DECEMBER 9, 2025 — Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll addressed the 121 newest Ranger-qualified Soldiers during a graduation ceremony Dec. 5, 2025, at Fort Benning’s Victory Pond.
“You are now part of an elite warrior class, forged through voluntary hardship, that moves further, faster, and fights harder than any other Soldier,” Driscoll said.
The secretary’s presence affirmed the national importance of the U.S. Army Ranger Course, which serves as the Army’s premier proving ground for developing adaptive small-unit combat leaders.
The Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade hosted the event, which featured the traditional Rangers in Action demonstration at Hurley Hill and culminated in the awarding of the coveted Ranger Tab to the successful service members.
The difficulty of the course is highlighted by the metrics for this graduating class: 121 graduates from an initial 360 candidates. The class lost 51% during Ranger Assessment Phase Week, resulting in a 66% overall attrition rate.
The graduation is the culmination of phases across Fort Benning, the North Georgia mountains and the Florida swamps, testing the students’ ability to lead while deprived of sleep and food. The experience transforms volunteers into resilient leaders.
In his remarks, Driscoll stressed that the most enduring lessons of the Ranger Course are not tactical details, but the leadership required to earn and sustain the tab.
“These lessons — understanding your physical and mental limitations, knowing yourself, and leadership under duress, will guide you throughout your life.”
Driscoll shared his personal experience in the Ranger Course, noting he didn’t pass the course alone citing moments when he leaned on his ranger buddies for support. He recognized a member of the class who has been such a support for him throughout his life, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ray, a 37-year-old Ranger graduate, who now serves on his staff.
“Mike attempted Ranger school five times before this … but he’s lived the Ranger Creed his whole career,” Driscoll said.
The Ranger spirit was further underscored by the presence of Medal of Honor Recipient Robert Martin Patterson, who attended the event. Patterson, who earned the nation’s highest award for valor for his action in an assault during Vietnam as a specialist fourth class, embodies the selfless courage and intrepidity expected of every Ranger.
The shared sacrifice and relentless pursuit of excellence were constants for the graduating class, echoing the human leadership lessons Driscoll emphasized. Among those who earned the tab was Sgt. 1st Class Christian Powell, who currently serves as an instructor for the Military Advisor Training Academy on Fort Benning.
“It was a long journey of having a shadow over my shoulder, something I knew I needed to do and wanted to do but never did because I was always too nervous to try,” Powell admitted.
“Now that I’ve done it, it’s a huge point of pride. Knowing what I’m capable of, what I can do.”
The newly qualified Rangers will return to their formations prepared to immediately raise the tactical proficiency and leadership standard of their platoons and companies, translating the intensity of the course into tangible capability for the operating force. Powell recognized the added responsibility and feeling that comes with the accomplishment.
“People view (the Ranger Tab) as an esteemed accomplishment, and I think that means more is expected responsibility wise: Taking more leadership roles. I plan to meet them head on and take every role that is thrown my way.”
His advice for future Soldiers was simple: “At the end of the day, no matter how much it sucks, no matter how much you want to quit … just keep walking,” Powell said.
“Put one foot in front of the other and just keep walking.”
Driscoll concluded his remarks by emphasizing the critical support system that enables the Army’s mission.
“Nothing the U.S. Army does would be possible without the backbone of our Army: our Soldiers’ families and their communities.”
He reminded the 121 new graduates that they earn the tab every day, noting the leadership journey they started here will last a lifetime as they return to their formations ready to fulfill the Ranger Creed.
By Capt. Stephanie Snyder