Army Probes Florida Beach Incident Involving Blank Rounds, Suspends 18 Rangers

Members of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion are facing allegations of firing blank rounds near Crab Island, a well-known boating hotspot in Destin, Florida. Jennifer S. Gunn, the spokeswoman for the Army Maneuver Center of Excellence located at Fort Benning, Georgia, has confirmed that instructors have been temporarily reassigned from their training responsibilities as the Army initiates a formal investigation.

The 6th Battalion oversees the U.S. Army Ranger School's swamp phase, located at Camp Rudder on Eglin Air Force Base. The unit is known for training elite soldiers; however, it operates independently and is not affiliated with the 75th Ranger Regiment, which is tasked with conducting special operations.

Recent video footage shared across social media platforms depicts uniformed individuals adorned with Ranger tabs and equipped with rifles featuring blank adapters, discharging multiple bursts into the air. This alarming display has reportedly incited panic among nearby boaters. A woman can be heard off-camera in a video questioning, “Is that real?” following the sound of the initial gunfire.

The event prompted at least two emergency calls to 911 and resulted in significant public backlash. Michael Ingram, a charter boat captain who observed the incident, reported that the soldiers issued no warning before discharging their weapons, resulting in confusion and panic among those on the beach. Ingram expressed strong disapproval, stating, “This is unacceptable because there are so many real mass shootings occurring in America each year.” “This is not a matter to be taken lightly.”

Army spokesperson Gunn confirmed that the same instructors had previously taken part in the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, a sanctioned event that showcased a mock sea battle with blank gunfire as entertainment. The festival occurred on the evening of May 16, approximately five miles away from Crab Island.

Devon Ravine, a spokesperson for Fort Walton Beach, stated that although the Rangers' involvement in the pirate-themed event received approval, any further activities at Crab Island were not sanctioned nor connected to the festival. Ravine stated, “We do not know what occurred at Crab Island on Friday and cannot comment, except to clarify that it was not in any way associated with the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival.”

The Army has yet to disclose the identities of the suspended instructors and has not confirmed if criminal charges are under consideration. The inquiry is still in progress.

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