The United States Army Ranger School has trained combat leader skills for more than fifty years. While it has successfully adapted and upgraded to modern tactics and equipment over the years, it has recently lagged behind in identifying the new combat skills that will be required for the future operational environment. This has consequently left Ranger School unprepared to incorporate changes to the training program that specifically develop the new skill requirements.

This thesis initially analyzes the conceptual framework of the Objective Force, as well as the future threat environment, to determine the seven combat skills that will be essential for junior leaders in the future operational environment. Next, this project assesses the current Ranger School program of instruction to determine if the training already addresses these skills or if it fails to adequately teach them all. Finally, this study recommends specific changes to the Ranger School program of instruction that will enable development of the skills in each of the students.

ADA 416932 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)