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Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise (IWX) & Laboratoru

The West Virginia National Guard Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise (RR IWX) & Laboratory is a flexible, adaptable, and scalable IW exercise platform built to prepare U.S. Special Operations Forces (USSOF) and communities of interest for the complexities of operating in permissive, contested, and denied areas, often within civilian populations.

About Ridge Runner IWX

About Ridge Healer

Through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program (SPP) and Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs), Ridge Runner enables a common language to form between U.S. and international SOF commands, partner forces, and global allies, as participants train and assess readiness.

Ridge Runner directly supports the Secretary of Defense’s priorities by reviving the warrior ethos through rigorous, realistic pre-deployment validation for USSOF elements; building military capacity by collaborating with DoD and industry partners to test and integrate next-generation technologies; and supports deterrence by strengthening U.S. strategic Irregular Warfare capabilities across the conflict continuum. The program builds a robust network of IW professionals, enhancing global collaboration and ensuring a more lethal, resilient, and ready force.

USSOF Deployment Validation	Technology Innovation	Community of Interest
*Providing a realistic pre-deployment validation platform for USSOF elements.*	*Collaborating with DoD and industry partners facilitating testing, experimentation and integration of next-generation technologies.*	*Building a robust network of IW professionals to foster collaboration, exchange expertise, and strengthen global partnerships.*

WVNG RR RESTRICTED SITE LINKS

Members of the United Kingdom's 3 Ranger Special Operations Resuscitation Team or SORT provide medical care for a mock patient during the West Virginia National Guard-led Ridge Healer exercise held in late April throughout West Virginia. Ridge Healer is a medical exercise which provides the special operations community with irregular warfare medical resiliency and resistance training in austere, complex, contested and denied environments. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Holli Nelson)

W.Va. National Guard’s Ridge Healer trains U.K. special operations medical teams for irregular warfare, austere medicine

Nestled in a valley in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern West Virginia sits an out-of-use

Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Dr. Dennis Walters, Director of the Irregular Warfare Center, during a Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare program ceremony at Camp Dawson, Kinwgood, West Virginia, April 19, 2024. The IWC advances Department of Defense irregular warfare concepts, doctrine, and education, in collaboration with U.S. Joint Forces, key Allies and Partner Nations. The memorandum of understanding helps formalize the WVNG/IWC relationship, including enhancing opportunities for joint training exercises such as Ridge Runner and Ridge Healer programs, and additional sponsored events. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)

W.Va. Guard and Irregular Warfare Center sign Memorandum of Understanding

The West Virginia National Guard and Irregular Warfare Center signed a formal Memorandum of

VIDEO National Guard SF operators act as opposing forces at Exercise Ridge Runner 2023

A National Guard special forces candidate with the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) explains the opposing forces role in Exercise Ridge Runner 2023.

U.S. Army Maj. Dwight Bundy, West Virginia National Guard Ridge Runner operations officer in charge, briefs participants of the Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise (RR IWX) 23-01 mid planning conference March 24, 2023, at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia. The RR IWX planning conference attendees confirmed training objectives, coordinated exercise support, and refined the scenario prior to the inaugural June exercise being held in West Virginia, which will provide validation for deploying U.S. special forces elements. (Courtesy Photo)

European partners, allies converge in West Virginia for Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise planning

The West Virginia National Guard’s Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare program hosted European Allies and

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