Can Active Duty Civil Affairs Specialists (38B) go to Ranger School?

Nicolas Fernandez — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 18:25:08 -0500

Hello everyone. One of the biggest goals I'd like to achieve in my military career is to attend and pass Ranger School. I also joined in order to do Civil Affairs. If selected would I have the ability to go to Ranger School? Would Civil Affairs prepare me in the small unit tactics / patrolling that Ranger School assesses? Any information from 38 Series / SOF personnel would be greatly appreciated!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2021 7:54 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 19:54:00 -0500

Most CA personnel are on Ft Bragg, which just so happens to have one of the best Small Unit Ranger Tactics Course (SURT) in the conventional army to teach you everything you need to pass Ranger School. You'll just have to convince your leadership to send you.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 4 at 2021 7:56 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 19:56:29 -0500

Going to Ranger school requires a school seat. Getting a school seat is the hurdle.

Plenty of folks outside of the Infantry and outside of the Army from other countries/Military branches have attended Ranger school. All they needed was a school seat and to pass the screening.

Don’t overthink it

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2021 8:08 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 20:08:14 -0500

Can you attend Ranger school as a 38B SOF CA Soldier. Of course. Will it eat up almost HALF of your pre-mission training time, absolutely. Will the CA course prepare you for the Army Camping School, not at all.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2021 1:56 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 01:56:32 -0500

Yes. It is actually encouraged. My Operations NCOIC went as a MSG.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2021 11:49 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 23:49:40 -0400

I am a 38B in the 95th CA BDE (SO)(A). I can promise you if you show up to the BDE and ask to go to Ranger school, you WILL go! It’s the new hotness and any pre-mission training or METL based tasks required for deployment will be covered during your time at Ranger School and the CSM WILL bless off on it. Your company will work with you on the tasks that you will be assessed on during your time at Ranger School.

Good luck at selection and message me if you have any questions!