The Battle of Mogadishu, or Day of the Rangers, was part of Operation Gothic Serpent. It was fought on 3–4 October 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, between forces of the United States and Somali militiamen loyal to the self-proclaimed president-to-be Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who had support from armed fighters. The battle is also referred to as the First Battle of Mogadishu, to distinguish it amongst the nine major Battles of Mogadishu during the decades-long Somali Civil War.
The initial U.S. Joint Special Operations force, Task Force Ranger, was a collaboration of various elite special forces units from Army Special Operations Command, Air Force Special Operations Command and Navy Special Warfare Command; it consisted mostly of members from the 75th Ranger Regiment and Delta Force. Task Force Ranger was dispatched to seize two of Aidid’s high-echelon lieutenants during a meeting in the city. The goal of the operation was achieved, though conditions spiraled into the deadly Battle of Mogadishu. The initial operation of 3 October 1993, intended to last an hour, became an overnight standoff and rescue operation extending into the daylight hours of 4 October.
- 160 US Soldiers
- 19 Aircraft
- 12 Vehicles
- 19 KIA
- 85 Wounded
Warmarama
- 19 SSH IC
- 18 LBAC IC
- 17 Slow Squat
- 16 slow merkins IC
- 15 Lunges
- 85 total reps to honor the wounded
The Thang
Mog Mile (closer to 3 miles…) Run done as a Gothic Serpent Run ( aka Serpentine Ricky Bobby) interrupted by:
- 19 Bear crawl steps IC
- 19 Crab walk steps IC
- 12 Walking lunge
- 12 Broad jumps
- 12 Derkin
- 12 Flutter kick IC
- 12 American hammers IC
- 12 Carolina dry dock
- 12 Prisoner squat
- 19 Crab walk steps IC
- 19 Bear crawl steps IC
- 19 reps representing the KIA, 12 reps representing the vehicles, 160 total reps to honor the 160 soldiers
Mary
- Flutter Kicks x 64 to recognize Black Hawk Super Six Four
- LBC x 61to recognize Black Hawk Super Six One
COT
I took the Q last minute as the slot was empty, not knowing what I was going to present. Recognizing that this past weekend GORUCK ran most of their MOG mile events, I thought it appropriate to honor those involved in the Battle of Mogadishu on the 25th anniversary. Those men and women applied themselves to the task at hand with duty and honor; some paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is our responsibility to remember those that serve and served, and carry on with that same duty and honor in the tasks of our daily lives and interactions with colleagues, friends, family, and community.