Ranger Rendezvous 2011
Ranger Rendezvous
Ranger Capabilities Demonstration Fact Sheet 
July 25, 2011
More than 1,500 Rangers in full combat gear from the 75th Ranger Regiment will conduct an airborne operation onto Fryar Drop Zone, presenting spectators a unique opportunity to observe such a massive airborne operation and Ranger Capabilities Demonstration. The demonstration will include a military freefall for a high-altitude, low-opening airborne insertion from a Ranger Reconnaissance Team, pre-assault fires demonstration using simulated ammunition followed by the airborne mass tactical operation and a platoon size raid on an objective.
In addition to the Ranger platoon capabilities demonstration, approximately 1,500 Rangers will conduct a mass tactical jump. This jump is a full regimental-size airborne operation that mirrors a combat airborne operation..
All of the Rangers in the 75th Ranger Regiment are airborne qualified. Conducting combat jumps of this magnitude hone one of the Regiment’s key capabilities. Traditionally, all of the Rangers from Regimental Headquarters and the four Ranger battalions participate in the mass tactical airborne operation during Ranger Rendezvous. In addition to the Regimental Headquarters and 3d Battalion and the Regimental Special Troops Battalion at Fort Benning, Ga., the 75th Ranger Regiment also has the 1st Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, Ga., and the 2d Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash. Family members and Ranger veterans from all generations also attend as spectators. Due to ongoing combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, a battalion of Rangers as well as elements of Regimental Special Troops Battalion will not be in attendance this year.
All Rangers will jump with the new T-11 parachute and reserve. The T-11 parachute systems combined weight is 52 pounds. At the Rangers left side will be his weapon in a weapons case. The Rangers rucksack carrying his mission essential equipment will be located on the Rangers legs attached by straps to his main parachute harness. These rucksacks can weigh anywhere from 65 to 100 pounds. The weapon case and rucksack will be lowered by the Ranger by a release strap once the Ranger determines he is about 200 feet above the ground. The new T-11 parachute design allows Rangers to jump with 100 more pounds than the T-10 parachute and have a lower rate of decent (18 feet per second).
The Rangers will jump from one of two aircraft, a C-130 Hercules that can seat 64 Airborne Rangers or a C-17 Globemaster that seats 102 Airborne Rangers. In addition, CV-22 Ospreys are scheduled to be used on exfiltration of the Ranger Platoon.