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News | Sept. 21, 2022

Qatari Soldier graduates U.S. Army Ranger School

By Ms. Diamante Byrne U.S. Army Central

2nd Lt. Khalid M. Alkorbi, Qatari Joint Special Forces, graduated from U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia, September 16, 2022. He is the second soldier from Qatar to complete the elite course and earn the Ranger tab.

The training takes place over the course of just over two months, and according to Army Capt. Shawn Gardner, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, it “tests the physical and mental capabilities of the Soldiers that come through the course.”

Teamwork is key to overcoming the challenges of the course. “You need to rely on your teammates, and in this situation, the Soldiers from the U.S. gain the perspective of the Soldier from Qatar,” said Gardner.

 Ranger School allows international partners to participate in the course to bolster solidarity and increase partner capabilities.

“The relationship between U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) and the Qataris is very important. When we bring in international students, they develop relationships with students and leaders that go on for a lifetime,” said Col. Chuck Canon, Chief of Security Cooperation, USARCENT.

“I think participating in this training builds relationships between soldiers. One lesson I will take back to Qatar is the tactical training. You take that pause under hard circumstances and hard conditions, and create a plan to complete the mission. That is the best lesson I learned in Army Ranger School,” said Alkorbi. 

Canon, also a graduate of the Ranger School, was on hand for the graduation ceremony to pin the coveted Ranger tab to Alkorbi’s uniform. “He told me he really enjoys small-unit tactics/commando-type training, and that he hopes to attend another school like this in the U.S. very soon,” Canon said.

“Ranger School is the best leadership training in the world. It pushes its students both physically and mentally to lead small units under the most challenging conditions,” Canon added.

The defense partnership between the United States and Qatar dates back more than 50 years, with a shared vision for integrated deterrence against regional threats in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. Qatar is also home to largest U.S. military base in the Middle East.