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RAIDER TRAINING

The Raider motto, "Always Ready", is indicative of the spirit that Raider Training instills within each Raider. Raider candidates receive training in a variety of individual and special skills. They are also introduced to a variety of civil and military operations.

Raider Training consists of Leadership, Operations, Reconnaissance, Intelligence Gathering, Movement, Patrolling, Small Unit Tactics, Booby Traps/IED’s, Ambushes, Camouflage, Communications, Landing Zone Operations, Small Boat Operations, Evasion and Survival, First Aid, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Urban Operations, Map Reading and Land Navigation, and Search & Rescue Methodology. It also covers the Raider mission essential task list for Raider operations.

SC State Guard RAIDER Course

The SCSG Raider Course is a part of the SCSG Professional Development School commanded by COL Amos Hykes. The SCSG Professional Development School is known nationally as one of the top military professional development schools outside of the US Army. In addition to providing training to the members of the SCSG, personnel from numerous other states have graduated from the school.

The SCSG Raider Course is designed after the US Army Ranger School. Training takes place at three sites in the midlands of SC. Classroom studies are conducted at Midlands Technical College, Beltline Campus in Columbia. Field instruction takes place at the 800 acre South Carolina Army National Guard Clarks Hill Training Center in Plum Branch, SC and at a training site along the Wateree River, near Camden, SC. Click here for the 2011 Raider Course.

Once enrolled, the Raider Candidate begins a journey where he or she will be challenged mentally and physically. The course is concluded by a 48 hour field exercise known as "The Swamp Fox Challenge". whereby each candidate will be put to the test using each facet of the training acquired during the Raider Course. Upon successful completion of the Swamp Fox Challenge, the Raider Candidate will receive the coveted Raider Tab and the honor of calling himself a RAIDER. Those who complete The  Raider Course are eligible for team assignments in the Raider Detachment.