Hotel Company

Hotel Company
Staff
CO	MAJ J. Novix
XO	CPT E. Bradbury
COS
IG
AG
CSM
AOO	1LT W. Decker
Hierarchy
Superior Unit	Battalion Headquarters
Reporting Units	1st Platoon, Hotel Company
Esprit De Corps
Unit Motto	"Death waits in the dark!"

Hotel Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion is an Aviation Company tasked with providing aviation support to Alpha Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion. It is administratively known as H/4-160th. Hotel Company is borrowed from the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Organizationally, Hotel Company is attached and under the command of 2nd Ranger Battalion.

Mission

Hotel Company is the aviation wing of 2nd Ranger Battalion. 160th SOAR (A) aviators represent the foremost in aviation skill and members are held to the highest standards of flying excellence. Hotel Company is divided into four flights with specific tasks during operations that include Intelligence Security Reconnaissance (ISR), Close Air Support (CAS), Resupply, and Transportation/Reinsert. Hotel Company Aviators are 153A Rotary Wing Aviators, 155A Fixed Wing Aviators, and 15A Aviation Officers.

Aviators are capable of flying multiple craft, including UH-60s, CH-47s, AH-6s, and MH-6s. They also feature fixed wing, including the C-130 Hercules, AC-130 Spectre Gunship, MQ-9 Reaper UAV, C-17 Globemaster, A-10 "Warthog". All of these craft are considerably different in mission parameter and specifications yet all act to support the ground element in-tandem with Joint Fires Observers (JFOs) and with each other between flights.

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

Branch & Military Occupational Specialties

Branch	Insignia	MOS	Description
Aviation		15A Aviation Officer 153A Rotary Wing Aviator 155A Fixed Wing Aviator	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.

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.

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