By Dona Fair
FORT BENNING, Ga. – Teaching a baby to “crawl, walk, and run” is a task most of us will tackle at some point in our lives. But for the son of a Wayland couple, teaching the Army’s best soldiers to “crawl, walk, and run” is a challenge most of us will never experience.
Army Capt. Thomas, R. Church, son of Robert and Liane Church of Wayland, is an Army Ranger School instructor, “leading the way” for soldiers to complete one of the toughest 
military training schools anyone can volunteer to attend.
The instructors push the Ranger students to their physical and mental limits through sleep and food deprivation, continuous enemy attacks, and extreme physical demands, teaching them how to achieve mission success while encountering and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
“I train future leaders in today’s Army to be able to fight and lead soldiers in any condition and to successfully accomplish their mission,” said Church, who graduated in 1999 from East Kentwood High School, Mich., and received a bachelor’s degree in history in 2003 from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Ranger School is a 61-day course spread out over three distinct locations. The “Crawl” phase is located at Fort Benning, Ga., where students find out whether or not they have
the physical and mental skills to complete combat missions and the remainder of Ranger School successfully. The “Walk” phase is held in the mountains near Dahlonega, Ga., and teaches the students techniques for employing squads and platoons for continuous combat patrol operations in a mountainous environment. Finally, the “Run” phase is held in the swamps of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and tests the students’ ability to operate effectively under conditions of extreme mental and physical stress.
Training young men to become Rangers requires that the instructors be the best of the best. They themselves must have several years of leadership 
experience, and be qualified as a Ranger, jumpmaster, pathfinder, assault climber, mountaineer, combat lifesaver, and scuba diver.
“An instructor must be Airborne and Ranger qualified and be a staff sergeant or above,” said Church, who serves at the Eglin location. “Captains must be graduates of the Maneuver Captains Career Course as well.”
Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines volunteer to become part of this highly trained and rapidly deployable light infantry force. Their specialized skills allow them to engage in a 
variety of conventional and special operational situations. This means that they must possess technical and tactical proficiency, physical fitness, mental toughness, and a winning spirit of never quitting--qualities and attributes that set them apart from other military members.
“Army Rangers are more elite Soldiers in today’s Army because they are trained to fight in any and all conditions. They will always complete the mission and will never leave anyone behind,” he said. “Rangers are tested warriors and dependable leaders. They are the kind of people anyone would want to work with, whether it is in the military or in the civilian world.”
For nearly 70 years, since the first group of hand picked volunteers was activated in World War II, Rangers have led the way on over 50 military campaigns, including operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Occasionally, their unique skills are called upon during their military careers.
“During my last deployment to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division, I had been tested many times where I had to draw upon my Ranger training,” said Church, who has been in the military for six years. “It helped me stay calm under fire and assisted me in bringing my soldiers back home to their families.”
At the end of the day, Church and his fellow instructors can feel proud to know that the men they are molding into future Ranger leaders will be the best of the best to “lead the way.”
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