How should I prepare for Ranger School?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 18:15:24 -0400

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Nov 1 at 2016 6:42 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 18:42:00 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member can you share some advice on this? I know you went through Ranger School not long ago. Thanks!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2016 6:51 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 18:51:58 -0400

Are you in the 75th? Why aren't you asking your squad or platoon for advice? Have you been to airborne yet?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2016 9:48 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 21:48:07 -0400

1. Get out n the best shape of your life
2. Buy a Ranger handbook and study it
3. Mentally prepare -- it will be hard....so what - don't quit for nothing. I said to myself I was only leaving Ranger school in one of three ways, death, disability, or tabbed (DDT).

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 1 at 2016 11:02 PM

SFC George Smith — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 23:02:14 -0400

Run ... ruck ... sit ups ... pushups... PT ... practice staying awake as long as you can... like all weekend... and Not Drunk...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2016 1:14 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 01:14:39 -0400

It has changed since I went through. But it has become more like SFAS now. So ruck, run, ruck, run, and get into shape.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2016 1:20 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 01:20:52 -0400

Grab your little not so Ranger Nuts, and Ruck up.

1. Run sub 37:00 before school
2. More then 70 perfect push-ups
3. Ruck, Ruck, Ruck ohh did I Ruck??
4. You don't earn your tab, you earn your RB's Tab.
5. Team Player
6. Ranger the Fu<K UP

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2016 1:22 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 01:22:49 -0400

If your just a recruit, get your ass through basic, and RASP first. Bat will train you up on school

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2016 8:55 AM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 08:55:02 -0400

I haven't been. So I couldn't tell you. I do recommend checking the bios of those who offer advice. Listen to those who've succeeded. Listen to those who haven't, but only if they're self critical of their own errors; i.e. the guy who says he "got fucked" with no explanation probably isn't telling the whole story. Best of luck.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 1:07 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:07:18 -0400

Your profile says you are a recruit. Have you even made it through basic yet?

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Nov 3 at 2016 1:53 PM

SFC Joseph Weber — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:53:43 -0400

We need an Ask Your NCOs button. You ought to worry about basic and if you are ever considered for Ranger school there will be a passel of NCOs making sure you are ready.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 8:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 08:04:11 -0500

Pass Basic Training first.
Baby steps.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 8:12 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 08:12:46 -0500

1. Be an asset – Learn as much as you can so you have help your Ranger Buddy. The more you know the bigger asset you are. When it comes to peers they will keep those who are helpful. If you offer nothing to the team you aren’t really needed and you will get peered. Someone will get peered. Some will say that there is a way to game the system but they will figure that out. We lost 3 in Benning off the bat. We lost a few later on and even in Florida we lost some.

2. Sewing – Learn how to sew. You will be required to sew on your cat eyes and name tapes. After you go to CIF. Some guys sucked at sewing. I did mine and helped out my buddies.

3. Learn your knots. You will be required to tie everything down in each phase. It is a nightmare. You will spend hours getting everything tied down. The best way to do it is to get one person tie down one piece of equipment. You will have a person for each piece of equipment. It will be more consistent. And it is great team work.

4. Leg strength is the corner stone there. I rucked on my own while before I went. I was hurting in Mountains. You are going up mountains all day every day. If you can’t keep up you will get a major minus. If you fall out you will be a safety violation and be dropped. I would do as much stair steppers and squat as you can.

5. Learn as much about light infantry tactics. It is more important to know why you are doing things instead of knowing just to do this. If you are going emplace your Left and right side security at an objective you need to know more than just that they go on the left and right side. You need to be able to analyze the terrain and how would be a good location for them. Everything you do will be judged against the Five Principles of Patrol. If you can justify why you do something and it makes sense you can do it. In florida we got stuck in swamps and it took us hours to get out of them. It sucked. I took over at 3 am as PSG and had 30 minutes to have an ambush set in place. We did it. Instead of the regular Support By Fire being in one place we put a gun team on each side of the assault line. I have never seen this but that is what the PL wanted to do. It is nowhere in the Ranger Handbook but it worked and we got our goes.

6. TTLODAC. If you can learn this you will down wonders there. You will also have to do an overlay. You will have to request fires. You may only get three targets. One for each phase.

Target
Trigger
Location
Observer
Delivery System
Attack Guidance
Comm Net

7. Bring as much admin stuff as you want. A roll of acetate will do wonders. I packed a full roll. It was awesome. 5’ x 7’ note cards were great too. We made a handmade outline of an outline of a OPODR shell. We acetated it and passed it around. After that no one failed OPODRs. You can make whatever you want while you are there. But you can’t bring anything. They will take any notes you have and if you bring a ranger handbook they will take it from you. But I took with me a bunch of pens, markers, and anything on the extra items.

8. Packing list – You can bring extra of some items. I had 4 sets of boots instead of 3. I had an extra pair of summers and it was worth it. I always had dry boots when others didn’t. I also took extra sock. I had 18 pairs of fox river socks. I never had a blister there the whole time. I also had the Nike boots. I have the old school ones, that are no good now, and the new Field ones. They were awesome there. You will need a very durable boot.

9. Home Cache system. I learned this a long time ago. Set some stuff aside at home or at your unit in boxes. Like socks, grooming stuff, uniforms, boots, or admin stuff, or whatever you may need. I would number mine. Then I would write home and tell my wife to send my box number two. She would then send it off right away.

10. In addition I had a ranger Joe’s catalog also. My wife had one too. I would write her with an item number and she would call and have it ordered. I would get it pretty quick. It is pretty easy to get this worked out. While in Benning have someone send you something from Ranger Joes like 550 cord or notepads. They will always have a catalog in the package or you could get one on your pass between benning and mountains.

11. Gear is a big deal. I took 2 head lamps, 3 flash lights, 2 gerbers, and other stuff. You will lose stuff and so will your ranger buddy. If you lose a head lamp you will always have a backup. One in the ruck and one on you. I did the same with watch caps. Bring a couple. Tie down your Gerber also. I lost mine in mountains and I was devastated. I felt like someone stole my first car. Someone had an extra one so I got by.

12. Gain weight. You can put as much as you can as long as you can run with it. I put on ten pounds. I was still able to pass the RPFT. I lost 30 pounds overall. They don’t way you at all. You can be as heavy as you want. Just don’t gain too much to slow you down.

13. RPFT – I had the lowest APFT in my infantry officer course but I trained for quality. Some guys had 330 scores and failed the RPFT. The best way I learned was to get a Metronome App on your phone and time the beeps for one second. You take a second to go down, to where your chest is lying on the ground, and up, to where you are completely locked out. It will take you a while to do this but it worked just fine. I think they counted every one of my push ups. I didn’t have any trouble at all.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 7 at 2016 7:22 PM

SFC George Smith — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 19:22:43 -0500

One more thing get a Ranger hand book and memorize the Op-order paragraphs and Know how to do Op orders and Frag orders...
At least that was old School

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Nov 7 at 2016 9:41 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 21:41:56 -0500

Want the Ranger Tab! Realize the RIs are trying their best to run you off. Being physically and mentally strong is what ultimately carries you to the end. They teach you everything you need to know. You must tell yourself when you arrive to be ready to be challenged to the maximum . I graduated in March 1969 and all I remember was being cold, wet, hungry and tired. You will be pushed beyond what you might think is too much, it's a mind game throughout. you can do it!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 10:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 22:02:21 -0500

Ruck: mountainous terrain. 60-80lb ruck. 5-10 miles 3-5 x week.
-Run: able to run 5 miles in less than 40 mins without any issues.
-Push/Sit ups: clean, perfect for both

-Know your squad level leadership roles, duties and responsibilities.
-Be able to task organize
-Know Platoon level roles, duties & responsibilities
-know the RANGER creed.
-know the 7-8
-be knowledge but not a nuisance. Be prepared to get little sleep, little food and little help from fellow rangers. Stay motivated, and be helpful
-when in charge, be in charge, and when you're not, do your job and know your role.
-be organized
-don't be last.
-swim in uniform and boots to get used to it

-NEVER QUIT!
-Always choose a recycle if offered, no matter what.

Response by SGT Travis Holbrook made Nov 7 at 2016 11:53 PM

SGT Travis Holbrook — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 23:53:16 -0500

Run alot... Then run some more. Do some heavy lifting. In all seriousness. Most of all get your mind right.. Your mind tells your body what to do not the other way around. Mental toughness and maintaining it will be your biggest obstacle.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2016 12:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 12:15:40 -0500

Ruck, tuck, and more rucking. Get the latest ranger handbook and soak it up! Be able to exceed the standard, for running, pull ups, everything

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Nov 8 at 2016 5:02 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 17:02:38 -0500

I am not a ranger nor would I ever pretend to be. I have the deepest respect for those that are. However, the advice I would give to anyone going to this or any other school of this magnitude, would be to look for the finish. What I mean is that it is going to suck sometimes and you are going to want to give up...DON'T...embrace the suck and concentrate on the end game and what you have to do to get there. Follow the guidance from those in this thread that have told you how to prepare but you have to be mentally ready as well...not just physically ready.

I cannot imagine the immense pride you will have when they hand you that coveted ranger tab and beret that you have earned...notice I say earned...not given to you. You will have to work for it but as a soldier, you will be in a minority fraternity that very few ever get to join.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 9:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:23:09 -0400

Prepare yourself to live the life of, "Danger"

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2018 12:44 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 May 2018 12:44:05 -0400

Although this thread is rather dated, it is important to note that RTTs are now a droppable event. Mastering your basic soldier tasks will prove crucial towards your success in Ranger school.

Additionally, understand the structure of the RAP week and the rest of the course in general. There is currently an app available to download on the Apple App Store, Ranger Pro, that provides a wealth of information and tips for your preparation.

Response by SSG Timothy Stevenson made Jun 17 at 2018 11:41 AM

SSG Timothy Stevenson — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 11:41:30 -0400

Just get ready to embrace the suck...you can prepare all you want but until your there you have no idea. Never quit, finish everything and Man Up.