Rancho grad becomes Army Ranger

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004 | 8:35 a.m.

Pvt. Samuel Aidoo, Rancho High School class of 2002, has graduated from the Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga., with authorization to wear the distinctive Ranger Tab. A graduate of the Ranger course is considered the epitome of the U.S. infantryman.

According to the Army and Air Force Hometown News Center, during the 61-day course, the new Ranger proved that he could successfully accomplish all required tasks during the three phases of training.

The course is designed to assess and develop military skills, physical and mental endurance, stamina and confidence of the soldier to successfully accomplish small unit combat missions.

The training is strenuous and realistic, and is conducted in three terrains: woods, mountains and jungle-swamp. The soldier is trained to withstand the stresses of combat and overcome all obstacles to accomplish the mission under any circumstance or situation.

The Ranger is trained to properly sustain himself and his subordinates and maintain equipment under difficult field conditions during simulated combat operations; develop combat functional skills for planning and conducting ground, air mobile, airborne and waterborne patrolling; and survive in austere conditions.

Aidoo is now assigned to the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning.

Service in Southwest Asia

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Marco Chiraini is forward deployed to Southwest Asia as part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. According to the Army & Air Force Hometown News Center, the wing provides support for the U.S. Central Command Air Forces mission, assisting with the entire spectrum of aerospace missions in the global war on terrorism.

Chiraini is an airborne communications systems craftsman normally assigned to the 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron at Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Ga.

He is the son of Guido Chiraini of Las Vegas and graduated in 1979 from Chaparral High School. He received a bachelor's degree in 2004 from Park College, Parkville, Mo.

In brief