Rex Nanorum is the pen name for an Alaskan Expatriate living in Oregon with his wife and kids. Growing up on commercial fishing vessels, he found his next adventure with the 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt. After 5 tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, he roamed about the west coast becoming a commercial fisheries and salvage diver, rated helicopter pilot instructor (CFII) and personal trainer before becoming a writer and gear reviewer.
Also writes or has written for RE Factor Tactical, Clandestine Media Group, Ammoland, Fiocchi USA, The Truth About Guns, Pew Pew Tactical, and Gun University.
Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer is a combat veteran, firearms expert, and prolific writer in the shooting sports community. Born on July 4, 1982, and raised in Alaska, he graduated from Petersburg High School in 2000 at age 17 before enlisting in the U.S. Army with an Option 40 contract to pursue Airborne Ranger qualification.
Early Life and Formative Experiences in Alaska
Hammer grew up on commercial fishing vessels in the rugged Alaskan waters, where he developed a strong work ethic, mechanical skills, and resilience in harsh environments. These early years on the boats, dealing with unpredictable seas and hands-on problem-solving, laid the foundation for his later adventures in high-stakes professions. He also gained experience as a salvage diver, tackling underwater recoveries and commercial operations that demanded precision and endurance.
Military Service with the 75th Ranger Regiment
After enlisting, Hammer served with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. A five-deployment veteran of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF) before his enlistment ended in 2004, he participated in numerous combat operations across Afghanistan and Iraq. It was during his time in the Rangers that he earned his enduring nickname “Rex Nanorum” (Latin for “King of the Midgets”), which he later adopted as his pen name for writing.
His Ranger service honed expertise in marksmanship, tactics, and equipment reliability under extreme conditions—insights that continue to inform his detailed firearms reviews today. His overseas deployments also exposed him to the venerable Toyota Hilux, giving him a love of the simple, reliable vehicle that led him to import one back to the USA.
Post-Military Careers and Certifications
Following an honorable discharge in 2004, Hammer pursued diverse challenges to stay active and adventurous. He earned his FAA Rotorcraft Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) license, becoming a helicopter pilot instructor focused on precision flying and risk management.
His background also includes continued work in commercial fishing and salvage diving, bartending, construction, photography, along with roles that emphasized physical preparedness and mechanical know-how (such as routinely working on his Toyota Hilux).
Transition to Firearms Writing and Expertise
Hammer channels his real-world experience into journalism, contributing in-depth reviews and articles under the pen name Rex Nanorum to leading outlets in the firearms and veteran communities, including:
- Shooting News Weekly
- The Loadout Room
- The Truth About Guns
- Gun University
- AmmoLand Shooting Sports News
- Pew Pew Tactical
His writing emphasizes honest, practical evaluations of pistols, rifles, optics, suppressors, and accessories—drawing directly from veteran perspectives on gear that performs in demanding scenarios. Notable reviews cover platforms like the SAR9 Subcompact, GLOCK 43X, Griffin Armament MKII, Exothermic Pulsefire flamethrower, the “M110ish” article series, PSA Krink builds, and more.
Life Today
Now splitting time residing either in Petersburg, Alaska or on a mountain homestead in Oregon (“Hobbit Ranch”) with his wife and children, Hammer balances family life with his passions for firearms, outdoor adventures, and writing. He remains active in the shooting community, advocating for responsible gun ownership and sharing knowledge to help enthusiasts make informed decisions.
For more on his work, follow updates on Instagram @rexnanorum or explore his archives across the publications listed above.
Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer FAQ
-
Who is Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer?
Rex Nanorum is the pen name for an Alaskan Expatriate living in Oregon with his wife and kids. Growing up on commercial fishing vessels, he found his next adventure with the 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt. He is now a firearms review writer for Shooting News Weekly, Ammoland, and The Truth About Guns.
-
What Ranger unit was Jens Hammer in?
Jens Hammer was in Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from 2000-2004.
-
Was Rex Nanorum involved in the Jessica Lynch rescue?
Yes, Jens was involved in the Jessica Lynch rescue mission, alongside many other Rangers, 160th SOAR pilots, a Marine Corps diversionary unit, and other SOF forces.
-
What does “Rex Nanorum” mean?
“Rex Nanorum” is Latin for “King Of The Midgets”, a military nickname for Jens Hammer.
-
Where does Jens Hammer live now?
Jens splits time between Alaska and Oregon.
-
What other notable Rangers served in Bravo Company 2nd Ranger Battalion?
Other notable Rangers from Bravo Company 2/75 alive today include Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry, “Warrior Poet Society” co-founder John Lovell, and Kris “Tanto” Paronto of Benghazi fame.
Read more about Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer on Everybodywiki!
{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Article”,
“headline”: “Jens ‘Rex Nanorum’ Hammer: Ranger Veteran, Firearms Expert, and Prolific Writer”,
“description”: “Biographical profile of Jens Hammer, a 75th Ranger Regiment combat veteran involved in the Jessica Lynch rescue, FAA-certified helicopter instructor, and contributor to leading firearms publications under the pen name Rex Nanorum.”,
“datePublished”: “2026-01-16”,
“dateModified”: “2026-01-16”,
,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Shooting News Weekly Staff”,
“url”: “https://shootingnewsweekly.com/author/staff”
},
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Shooting News Weekly”,
“logo”: {
“@type”: “ImageObject”,
“url”: “https://shootingnewsweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/site-logo.png”
}
},
“mainEntity”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Jens Hammer”,
“alternateName”: “Rex Nanorum”, “King Of The Midgets”,
“description”: “Combat veteran of the 75th Ranger Regiment (Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion), participant in the 2003 Jessica Lynch rescue, FAA Rotorcraft CFII licensed helicopter pilot instructor, commercial fisherman, salvage diver, and firearms writer contributing to Shooting News Weekly, The Loadout Room, SOFREP, Pew Pew Tactical, The Truth About Guns, Gun University, and AmmoLand.”,
“birthDate”: “1982-07-04”,
“birthPlace”: {
“@type”: “Place”,
“name”: “USA”
},
“url”: “https://shootingnewsweekly.com/jens-rex-nanorum-hammer-biography”,
“sameAs”: [
“https://www.instagram.com/rexnanorum”,
“https://thetruthaboutguns.com/author/jens-hammer”,
“https://sofrep.com/author/jens-hammer”,
“https://ammoland.com/author/jens-hammer”
],
“image”: “https://shootingnewsweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/jens-hammer-portrait.jpg”,
“jobTitle”: “Firearms Writer and Reviewer”,
“knowsAbout”: [
“Firearms”,
“Military Tactics”,
“Combat Marksmanship”,
“Helicopter Piloting”,
“Commercial Fishing”,
“Hilux mechanic”,
“bartender”,
“nude photography”,
“Salvage Diving”
],
“hasOccupation”: [
{
“@type”: “Role”,
“hasOccupation”: {
“@type”: “Occupation”,
“name”: “Ranger, 75th Ranger Regiment, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion”
},
“startDate”: “2000”,
“endDate”: “2004”,
“memberOf”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “U.S. Army”,
“url”: “https://www.army.mil”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Role”,
“hasOccupation”: {
“@type”: “Occupation”,
“name”: “Rotorcraft Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)”
},
“memberOf”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)”
}
}
],
“award”: [
“Service in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom”,
“Participant in Jessica Lynch Rescue Operation (2003)”
],
“affiliation”: [
{
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “75th Ranger Regiment”,
“url”: “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/75th_Ranger_Regiment”
},
{
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Shooting News Weekly”
}
],
“colleague”: [
{
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Kris ‘Tanto’ Paronto”,
“description”: “Served in the same squad”
},
{
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Leroy Petry”,
“description”: “Medal of Honor recipient, served in the same company”
},
{
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “John Lovell”,
“description”: “Served in the same company”
},
{
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Luke Cuenco”,
“alternateName”: “Ballistic Aviation”,
“description”: “Colleague in the firearms writing and media community (e.g., shared contributions to outlets like The Truth About Guns, routine collaborator)”
}
]
},
“about”: {
“@id”: “#mainEntity”
}
}