This is the BWC template for a strike force built on rapid movement. It is all infantry-based, with the minimum certs required are -- Reinforced Exosuit (rexo armor), Medium Assault, Heavy Assault, Special Assault/Anti-Vehicle (optional), ATVFollow-on support certs are advanced medic, engineer, Air Support, or Ground Transport. The focus is infantry. Support is a follow-on. All members will be focusing on infantry combat. To state it again - this task force is Heavy Infantry, and will focus on infantry tactics.

INTRO:
Task Force RANGER is Black Widow Company's longest-running task force. It is similar to the MAX Crash Team in that it is a special focus group among other outfits and empires, and it differs from the norm of BWC combat in that, all members are required to have certain certifications to be a part of the team. It is a unique rapid-deployment heavy infantry team tasked to conduct special military operations in support of continental and global strategic objectives and tactical targets. These operations require highly trained, well-disciplined units capable of employment in any environment, either alone or in concert with other military forces. Within this thread/topic, the term “ranger force” describes any size force consisting mainly of members of the TF RANGER team and led by a member of the Ranger team chain of command. A ranger force may be a specific “platoon” or “squad” unit in terms of admin organization, or it may be a specially-organized task force for a specific mission, called up only when needed (thus members of this TF would be on-call but serving as standard members in any platoon).

MISSION:
The mission of TF RANGER is to plan and conduct special military operations in the form of quick-reaction/rapid-deployment air-assault infantry strikes. These operations are conducted by specially trained, equipped, and organized forces against strategic or tactical targets in pursuit of military, political, economic, or psychological objectives. They may support standard continental-invasion military operations or they may be performed independently when conventional forces cannot be used because they lack the will, skill, motivation, morale, leadership, and/or focus.

Special military operations conducted by TF RANGER include strike operations (usually deep penetration), and special heavy infantry operations. Strike operations include raids, interdiction, and recovery operations. Special heavy infantry operations include many of the infantry missions assigned to airborne, air assault, or light infantry outfits who lack the manpower to perform effectively. These operations are conducted in support of the Air-Land Battle at all levels of intensity.

PURPOSE:
The Ranger force provides the Terran Republic and BWC commanders with the ability to move a credible military force quickly to any region on the globe. The ranger force uses the entire spectrum of intelligence support, from enemy spies to global and continental command to organic assets such as recon elements. TF RANGER will maintain a readiness posture that supports their immediate commitment to battle once deployed. They are often tailored for specific missions and may require augmentation from external sources. Tactical mobility may be augmented by Galaxy or Sunderer, preferably from an outfit-internal source.

TF RANGER conducts both strategic and tactical operational missions. Its efforts are combined into an overall plan to destroy, delay, and disorganize the enemy, or to cause him to divert his attention and combat forces to rear area security. The limited number and availability of Ranger personnel and the diverse targets dictate a careful assignment of missions.

FUNDAMENTALS OF TF RANGER OPERATIONS:
The ranger force fights the enemy as a generally self-sustained air-assault infantry force. It follows infantry doctrine and observes all the basic rules of infantry operations.

Specific Focus – achieved through mandatory requirements. TF RANGER members must be certified in certain areas, and the TF RANGER commander must approve all members to the special-interest group. He must ensure that all members are certified in small-unit tactics at squad and platoon level, and that they use these tactics on a mission-to-mission basis. The light infantry force means that they must be stand-alone and self-sufficient. Support roles are optional and come after development of combat skills, as a ranger force is designed to attack and overcome combat units.

Surprise - achieved through the ranger unit's ability to move by uncommon means, along unexpected routes, and over rough terrain. Ranger units normally conduct operations during poor weather and reduced visibility, aided by night vision devices. This adds to the attainment of surprise.

Speed – achieved by mobility and violence of execution that allow the ranger unit it to close quickly on the objective area and complete the mission before the enemy can react. The speed at which events take place confuses and deceives the enemy as to the intent of the ranger unit. This forces the enemy to react rather than to take the initiative. Tactical mobility lets the ranger unit break contact and withdraw from the objective area.

Silence – achieved by great discipline. Weapons control, communications control, “voice-macro” control are all elements that keep the enemy guessing as to a ranger force’s location. Stealth is not just for infiltrators.

Shock - achieved by the combining of speed and violence with the precision of the ranger attack. The ranger unit strives to apply its full combat power at the decisive time and place, and at the point of the greatest enemy weakness. The ranger unit strives to achieve maximum physical and psychological effect on the enemy by exhibiting aggressiveness and reasoned audacity.

Survivability - achieved by using the classic infantry combat techniques of stealth and concealment. The ranger unit engages the enemy at the time and place of its own choosing. It takes full advantage of terrain, and destroys or suppresses enemy weapons. The ranger unit seeks to destroy or neutralize the enemy's command and control systems, his surveillance assets, and his mobility assets. Survivability is enhanced by rapid mission accomplishment and a prompt departure from the objective area.

Specific focus ensures that all Ranger members are equipped with the capacity to deal massive damage in small units. Surprise, speed, silence, and shock are used in combination to surprise and shock the enemy, pinning him into one place and ensuring his destruction. Survivability is accomplished by utterly annihilating an enemy and ensuring TF RANGER walks away.

CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS:
TF RANGER is expected to perform according to set expectations. These expectations are enforced by defining capabilities and knowing limitations.

-- Capabilities: Ranger forces are required to:

Be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. It would behoove Ranger members to have select Favorites assigned, tailor-made to pick up and move to a form-up point.

Infiltrate an area of operations, and then assault a target by land, sea, or air. Exfiltration is generally preferred.

Conducting strike operations to include raids, recovery of personnel and equipment (such as module/LLU/enemy vehicles), and interdiction of key areas through ambush or outright offensive defense.

Conduct special infantry operations to include seizing and securing dropship centers or air towers (air assets), communications centers (interlink facilities), command and control facilities (bio labs or tech plants), and key bridges; and other special light infantry operations not normally conceived of during standard conventional operations.

-- Limitations: Ranger forces by nature may be unable to:

Field organic (team-internal) transportation, thus having to rely on BWC command to arrange transport.

Perform sustained operations against armored or air combat assets due to lack of air defense or armored vehicles (AV weapons are recommended but cannot sustain against a massive force).

Engage in sustained combat capability due to the shortage of team-based combat support elements such as hackers, medics, and engineers.

COMMAND AND CONTROL:
Because TF Ranger is a special-focus group for interested volunteers, it places a certain requirement on assault certifications. The team is a stand-alone direct-ready force. It is not a continuous or exclusive focus, but rather called up from BWC members for usage when needed or required. TF RANGER is a permanent assignment but the task force is not on permanent activation as a specific platoon. TF Ranger is a specific entity within BWC's Planetside Platoon, and is subordinate to the platoon cadre.

Because of the nature of their operations, TF RANGER has command authority to carry out its orders with a simple execution command. Ranger forces are required to get the job done no matter what. Carte blanche is given to the team to accomplish the mission however needed, and the TF commander answers only to the Company Command team. Members in TF RANGER are subordinate to the Ranger Commander regardless of rank or position, except under extenuating circumstances such as “tasked-out” to a higher command element or a mission commander. Tabbed members of TF Ranger are subordinate to the TF Ranger Executive Officer (XO), whereas non-tabbed members assigned to TF Ranger (by default, any member of BWC not in a task force) are subordinate to the Planetside Platoon Sergeant.

TF Ranger Cadre:

1LT OptimusPrime, Black Widow Company
Commander, Task Force Ranger

LEG Powder123, Black Widow Company
Executive Officer, Task Force Ranger

Click Here For Overview of Ranger Training