Check out this article written by the first ever embedded reporter, Rekha Shrestha, who accompanied the newly raised RNA Ranger Bn on operations. "It's a tough grind for Rangers, 24 hrs" Rekha Shrestha (Background story from which an extract was printed in The Himalayan Times on 17 February) Bharatpur These purposeful-looking men trudge through bushes over rugged mountains in the country, days and nights. Charlie Company already conducted a fortnight-long operation in Dhading before going Arghakhachi to carry out a similar assignment for entire December. Then the company went on for two more weeks to Gulmi. And when the soldiers were just expecting to return to their barracks and hang up their boots for a few days, they were picked up for still another operation, this time in the mid western region of the country. Now they are moving in heavy mortars, some light arms and logistics for combing Mahabharat range. Their orders: Destroy the rebel hideouts, secure the nearby villages to neutralize the Maoists' plans and to bring back a degree of normalcy to the lives of the civilian population. The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) Rangers, have cut their teeth as an elite force in the insurgency stricken Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, conducting such strenuous nonstop operations for months on end. "The Rangers are brought into places where there is a threat perception to other RNA units and it has been highly effective. The Rangers are doing a marvelous job," says Brigadier General Dilip Rana, the Special Forces Commander of RNA 10 Brigade. Since they are only of a battalion's strength and receiving requests from all over the country they have never much time to rest and to relax. The Alpha Company saw action for 11 months without a break. The physical exhaustion and the constant strain of keeping concentrated over long periods of time can sometimes leave the faces of these soldiers tired and devoid of all expression. The Rangers are of course better equipped with more sophisticated weapons than their comrades of the regular troops, what gives them more self-confidence. The basis of the soldiers' high morale however is a result of excellent leadership, training, discipline, camaraderie and patriotism. During operations officers and the rank and file resemble an intact family. "We are mobilized by the Headquarters, but as Rangers we are called the Army of the Army", says a soldier named Ramesh Kumar Pandey, "we are sent to those places where there is aggressive Maoist movement." So without complaints they sometimes go for days, even for weeks without cooked food and have gone without water for up to 24 hours. Meanwhile, scratch a Maoist militant and he'll say he is "fighting a people's war." Also, ask any RNA soldier and he will firmly declare that "the army is fighting for the people." Asked what is motivating him to fight without rest, Lance Corporal Binod Tamang firmly says: "The country is in crisis, it needs us and we are the professionals to fight the battle. Thinking about my enemy motivates me to endure hardship and continue without any complaint." One night during the Arghakhachi operation Tamang together with his lieutenant fell in the dark from about 80 ft, but luckily they became entangled in a shrubbery of creepers as found in the jungle and were saved. This, Tamang says, was "the most unforgettable moment" in his life. Recalling such stories has become their favorite pastime. They never seemed to get tired of sounding off about some adventures and heroic deeds they had achieved, and the painful inevitable comrades lost and maimed. "It is not that Rangers are different, but they do things differently", says one officer. "We believe that success comes only if we take the right step at the right time. Alpha company saved about a hundred thousand rupees out of its ration money during the 11 months operation for what they bought medicines, radio sets, assault vests and ropes to complement their equipment. Some money was spent in civic activities to bring success to our campaign of winning the hearts and minds of the people." By January 2005, Rangers had killed 134 Maoists while losing 10 men during 31 operations in 38 districts since the unit's formation in 2003. It was formed at the initiative of the Army Chief of Staff, General Pyar Jung Thapa, himself the first RNA Ranger graduate of the US Ranger School. By now the Mahabir Rangers battalion is helping train and raise the Singhanath battalion as a commando unit. Even the US Army Special Forces team, who were in Kathmandu to conduct a joint exercise, appreciated the RNA Rangers as the best troops they had come across in Asia. Operations, and by now legendary, battles in Pandaun and Beni, Dhading and Arghakhachhi are only some of the few examples where the Rangers performed outstandingly. The commanders insist that the Rangers are fighting hard and since the commanding officer's focus is "on avoiding collateral damage at all cost", they are doing a clean job. As goes a lieutenant's story: "After the Krishnabhir incident, we got a tip-off about a group of Maoists hiding out in Dhading. All the officers were eager to get to the chase, but someone had to stay at the base with the big packs. Finally we agreed to choose the assailant by drawing lots. Without even alerting anyone we climbed up the cliff of the mountain, from where we were able to cause many casualties among the Maoists." Encountering Maoists or storming their hideouts depends not only upon intelligence and planning but also on luck. "The Maoists have the advantage as they are fighting a guerrilla war while we lack good local intelligence networks. When they are not in action they are hiding amongst the civilian population. So confrontation sometimes depends on mere luck, but we Rangers are confident we will surprise them," said a Ranger commander, who preferred to remain anonymous and is convinced of finally defeating the rebels. "The Rangers have a destiny to fulfill and in the end they will be the ones to turn the tide. The Maoists cannot sustain for ever." After enduring days and weeks in rocky terrain and snowbound mountains these soldiers crave for just a bit of comfort in life. "Enjoying some smaller pleasures is the beauty of army life. For instance, operating in a mountainous country like ours even strolling on the plains is a luxury for us rangers," says an officer, who confessed he was longing for hot shower and a cup of piping strong coffee before hitting the sack and boning up on political science prior to shutting his peepers.