Sergeant Iaian Duncan (center) poses for photos after graduating Army Ranger School with Command Sgt. Maj. Lance Rygmyr (left), command sergeant major for Augusta’s 560th Battlefield Surveillance Battalion, and Command Sgt. Maj. Neal Russell, state command sergeant major for Georgia. Like all students who attend ranger training, Duncan isn’t wearing his rank.

Georgia National Guard
Public Affairs Office

FORT BENNING, COLUMBUS – One didn’t have to stand close to see the humble, but proud smile on the face of Georgia Army National Guard Sgt. Iaian Duncan recently as he accepted his diploma for graduating Army Ranger School. He’s now attending airborne training here.

And the smile wasn’t just because he graduated…which, for some, would be reason enough.

Duncan, a member of Company H, Georgia’s long range surveillance company is only the second Georgia Army Guardsman to be selected the school’s Distinguished Honor Graduate. The first achieve honor grad status was Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hurndon, now the senior noncommissioned officer for Macon’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, back in 1995 while serving with the LRS.

“There’s no greater feeling than this for me,” Duncan said. “I can’t begin to explain how proud and honored I am for having achieved this; especially in light of the fact that I follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest Soldiers I know.”

After receiving a certificate of achievement and a plaque-mounted Fairbairn-Sykes dagger, Duncan was honored with a brick at the Ranger Wall of Fame for be selected the distinguished honor grad. He also received challenge coins from Command Sgt. Maj. Lance Rygmyr, command sergeant major for Augusta’s 560th Battlefield Surveillance Battalion and Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Russell, state command sergeant major for Georgia.

Duncan, who lives in Douglasville and works as a service technician for Casteel Heating and Cooling, isn’t the only one who’s pleased with his achievement.

Captain William Parker, Company H commander, said the sergeant made it known for quite a while that he wanted Ranger School, and that he was determined to make it the best experience he’s ever had.

“I am especially proud to see him receive his Ranger Tab,” Parker said. “This has been a goal of his for some time, and for him to be first is his class, well it’s nothing short of outstanding.”

From the time he began Ranger School in March, Duncan knew that reaching graduation, by no means, would be an easy thing. Training during all three phases – conducted at Benning, Dahlonega and in Florida – is extremely intense, and some of the best the Army offers, he continued.

Students are under constant physical and mental stress, carrying 65 to 95 pounds of combat equipment, moving by foot nearly 200-plus miles, getting no more than four hours of sleep – sometimes none – doing patrols and honing combat skills, and all the time being evaluated on your combat and leadership skills, Duncan explained. And then there is reconnaissance, mountain and airborne training.

“The toughness and intenseness of it all, in the end, instills a confidence and pride in yourself that those who’ve never experienced the school may never know.”

It’s certainly evident in Sgt. Iaian Duncan, the Georgia Army Guard’s latest recipient of the coveted Ranger Tab.

Editor’s Note: Captain William Parker, Company H commander, contributed this story.

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