Training

I think it would be fun to make a confidence course and do some squad based tactical traing (courses/manuvers)

Lets start communicating

Hey all,

We need to get back into mass communicatin' and this was the best way I could figure out how to do that quickly. Until we get a forum back up and operational, this will have to do.

Some simple guidelines:

- Keep it civil and respectful
- Keep your comments on topic
- Don't just post something to agree. Try to add to the discussion

-- Ajax

Regiment, Battalion, Company Structures

Since there are quite a few new/aspiring Regiment members, this is to help clarify the structure and organization of the Regiment, as I have envisioned it from the beginning. To start with, here's something I posted on this blog last Oct, under "Rangerball Regiment". I'll skip to the relevant part:

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The Regiment members are those serious about advancing Rangerball, and working towards the larger vision.

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Companies
Knowing not everyone can dedicate tons of time to this, I’m thinking we form sub-units for different levels of involvement. Alpha Company is the competitive team, that practices regularly, goes to SPPL and other scenario events, and goes as high-speed as they can. They might even have tryouts. Then, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Companies (could keep going with Echo, Foxtrot, etc.) can be less intensive, but still serious teams that play together whenever possible. Maybe they’re based geographically (i.e. guys in Washington) or on groups that have played together (like Jason’s “Sandtown” group). For Delta Company, I’m thinking about a youth team (12-16?). Let’s train these young Rangerballers up right. Also, nothing says a Charlie or Hotel Company can’t get really competitive either. Just that Alpha Company is supposed to be the “best of the best”.

Rangerball Battalions in other areas?
Right now Rangerball is really just a southern Utah thing (BTW, that makes us the 1st Rangerball Battalion of the Rangerball Regiment), but obviously word is spreading fast. I can see the day when groups/teams in other areas may want to get into it. They could form their own Battalion, as part of the Regiment. And they’d have their own Alpha, Bravo, Charlie companies. For example, a team like Desert Edge could also be (based on certain criteria we establish) the 2nd Rangerball Battalion, with an Alpha and Bravo Company. They could still keep their original team name, but also adopt the Rangerball ethos as their own. (Don’t mean to pressure you Dan, just using you as a hypothetical).

Rangerball Association
This would be a larger body of people that maybe aren’t ready to commit to the Regiment, or perhaps aren’t yet up to standards (still to be determined). The Association people want to get notifications of events, or maybe they are in the process of “qualifying” for the Regiment. In a way, this is an smaller equivalent of the SpecOps Brigade. Not sure if these guys would pay anything. Then again, maybe they pay to get the newsletter, After Action Reports, Lessons Learned, special discounts, etc.

Three Tiers
So, basically we have a 3-tier system/organization. The Association for the casually-interested. The Regiment for the dedicated Rangerballer. And the Companies (within the Regiment) for those playing as a team, and at higher levels—possibly very competitive.

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I've realized that several of you aren't familiar with military units/terms, which has caused some confusion. Some have mixed terms around, and used other terms like "Brigade", or "Team", or "Core/Corps". But also, this early post left some things unclear, and my thoughts have evolved somewhat since then.

Three Levels of Involvement

First, the "three tiers" mentioned at the end are really referring to 3 levels of interest/involvement in Rangerball.

• The "Association" (or as Hell Boy called it "Friends of Rangerball") are those not actually in the Regiment. They might be regulars at our events, or even former Regiment members that are too busy. But they're not active/paying members. We haven't really put much thought into establishing the Association yet.

• Then there are full-fledged members of the Regiment, their dues paid up for the year. They've bought into the concept, and want to participate regularly AND are willing to contribute time/effort/money to build up the sport. This is where most of us have been. There can only be ONE Rangerball Regiment, and its the overarching national (international?) organization.

• Then, WITHIN the Regiment, there can be many Rangerball Companies. These can be very competitive teams (like a Desert Edge) with regular practices, tryouts, roadtrips and their own operating funds. Or they might be a group of friends who can't dedicate the time to compete at that level, but are excited about Rangerball. Or a Company could be an independent team (like Ghost Echo) that decides they want to be part of the Regiment without giving up their identity. And, there can also be Regiment members who aren't part of a Company -- at least not yet.

Right now, we basically have the Regiment and two Companies. The original Regiment members fm the St. George area (no real designation yet, maybe "Bravo"? "Hotel" for HQs?), and Ghost Echo (mostly from Kanab) who now form the "Echo Company" of the Regiment. The "Alpha Company" we talked about initially as a serious, competitive scenario/SPPL team, has yet to really take shape. More on that later.

Three Levels of Command/Organization

There are also 3 levels of command, emulating a military organization:

• The Rangerball Regiment (RGT), as I said, is the one-of-a-kind overarching organization. In a way, it is parallel to the Special Ops Brigade, but much smaller and more select. It exists to promote and advance Rangerball as a sport/movement/branch of paintball. I don't think it should be a business, but I can see related (not in a legal sense) businesses stemming from it.

• A Rangerball Battalion (BN) is an intermediate command, subordinate to the Regiment. Although I've mentioned that the 1st Rangerball Battalion is here in southern Utah, we haven't defined it at all. For all practical purposes, we don't have Battalions yet. But I can see how that would work -- for example, if a group wants to start Rangerball in some other state, or even in N.Utah.

• A Rangerball Company (CO) is as I've described above. Could be completely independent, or part of a Battalion. In my mind, a Company could be as few as 4 guys. If they're motivated, they'll grow.

Anyway, gotta go. Hope this helps.

-- Ajax

About the Real Army Rangers

If you're going to be playing Rangerball, and belong to something called the Rangerball Regiment, then you should have some familiarity with actual U.S. Army Rangers, the 75th Ranger Regiment, what it takes to earn the Ranger "tab", the Ranger Creed, and some Ranger heritage.

First, most people don't realize there is a difference between a "Ranger-qualified" soldier (wears the tab) and a member of the Ranger Regiment. Many Army soldiers, and members of other services, go to Ranger School, earn the tab, and become "Rangers". But only a few actually qualify to join the 75th Ranger Regiment, and earn the "scroll". They say the tab is a school, but the scroll is a way of life.

Here are some links where you can learn a lot more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Rangers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_School
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/75th_Ranger_Regiment
http://www.soc.mil/75thrr/75th_home.htm

Also, a word on our connection to the real Army Rangers. We are NOT Army Rangers, or in any way sanctioned or officially connected to them. The men of the 75th Ranger Regiment, and the many who have won the coveted Ranger "tab", are among the world's most elite soldiers. As Rangerballers, we respect and emulate the Rangers, but we are not imitating or pretending to be them.

In the paintball world, however, our events and scenarios are among the toughest (perhaps THE toughest) and we tend to attract the most dedicated and motivated players. We have also had a few active or former Rangers participate in our events, and they found what we do challenging and enjoyable. We certainly welcome others.

-- Ajax