Posted on Oct 2, 2023
How many schools can someone attend within a 6-12 month span? What insight can you provide on trying to fit in as many as possible?
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This might be a dumb question so please bare with me as I'm still learning as I go. So I'm interested in attending a few schools, mainly Air Assault, Airborne, Pathfinder, and Ranger school. I have a few questions that encompass this question:
1. Is there a limit on how many schools we can go to within a 6 month - 1 year span?
2. What would be the best ways to prepare for these schools? (I'm already going to the gym twice a day and doing full comprehensive body workouts and personal rucks on certain days, but what else can I do to help me better prepare?)
3. How difficult is it to get into Pathfinder school?
4. Describe generally what Ranger school is like.
5. Can you go to schools successively one after another (For example: Could I go to Airborne, then immediately to Air Assault, then Pathfinder, then Ranger school in rapid succession, over an 8-month span?)
The reason I'm curious about all of this is I'm currently in process of pursuing the Green to Gold Program and attending school for my Master's degree in Computer Science with a focus in AI and Data analytics (I didn't finish my Master's as a civilian unfortunately) in August of 2024, and I'm curious about if this will inhibit me from going to certain schools, or if there is a limit on the amount we can go to.
1. Is there a limit on how many schools we can go to within a 6 month - 1 year span?
2. What would be the best ways to prepare for these schools? (I'm already going to the gym twice a day and doing full comprehensive body workouts and personal rucks on certain days, but what else can I do to help me better prepare?)
3. How difficult is it to get into Pathfinder school?
4. Describe generally what Ranger school is like.
5. Can you go to schools successively one after another (For example: Could I go to Airborne, then immediately to Air Assault, then Pathfinder, then Ranger school in rapid succession, over an 8-month span?)
The reason I'm curious about all of this is I'm currently in process of pursuing the Green to Gold Program and attending school for my Master's degree in Computer Science with a focus in AI and Data analytics (I didn't finish my Master's as a civilian unfortunately) in August of 2024, and I'm curious about if this will inhibit me from going to certain schools, or if there is a limit on the amount we can go to.
Ranger
Ranger School
Airborne School
Air Assault School
Pathfinder School
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 9
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You are ambitious, but may be biting off more than you can chew. My thoughts as a Green to Gold officer with airborne badge…
1. Schools are unit dependent. You need to ask chain of command if they have slots and are willing to let you be away for months on end.
2. There are commercial companies that sell workout plans for specific military schools. Check online or talk to recent graduates for expectations of PT standards.
3. As mentioned, schools are unit dependent based on slots and whether chain of command is okay with you being away for months.
4. Go to Fort Moore website or ask recent Ranger School graduates about their experience.
5. Again…unit and chain of command dependent.
Green-to-Gold: Be careful about trying to apply while going through military schools. You need to find and submit lots of paperwork (e.g. transcript, letter of recommendation, medical exam, etc.). If you are not at computer with files because of field time, you are screwing yourself.
If I were you, I would focus on Green to Gold first. You can compete for airborne school while in ROTC. If you commission in combat arms, attending Ranger school is a near guarantee after completing BOLC.
1. Schools are unit dependent. You need to ask chain of command if they have slots and are willing to let you be away for months on end.
2. There are commercial companies that sell workout plans for specific military schools. Check online or talk to recent graduates for expectations of PT standards.
3. As mentioned, schools are unit dependent based on slots and whether chain of command is okay with you being away for months.
4. Go to Fort Moore website or ask recent Ranger School graduates about their experience.
5. Again…unit and chain of command dependent.
Green-to-Gold: Be careful about trying to apply while going through military schools. You need to find and submit lots of paperwork (e.g. transcript, letter of recommendation, medical exam, etc.). If you are not at computer with files because of field time, you are screwing yourself.
If I were you, I would focus on Green to Gold first. You can compete for airborne school while in ROTC. If you commission in combat arms, attending Ranger school is a near guarantee after completing BOLC.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I'll agree, but unless things have changed drastically, I'll make a couple of comments. Airborne enroute is almost a gimme for Combat Arms/Infantry Officers. Ranger School is a bit more of a challenge. The Majority of the slots go to the Ranger Battalions and IBOLC graduates, then are allotted to the different combat arms divisions. Your success at getting a slot will depend on your branch and you first unit.
Every unit in the Army ends up on a helicopter at some time, so Air Assault should be easy. My understanding the Pathfinder has been restricted to people that might actually need it in the field. IMO, that's because it academically fairly difficult and the dropout rate while I was in was pretty high.
There are a number of online training courses for the physical part of ranger school. If you are passing the APFT with +90% scores, you are probably in good enough shape. It's still going to suck. I would add some serious rucking to my workout. If you survive the first day, the two big failure points are land navigation and the ruck marches. I would practice both.
Now I will commit sacrilege as a former Infantry Officer. If I was not going into a Combat Arms Branch, Infantry or Armor, I would probably blow off Ranger School. Failure rate is pretty high, but injury rate for students is pretty serious. Why chance getting messed up for life for something that will have little effect on your career. I did my Engineer time in Divisional Combat Engineering units, a tab gave you a bit more credence with the Grunts, but I don't think the Engineer chain of command cared much about it one way or the other.
Every unit in the Army ends up on a helicopter at some time, so Air Assault should be easy. My understanding the Pathfinder has been restricted to people that might actually need it in the field. IMO, that's because it academically fairly difficult and the dropout rate while I was in was pretty high.
There are a number of online training courses for the physical part of ranger school. If you are passing the APFT with +90% scores, you are probably in good enough shape. It's still going to suck. I would add some serious rucking to my workout. If you survive the first day, the two big failure points are land navigation and the ruck marches. I would practice both.
Now I will commit sacrilege as a former Infantry Officer. If I was not going into a Combat Arms Branch, Infantry or Armor, I would probably blow off Ranger School. Failure rate is pretty high, but injury rate for students is pretty serious. Why chance getting messed up for life for something that will have little effect on your career. I did my Engineer time in Divisional Combat Engineering units, a tab gave you a bit more credence with the Grunts, but I don't think the Engineer chain of command cared much about it one way or the other.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SPC(P) (Join to see) - SPC(P) (Join to see) - If your current unit will send you to Airborne, take it. Air Assault is taught a number of places now, so it's easier to get, but if you have time on your enlistment and they will give it to you, do it also.
Pathfinder? If your duty position doesn't require it, probably not. Ask, the worst that can happen is you get told no. A comment, Pathfinder is more academic than Airborne or Air Assault and there are a lot of academic failures.
If you are going Green to Gold, what are you looking at as your Branch?
Pathfinder? If your duty position doesn't require it, probably not. Ask, the worst that can happen is you get told no. A comment, Pathfinder is more academic than Airborne or Air Assault and there are a lot of academic failures.
If you are going Green to Gold, what are you looking at as your Branch?
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable - Thank you for the response Sir! So my current unit is very big on sending uws to Airborne since it's an Airborne Unit and I believe as of right now, they're trying to get me slotted for a January class. I'm also talking to my 1SG in my unit back on Fort Liberty to see when - and how - I could get slotted for Air Assault. Keeping my fingers crossed for that. I've been told that Pathfinder is extremely hard to get so I'm not banking on getting it anytime soon but I will keep my fingers crossed that the opportunity arises.
For Branches, I'm interested in Military Intelligence (Which I've heard is an extremely difficult branch to get), Armor, Infantry, or Signal. I generally don't have a huge preference, but I know I would like to do something that pertains to my Masters degree (I'm going back to school to get a Masters degree in Computer Science with a focus in data analytics and Artificial Intelligence), so I'm really leaning towards Armor because I personally think that AI integration will have a major impact within that realm. I wrote a paper randomly recently detailing my thoughts on it that I can send to you.
For Branches, I'm interested in Military Intelligence (Which I've heard is an extremely difficult branch to get), Armor, Infantry, or Signal. I generally don't have a huge preference, but I know I would like to do something that pertains to my Masters degree (I'm going back to school to get a Masters degree in Computer Science with a focus in data analytics and Artificial Intelligence), so I'm really leaning towards Armor because I personally think that AI integration will have a major impact within that realm. I wrote a paper randomly recently detailing my thoughts on it that I can send to you.
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LTC Eugene Chu
SPC(P) (Join to see) - Keep working on Green-to-Gold, but also look at cyber. Army direct commissions officers with STEM degree similar to doctors, chaplains or lawyers.
https://www.arcyber.army.mil/Resources/Fact-Sheets/Article/2060387/army-cyber-direct-commissioning-program/
https://www.arcyber.army.mil/Resources/Fact-Sheets/Article/2060387/army-cyber-direct-commissioning-program/
Army Cyber Direct Commissioning Program
Information and resources on direct commissioning, a program that allows civilians with specific high-demand technical skills to join the Army as commissioned officers.
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I do not think there's a limit, especially if you go while enroute. Otherwise your commander will decide how many, how often and if you go. Mission-First.
Physically, based on your description, you should be good.
Airborne - Attention to Details, They teach you how to survive first. All the other stuff, with the exception of the the actual jump's "heavy as all 'ell" loadout equipment, is set to get you "qualified alive".
Ranger - Be tactically and technically proficent at tactics but follow my favorite two rules: 1.Don't Quit. 2.Keep Your Sense Of Humor.
Air Assault - Attention to Detail because it only looks simple and your life is your hands once you're on the ropes. They will teach you everything else. Pay attention.
Pathfinder - Now you're planning and performing setup of Airborne, Air Assault, Waterborne (only did three of these, hundreds of the other two) Operations in the a preliminary survey to gain information, especially in an exploratory military survey of landing zones in enemy territory. Again pay attention.
Physically, based on your description, you should be good.
Airborne - Attention to Details, They teach you how to survive first. All the other stuff, with the exception of the the actual jump's "heavy as all 'ell" loadout equipment, is set to get you "qualified alive".
Ranger - Be tactically and technically proficent at tactics but follow my favorite two rules: 1.Don't Quit. 2.Keep Your Sense Of Humor.
Air Assault - Attention to Detail because it only looks simple and your life is your hands once you're on the ropes. They will teach you everything else. Pay attention.
Pathfinder - Now you're planning and performing setup of Airborne, Air Assault, Waterborne (only did three of these, hundreds of the other two) Operations in the a preliminary survey to gain information, especially in an exploratory military survey of landing zones in enemy territory. Again pay attention.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
Thank you for the response SFC! I appreciate that information immensely and will for sure do the necessary research into each one specifically so that way I can tailor my learning and the way I conduct myself around them.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
Is air assault now fast roping rather than coming in just above ground and jumping off?
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
MAJ Ronnie Reams - I believe all techiques are taught (maybe just classrom not field-trained) because other countries we are partners with don't fast-rope. However that information is out-of-date as they may not include it anymore.
Anyone on RP recently been to Air Assualt got more updated information.
Anyone on RP recently been to Air Assualt got more updated information.
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
SPC(P) (Join to see) - You might also consider Mountain School if the 10th Division is on your horizen.
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Get it all! I think this is outa control ambitious, but I love it... I wish more Soldiers thought like this. I mean with no impact on the mission.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
Thank SSG! I figure the worst they can say is no so I might as well try. We have a cool off period after we get back from deployment where the unit focuses heavily on soldier's self development and schools and they really don't bother us too much since the other detachment is gearing up for deployment.
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