Lightning Strike Injures Ranger Instructors and Students

Lightning Strike Injures Ranger Instructors and Students

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Soldiers in Ranger School train Tuesday in the Florida swamp, the final test in the most difficult training the U.S. Army offers. Chuck Williams chwilliams@ledger-enquirer.com[/caption]Scary news from Eglin AFB today. Forty Ranger students and four Ranger Instructors were injured when lightning struck during training today. From the Army Times:Forty Ranger students and four Ranger instructors were taken to the hospital Wednesday after they were hit by lightning during training. The students were learning lightning protection protocols at the time of the incident.All 44 of them had returned to duty by Thursday evening, officials said.The Army initially reported nine students and two instructors remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon for observation. Their injuries were not life-threatening.The lightning hit at 4:55 p.m. Central time Wednesday at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The students were two-thirds of the way through Ranger School’s Swamp Phase.

A total of 44 people — 40 students and four instructors — were taken to a local hospital, officials said.The course’s two female students, who are part of the Army’s gender-integrated assessment of the grueling two-month school, were not involved, officials said.Read the rest at The Army Times.[mwi-cat-listing cat="94" ppp="4" cols="4" desc="false" type="view" btn_color="black" ]