After they are done with the tests and evaluation phase they’re put through what the instructors call a ‘rite of passage.’

During the rite of passage Airmen are up at 4 a.m., with little to no sleep. Smoke grenades and weapons-fire are their alarm clock as the instructors prepare them for their entrance into the Army Ranger training.

Once they complete this portion of training, they begin to learn more combat tactics including ambushes and patrols in order to implement them in the field.

The goal of the 13-day training course is to send Airmen who are ready and capable of passing the real test into U.S. Army Ranger training at Fort Benning.

“We don’t want to send just anyone to Fort Benning,” said Sergeant France. “We want our people to thrive and the best possible way to ensure success is to screen the participants who meet the requirements and volunteer for the course.”

Since 1955, there have only been about 220 Air Force personnel who have graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School.

The goal of this course is to make more successful ground leaders through execution, said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Villella, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing command chief.

“The 820th (SFG) provides the building blocks for success,” he added. “They are teaching troop leading procedures, movement techniques and combat skills that will prepare these Airmen for Ranger School.”

Graduation from the course however, does not guarantee that an Airman is going to be sent to Fort Benning for Ranger School.

“We will only send the best possible candidates to the school, that means if 12 of the Airmen are ready for the Army Rangers we will send 12,” said Sergeant France. “But if there’s only two that’s all we will send.”

For the Army instructors who came to Moody, this course has been a new experience.

“I’ve worked with a few Air Force members as an instructor at Fort Benning, but never a whole class of Airmen,” said Sergeant 1st Class Todd Hitchings, Army Ranger instructor. “I really can’t notice the difference between a class of these guys and a typical class of Army Rangers.”

He also pointed out that the Air Force has a high graduation rate due to the pre-ranger training course.

“The 820th (SFG) does a great job weeding out the guys who don’t stand a very good chance of making it through the actual ranger training,” said Sergeant Hitchings. “The course really does help prepare these Airmen for the full course.”

“With all of the joint operations going on in today’s Armed Services it’s important for the different services to work together,” he added. “We love to see Air Force members come through the Army Ranger School.”