Company F (Ranger) 425th Infantry

Company F, 425th Infantry was an elite, airborne-qualified Long Range Surveillance (LRS) unit of the Michigan Army National Guard. Throughout its history, the unit built a sterling reputation for its specialized capabilities in deep reconnaissance, surveillance, and security operations, distinguishing itself from standard conventional infantry units.

Origins and Formation

The unit’s lineage can be traced back to the post-World War II reorganization of the Michigan National Guard. However, the specific specialized capability of Company F was born during the Vietnam War era to meet evolving doctrinal needs for long-range reconnaissance.

• 1968: Companies A and B of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 225th Infantry, were reorganized and redesignated as Companies E and F (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol), 425th Infantry.
• 1972: Following military restructuring, Company E was inactivated. Its personnel and assets were consolidated into Company F, which was officially redesignated as Company F, 425th Infantry (Ranger) and headquartered at the Pontiac Armory in Michigan.

Cold War Era and Training

Unlike modern Ranger companies that fall under the 75th Ranger Regiment, Company F historically operated as an independent company. During the Cold War, it served a vital strategic role:

• VII Corps Alignment: Beginning in 1983, the unit was aligned with the U.S. Army VII Corps Headquarters in Stuttgart, West Germany. In the event of a conflict with the Soviet bloc, Company F was tasked to deploy to Europe and serve as the Corps' premier Long Range Surveillance unit.
• Elite Training: The unit was highly active in large-scale REFORGER exercises. It also achieved international recognition by taking first place at the Rhode Island International Parachute Competition in both 1983 and 1987.
• Equipment: Recognizing its specialized mission, Company F was consistently equipped with modern communications gear and advanced weaponry long before many standard National Guard units. Members frequently trained out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and Camp Grayling.

Operations and Deployments

While the unit trained heavily for overseas combat, its operational history spanned both domestic state-side missions and overseas deployments.

• 1968 Detroit Riots: The company’s first operational action was a domestic deployment to Highland Park to assist in quelling the 1968 civil disturbances, completing its mission with zero casualties.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF): After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the unit's operational tempo increased. Company F was mobilized in December 2003 and deployed to Iraq from February 2004 to February 2005. During this time, they performed rigorous security operations, Foreign Internal Defense (FID) training, and traditional LRS missions. Remarkably, the unit returned to Michigan with every soldier it deployed with, suffering no combat deaths.

Deactivation

As the U.S. Army transitioned its force structure to optimize resources for counterinsurgency and modern warfare, the Total Army Analysis process mandated the reduction of National Guard LRS units.

On June 12, 2011, Company F, 425th Infantry was officially inactivated during a ceremony at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The event concluded with a final airborne jump from CH-47 Chinook helicopters and the traditional casing of the unit's colors, bringing a proud, decades-long history of unseen service to a close.