h.  Ranger Course selection criteria and awards:  Awards listed below are designed to recognize outstanding achievement during the Ranger Course.  Dependent on class performance all or some of these awards may be presented upon graduation.  There is no requirement for every award by category of rank to be issued.

        (1)  WILLIAM O. DARBY AWARD:  The criteria used in selecting the William O. Darby Award winner is:  The Darby Award winner is the top Distinguished Honor Graduate, highest peers, most positive spot reports, and the best performance in both tactical and administrative leadership positions.  He must have clearly demonstrated himself as being a cut above all other Rangers.  He is recommended by the battalion commanders and Brigade S3 after review of all academic records. Final approval authority is the Brigade Commander.  A Ranger class is not required to have a William O. Darby Award recipient. There is only one William O. Darby Award recipient per class.

(2)             DISTINGUISHED HONOR GRADUATE:  There is one Distinguished Honor

Graduate.  The officer or enlisted Honor Graduate with the best overall performance and is recommended by the battalion commanders and Brigade S3.  The Brigade Commander is the final approving authority for Distinguished Honor Graduate.  If students in a category, officer or enlisted, do not meet the Honor Graduate criteria, the one student in that category with the best overall performance record is designated the Honor Graduate for that category, and there is no Distinguished Honor Graduate.

(3)              RALPH PUCKETT AWARD:  Criteria used to select the Ralph Puckett Awardee

(Officer) of the Ranger Course are:  Meet the course graduation criteria; pass all graded leadership positions; pass all peer reports; lost no major items of equipment due to negligence (as evidenced by spot reports); all unsatisfactory spot reports cancelled; no recycles, other than for compassionate or medical reasons; and no re-tests on any critical tasks.

(4)       GLENN M. HALL AWARD:  Criteria used to select the Glenn M. Hall Awardee

(Enlisted) of the Ranger Course are: Meet the course graduation criteria; pass all graded leadership positions; pass all peer reports; lost no major items of equipment due to negligence (as evidenced by spot reports); all unsatisfactory spot reports cancelled; no recycles, other than for compassionate or medical reasons; and no retest on any critical tasks.  

(5)       MERRILL’S MARAUDER AWARD:  Criteria used in selecting one officer and one

enlisted for the Merrill's Marauder Award are:  Must have passed the land navigation course (no retest); must have passed all peer evaluations and have the highest cumulative score.  The student who received the highest score in land navigation is selected.

(6)       BENJAMIN CHURCH LEADERSHIP AWARD:  Criteria used in selecting one

officer and one enlisted man, who have demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout the entire course are:  Recommended by all battalion commanders, battalion TAC’s, and Brigade S3; not have been a recycle for any academic reason, i.e. peers, spots, or patrols; have a positive spot record; and have not been a SOR case at anytime in the course.

(7)       NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER ASSOCIATION AWARD:  Given to the top

enlisted graduate of each class regardless of other awards received and is sponsored by the NCOA of Columbus, Ga.

(8)       VAN HOUTEN SUB-CHAPTER CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY CHAPTER, AUSA

LEADERSHIP AWARD:  Given to the best informal leader of each class regardless of other awards.