Alpha Company

Alpha Company
Staff
CO	CPT E. Geneva
XO	1LT A. Hajo
COS
IG
AG
CSM
1SG	1SG J. McMillan
Hierarchy
Superior Unit	Battalion Headquarters
Reporting Units	1st Platoon, Alpha Company 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company
Esprit De Corps
Unit Motto	"Rangers Lead the Way!"

Alpha Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion is an Infantry Company tasked with Air Assault and Airborne Operations. It is administratively known as A/2ndRB. Alpha Company has two platoons.

Mission

Alpha Company embodies the phrase "Rangers Lead the Way!" Light Infantry, flexible and capable of rapid maneuver across multiple terrains utilizing whatever battlefield assets lend themselves. Alpha Company is comprised of two platoons. The platoons features three rifle squads and one weapons squad. The rifle squads during combat operations act as assaulting, security, and support elements whilst the weapons squads typically act as supporting and quick reaction force elements.

Riflemen typically carry a myriad of combat arms including M4A1s, Mk18s, HK416s, Mk11s, and M249s. Most Rangers typically carry other equipment such as M136s, M203 and M320 under barrel grenade launchers. Weapons squad employs the M240B, FGM-148 Javelin, FIM-92F Stinger, and M3 MAAWS. Rangers often also carry tertiary equipment such as demolition blocks, breaching charges, anti-tank mines, and claymores. Infantry are also expected to employ battlefield skills like land navigation, rangefinding, and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) in part with Combat Lifesaver (CLS).

Alpha Company Rangers from 1st Platoon receive a briefing prior to an operation.

Branch & Military Occupational Specialties

Branch	Insignia	MOS	Description
Infantry		11A Infantry Officer 11B Infantryman 11Z Senior Infantry Sergeant	Infantry is the backbone of the U.S. Army Rangers and are responsible for taking the fight to the enemy. Every Infantryman in the Rangers is capable of advanced infantry doctrine and is expected to utilize a myriad of skills to ensure their missions are completed to satisfaction. The high stands imposed on Infantry leadership bleed down to the riflemen and squad members to practically enforce a tight-knit level of cooperation and camaraderie between combat elements.
Medical		68W Combat Medical Specialist	Wherever Infantry are engaged in combat, there will be Combat Medics assisting and performing medical duties. Medics are at the squad, platoon, and company level and are chiefly responsible for setting up Casualty Collection Points (CCPs) and are thoroughly instructed and vested with the medical knowledge to ensure that each level of military organization functions properly under fire and after casualties are received.
Artillery		13F Fire Support Specialist	Artillery is the king of the battlefield, artillery batteries have the capability to turn the tides of engagements and Fire Support Specialists are the bridge that links the batteries to the ground. Fire Support Specialists accurately relay targets, flight paths of Close Air Support (CAS) and direct fire missions. Fire Support Specialists are competent communicators and practice radio protocol along with advanced land navigation. In Alpha Company Fire Support Specialists are JTAC qualified and are the communication link between air to ground.

Alpha Company Military Occupational Specialties

11B Infantryman

Alpha Company Rangers from 1st and 2nd Platoons embark C-130s for an airborne drop during Operation Northern Shield, April 2020. Live Photo

The Military Occupational Specialty 11B Infantryman is responsible for closing with and destroying the enemy. They are experts in squad-level battle drills and employment of assigned weapon systems. In Alpha Company, Infantrymen specialize in both Air Assault and Airborne operations, while also performing traditional light infantry, mechanized and motorized tasks. Each Infantry Platoon within Alpha Company is comprised of up to three Light Infantry Squads and one Weapons Squad.

A Light Infantry squad employs weapons including the M4A1 Carbine, the M249 Light Machinegun, the M320 Grenade Launcher, and the AT-4 recoilless launcher. These squads act as the primary assault and maneuver elements within the platoon.

Each platoon also employs a Weapons Squad, which provides a base of fire for the rest of the platoon. These squads are trained to employ weapons systems such as the M240B Medium Machine Gun, the M3 Medium Anti-Armor Weapon System (MAAWS), M252 81mm Medium Weight Mortar and the FIM-92 Stinger Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) among others.

11Z Senior Infantry Sergeant

The 11Z Senior Infantry Sergeant is chiefly responsible for the sensible military administration of a military unit. They are experienced and competent administrators who handle the logistical and intelligence requirements of combat operations. Coordinating the unit, other units, and ensuring that orders flow and decisions are made with efficiency to ensure the continued maintenance of the Company. Personnel such as the Company 1SG and Battalion SGM are chiefly responsible for these tasks.

11A Infantry Officer

Alpha Company Rangers from 1st Platoon push thorough a village mounted in ICV Strykers, during Operation Rising Phoenix, November 2020. Live Photo

Infantry Officers are responsible for commanding and leading platoons within the Company. This includes training, operational command, and organizational command. Infantry Officers are responsible for working with the Senior NCOs for logistical and operational support. Officers are held to high standards, and are examples to follow in leadership and competency.

68W Combat Medical Specialist

68W Medical Specialists are responsible for medical support and rendering aid when personnel are wounded or killed. Medical personnel are specially trained to deal with rendering aid and combat lifesaving in combat and under fire and are expected to be able to act rapidly. This includes organizing medical evacuation, establish CCPs, and performing TCCC. There is a medic in every squad, a platoon medic, and company medics. The main responsibility of the medical personnel is ensuring injured personnel can be stabilized and evacuated from combat areas.

13F Fire Support Specialist

Fire Support Specialist also refereed to as Joint Fires Observer or JFOs are primarily concerned with coordinating accurate fire support and maintaining lines of communication with the various assets at Alpha Company's disposal. Close air support, MEDEVAC, insertions and exfiltrations all must be communicated and organized with competing assets by JFOs. Effectively mapping out and coordinating fire missions is one of the primary concerns of a JFO that is so ubiquitous it has been included in the name. JFOs need too be well-versed in land navigation and radio communications to perform their job effectively. The 75th Ranger Regiment trains their Forward Observers (MOS 13F) as JTACs through the Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller Course at Yuma, Ariz. and was the first unit to have Army Forward Observers as JTAC qualified personnel.

Traditions and History

The unit was founded in August of 2018 and officially stood up September 1st 2018. Alpha Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion was the original and starting echelon. The first company commander was William Reese, who is still serving as the commanding officer today. The size and strength of the Company has fluctuated in its history. Growing from 1 platoon, to 2 platoons, to eventually 3 platoons. The current and foreseeable strength allocation allows for, 2 full rifle platoons assigned to the Company.

Leadership

The following is a list of Company Commanders beginning with the most recent.

Rank	Name	Dates of Service
Captain	William Reese	1 Sep 2018–Present

Order of Battle

Alpha Company consists of 2 Light Infantry Platoons and a Headquarters.

Element	Callsign	Echelon	Abbreviation	Approved Strength
Alpha Company Headquarters	Goliath	Headquarters	A/HQ	7 Soldiers, 95 Total
1st Platoon	Goliath 1	Platoon	1/A	44 Soldiers
2nd Platoon	Goliath 2	Platoon	2/A	44 Soldiers