Ranger School for SF Qualified

Foggy Bottom · 09-17-2011, 12:35

How is it determined whether or not a current (or prospective) Special Forces qualified soldier attends Ranger school? I understand that many, for example officers coming from combat arms branches, will be Ranger qualified prior to even being considered for Special Forces; or soldiers coming out of Ranger Battalion. If someone's intent is to join Special Forces, how is a decision made to send someone to Ranger school?

My specific situation is that I intend on attending a combat arms branch BOLC in the near future through ARNG. From now until meeting the TIS/rank requirements to attend SFAS, should I actively be seeking a spot in Ranger school or would 19th/20th Group send me prior to SFAS/SFQC? Or do individuals typically self-select on whether or not they wish to attend for their own professional development?

**Eagle5US** · 09-17-2011, 12:42

Based on your post, I think you have a number of misconceptions.

How is it determined that someone goes to Ranger School?
1. They are in a unit that has Ranger School slots
2. They are in a job that supports them going to Ranger School
3. They VOLUNTEER to be placed on the Order of Merit List (OML) to go to the school
4. They pass whatever "pre-Ranger / RIP / ROP / RASP" acronym dejour that shows they have the motivation to not go and waste a school slot that someone else would be successful at.

Ranger School is an Infantry Leader's Course. Plain and simple.

Foggy Bottom · 09-17-2011, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle5US

Based on your post, I think you have a number of misconceptions.

Ranger School is an Infantry Leader's Course. Plain and simple.

I believe the misconception you detected on my part is directly related to the reason for my question. Thank you for taking the time to answer.

**Eagle5US** · 09-17-2011, 12:57

No Worries...

It was a statement, not a ding.

Glad to help.

abc_123 · 09-17-2011, 13:15

FB,

19th or 20th will not send you to Ranger School prior to SFAS. They won't send you before the SFQC either. If you have enough time to go to Ranger School, then you need to be spending that time getting 18series qualified so that you can be of some use versus being a pit that just soaks up training $$ and a spot. Think about it.

AFTER you pass SFAS, you could make your desire to attend ranger school AFTER the SFQC known and maybe things will line up for you.

If going to Ranger school is a primary goal of yours then try and work it thru the unit you are in... before getting into the SF pipeline.

Foggy Bottom · 09-17-2011, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by abc_123

If you have enough time to go to Ranger School, then you need to be spending that time getting 18series qualified so that you can be of some use versus being a pit that just soaks up training $$ and a spot.

^^^This specifically clears up what was on my mind...

While reading through various materials, I noticed a number of things that drew my attention to the possibility of attending Ranger school. For example, in LTC Martin's book, "Get Selected for Special Forces" it incorporated memorization of the Ranger Creed as part of its preparation. Additionally, in a 20th Group Flier, it specifically says this as a requirement for Officers:

"- Ranger qualified or be willing to go to Ranger school"

It seems my suspicions were unfounded. Thanks again for taking the time. I'm going to go do PT now.

MtnGoat · 09-18-2011, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foggy Bottom

How is it determined whether or not a current (or prospective) Special Forces qualified soldier attends Ranger school? I understand that many, for example officers coming from combat arms branches, will be Ranger qualified prior to even being considered for Special Forces; or soldiers coming out of Ranger Battalion. If someone's intent is to join Special Forces, how is a decision made to send someone to Ranger school?

My specific situation is that I intend on attending a combat arms branch BOLC in the near future through ARNG. From now until meeting the TIS/rank requirements to attend SFAS, should I actively be seeking a spot in Ranger school or would 19th/20th Group send me prior to SFAS/SFQC? Or do individuals typically self-select on whether or not they wish to attend for their own professional development?

FB - Your on a firing range right now.. engage your 25 and 50 meter targets. Let the ones out at 250m and 300m move towards you and get them late.

If your think of going SF, pick that target first. If it is Ranger School, pick it. Focus!!

You have all your answer here. So engage your targets!!

Just my .02

Foggy Bottom · 09-18-2011, 12:11

The answers provided far exceeded what I was hoping for and in less than 24 hours. Thanks to all, I hope to return the favor by putting the information to good use.

My actual 25m target is Engineering BOLC, successful PL time (50m), then Selection (100m). I'm not sure I can realistically create any plan that extends past that.

Going to Ranger school is a bridge I'll cross when the time is more appropriate. While I anticipate it would be invaluable training and perhaps a life-changing experience, it potentially creates some obstacles in terms of timing and possible injury. I think it all depends upon circumstances between the Army and civilian employment.

Thank you again for taking the time.

MVP · 09-20-2011, 09:06

IMHO I do not belive it makes a hill of beans for an officer to go to Ranger school. Best TL i ever had was ranger qual'd but spent 3 years in a Bn before coming to an A-Tm. Worst I had was also a ranger school grad...

BLUF: Ranger school does make a new TM Ldr less of the newbie (MHO of course!) and does not guarantee any level of maturity. Perhaps a version of PLDC for SF officer candidates would be of more benefit.

MVP

1stindoor · 09-20-2011, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by MVP

BLUF: Ranger school does make a new TM Ldr less of the newbie (MHO of course!) and does not guarantee any level of maturity. Perhaps a version of PLDC for SF officer candidates would be of more benefit.

MVP

Just to keep you up to date...Primary Leadership Development Course no longer exists...it's now the Warrior Leaders Course (WLC).

MVP · 09-20-2011, 09:36

Thanks, I'm stuck in the Coke days before the Pepsi generation...

MVP

Basenshukai · 08-30-2013, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by MVP

IMHO I do not belive it makes a hill of beans for an officer to go to Ranger school. Best TL i ever had was ranger qual'd but spent 3 years in a Bn before coming to an A-Tm. Worst I had was also a ranger school grad...

BLUF: Ranger school does make a new TM Ldr less of the newbie (MHO of course!) and does not guarantee any level of maturity. Perhaps a version of PLDC for SF officer candidates would be of more benefit.

MVP

You have completely missed the point of the Ranger Course experience and its potential significance to an officer's professional formation. It is not to make him "less cherry", making appear to be more of a man, or to give him instant respect. Those may be additional and incidental to the successful completion of that training. But, if that's all you - or the officer sees - the message with regards to the purpose of that course has been lost.

sinjefe · 08-30-2013, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basenshukai

You have completely missed the point of the Ranger Course experience and its potential significance to an officer's professional formation. It is not to make him "less cherry", making appear to be more of a man, or to give him instant respect. Those may be additional and incidental to the successful completion of that training. But, if that's all you - or the officer sees - the message with regards to the purpose of that course has been lost.

You do realize he wrote that 2 years ago, right?

**Peregrino** · 08-30-2013, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basenshukai

You have completely missed the point of the Ranger Course experience and its potential significance to an officer's professional formation. It is not to make him "less cherry", making appear to be more of a man, or to give him instant respect. Those may be additional and incidental to the successful completion of that training. But, if that's all you - or the officer sees - the message with regards to the purpose of that course has been lost.

Concur. That's why we've tried to enable attendance for non-Ranger Q'd SF Officers. It really is one of the better small unit leadership training experiences available in today's Army. (It'll probably stay that way at least until they waive the "balls" requirements.

) Not all of our leaders start with an Infantry or even a Combat Arms background.

El Gallo · 02-17-2014, 19:30

This is an old thread, but I thought I would add my 2 cents... Ranger School is excellent training for a PFC, young Specialist or butter bar, maybe a Buck Sergeant coming from a soft skill. Ranger School doesnt teach you anything any NCO worth his salt doesnt already know in the way of tactics. It teaches you about yourself. Any SF qualified person attending Ranger School is doing it for one reason and one reason only. It is for rapport building and mentoring. You can't tell that young admiring soldier looking up at the sun glinting off your unit crest affixed to your green beret that HIS first step in advancement in the Combat Arms is to attend Ranger School if you don't have that vibrant Black and Gold beacon on your own shoulder. Let's face it. Some really great soldiers go to Selection... and fail. That doesn't mean they aren't outstanding Infantry/Armor/Air Defense. It just means they weren't meant to be one of the chosen few, or at least not quite yet. Get your short tab. Not because some Rangerette will look at you starry eyed in the bar and say "Are you a REAL Ranger?" but because a young soldier, looking up at you starry eyed thinks you are the epitome of the Combat Soldier and you need to point him down a path he can follow until he is prepared to do his own map reconnaissance and blaze his own trail for his career.