The Team

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My name is Brad Rather, I'm the Owner and Lead Instructor for RR Tactical Medical Training, LLC.  My first combat deployment was a 15-month tour to Iraq in 2006-2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  I was the Squadron Physician Assistant for the 5th Squadron 73rd Cavalry Regiment (Airborne Reconnaissance), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, also known as 5-73 RECON, "Panther RECON" or the unit's radio callsign of "Headhunters".  We were the first Reconnaissance Squadron created in the US Army's 2005 transition to a more modular and lethal Brigade Combat Team (BCT) concept.    In 2006, 5-73 RECON was also the first Reconnaissance Squadron in the Army's inventory to deploy to combat. 

The Headhunters had been conducting highly effective offensive combat operations against Wahhabist insurgent strongholds around the Balad Ruz District of Diyala Province for several months.  After numerous successful combat operations, in a region which had been completely under insurgent control just months earlier, 5-73 RECON (450 paratroopers strong) was attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.  5-73 was ordered to leave a small contingent of warriors in the Balad Ruz District to maintain a tactical presence in the area and move approximately 300 paratroopers deeper into the Diyala River Valley. We would establish two small combat outposts (COPs) in the cities of As Sadah and Zaganiya, to take the fight to the enemy in the insurgent-controlled and highly contested Diyala River Valley.  This Task Force of paratroopers became known as "TF 300", our Squadron Commander (LTC Andrew Poppas), had a proud Greek heritage, and the book Gates of Fire was mandatory reading for all the Officers and NCOs in our unit. 

When the Diyala River Valley campaign was over, the 450 Paratroopers of TF 300 would experience a more than 25% casualty rate with the loss of 22 paratroopers killed in action and more than 100 wounded (including myself).  This difficult deployment is where I validated my tactical medicine skills.  The subtle red letters of "TF 300" over the top of the Spartan helmets in the R R Tactical Medical Training, LLC company logo pays respect to our 22 fallen brothers (including 2 of my medics SFC Benjamin Sebban, and PFC Garret Knoll) as well as all my fellow TF 300 warrior brothers and sisters.

Airborne --- All the Way --- H-Minus --- Headhunters

“Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie.” 

 ― Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire