For the first time in Air Force history, airmen from all career fields and bases were invited to Moody Air Force Base to participate in a course that prepares and tests airmen’s skills as a precursor to U.S. Army Ranger training.

The 820th Security Forces Group has been hosting the Pre-Ranger Course for more than four years now, however, this is the first time they have offered training to groups outside of the 820th SFG.

“Our goal is to make sure that we send the best of the best to (U.S. Army) ranger training,” said Master Sgt. Jason France, 820th SFG operations superintendent and U.S. Army Ranger course graduate. “We put them through extreme amounts of stress, training and physical exertion to see how they respond.”

France also said that every single Ranger must pass the pre-ranger physical training test and Combat Water Survival Test in order to be accepted into the program.

The U.S. Army Ranger physical training test and CWST consists of performing 55 push-ups and 65 sit-ups in two minutes, a 15-meter swim while holding a rifle and wearing a military uniform, boots and web belt. In addition, participants must maintain positive control of their weapon without dropping it or their equipment in the water and they must not show signs of fear.

Once the pre-rangers are in the course, instructors instantly begin to put pressure on them.

“We want to replicate what happens the first two weeks of the real U.S. Army Ranger training,” said France. “This year we have the Air Force liaison and two Army instructors from Fort Benning, Ga., to help us accomplish that.”

The pre-rangers are allotted two meals-ready-to-eat a day and must perform duties for about 20 hours each day.

“We cut them loose for sleep at about 1 a.m. every night,” said France. “But they have responsibilities to clean their weapons and make sure their ‘ruck sack’ is in the exact order we tell them to have it in.”

Those additional tasks mean pre-rangers must make a decision on what’s most important to them, an extra few hours of sleep or a dirty weapon.

“Eventually they will have to take the punishment for dirty weapons or a messed up ruck-sack,” said France. “That’s the point of the course, to take lead and assess your troop’s needs.”

According to France, the first week is the most difficult.

During this time, Airmen must pass all evaluations including a 12-mile march, carrying 35 to 50 pounds of equipment in three hours, as well as all other pre-ranger physical training tests and CWST. And they must do it all while being sleep-deprived and hungry.

One of the biggest challenges for 2nd Lt. Michael Wettleson, a squad leader during the course, is motivating the Airmen who are enduring extreme amounts of stress caused from course participation.

“Being able to motivate the Airmen from all different Air Force Specialty Codes has been difficult,” said Lieutenant Wettleson. “But we’ve started to come together, work together and succeed.”