I wanna be an ARMY Ranger?

Question

I am resolved to leave a cushy job and future to join the ARMY in hopes of being a Ranger. This is a much better future than being a lame *** tax payer. I am 29 and in good shape training as hard as possible to join by March 2007- two months before my 30th birthday. By this time I will have completed the 15 college credits + GED requirement for education- and hopefully passed the ASVAB with good standing. Any advice out there?

Thx and hooah.

-R

I can definitely pick out the good advice for the **** advice. So if people need to bother wasting their tiem with lame answers- so be it. Talk about pwning yourself.

One thing to mention- When I say being a tax payer- it's in the sense of that being the greatest contribution to my country I ever make. I realize I will always pay taxes- but is that going to be the extent of my service to my country? hell no. I aim to make that the least of my contributions.

So please- keep up the good advice. I am curious why you'd HAVE to serve for two years before qualifying for Airborne and ultimately ranger school? Anyone been through my experience?

Thx in advance.

-R

Answer 1

When I get to heaven,

St. Peter’s gonna say,
How’d you earn your living boy,
How’d you ear your pay.

I’ll reply with a whole lot of anger,
Earned my living as an Airborne Ranger.
Blood, guts, sex, and danger.
That’s the life of an Airborne Ranger.

When I get to hell,
Satan’s gonna say,
How’d you earn you living boy,
How’d you earn your pay.

I’ll reply with my fist in his face,
Earned my living laying souls to waste,
Blood and sweat is what you taste,
When you earn your living laying souls to waste.

Answer 2

There are no guarantees that you will even get Ranger school. It was IN my contract when I joined, but they lost my medical records after Airborne school and I was sent to the 82nd where I sat on a waiting list for over a year to go back. In that time I realized how many dirtbags there are with a Ranger tab. It does not guarantee a quality soldier and is basically used for bragging rights. And it WILL mess up your body for life. My back and knees have never been the same. I don't regret doing it, but the difference between what you THINK it is all about and what it really is couldn't be more extreme. Ranger school is basically a long gut check, and I did learn quite a bit (mostly about my own body) but it's not what is going to prepare you. You have to be in Ranger Battalion to actually be trained as a Ranger and that is a whole other obstacle in itself. My personal opinion, being that you are almost 30? I respect your motivation and desire to serve, but at this point you might be better off helping your community instead of competing with 18-20 year olds for a very physically demanding job (and no amount of weight training and exercise will prepare you for the shape you need to be in, I don't care if you run marathons, it is its own type of "shape"). Join your local police or fire department, volunteer to be a smoke jumper if you desire something more dangerous. Another thing to consider: since you don't have a bachelors you have no chance of becoming an officer when you enter. A 30 year old PFC is not exactly the best way to get respect and you're body is at an immediate disadvantage. If your mind is sharp and you stay determined it is more than possible to become an elite member of a Ranger team. However, I would serious consider what happens if you enlist for 4 years, don't make it past a certain level or decide you no longer want too. Now your in the military for 4 years doing something you absolutely hate. Military pay is not that bad, I made over $3,000 a month as an E-5 and over $3,600 as a n E-6. That's pretty good when considering all your meals, healthcare and shelter are taken care of. Hope this helps you, God Bless

Answer 3

I cant tell you much specifically about the army....former marine here, but I wanted to congratulate you on choosing to serve our country. I can tell you are motivated and believe you should do well. Don't listen to the negative B.S. from people who are so lacking in courage and honor that they would never serve their country no matter what the circumstances. These types can't stand the shame of their own miserable existence so they would say anything they could to discourage someone such as yourself from pursuing their goal....they hate to be alone. It sounds like you are doing all you can to get ready but just a word of caution. I accept your word for it that you are in good shape. The reality is you will be a 30 year old in good shape training with 18 and 19 year olds who are also in good shape. It will be tough but you can do it. Even though physical strength and conditioning are important and the more in shape you are the better, keep in mind that the biggest part is mental. Everybody will be pushed to their individual limit then expected to do more. It's a matter of how strong your will is. I can't speak as to whether you can be guaranteed ranger school on enlistment but I do know you can get airborne guaranteed. That shouldn't be a problem though. Just stay focused on your goal and motivated and you'll get ranger school. Look at it this way, if you go in and for some reason you aren't selected for rangers, then you wouldn't have made the cut anyway even if it had been "guaranteed". I'm sure it's a voluntary try-out process to be selected for the school. Meanwhile you might look for a person on this site named Mark W, he is an army recruitor with quite a bit of time in. Just look through the past posts about joining the army and check the answers until you find his name. Then click on it and send him an email. Best of luck to you.

Here is the link to Mark W's profile. If you go to that page you will be able to send him an email.

http://answers.yahoo.com/my/profile;_ylt=AownwjcVNM3SwNL1KoK8cJcezKIX?show=0829d00f1871647dcc5fcc583d5f8a0baa

Answer 4

Hey man,

I have got to tell you that is a very commendable dream that you have there. Heres the thing about ranger school, you will sign up for a ranger contract and not really be a ranger. You will enlist get sent to a ranger battalion at which time your number might come up to go to war or go to ranger school, going to war is defiantly the first option graduating ranger school is definatly a distant second.
What your recruiter told you is a complete lie, you need to be an E4 to get to go to ranger school, which is 2 years without a few decent breaks when you are in.
Ranger school is actually not as hard as advertised. If you can put your time in and get there you can get your butt through it. You are training for the right reason but at the wrong time. Its a long road to finally get to ranger school.
But if you do it, you can join a fraternity of men that are the best of the best, its a great feeling to finally graduate.

Have to ask yourself are you a "means" guy or an "end" guy. If you are an end guy, stay home with your job.

Good luck bro.

Answer 5

You can elect to sign up directly for Ranger from the MEPS station; however, you will have to complete Basic and AIT, then be assigned to a Ranger Battalion. If you elected Airborne training, then you will, USUALLY, go to Airborne school immediately after AIT.

Once you are assigned to the Ranger Batt, you will be put on a waiting list. There are a LOT of people that want that school, and it's a "first come, first served" list, i.e., you will work your way to the top and get to go. This is standard in most schools in the Army.

Good luck, and congratulations on your decision

Answer 6

As an Army wife, I hope that you are ready for the shellshock of how much it is going to suck, physically and mentally. Prepare yourself mentally because it sounds like you are preparing yourself physically. No matter what you think is going on, the Army will ALWAYS pull something that you won't expect. And be sure to have your financial stuff together. Don't have a girlfriend be your proxy, and if you have had any problems with your wife lately, have a parent handle your finances for you, or someone that you would trust your life with. I have seen ALOT of women be gone with everything while their guys are gone, or having boyfriends on the side. Make sure whoever you ae with is ready for this, too. Make sure that you have some money to pay bills with set aside, because paperwork SNAFUs happel ALL OF THE TIME, and it seems like it happens right when you need a paycheck most. You will probablly out of pocket alot of supplies (pens, paper, shaving kits, boot polish, ect) so have cash for that. I am happy to hear that you are geared up for this. I am glad to see that some men on here still have their backbones and their balls. Good luck to you and Hooah!

Answer 7

As usual, people who have never served are giving advise and it is incorrect on top of it. True you'll never get rich in the service but you join for other reasons. One thing though you will still be a tax payer. You will have to pay federal taxes and social security. But again, if it is money you want stay in your current job.

Answer 8

Ranger college has no longer something to do with being a Ranger. this is a management college ran with the aid of the army. no longer a college that trains squaddies to be a Ranger. RASP is the direction propective Rangers ought to make it although.

Answer 9

You can get a Ranger contract when joining. It will include Airborne school. To be honest, you may want to just sign up for Airborne infantry but the choice is yours. This way you can find out if you can even handle infantry school. If you want find out more about Ranger school email this guy. [e-mail]

Answer 10

HOOAH! you wont have to wait for schooling long.it is best to request mos 11xray out of basic.thats airborne infantry.then apply for ranger school.you can go without being in the battalion but it will be better for you to go to the 82ab first then go through their rip (ranger indoctrination program)it will help you in the long run.i was in from 89-93 and started with class 2-90 so i didnt wait long.
good luck

SUA SPONTE

Answer 11

Good luck, Ranger School is exremely hard (mentally and physically) if you can do it, go for it!
I want to be an Airborne Ranger...
Live me a life of Blood and Danger...
Airborne Ranger...
Blood and Danger...