New Venture Lab: Equipping Christian Entrepreneurs

Much of my leadership training came through the years of U.S. Army training that I took part in including U.S. Army Ranger training.  The guiding principles of the Rangers are captured in the Rogers Standing Orders for his Rangers, or Rogers Ranger Rules, written just prior to the Revolutionary War as Major Robert Rogers was training up the first group of Rangers to help tame the frontier.  There is still value today in the rules in terms of how we, as leaders, need to shepherd and protect our families as the family leader and in terms of how we, as Christians, are called to a higher standard, just as the Rangers were and still are today.  So whether we are building our businesses, protecting our families or fighting for our faith, there are lessons here for us.

First some background from Suite101.com:

Rogers' Rangers -- commanded by Major Robert Rogers (1731-1795) -- was an Independent Company of Rangers formed from hunters and trappers experienced in fighting Indians in the woods of New Hampshire and Vermont. The term "Ranger" derives from a handful of mounted men paid to "range" between the forts marking the edge of settlement. The unit was trained by Robert Rogers using the rules below as a rapidly deployable Light Infantry force tasked with scouting and conducting special operations. Their military tactics were so bold and effective that the unit became the chief scouting unit of British and Colonial forces in the French and Indian War (Seven Years War). Members of Rogers' Rangers became the leaders in the American Revolutionary War and a large number of ex-rangers were present as patriot militiamen at the Battle of Concord Bridge. Rogers helped to form the King's Rangers in the British Army as well as the Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) of the Canadian Army which is still in existence. Today's 75th Rangers Regiment of the US Army claim descent from this famous special operations unit.

The 28 Rules below were the standing orders of operation of the unit, a field manual if you prefer. This set of rules for irregular warfare was included in his Journal published in 1765. These rules, while the vernacular they use are dated, are still valid for small unit tactics today and are still in use. Truly the more things change the more they stay the same.

Roger's Standing Orders were as follows:

1. All Rangers are to be subject to the rules and articles of war; to appear at roll call every evening on their own parade ground, each equipped with a firelock, 60 rounds of powder and ball and a hatchet, at which time an officer from each company is to inspect them to see that they are in order, so as to be ready to march at a minute's warning; and before they are dismissed the necessary guards are to be chosen, and scouts for the next day appointed.

2. Whenever you are ordered out to the enemy's forts or frontiers for discoveries, if your number is small, march in single file, keeping far enough apart to prevent one shot from killing two men, sending one man or more forward, and the like on each side, at a distance of 20 yards from the main body, if the ground you march on allows it, to give the signal to the officer of the approach of an enemy, and of their number etc.

3. If you march over marshes or soft ground, change your position and march abreast of each other to prevent the enemy from tracking you (as they would do if you marched in single file) until you get over such ground, and then resume your former order and march until it is quite dark before you encamp. Camp, if possible, on a piece of ground that gives your sentries the advantage of seeing or hearing the enemy at considerable distance, keeping half of your whole party awake alternately through the night.

4. Some time before you come to the place you would reconnoiter, make a stand and send one or two men in whom you can confide to seek out the best around for making your observations.

5. If you have the good fortune to take any prisoners, keep them separate until they are examined, and return by a route other than the one you used going out so that you may discover any enemy party in your rear and have an opportunity, if their strength is superior to yours, to alter your course or disperse, as circumstances may require.

6. If you march in a large body of 300 or 400 with a plan to attack the enemy, divide your party into three columns, each headed by an officer. Let these columns march in single file, the columns to the right and left keeping 20 yards or more from the center column, if the terrain allows it. Let proper guards be kept in the front and rear and suitable flanking parties at a distance, as directed before, with orders to halt on all high ground to view the surrounding ground to prevent ambush and to notify of the approach or retreat of the enemy, so that proper dispositions may be made for attacking, defending, etc. And if the enemy approaches in your front on level ground, form a front of your three columns or main body with the advanced guard, keep out your flanking parties as if you were marching under the command of trusty officers, to prevent the enemy from pressing hard on either of your wings or surrounding you, which is the usual method of savages if their number will allow it, and be careful likewise to support and strengthen your rear guard.

7. If you receive fire from enemy forces, fall or squat down until it is over, then rise and fire at them. If their main body is equal to yours extend yourselves occasionally; but if they are superior, be careful to support and strengthen your flanking parties to make them equal with the enemy's, so that if possible you may repulse them to their main body. In doing so, push upon them with the greatest resolve, with equal force in each flank and in the center, observing to keep at a due distance from each other, and advance from tree to tree, with one half of the part ten or twelve yards in front of the other. If the enemy pushes upon you, let your front rank fire and fall down, and then let your rear rank advance through them and do the same, by which time those who were in front will be ready to fire again, and repeat the same alternately, as occasion requires. By this means you will keep up such a constant fire that the enemy will not be able to break your order easily or gain your ground.

8. If you force the enemy to retreat, be careful in pursuing them to keep out your flanking parties and prevent them from gaining high ground, in which case they may be able to rally and repulse you in their turn.

9. If you must retreat, let the front of your whole party fire and fall back until the rear has done the same, heading for the best ground you can. By this means you will force the enemy to pursue you, if they pursue you at all, in the face of constant fire.

10. If the enemy is so superior that you are in danger of being surrounded, let the whole body disperse and every one take a different road to the place of rendezvous appointed for that evening. Every morning the rendezvous point must be altered and fixed for the evening in order to bring the whole part, or as many of them as possible together after any separation that may occur in the day. But if you should actually be surrounded, form yourselves into a square or, in the woods, a circle is best; and if possible make a stand until darkness favors your escape.

11. If your rear is attacked, the main body and flanks must face about the right or left, as required, and form themselves to oppose the enemy as directed earlier. The same method must be observed if attacked in either of your flanks, by which means you will always make a rear guard of one of your flank guards.

12. If you determine to rally after a retreat in order to make a fresh stand against the enemy, by all means try to do it on the highest ground you come upon, which will give you the advantage and enable you to repulse superior numbers.

13. In general, when pushed upon by the enemy, reserve your fire until they approach very near, which will then cause them the greater surprise and consternation and give you an opportunity to rush upon them with your hatchets and cutlasses to greater advantage.

14. When you encamp at night, fix your sentries so they will not be relieved from the main body until morning, profound secrecy and silence being often of the most importance in these cases. Each sentry, therefore, should consist of six men, two of whom must be constantly alert, and when relieved by their fellows, it should be without noise. In case those on duty see or hear anything that alarms them, they are not to speak. One of them is to retreat silently and advise the commanding officer so that proper dispositions can be made. All occasional sentries should be fixed in a like manner.

15. At first light, awake your whole detachment. This is the time when the savages choose to fall upon their enemies, and you should be ready to receive them.

16. If the enemy is discovered by your detachment in the morning, and if their numbers are super) or to yours and a victory doubtful, you should not attack them until the evening. Then they will not know your numbers and if you are repulsed your retreat will be aided by the darkness of the night.

17. Before you leave your encampment, send out small parties to scout around it to see if there are any signs of an enemy force that may have been near you during the night.

18. When you stop for rest, choose some spring or rivulet if you can, and dispose your party so as not to be surprised, posting proper guards and sentries at a due distance, and let a small party watch the path you used coming in, in case the enemy is pursuing.

19. If you have to cross rivers on your return, avoid the usual fords as much as possible, in case the enemy has discovered them and is there expecting you

20. If you have to pass by lakes, keep at some distance from the edge of the water, so that, in case of an ambush or attack from the enemy your retreat will not be cut off.

21. If the enemy forces pursue your rear, circle around until you come to your own tracks and form an ambush there to receive them and give them the first fire.

22. When you return from a patrol and come near our forts, avoid the usual roads and avenues to it; the enemy may have preceded you and laid an ambush to receive you when you are almost exhausted with fatigue.

23. When you pursue any party that has been near our forts or encampments, do not follow directly in their tracks, lest you be discovered by their rear guards that, at such a time, would be most alert. But endeavor, by a different route, to intercept and meet them in some narrow pass, or lie in ambush to receive them when and where they least expect it.

24. If you are to embark in canoes, or otherwise, by water, choose the evening for the time of your embarkation, as you will then have the whole night before you to pass undiscovered by any enemy parties on hills or other places that command a view of the lake or river.

25. In paddling or rowing, order that the boat or canoe next to the last one wait for it, and that each wait for the one behind it to prevent separation and so that you will be ready to help each other in any emergency.

26. Appoint one man in each boat to look out for fires on the adjacent shores, from the number and size of which you may form some idea of the number that kindled them and whether you can attack them or not.

27. If you find the enemy encamped near the banks of a river or lake that you think they will try to cross for their security when attacked, leave a detachment of your party on the opposite shore to receive them. With the remainder, you can surprise them, having them between you and the water.

28. If you cannot satisfy yourself as to the enemy's number and strength from their fires and the like, conceal your boats at some distance and ascertain their number by a patrol when they embark or march in the morning, marking the course they steer, when you may pursue, ambush, and attack them, or let them pass, as prudence directs you. In general, however, so that you may not be discovered at a great distance by the enemy on the lakes and rivers, it is safest to hide with your boats and party concealed all day, without noise or show, and to pursue your intended route by night. Whether you go by land or water, give out patrol and countersigns in order to recognize one another in the dark, and likewise appoint a station for every man to go to in case of any accident that may separate you.