I'm in the process of signing up for the Army Reserve and I am going for 37F. Is it possible to get Ranger School in my contract?

Alex Arce — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 12:55:57 -0400

I'm in the process of signing up for the Army Reserve and I am going for 37F. Is it possible to get Ranger School in my contract? My recruiter says it most be likely that maybe Airborne school may be possible. From what I've read, its highly unlikely I'll be able to go to Ranger School unless I get it in my contract and its not a combat or combat support MOS. Please let me know if there's a way to may it possible. Or am I more likely to get it if I went with Army National Guard?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 12:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 12:59:16 -0400

There is no such thing as a 37F in the Army National Guard. As a reserve PSYOP Specialist, your options are limited. Airborne school may possibly be an option. But that May not happen prior to arriving back to your home station from AIT. Also, if your home station is not an airborne unit, the liklihood of airborne school is even less. I am a PSYOP AIT instructor.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 1:05 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:05:31 -0400

Recruit,

In all honesty there's little reason to go down the slippery slope of "What-Ifs" in this scenario. Either the Reserve will put in your contract, or they won't. You should reach out to a FLARNG Recruiter and ask if it's possible and get your answer.

What I will say is if you don't, the likelihood of you getting Ranger later on in your career in either half of the reserve component is slim, and I'd wager especially in the Reserve vs the Guard since the Guard has all the combat units. I have never been apart of 20th Special Forces Group, which I imagine is where you would be attached to in the Florida Guard, so I cannot ascertain as to how much "pull" they have in getting school slots, but I imagine it would be significantly better than a conventional Guard combat arms unit.

If you truly want Ranger, you'll go Active Duty where it's guaranteed. If you choose the reserve component and you are not getting a guarantee, it's a roll of the dice either way. But with those same slim odds, I would recommend the Guard.

Good luck.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 1:08 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:08:25 -0400

Good luck I highly suggest maxing out your PT test and graduating as high as you can in your AIT class. and I doubt you will get it in your contract money allocated for those classes come from higher.. I wish you all the best in trying but don't be surprised if you don't and just FYI don't buy the oh you can get it when you report to your unit crap..

as for the NG they have combat MOS but I would again talk to the recruiter and ask to talk to individuals from the unit if you can. In the end getting the classes you are looking at as a Reserve or NG soldier is hard to do..

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 1:33 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:33:03 -0400

In the reserves, most of those schools like Ranger and airborne are very limited, it all depends on the unit and what they are authorized. I know airborne slots in the reserves for school is very limited and only those units that need it will get those slots and then they will only send the best of the best because having someone washout is a huge waste of money and a slot they won't get back.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Oct 23 at 2019 1:48 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:48:25 -0400

To the best of my knowledge, Ranger School is not something anyone can get in any contract.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 2:55 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 14:55:40 -0400

You cannot get Ranger school in your contract. Because Psychological Operations falls under the special operations umbrella, you may have the opportunity to go in the far future. However, it is highly, highly unlikely. I would not base your decisions about what service, what MOS, what unit, etc. to join based solely on one school.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 11:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 23:42:12 -0400

Nope.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 24 at 2019 1:16 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 01:16:54 -0400

Why not go RA and have Airborne and Ranger included in your contract? The water is wet, but not too chilly for a dedicated warrior to be!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 4:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 04:00:15 -0400

Reserve contracts don't work that way. You will go to whatever school your unit is willing to fund you to go to after you've been MOS qualified.

Response by Alex Arce made Oct 24 at 2019 8:43 AM

Alex Arce — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 08:43:11 -0400

For those stating why not go active and pursue Ranger Regiment or SF. Although that is something I would love to just drop and pursue, I cannot due to a child where I fought a few years for 50/50 custody. That is something Im not ready to just give up.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 12:18 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 12:18:02 -0400

There is the 37X option if you don't mind going active duty. It allows you to attend Psyop Selection after MP OSUT, as well as Airborne and they will gladly send you to Ranger once you finish the Q course.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2019 10:26 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 10:26:45 -0400

Currently in the 37 pipeline (active duty), and I can say from this perspective, active duty comes with mandatory airborne, and the way the enlistment process for 37(x) works, there is no time for ranger school. As for reserves, I see the AIT classes around here, and I'm sure a very, very slim few, maybe 1 in a couple of classes, will get even airborne in their contract let alone Ranger. The active pipeline is extensive and there wouldn't be any room within your first contract to add any additional specialized schooling. That being said, reserve training for 37F is much, much shorter than active, and theoretically there is time in your contract for it. However the likelihood of signing with such is slim to none. Hope this helps some.

Response by CPT Jim Kotva made Nov 21 at 2019 12:11 PM

CPT Jim Kotva — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:11:55 -0500

I was in a PSYOPS reserve unit for almost 9 years depending where you for reserves the PSYOPS unit might be on active jump status yes you will go to jump school Ranger school no way

Response by Cpl Bobbylee Dominguez made Dec 2 at 2019 9:40 PM

Cpl Bobbylee Dominguez — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:40:24 -0500

First believe anything is possible, and can do it.

Response by SGT Sam Sorrell made Dec 21 at 2019 8:55 AM

SGT Sam Sorrell — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 08:55:21 -0500

Please take my response as unauthoritative. . .

I was active duty infantry, and a reserve 37F. I find it very surprising to hear 37F described as NOT a combat supporting MOS. Yes, it is not a combat MOS, but not combat supporting. . . I don't know what the definition of "combat supporting" would be if it didn't include 37F in it. I was given to understand, and was involved in deployment training for the 4th ID in which, Tactical Psyop Detachments were integral to the 4th ID's missions. I mean, if you don't do your job, sure, you could wind up being a guard monkey on a FOB, but your job, if you're in a TPD, is to go on missions with the unit to which you're attached. If you're in a Product Development Detachment, then you'll probably spend more time in front of a computer. Choose your specialization wisely because I'm guessing your leadership is less apt to send a guy making pamphlets to ranger school than a guy who is walking around with grunts, wearing a speaker ruck on his back.

Insofar as getting Ranger after assignment; I can't speak for every unit, having had experience in only one, but my unit would send people who were capable of passing the courses, to Airborne and Mountain school. No one went to Ranger or Air Assault (that I recall) while I was in the unit, but I don't think anyone was trying for those schools. I do personally know of 11 series folk (we're speaking of active duty) who got ranger school just because their unit saw that the person was capable and otherwise an outstanding soldier, but I suspect the seating is very competitive; there are folks actually assigned to ranger units who'll NEED a seat after all.

I think your best bet is to find out whether you MUST have it in your contract, though I've been told you'll only get it in your contract if you're actually going to a ranger unit. And I would suggest you ask your recruiter if you can have a conversation with leadership from the unit itself. You may discover that they are able and willing to send deserving soldiers to the school.

Response by SSG(P) Danielle Birtha made Jan 9 at 2020 5:53 PM

SSG(P) Danielle Birtha — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:53:18 -0500

If you want to be a Ranger, earn your Tabs. Join the Army and work your way up... asking for a AR/NG contract to include Ranger School, when you have not yet qualified for Airborne, is major hubris.
IF you can get thru Airborne School, and meet the qualifications for Ranger School, you will be called.
We don't volunteer for Special Forces anymore... the unqualified rate is too high... those who qualify are called to try out... its NOT automatic by desire.
You can't buy a qualification in the Army, like you can buy a Degree as a civilian ;)
You have to EARN IT.
DUTY - HONOR - COUNTRY

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Jan 13 at 2020 3:06 PM

CPT Brad Wilson — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:06:06 -0500

On the Reserve Component side of the house they only send people to schools like that if those skills are needed for the units mission. For example my state had 1 towed artillery battalion and 2 SP battalions The towed battalion had 2 Air Assault School skits funded every year because transporting the guns by helicopter was part of their mission The SP units didn’t get any slots because they couldn’t be moved by helicopter

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2020 1:15 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 01:15:13 -0500

If you are in an infantry unit and you are an officer or senior enlisted(I,e: SFC and above), you will most likely get a chance at Ranger. The rest of the company, NO. Go active infantry if you want Ranger. If you stay with 37F (cool ass MOS) you will be with SF most of not all of the time. The Guard has the 19th and 20th SFGs. I ha e worked with the 19th from Utah who were squared away as anyone could be. No experience with the 20th but, am sure they are tight too. Keep the 37F MOS as you will do a lot more cool stuff than infantry or Ranger in the guard. Facts

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2020 9:29 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 21:29:23 -0500

I spent seven years in a Reserve Psyop unit and I never saw them send anyone to Ranger school and they sent ONE to Airborne.