18 Ranger Instructors from the 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Rudder have been decertified pending an investigation after videos surfaced showing them firing weapons into the air at Crab Island during the weekend of the 69th annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival.
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The incident occurred on Friday, May 16—just hours before the festival’s scheduled mock “sea battle” between Army Rangers and the pirate-themed Billy Bowlegs crew. While a sanctioned performance involving blank fire was set to take place later that evening at Fort Walton Beach Landing, the gunfire at Crab Island—roughly five miles from the official festival site—was unauthorized.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing multiple military boats arrive at the sandbar, occupied by uniformed soldiers who began firing their weapons into the sky. While they appeared to be using blanks, the unexpected gunfire startled nearby boaters and sparked widespread confusion.
“There were kids out there ducking for cover,” one local told a local news outlet. “When you look at it like that, it wasn’t so cool. There are retired military people with PTSD who are just out there trying to relax.”
One witness told Task & Purpose that the group began firing without any warning. Michael Ingram, a charter boat captain, said that as the shots rang out, his clients and surrounding boaters panicked and took cover.
After a second burst of fire, Ingram heard screaming in the distance. Fearing the worst, he said his heart sank.
“This is unacceptable because there are so many real mass shootings going on in America each year,” Ingram said. “You can’t be joking about it.”
According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, at least two 911 calls were made reporting the incident.
“We had the first 911 call come in on May 16th at 3:22 p.m. from the Crab Island area,” said sheriff’s office spokesperson Michele Nicholson. “The dispatch notes indicate a second 911 call came in during that same time frame. It also references three additional calls, but those may have been received over the primary line, not 911.”
The Army issued a statement confirming that the incident is under investigation and emphasized that it is being taken seriously. All 18 instructors involved have been decertified, meaning they are no longer authorized to train Ranger students while the matter is reviewed.
Although no official details about potential disciplinary action have been released, the implications are clear: firing weapons—blank or otherwise—in an unsanctioned public setting, especially in a family-heavy environment, is a serious violation of military discipline and public trust.
The City of Fort Walton Beach was quick to distance itself from the incident, clarifying that the display at Crab Island was not part of the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival and had not been approved by either the city or the event organizers.
The only authorized weapons demonstration took place later that evening as part of a scheduled, choreographed event near the Fort Walton Beach Landing. That demonstration was announced ahead of time, complete with noise advisories, and went off as planned.
The Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, now in its 69th year, is a long-standing community tradition featuring pirate-themed antics, live music, fireworks, and a mock city takeover by “Captain Billy.” What began in 1953 as a tourism-boosting event inspired by Gulf Coast Mardi Gras has evolved into a major, family-friendly celebration.
Camp James E. Rudder, where the instructors are assigned, is located at Eglin Air Force Base and serves as the site for the final and most grueling phase of U.S. Army Ranger School -known as the “swamp phase.”
While the instructors’ actions may have been intended as harmless bravado or a morale stunt, the consequences are significant. In today’s climate—where the line between training, tradition, and public perception matters more than ever—episodes like this risk eroding public confidence and damaging the reputation of a force known for professionalism.
As the investigation continues, the Army has not announced when or if the instructors may be recertified or if the loss of 18 instructors has limited their ability to conduct Ranger School operations.
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