Born February 1953, and raised on a Horse Ranch in Wyoming, Randy "Rawhide" Wurst was destined to train horses and horsemen in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom as a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret.

Outdoor survival runs in his blood. His family operated a Big Game Outfit Business since 1929. Randy started guiding hunters on horseback at age 12 and ended his outfitting eighteen years later outside Cody, Wyoming.

As a young man, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Police Science from Northern Arizona University in 1978.  The year after, he bought a one-way ticket to England and worked his way around the World from England for a year.  He then returned home to Cody and became a patrolman and SWAT member until he enlisted in the Army.  He joined the Rangers and later the Special Forces where he served for 27 years until he retired in 2011 as a Chief Warrant Officer 4.

Randy has too many awards and accolades to list.  He is proud to have valiantly served our Nation in five major conflicts: Desert Shield/Desert Storm; Security Force Kuwait; African Demining; Kosovo Campaign; Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan; Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraq. 

During this time, he's either fought or trained Guerilla Forces to fight in every geographic area of the world. He's been blown up twice, injured every major part of his body, and frankly just doesn't know how many times he's given the finger to death in the line of duty.

Through it all, Randy remains a family man.  He's been married to the same woman for 30 years with two daughters and as of this writing, two granddaughters.

Randy is a trainer and contributor to Tactical Rifleman. 

Strength & Honor