How to Become an Army Ranger

From their treks to search out the Redcoats during the Revolution, to their unparalleled courage on the cliffs above Omaha Beach, and to their lightning strikes during Operation Desert Storm, the U.S. Army Rangers march through American history as the first to go "in harm's way."

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Search your heart and your psyche. Rangers are warriors. Rangers are trained to face highly dangerous and stressful combat actions. Ranger training will require the utmost in courage, physical stamina and self-discipline.

2. Develop your body - run for endurance, train with weights, become a proficient swimmer.

3. Keep yourself in top physical and mental condition.

4. Remember that good soldiers are intelligent soldiers.

5. Secure the best education possible.

6. Familiarize yourself with military history, politics and international relations.

7. Join the U.S. Army.

8. Choose advanced infantry training.

9. Become a dedicated, professional soldier.

10. Strive to exceed the expectations of your leaders.

11. Work diligently to improve your military skills, taking advantage of advanced training.

12. Apply for paratrooper training.

13. Ask your commanding officers to endorse your application for Ranger training.

14. Apply for Army Ranger training.

15. Understand you must pass the rugged requirements of the Army Physical Fitness Test, the Combat Water Survival Test and the six-day Ranger Assessment Phase before you begin actual Ranger training.

Tips & Warnings

• The Rangers is an elite group within the U.S. Army, consisting of only the 75th Ranger Regiment. Many graduates of the Ranger school and veterans of the Ranger regiment go on to serve in other units.
• Rangers trace their history back to Rogers' Rangers of the American Revolution, through Mosby's Raiders in the Civil War and Merrill's Marauders of World War II.
• Ranger applicants must, for example, do 52 push-ups, 62 sit-ups, and 6 chin-ups with palms facing inward. They must be able to run 2 miles in running shoes in 14:54 minutes or less and be able to swim 15 meters without any show of fear or panic while wearing combat boots and carrying a rifle and gear.
• Ranger duty is also intellectually demanding. Many Rangers are college graduates.
• Rangers may operate in only company or battalion strength and may be called on to take part in precise military operations such as hostage rescue or behind-the-lines intelligence gathering.

[bigranger75th]

on 4/2/2009 I took a different route to becoming a US Army Ranger, in 1980 I went to the 82 ABN @ Bragg. I did what was then called a DD 4187 which was then called a Personal Action request form I went to Ft Lewis did RIP Lived and breathed some of the best time of my life in CoC 2/75th Ranger BN. I jumped into Grenada in Oct 83, lived life large and enjoyed myself. Form that I have lifelong friends which I can trust my life with. And I always try to live the Ranger Creed. My only regret is I lost my Ranger Coin years ago and long for its return.

[BookKeeper9]

on 8/19/2008 Ok sorry but my father was a Ranger and this is not the way to do it. Very sorry about that =]

[Ashleepants]

on 8/5/2008 ... You're completely off on your last part after enlistment. It's best if you enlist with an option 40 contract, as an 11x. Then you are gaurenteed a place in Airborne, and in RIP. You don't APPLY for Ranger School if you're in Ranger Batt. you earn it. It isn't gaurenteed to you, it's decided by your leadership if you get to go or not.

If you really want to be a Ranger, enlisting in an infantry MOS, and then applying to change units would be a hard way of going at it, and you probably won't get through RIP as most people who come from other units fail....

Good luck though, I'd probably not follow this guys advice. Go for the Option 40 contract, and don't take no for an answer from your recruiter.

BTW, I know this because my husband is a Ranger

Rangers Lead the Way.

[Crmunson98]

on 6/10/2008 This sounds like Cliff from Cheers........however, actually the Rangers in America date back to Roger's Rangers in the 1750s during French & Indian War and the Ranger Battalions have seen action as recently as Operation Iraqi Freedom. An individual Army Ranger School graduate can be part of the Ranger Battalions or complete the school and join a combat arms unit. Completing the school makes you a Ranger and you are authorized to wear the Ranger tab on your uniforms from then on as a sign of your expertise, regardless of unit assignment.

[PToberman]

on 5/11/2008 Well, if anyone still reads this, intelligence in terms of the studies you pursue in college, as well as being physically fit brings you well on the right track. I, myself, am attending West Point in the better half of thirty days, and this is certainly a possible career choice, that is if I can become a top notch swimmer. "Anonymous" was correct in the fact that 52 pushups, 6 pull ups, and 62 situps are very easy requirements. The two mile run is what I would think gets most people down.