Rangers lead the way with 2012 open house

5/14/2012 - Geared-up Rangers talk among themselves after their squad demonstration at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - A specialist steps forward during a Ranger squad demonstration at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - Rangers make their way to the UH-60 Blackhawk to exit the area during a scenario at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - 88-year-old Meriom Poliquin feeds her 2-month-old granddaughter, Desiree Lang, during the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Poliquin said she journeyed down from New Hampshire to see her son, Staff Sgt. Corey Lang, a 6th RTB instructor, perform in one of the Ranger demonstrations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - Staff Sgt. West, a reptile handler with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion, holds two snakes for children to touch during the reptile show at the Ranger’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - A future Ranger hurls a hatchet at the target at one of the many interactive displays at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - A future Army Ranger fires rounds from an M-240 at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - A specialist looks out over the crowd during a Ranger squad demonstration at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - A future Army Ranger waits for the command to fire his M-4 at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - Staff Sgt. West, of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion, displays a poisonous snake for the crowd attending the Ranger’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - An “enemy” body lies in the foreground as a member of an Army Ranger sniper team throws a smoke grenade before helicopter extraction during a demonstration at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

5/14/2012 - Rangers perform a take-down maneuver during a combative demonstration at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s annual open house event, May 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The event was a chance for the public to learn how Rangers train and operate. The event displays showed dive equipment, weapons, a reptile zoo and zodiac boats among others. The demonstrations showed off hand-to-hand combat, a parachute jump, a down-pilot scenario and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)