Posted on May 17, 2018
If I were to branch Armor and become a Cavalry scout, how much of a necessity is the Ranger tab?
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Going into my junior year of ROTC as a contracted CDT so I’ve been evaluating all my potential options. Armor and infantry are at the top of my list of branches. I know the tab is crucial as an infantry officer. Thank for all feedback.
Officer
Cavalry
ROTC
Infantry
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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Unfortunately you won’t become a cavalry scout if you commission. That MOS is for enlisted only. However, you can become an armor officer and get the priviliage to serve as a scout platoon leader. For this position a Ranger tab would be benificial because the job that we do. Scout platoons usually break up and maneuver in sections. If Ranger school is not an option while completing A-BOLC at Ft benning, the next best school for young armor branch officers is the Army reconnaissance course. Keep in mind if you choose armor you spend your entire career on a tank or a Bradley unless you can get the qualifications from airborne, Ranger, arc, arslc, or clc. If you find yourself in a classroom that teaches maneuver tactics like the Bradley or tank commanders course you will be identified by your branch manager as preficient in the HBCT world; plan on being on one.
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MAJ James Woods
He could still become a Scout PL then a Cav Troop Commander responsible for reconnaissance operations of 19D Scouts and supporting mortars. An airborne, Ranger, ARC, ARSLC, CLC are not pre-requisites for getting assigned to an Armored Recon Squadron or Cav Squadron. Those schools are benefits but not essential. Today's AR officer can find themselves commanding troops from an Abrams, Bradley, MRAP, M-ATV, Stryker, and one day the next generation of vehicles (MPF, GMV, and LRV). He's won't be limited just because he was commissioned Armor.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
MAJ James Woods - At battalion level and above, Infantry and Armor Officers are interchangeable in Armored or Mechanized Task Force or Brigade Combat Teams. While there was still a value placed on a Ranger Tab, as a Combat Engineer in a Mechanized Division, there didn't seem to be the emphasis placed on it like in the Light Infantry Units.
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MAJ James Woods
CPT Lawrence Cable You do know that wasn’t always the case. Before Force XXI reorganization, that wasn’t allowed with minor exceptions in legacy brigades. When Stryker BCTs were initially formed line officer positions were coded IN only for a few years. BCT transformation happened again creating 02A positions that allowed combat MOS interchangeability. Bottomline, I served long enough to see the combat brigades doctrinally reorganized four times.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
MAJ James Woods - Yes, I enlisted in 1982 and went through two doctrine changes as Infantry (Light), and I was involved in the major change in Divisional Engineer structure when they a full Engineer Brigade down to the Division. The Force XXI was implemented just after I went IRR. That change in the codes was one of the more logical things that the Army did while I was around. If you are going to fight a mixed Task Force or Brigade Combat Team, you have to know the capabilities and how to use your available Combat Power.
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It isn't. That being said, schools like Ranger put a giant gold star on your resume and you should always be trying to add those kinds of new and valuable skills to your tool bag.
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I can only encourage you to secure that coveted tab. Regardless of you immediate military/political situation a Ranger tab will only add to your credibility. I have personally witnessed Ranger tabs in many different types of organizations. I think the Ranger tab, along with the SF tab, scream competent person here. Go for it.
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A ranger tab isn't necessary for any mos. It's a school that can help you get promoted, but it's not really necessary. If you're offered the school, take it. Remember that there are always a limited number of slots that your unit will be given and most of the enlisted will not be happy if they get bumped from their school slot to accommodate a brand new 2LT. This actually happened to myself and 10 other NCOs and SPCs with regard to Sapper School. The battalion had a train up for anyone interested in the battalion's 20 slots for sapper school. Everyone in the battalion who participated was ranked. We were all doing the mandatory physical after the 20 were selected, then our unit got a huge crop of new LTs. They were given the slots of 11 of us and only 4 made it past the first week. Of those 4 only one graduated, but he didn't graduate with a high enough score to tab. Needless to say, everyone who was bumped was fuming over it.
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I was a Fire Support officer (13A) in a CAV unit 4/7 Cav back when there were Division Calvary units. The guys that had Ranger Tabs were the "Golden Boys." They did not do staff time as an LT, they went straight into a PL slot. After their PL time, they would go on to be a Troop XO. So yeah there are perks to having the tab for an LT. Once they have a couple of evals under their belt, the magic will wear away if you are not as good as the Tab says you supposed to be.
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The Tab is a discriminater to your superiors, an indicator of your potential to your Soldiers and a personal testament to your will. Not needed for an Armor officer; but in that Highly recommended category that is unwritten in the Army Officers Guide. It is a 64 Day Squad tactics course that can get a fair to middlin officer to Major and a competent officer to BN CMD; but if you are a bottom third kind of officer it won’t matter what tab, badge, ribbon you have you will be weeded out by Major. Ultimately it eill give you opportunities that others will not receive; 2 months of hell for years of pleasure-as it will grease the skids through Major until a lot of other folks have them; then it’s a wash
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Any time you are offered Military training you take it. Thank you for your future service.
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Mr. Sanford-Speaking as a former naval officer, I would've considered myself fortunate to have been afforded an opportunity to be "tabbed". If you're serious about a career as a commissioned officer, my humble suggestion would be to pursue and earn every single qualification available to you...I promise you that as you get more experience, you'll look back and regret each deferred chance to test yourself.
Best Regards and Good Luck
Best Regards and Good Luck
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Probably wouldn't hurt to have it, you may want to go into the Rangers.
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