Every organization needs good leadership in order to win against the competition. Through his own personal story and those of nine other Rangers, Barber illuminates fundamental lessons about what it really takes to win. These first-person accounts of trial and triumph highlight the importance and the inherent truth of the Army's most fundamental leadership principles: seeking and taking responsibility for your actions, and knowing yourself and seeking self-improvement. Adhering to those principles-and putting them at the core of your organization-will push you and your company to do more and do it better.
Rangers lead the way. Rangers have led the way throughout history and
were anointed with the motto “Rangers lead the way” from their lead in
getting the V corps GIs off the bloody beaches of Omaha during World
War II on June 6, 1944, D-Day. Rangers have led and will continue to
lead the way because of their mental and physical toughness developed
during Ranger training. It is harsh, demanding, and relentless training,
which produces a warrior-leader who sets the example for others, always
leading the way. Proven throughout history, these training standards are
still followed today. Roger’s Rangers raids during the French and Indian
War; Darby’s Rangers up front in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy; Merrill’s
Marauders’ exploits in Burma; the extraordinary feats of Ranger
Battalions at Normandy and in the Philippines; Ranger companies always
fighting out front and outnumbered during the Korean War;
Ranger LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol) teams operating
throughout the jungles of Vietnam; and up through the present day,
Ranger Battalions accomplishing daring objectives in Grenada, Panama,
“Desert Storm,” Somalia, Afghanistan, and “Iraqi Freedom” all were,
and continue to be, successful because of the reliable and tough leadership
base established during Ranger training. Ranger training makes a
good soldier better. It is the finest leader training in the U.S. Army, providing
a base of toughness, dependability, and resolve essential to combat
leadership. Today, Ranger training is provided by the U.S. Army’s
Ranger School, which awards the coveted Ranger tab to those who
make the cut.