May
be copied as-is for Cadet training purposes with appropriate citation. All other rights
reserved.
Updated: 06/03/02
Drummond Island: DECLASSIFIED
Darin Ninness, Managing Editor
Introduction
There are few Civil Air Patrol groups that are
surrounded by as much mystery as the Cold War era "77th Ranger Support Unit".
Known to very few people outside of its own ranks, it was based in the wilderness of
Drummond Island, Michigan, and conducted its training and developed its methods in
seclusion.Continue reading...
The Death March - Part 1
I was asked to give
my impressions of the events that occurred during the march to Marble Head and back. I
have tried to include everything I could remember and have been as detailed as I can per
instructions. As ordered, I did not include any names and only used my call sign above. Continue reading...
The Death March - Part 2
We
continued to march along in our semi-zombie state until we ran across the bus. I was so
physically and emotionally wrecked that I didn't even see it until I was ten feet from the
hood. I was walking around in a stupor and my tunnel vision was getting really bad. One of
the cadets from Charlie was being carried, but the rest of us had made it. Band-Aid Billy
was bandaging some guy's foot. I noticed the rain had all but stopped as I climbed aboard.
We waited about 10 minutes for some stragglers, and then we rode the few miles back to
base. Continue reading...
The Mess
Dear Sir,
I was very surprised to hear that you are discouraging your cadets from attending Drummond
Island. While I understand that there have been stories circulating around about abuse and
extreme conditions, I can state for a fact that no cadet has ever been abused up there,
and I would put our safety record up against any activity in the nation. I should point
out that those stories are spread by people who have never attended Drummond Island. Continue reading...
The Consumate Squad Leader
Sir,
As requested, here is the information on C/TSGT Hannibal and his background with the Civil
Air Patrol, as known to me. I hope this information helps as you prepare to make your
selection for your unit’s next cadet commander. While he has not progressed as fast
as would normally be preferred, Hannibal has several qualities that I believe make him
worth training and others that need tempering. His and my paths have crisscrossed quite a
bit over the last few years. Continue reading...
There are few Civil Air Patrol groups that are
surrounded by as much mystery as the Cold War era "77th Ranger Support Unit".
Known to very few people outside of its own ranks, it was based in the wilderness of
Drummond Island, Michigan, and conducted its training and developed its methods in
seclusion.
I was asked to give
my impressions of the events that occurred during the march to Marble Head and back. I
have tried to include everything I could remember and have been as detailed as I can per
instructions. As ordered, I did not include any names and only used my call sign above. 
We
continued to march along in our semi-zombie state until we ran across the bus. I was so
physically and emotionally wrecked that I didn't even see it until I was ten feet from the
hood. I was walking around in a stupor and my tunnel vision was getting really bad. One of
the cadets from Charlie was being carried, but the rest of us had made it. Band-Aid Billy
was bandaging some guy's foot. I noticed the rain had all but stopped as I climbed aboard.
We waited about 10 minutes for some stragglers, and then we rode the few miles back to
base. 
