History of RR

There is much history surrounding Rudder’s Rangers and its fifty-plus years of existence. To understand its history we will need to go back in time to an unforgettable day June 6th 1944.

The D-day landings in Normandy were some of the most pivotal battles in American history. James Earl Rudder was the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion 75th Rangers Regiment during World War II. LTC Rudder’s Rangers played a vital roll in the D-Day landings. His Rangers were tasked with the daunting mission of destroying an enemy artillery position overlooking the D-Day landing sites. During the assault on the enemy position the Rangers had to climb hand over hand up 100 foot ropes to the top of Pointe Du Hoc, all while having hand grenades thrown at them and receiving machine gun fire. The Rangers pushed through adversity, accomplishing their mission while saving countless lives during the D-Day landings in Normandy.

As many Aggies know, James Earl Rudder went on to become the 16th President of Texas A&M. Rudder’s Rangers was originally founded in 1968, in honor of Major General James Earl Rudder. Rudder’s Rangers was known, as the “Texas A&M Ranger Company”, comprised of members of Company F-2. Its original purpose was to serve as an opposing force (OPFOR) unit for Texas A&M Army ROTC. It quickly evolved into an advance training program that provided extra training opportunities during their preparation for attendance to the U.S. Army Ranger School.

Cadets from Rudder’s Rangers started to attend Ranger School in the 1970s in-between their sophomore and junior years in lieu of the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC). Back then, select Cadets (as determined by a national order of merit list) could attend Ranger School and, assuming they passed, would earn the highest score possible at LDAC (a “5” at the time, but later an “E”). Texas

A&M Ranger Company Cadets were often excelled at Ranger School. For many years, Texas A&M Ranger Company Cadets embodied the fighting spirit of James Earl Rudder’s original Ranger Battalion by

successfully graduating Ranger School, the Army’s premier leadership school. After the Army terminated the Ranger School option for Cadets, Rudder’s

Rangers switched its priorities to focus on training for the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s Advance Camp.

Moving into the 1990s, Rudder’s Rangers was charged with the responsibility of competing in the Cadet Army varsity sports, known as Ranger Challenge. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Texas A&M won over 10 competitions, earning its name as one of the best Army ROTC programs in the country, which still holds true to this day. Most evident of the

performance by Rudder’s Rangers Cadets at both Advance Camp and Ranger Challenge competitions is the fact that in 2019 over 98% of all Rudder’s Rangers finished Advance Camp with an excelling score and earned the opportunity to receive their branch of choice in the Army.

Every year, Cadets within Rudder’s Rangers compete for their Rudder’s Pin, an accomplishment that only a few have completed. The competition is known as the Rudder’s Best Ranger Competition, comprised of several physical and mental challenges. The competition is held every year in the spring and serves as a way for Cadets to demonstrate all the skills that they have learned from the training conducted that year. Additionally, Cadets compete for upcoming leadership positions within

Rudder’s Rangers. Over a 72 hour period, Cadets are charged with completing tasks such as qualification with a rifle, land navigation, a 12 mile foot march with a 35 pound rucksack, obstacle course, and individual Soldier skills.

Moving forward, Rudder’s Rangers will continue to grow and provide Cadets with additional opportunities to attend Army schools, compete in marksmanship competitions, compete in Ranger Challenge, and continue to excel at the Advance Camp. Rudder’s Rangers Cadets puts in the extra work to achieve their best. If you think that you have what it takes to be with the best, then come out for Rudder’s Rangers and test your grit.