due to successful negotiations. While the Ranger Battalions were sent home, a RRD team was forward deployed to provide reconnaissance capabilities for Operation Uphold Democracy.
On 24 November 2000 the 75th Ranger Regiment deployed Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment Team 2 and a command and control element to Kosovo in support of Task Force Falcon. [4]
RRD has been constantly deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as many of their skillsets have proven to be invaluable to the warfighting effort. [5]
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