On Monday, 22 May, 2017, at Fort Benning, Georgia, the 75th Ranger Regiment will stand up a fifth battalion. There haven’t been five active Ranger Battalions since World War II.
However, this battalion is a little different. It’s the Military Intelligence Bn (Provisional). The battalion’s two companies will offer expanded capability beyond the current MI Co in the Regiment’s Special Troops Bn. It’s mission is to provide multi-discipline, full-spectrum, worldwide, expeditionary, and reach back intelligence capabilities for the 75th Ranger Regiment enterprise. Furthermore, it institutionalizes and professionalizes the find, fix, finish, exploit and analyze (F3EA) targeting methodology required to counter enemy combatant forces’ tactics, techniques, and methods.
The RMIB(P) will consist of a Ranger Military Intelligence Company providing all-source analysis, GEOINT, IMINT, HUMINT, and UAS functions along with a Combat Electromagnetic Activities Capabilities (CEMA) Company which will offer EW, SIGINT, Technical Surveillance and Cyber support. Additionally, there is a Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment.
Congratulations Rangers!
I wonder if the MICO’s will now fall under this new Bn and deploy accordingly. This makes a lot of sense for a MI training and ADCON. JSOC has a joint MI Brigade – MIB which works quite well
That was my exact thought… been out way too long.
Da Fuq? I have been out way to long.
so is the recon company going under them also?
I didn’t even know there was a 4th Bn (unless they are considering RTB to be the fourth, which….. WTF?)
Then to give the heritage of the 5th Bn to a group of MI “warriors”, but wait, isn’t “5th Bn” an RTB Bn?
I’m confused and I think I’m getting a hemorrhoidal aneurysm!
I’m pretty certain the 4th BN is the Special Troops BN
That is correct.
What’s the issue with MI “warriors”?
Over the past 15 years SOT-As have been running with (and apart from) ODAs doing their MI mission. Tactical HUMINT teams are out doing their ops.
Not everyone needs to be a gunslinger first and foremost, and frankly, without those “soft skills” a lot of the SOF missions would be hindered if not outright crippled.
i would imagain they will have LRRP platoons? so maybe the LRRPs are not dead
No
They really should stand up another line battalion as well.
If Special Forces is complaining it is is stretched thin because of all the raids, etc., then why not add more Ranger battalions and assign one to each SFG? Rotate in a company of Rangers every few months.
Because, SF isn’t stretched thin from doing raids. SF isn’t a raid force, that is what Rangers are for. SF is stretched thin doing FID/STA. Completely different missions and lines of effort.