Carl Calderon places the Ranger Tab onto the uniform of his son, Staff Sgt. Michael Calderon, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during Ranger School graduation Aug. 21, 2015 at Fort Benning, Ga. Michael Calderon was the William O. Darby Distinguished Honor Graduate for the class. (Photo by Markeith Horace)
Haver 1 of 2 women; Calderon earns distinguished honor
By Dani Johnson
Garrison Public Affairs Office
Four Fort Carson Soldiers, to include one of the first female Soldiers to attend the course, graduated the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia, Aug. 21, 2015.
1st Lt. Shaye L. Haver, an AH-64 Apache pilot, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and another female officer were the first women to graduate from Ranger School. The first Ranger class in Army history to include female candidates began April 19, 2015 with 20 women among the 400 Soldiers.
Other Fort Carson graduates include infantrymen Staff Sgt. Michael C. Calderon, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, who was named the William O. Darby Distinguished Honor Graduate; Sgt. 1st Class Cyril L. Komanecky II, 1st Bn., 38th Inf. Reg., 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.; and Spc. Logan A. Williams, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd IBCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Haver said she wanted to go to Ranger School because she knew it would make her a better leader for her Soldiers.
“The reasons I chose to come were the same as the men here: to get the experience of the elite leadership school … and to give me the opportunity to lead my Soldiers the best that I can,” said Haver. “I think if females continue to come to this course, they can be encouraged by what we have accomplished, but hopefully they’re encouraged by the legacy that the Ranger community has left.”
Haver said it might have been a natural assumption that the female students would have wanted to band together for support, but that was not the case. Instead, she said, support came from those Soldiers closest to them — as it would be in combat.
“We immediately integrated in our squad and became teammates that way,” she said. “It was never about the women trying to beat the men through Ranger School, or the women banding together for any reason in Ranger School. … We intentionally tried to rely on our squad mates, because they are the closest to us, and not the females around us.”
The 2012 U.S. Military Academy graduate’s leaders look forward to her bringing her leadership skills back to the brigade.
“We are extremely proud of 1st Lt. Haver’s distinguished accomplishment as one of the first female Ranger School graduates,” said Col. Lori Robinson, commander, 4th CAB. “Her dedication and determination in completing the course served as a tremendous example for all Soldiers and leaders in 4th CAB, 4th Infantry Division and the Army. The skills she has learned will enhance her capabilities as an Army aviator and tactical leader in the Army.”
Her battalion commander echoed the sentiments.
“On behalf of the entire 1-4 ARB, 4th CAB, and the ‘Iron Horse’ Division, we congratulate 1st Lt. Haver on graduating Ranger School and helping to pave the way for our female Service members as a result of this magnificent milestone,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Gilbertson. “1st Lt. Haver demonstrated outstanding dedication, perseverance and physical toughness through this arduous process. We are extremely proud of her accomplishment, her ability to break barriers, and we look forward to her returning to our team and resuming her platoon leader position in the near future.”
Calderon, a Menifee, California, native, received the distinguished honor graduate award named in honor of Brig. Gen. William O. Darby, who organized the 1st Ranger Battalion in 1942 with handpicked volunteers leading the way onto the beaches of North Africa. It is awarded to the Ranger who shows the best tactical and administrative leadership performance, has the most positive spot reports and has demonstrated being a cut above the rest. The recipient must also pass all graded leadership positions, peer reports and may not recycle.
The newest Rangers will be combat multipliers as they share their training and expertise throughout their brigades, said Col. Matthew Cody, commander, 2nd IBCT, 4th Inf. Div.
“Staff Sgt. Calderon has proven himself to be one of our very best, by not only graduating from one of the hardest schools in the military, but by doing so with distinction as the honor graduate.
His professionalism, technical and tactical expertise and his motivation are something every leader can aspire to.”
Editor’s note: Army News Service, Sgt. Jonathan Thibault, 4th CAB Public Affairs Office, and Sgt. Nelson Robles, 2nd IBCT Public Affairs Office, contributed to this article.