The History of the Louisiana Royal Ranger Training Academy

In 1972 Rev. D.E. Stroud was appointed Louisiana District Royal Rangers Commander by District Superintendent L.O. Waldon. Having a great burden to reach boys for Christ, Commander Stroud began to seek God as to the best way to achieve his goal. At this time around 32 outposts had been chartered. Due to lack of vision and/or training, most of them had become inactive. Prior to this, one district Pow-wow had been attempted with 5 outposts present.

As Commander Stroud prayed and planned for the 1973 Pow-Wow and the overall district program, he became fully aware that training was the key and that with training would come a vision. In order to better prepare himself as leader, he attended N.T.C. early in 1973 and began his Leadership Training Course by correspondence, continuing on to complete every type of training available. As he continued his own training, he became more convinced than ever that a conventional type Pow-Wow would not work under the circumstances he was dealing with at the time. At a Pow Wow under a previous administration several people had accidents because of a lack of camping skills and knowledge. So the 1973 Pow-Wow was planned around the keyword "Training". The Pow Wow was held June 1973, with 6 men and a nurse as instructors teaching 54 boys in first-aid, swimming, lifesaving, canoeing, campcraft, compass, Bible, backpacking and survival. In addition to coordinating the camp, Bro. Stroud taught five or six classes daily. The boys were organized into patrols and attended classes on a rotation bases, sleeping in dormitories and eating their meals in the "cafetorium." Each afternoon a different group donned packs to run the compass course and camp out overnight, returning the next morning in time for breakfast. Food was taken from the "cafetoriun" and they cooked their evening meal over a campfire. During the five nights of evangelistic services, 18 boys were saved and 7 were filled with the Holy Spirit. During this week, the Jim Bowie chapter of the Frontiersman Camping Fraternity (now called Fellowship) was formed with 2 men and three boys.

Academy Formally Comes into Being (1974)

By June of 1974 more men had caught the vision so that the number of instructors had doubled. More courses had been added and the enrollment reached 84. In addition to the classes for boys, all four sections of the Leadership Training Course were taught by the new district training coordinator David Craun. Commander Craun was a young man well trained in Royal Rangers work as well as Academic degrees incorporating programming and organization. Bro. Craun transferred into the Louisiana District and was appointed Training Coordinator by Commander Stroud. His help was invaluable in the Academy curriculum development in those early days. The adult phase of the Training Academy is the Leadership Training College. All the L.T.C. sections and the Standard First Aid Course are taught each year. Royal Rangers leaders take advantage of this opportunity each year. Several pastors have taken advantage of the week long "marathon" to receive their Royal Rangers training. Seven men finished L.T.C. and their first aid course and become members of F.C.F that first year it was added to the Academy curriculum (1974).

Academy Becomes a Yearly Institution (1976)

Excitement mounted as these men saw the great potential in the Royal Rangers program. The excitement continued to spread throughout the district as more men took advantage of L.T.C. and attended N.T.C., N.T.T., and A.N.T.C.. After completing each phase of training, they returned to their churches, set aflame for God; and new outposts were organized or old ones revitalized by better-trained and anointed leadership. In 1976 the name, Royal Rangers Training Academy was given to the annual training camp on the advice of National Commander and Founder of Royal Rangers, Johnnie Barnes. Though different in structure and purpose, it had previously been called a Pow Wow. The enrollment continued to increase each year with 147 in 1975, 184 in 1976, and 235 in 1977. In 1993 the attendance passed the 400 mark. Each year has also brought an increase in the number of souls saved and filled with the Holy Spirit - to God be the glory. In 1978 the Louisiana District received a double blessing by having two national Royal Ranger leaders visit the academy. Fred (Hawk Eye) Deaver, national F.C.F. president was the camp evangelist for the first two nights, and national commander Johnnie Barnes was the evangelist for the last three nights. They were both a great inspiration, and their visit will long be remembered by all in attendance.

The Early Days

In the early days, registration was set up somewhat like a college. As the boys arrived, registered and paid their fee, they went to their coordinator over their age division (Pioneers or Trailblazers). Based on his rank and advancement, the Ranger would be sent to the proper instructor for class enrollment. In 1986 registration was first computerized on the basis of pre-registration information. Whitney Pieron spearheaded this effort; later it was modified and carried further by Ron McMillan, District Training Coordinator at the time. A team of men led by Steve Schultz further modified the process by using visual basic computer programming. By this method the commander who brings the outpost comes into the registration office, pays the fees for all his boys and walks out with class and dorm assignments in hand.

The Corps (1976- )

The vision for the "Elite Corps" came from commander J.B. Marze the District F.C.F. president (and charter member) at the time. Thus, the concept of using "Corps" to motivate boys to continue their training was born. Commander Marze worked faithfully each year in the Academy with a tremendous love and burden for boys. As the staff met from time to time in planning for the 1976 Academy, there was much concern over some older boys who were not returning year after year. Perhaps there was not enough to challenge them. Thus, it was that Bro. Marze came up with the idea of an Elite Corps which was added that year. To qualify for this group a Ranger must have been 15 years old and have attended J.L.T.C.. They would work on their advanced awards toward earning the Gold Medal of Achievement. They would work as the duty and service patrols and would serve as "aide-de-camp" to staff officers. They worked in the kitchen serving and cleaning up after meals. (Previously, the L.T.C. College would break from their classes and perform these duties.) Since there had been only one J.L.T.C. held in the district before 1976, this was truly an elite group.

The other J.L.T.C. in Louisiana had been conducted in the fall of 1975 at Indian Creek State Campgrounds. At the 1977 Academy a J.L.T.C. was conducted as part of the Academy curriculum. It was in a different area, set apart from the regular Academy, and conducted according the national standard at the time. Those enrolled must have been at least 14 years old, have advanced rank in Trailblazers and haveearned at lease 5 advanced awards.

Also, in 1977 the "Special Forces Corps" was added to the Academy through the vision of the Ruston sectional commander Charles Walker. Only those Rangers who had been through J.L.T.C. and Elite Corps were eligible. While receiving training in leadership, they continued working on advanced awards (attending classes); served as honor guard and trained in ceremonial drill, worked on the Gold Medal of Achievement, Gold Buffalo, and Silver Buffalo and toward becoming Junior Commander; took advanced First Aid; and acted as liaison for officers. The uniform for this group was Army fatigues, Army Ranger hats; and at the end of the training, they were awarded green berets with the dress blue and gold Royal Ranger emblem on the side. They were a group to be justly proud of as they presented colors at the awards banquet that Friday evening. These boys were encouraged to attend N.T.C. as soon as possible, after which they would receive the rank of Lt. Commander. It was hoped that through this method, these boys would then find a place of leadership in the local churches and never be lost to the Ranger ministry nor to the service of God.

In 1983 a new Corps was added to the academy. This corps was created as a response to a specific need to give additional challenges to the older Royal Rangers. The "Pathfinders" was developed by a dedicated group of commanders led by Bruce Rogers. A Ranger had to have completed the Special Forces Corps in order to join the Pathfinders. Adventure, comradeship, skill development and dedication provided an atmosphere of spiritual fellowship while the Rangers met the challenge of wilderness rescue training skills using rappelling techniques. The final coprs added was in 1986 when a week long J.T.T. for 15 year olds was conducted during Academy. Rangers earned the pathfinder, wilderness survival, nature, cooking, and hiking awards while backpacking in the national forest adjacent to the Academy camping area.

Academy Staff School and Corps leaders' School (1983- 2004)

Also, for the first time an Academy Staff School was conducted in 1983 prior to the opening of Academy. Special training was offered to develop the leaders who dedicate themselves to the ministry of the Louisiana Royal Rangers. The Staff School was divided into three parts: Academy Instructors School, Office Staff School, And Productions Staff School. Three phases were developed for the corps at an Academy Corps Leaders School conducted during labor day weekends: Corps Commanders School, J.T.T. Wilderness Survival School, and Pathfinders Wilderness Rescue Training School. In 2004, the schools were combined to form the new Academy Leaders School. (see below)

Pioneer and Trailblazer Camps (1998- 2002)

In 1998 the newly organized Frontier Brigade was added to the Academy Corps for those 12-year-old Trailblazers who had already completed their second class requirements, but had not met the requirements to enter JLTC. (First Class with the Camping Advanced Merit) Ted Romero spearheaded the development of the curriculum for this new Academy addition. This camp functions like a corps in that they have a set group of merits they work on and have a specific staff that work with them. The staff members in `98 were all FCF members with at least Buckskin advancement. The boys earn Hide Tanning, Indian Lore, Leathercraft and other Frontier related merits. The hope is to equip these young men to desire membership in the FCF by involving them in frontier skills and helping them earn their first class advancement.

In 1999 The Pioneer Leaders Training was added to the Academy curriculum. Previously, in 1997 there was a separate PLT camp conducted in May of that year with an excellent response. Some of the staff that lead the first PLT camp headed up this new addition to the Academy. The PLT is for Pioneers who are recommended by their commander that have finished the Long Rifle advancement pin or are already 11 years old. In 2000 two new specialized camps are formed.

Up to this time 9 and 10 year-old Pioneers worked mainly on their advancement ratings to achieve the next level of advancement and work on the Gold Track requirements for their current level. It was determined that this age boy would benefit from a camp especially designed for them. These camps incorporate the gold track required merits as well as specific age appropriate team building activities. Bryan Craun developed the 9 year-old camp called Pioneer A-Team and Alton Foster developed the 10 year-old camp called Lightning Bolts. Special camp shirts identify each group give each boy his own group awareness. The need to feel like you belong is important to this age boy. These specialized camps for Pioneers and 12 year-old Trailblazers have brought the basic philosophy behind the development of the Corps to a complete circle which includes all those attending Academy.

In 2002, with the introduction of the new Royal Ranger program, which included the entrance of 8 year olds into the older age groups, Bryan Craun developed another camp, called Super Falcons. This camp teaches basic skills and allows the boys in the camp to have a taste of Academy through the daily tours of each of the other camps and corps giving the boys something to look forward to in the years ahead.