Two Carinthian soldiers undergo one of the toughest military training in the world in America: Patrick Juratsch from Bleiburg and David Valtiner from Klagenfurt become American rangers.
Fort Benning, Georgia is one of the most infamous military training centers in the world. Soldiers are trained here in a 61-day exercise to become US Rangers conducting military special operations. The Rangers’ home version is the 7th Jaeger Brigade, which – as they say – “deploys aggressively, quickly and precisely where other units cannot reach”.
Hard preparation
Under the motto “learn from the best”, commander Brigadier General Horst Hofer negotiated with the Americans about four training places for rangers for Austria. Two of the 30 volunteers from Carinthia will start the journey on 11 August: David Valtiner from Jäger Battalion 25 Klagenfurt and Patrick Juratsch from Staff Battalion 7 Bleiburg. “We know roughly what to expect,” says Valtiner after months of preparation.
Physical and mental fitness was monitored at the Army Sports Center, tasks such as swimming in full gear were practiced, and specialties of American training such as sleep and food abstinence before exercise were prepared. One of the exercises was to eat a salad, then not eat anything for 24 hours and then walk 30 kilometers. See how the body works on reserve. “If you only notice that there, it’s too late,” Valtiner said.
After all, half of the participants usually stop the training prematurely. Yet the tried-and-true duo in Kosovo did not hesitate for a moment. “You don’t often get the chance to gain such a unique experience”, Juratsch is convinced.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
