A Look at One of the Army’s Most Unique Assignments

Tucked within Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle sits Camp Rudder, home to the 6th Ranger Training Battalion (RTB). Here, the Army conducts the Swamp Phase of Ranger School — one of the final and most grueling legs of a soldier’s journey to earning the coveted Ranger Tab. If you’ve been on the 10-day Florida FTX, you know what we mean. But beyond the dense vegetation, chest-deep water crossings, and intense patrol lanes lies something truly unique: the Reptile Team.

Part conservation initiative, part safety class, and all passion project, the Reptile Team plays a critical role in preparing Ranger students for the realities of Florida’s wilderness. From venomous snakes to the iconic American alligator, the team educates future Rangers on how to identify, avoid, and respect the local wildlife they’ll encounter during training.

The Blue / Green Team recently spoke with members of this team to learn more about its mission, history, and their one-foot-long alligator named Bam Bam.

Q: What is the history of the team? When and why was it started?

A: The Reptile Team started back in the 1950s, alongside the field craft and survival portions that used to be taught in more depth to Ranger students. In these instruction blocks, students learned how to make fire, build snares and shelters, and skin or cook small animals for food—similar to aspects of SERE today. As part of a safety brief and familiarization class, they also added education about reptiles, particularly relevant for patrols in Florida’s coastal swamps.

Although the broader field craft curriculum eventually went away, the reptile familiarization class stayed. Since then, the Reptile Team has continued educating every class of Ranger students.

Q: Can you tell us more about what the Reptile Team is today and its mission?

A: Our mission is to educate Ranger students on the various species of wildlife native—or non-native—to Florida. Although we focus on reptiles, we also teach about black bears and wild boar. The class details the characteristics of venomous and non-venomous snakes, how to identify them, and how to recognize the symptoms of a venomous bite. We also train students on how to provide initial field care in the event of a snake bite. The last part of our class covers the American alligator and what to do—and not do—if they encounter one in the swamp.

While Ranger Instructors are with students at all times during the course, we’re preparing future leaders who may find themselves conducting combat operations in similar environments. They need to be ready for that.

Our tasks as reptile handlers never stop. Taking care of the animals is a daily job. Even during off time, we come in to ensure the health and welfare of the animals—feeding, watering, cleaning, building enclosures, maintaining the facility, and training volunteers.

Beyond handling and education, our role also supports wildlife conservation. We work with Florida Fish and Wildlife and other partners to help preserve, train, and educate others on invasive, non-native, protected, or endangered snake species here in Florida.

Photo via U.S. Air Force ( 1st Lt. Karissa Rodriguez)

Q: Who is on the team, and what’s the experience like?

The team is made up of Ranger Instructors assigned to 6th RTB. First and foremost, we are Ranger Instructors — that always comes first. The role of Reptile Handler is an additional duty filled by volunteers across the battalion. Working with this kind of wildlife is a rare opportunity in the Army.

The Reptile Team is a great place to gain experience with animals and build relationships with fellow RIs. It’s also a chance to overcome fears and get comfortable with the uncomfortable (as you can imagine).

Q: How do you get trained for this job?

To get on the team you need to show interest, a willingness to work, and a good attitude. Experience comes from hands-on training with senior members, and confidence builds over time through supervised practice.

More specifically, The Reptile Team offers opportunities to learn from professionals around the state. We often do hands-on training to sharpen our skills and ensure we’re creating the safest, most effective environment for the team and the animals.

Senior team members who have worked with the animals for years conduct in-house training. We take staying sharp seriously, and training newer members helps us avoid complacency.

Each May, we plan an annual certification trip. We reach out to zoos, agencies, and reptile conservationists or enthusiasts around Florida to see who’s willing to host us for a day or two of training. Whether it’s venomous snakes, alligators, or any other Florida wildlife—we’re eager to learn.

We’ve been fortunate to work with incredibly generous experts across the state. Without them, we wouldn’t have the knowledge or skills needed to safely care for our animals today.

Photo via U.S. Air Force (Samuel King Jr.).

Q: What’s the most surprising thing about being on the team?

Most people don’t realize just how much work goes into maintaining the Reptile House. There’s a ton of preparation required—not just for Ranger School classes, but also for the community events we support.

That said, it’s incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s positive feedback from our student shows, past RIs returning with fond memories, or members of the community stopping by to engage with us at outreach events—it all makes the long hours worth it.

Photo via U.S. Air Force (Samuel King Jr.).

Q: Is being on the team a source of pride? Is it competitive to get on?

Absolutely—it’s a huge source of pride for those on the team. We care deeply about the Reptile House, its history, and keeping it running well. It takes dedicated people to keep everything operating smoothly.

While it isn’t extremely competitive to join, we hold high standards. Just like Ranger students are held to a standard in the field, we hold each other to a standard here too.

Q: What’s the most dangerous animal you work with?

Florida has six native venomous snake species, and we care for all six: the copperhead, water moccasin, dusky pygmy rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, and coral snake. All of them are serious threats if mishandled.

We also work with the American alligator. Our largest gator is about 11 feet long. While he’s somewhat trained, any wrong move could be dangerous. We take handling him with great caution.

If we had to pick the most dangerous animal, we’d likely say the timber rattlesnake. It’s especially dangerous because it can carry two types of venom—hemotoxin and neurotoxin—depending on where it’s located.

Bam Bam. Photo from Tony Giberson / tgiberson@pnj.com

Q: Tell us more about Bam Bam.

Bam Bam was named after the Flintstones character. He was born right here at Camp Rudder 11 years ago with a birth defect that nearly killed him. One of the handlers at the time helped nurse him back to health with a steady diet of dog food and water.

Due to his fragile condition and mostly indoor lifestyle, Bam Bam’s growth has been stunted. At just 1.5 feet long, he’s much smaller than the typical 6–7 feet you'd expect from an 11-year-old gator.

He’s our Battalion mascot and an absolute favorite. He’s very docile, loves being around people, and yes—he’s cuddly. He goes wild for shrimp, enjoys head scratches, and definitely has a personality. He’s always a crowd-pleaser and fan favorite.

Here are some great Bam Bam videos – link and l ink and link.

Other videos related to the Ranger School Reptile Team:

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Cover photo via U.S. Air Force ( 1st Lt. Karissa Rodriguez)

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Blog related to : Ranger School, Ranger Tab, Ranger Training, Ranger Prep, Swamp Phase, 6th Ranger Training Battalion

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Inside Ranger School’s Reptile Team