A Narrative Review of Performance and Health Research in US Army Rangers

Abstract

Roberts, BM, Mantua, J, Naylor, JA, and Ritland, BM. A narrative review of performance and health research in US army rangers. J Strength Cond Res 37(5): 1157–1161, 2023—The 75th Ranger Regiment (75RR) is an elite airborne infantry unit that is prepared to deploy on short notice and is resourced to maintain exceptional proficiency and readiness through prolonged deployments. To become a member of the 75RR, Soldiers must successfully complete the physically and mentally demanding Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP). They must also become airborne qualified, if not already, and successfully complete Ranger School in order to continue to serve in the 75RR. Rangers must maintain a level of physical performance comparable to high-level athletes while also handling operational stressors that include a negative-energy balance, high-energy expenditure, sleep restriction, and completing missions in extreme environments, all of which increase their chance of illness or injury. This narrative review aims to focus on the literature surrounding performance and health-related research in US Army Rangers in order to understand how Rangers are impacted during training/operations, to inform future training recommendations, and to identify areas of future research that are warranted and could potentially optimize the health and performance of Rangers during future training/operation events.