ITALY - It isn't everyday that soldiers have a chance to make history, but on October 5th, 2012, five soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team did just that.

For the first time ever, the Italian Army's 4th Alpine Airborne Ranger Regiment allowed another country to take part in their Mountain Warfare phase of their Ranger program. What makes it even more special is the selection process.

S-3 Air Liason 1st Sgt. Luca Bertozzo says, “Not everyone in the Italian army can be a Ranger. We only take the very best and it is a special process with only a very small percent making it in to the program, let alone completing it.”

The soldiers were very proud to be selected to take part in the training. They too understood that not everyone gets chosen to go to Italian Ranger School. One of the participating soldiers, Sgt. Jeffery S. Reed said, “I knew coming in that the school offered some of the best mountain warfare training in all of the world, but I did not think it was going to be as good as it was. I can honestly say that it was the best training I have ever received in all of my years in the military, I was very impressed.”

According to the soldiers who participated every day felt like a test, but they faced all obstacles with a fierce determination to succeed. Whether it was facing the extreme cold on the frozen landscapes of 11,000 ft. summits, repelling off of 1,000 ft. cliff walls, crossing over four-story ravines with nothing more than ropes and safety harnesses, or even just surviving the wilderness itself, the soldiers faced everything that was thrown at them with no worries. They did not worry because they knew that the professional instructors from the 4th Alpine Airborne Ranger Regiment were there. Soldiers said their faith in their instructors grew with everyday that passed because every day the Alpine Airborne Rangers showed their professionalism and dedication to there jobs.

Whether it was in planning, instructing or mentoring, there was never a moment of doubt that the Italian Rangers were not the type of leaders that they had claimed to be. Another one of the participating 173rd soldiers, Sgt. Larin Kerr said, “It wasn't hard to connect with the Italian soldiers. When we were up on those mountains we had no choice but to pull together; we became friends. They were right there with us and honestly it made everything easier.”

As training completed, members from both armies exchanged military memorabilia and contact information with the promise that they would meet again. The 4th Alpine Airborne Ranger Regiment invited the five soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team back for future training operations as well as other from within the Brigade.