Source: This article was adapted from The Ranger Digest, Handbooks 1 thru 9, by US Army Ranger Rick F. Tscherne. Copyright © 1988-2012. All Rights Reserved. Excerpted With Expressed Written Permission. Order this e-book series at www.KoboBooks.com.
Rick F. Tscherne served twenty-one years (1972-93) in the United States Army in various demanding leadership positions including Airborne-Infantry/Anti-Tank Squad Leader, Airborne-Ranger Platoon Sergeant, Drill Instructor, Cold Weather Instructor, Small Arms Repairman, Battalion S-3 Assistant Operation Sergeant, and US Army Headquarters G-3 War Plans Division Operation Sergeant.
- 1974-1976: 1st/509th Airborne Recon Platoon Team Leader (Sgt/E-5)
- 1976-1978: A-4-3 Fort Dix (N.J.) Drill Instructor (Ssg/E-6)
- 1978-1980: 1st /75th Ranger Bn. Weapon Section Leader/PSG (Ssg/E-6)
- 1980-1981: 1st /31st Mech/Inf (ROK) Assistant Platoon Sergeant (Ssg/E-6)
- 1981-1985: 1st /509th/325th Airborne BCT—Infantry Platoon Sergeant (Sfc/E-7)
- 1985-1987: 3rd /325th Airborne S-3 Assistant Training/Operation Sergeant (Sfc/E-7)
- 1987-1992: USASETAF Headquarters G-3 War Plans Div. Operation NCO (Sfc/E-7)
Rick has attended and graduated from schools such as the US Army Infantry, Airborne, Ranger, Jumpmaster, Drill Instructor, Combat Intel, Small Arms Repair schools, and the Advance Non-Commission Officer Training Program. His foreign training includes German Army Weapons Qualification Course, Italian Airborne school, French Commando school, and Belgian Para-Commando school.
His US Army awards and commendations include: US Army Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Wings, Drill Instructor Badge, Expert Rifleman Badge, Jungle Expert Patch, Army Commendation, 5 Army Achievement awards, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 4 Overseas Service Ribbons, etc. He qualified as an expert with weapons such as the M16A1, M203 Grenade Launcher, and M60 MG.
Since retiring from the US Army, Rick served as an Advisor/Trainer to the Bosnia & Herzegovina Army (1996-97) under the US State Department "Train & Equip Program." Always willing to share his personal experiences, tips, tricks and ideas in how to survive & thrive in the outdoors with others, he's published nine volumes of the Ranger Digest, developed a series of Special Ops Survival (SOS) Kits, and regularly instructs military and outdoors enthusiasts in wilderness survival.
