Is 19 years TIS too late to go to Ranger School?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 21:34:35 -0400

Is it worth it to go this late in the career?

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Jul 5 at 2014 9:38 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 21:38:46 -0400

Unless you were already in that hi tempo arena, then yes it would be too late, however even if you are qualified the branch component, will probably deny you. My question is why the late surge now? Why not ten, 15yrs ago while you were in your prime?

Response by CPT Brandon Christensen made Jul 7 at 2014 11:10 AM

CPT Brandon Christensen — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 11:10:17 -0400

Doesn't hurt to try. If you believe your body can handle it, why not attempt. Just like everything else in life, if you don't make the effort, you are going to be kicking yourself in the butt later on down the road and wishing you did make an effort.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2014 11:03 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 23:03:07 -0400

It is never to late. I just finished Ranger School recently. I am 32. I wasn't even the oldest guy there. There were guys in their mid thirties. In the class before mine they had a 42 y/o guy in it and he made it. The question becomes "can you dig deep enough to do it." This is not a challenge but a question that many face when there. I will tell you it was rough. I equate it to walking up every morning and getting kicked in the junk. Some days you got kicked a couple times or 5 times. The issue that came up was when they are in the low of low, this is usually the base of some mountain in Mountain Phase, will you question if you really need it seeing how you have already have had a successful career.

We had many infantry LTs simply quit or fail and they didn't care. They knew they were not doing more than four years so they didn't mind. That is dangerous. They may like it and want to promote but will not due to their failure in Ranger.

The only question that I am truly wondering is if they will still send you seeing how you are so close to the 20 year mark.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 2 at 2014 7:22 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 19:22:47 -0400

Not trying to start an Armor/Infantry war here, but why would a Tanker want to go anyway? Ranger school is essentially an Infantry leadership course. If you are a 19D, that's different, but if you're a tanker all I see is depriving an Infantry unit of some great leadership skills in exchange for promotion points. Master Gunner school or something seems more useful. Again, no offense intended here, just my $.02

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2014 9:56 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 21:56:24 -0400

I think the distinction here is not young/old, but potential for the use of the skills learned. Yes, a new recruit might go to Ranger School and then not re-enlist, but the potential existed to get 18+ years of utilization out of that training. This is untrue for you.

The risk of injury for any Soldier is very high. If you have gotten this far in one piece you should be thanking your intensely lucky stars, not trying to tempt fate. For what? Promotion? That is unbelievably short-sighted. If you were pitching it to me, you would have to paint me at least a 5 year picture of how this would make any sense to endorse. If you don't have a serious career goal - not promotion, that's not a career goal - that you could not execute in the next five years without Ranger School, I would give it the big thumbs down. I'm not sure adding something to your ERB that will make everyone who sees it go, "huh???" is the road to faster promotion anyway.

Don't be a shiny object chaser. Be a man with a plan.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2014 1:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 13:45:28 -0400

I think the only time it's too late is when YOU feel, whether due to age, fitness level, or interest, that you cannot accomplish the particular feat anymore. Trying to squeeze what little more you can from an already successful career should be your right. If one has given enough of themselves to make it to the 19 year mark then they have more than paid forward a comparatively small investment like training. I don't think something as trivial as money needs to come into play at that point. It is still a better investment than throwing funding at some punk kid straight out of high school that has not yet done anything for the nation or the Army. The school is already there, the instructors are going to be instructing anyway, why not jump in head first and get a little back for yourself or prove to yourself whatever you might feel like you need to prove to yourself. Who cares if you've got one year left in the service or 20 still ahead of you? You've gone forth and executed American foreign policy for the last 300 meters on multiple occasions, you've earned a little selfishness. Nevermind funding, nevermind whoever may scratch their head and wonder about your sanity, if you want something more out of life or your career, you better go get SFC P because you don't get a second round.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2014 12:43 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:43:21 -0400

It's never too early or too late to go to ranger school, I had E-8's and O-4's in my class... I went as a PFC one of the best people I learned from was an E-7, it's not a school you learn from but grow and teach from, you learn from everybody else around you, and you teach different techniques to others.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 9:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:04:30 -0500

At my pre-ranger course graduation, the key speaker was a 1SG that went when he was 41 years old. He didn't recycle a single phase.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Jan 7 at 2015 3:11 PM

CSM David Heidke — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 15:11:21 -0500

I fear I would expire and be eaten by my classmates in the survival phase.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2015 1:32 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 01:32:03 -0500

That seems a bit late to me, mostly because if I was at that point in my career I would be focused on retirement. However, if you are up to it physically/mentally and you are planning on staying past 20 years I say go for it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2015 2:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 02:01:34 -0500

No offense but if you are having to ask or seeking wether or not you should be there then in my opinion NO you should not go. Granted I have never went but I do know that if you are having to ask others in a forum you are not ready to go but trying to talk yourself into it. Known several tabbed guys that told me that you have to realllllly want it before you go, and asking questions like am I to old tells me that you do not fully want it.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jan 20 at 2015 12:47 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:47:01 -0500

No, BUT if you have been in that long and rode as hard as most soldiers in combat MOSs have been, be careful what you ask for. Of course, I hear the APR 2015 class is sounding real good.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 20 at 2015 12:59 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 12:59:29 -0500

Thoughts and considerations regarding when to go to Ranger School.
- BLUF: Never too late to go to Ranger School, even at 19 years, but there are individual and Army perspectives to consider. See below.
- Attending Ranger School within five years of coming into the Army is of most benefit to the individual and the Army. The individual learns things he has not yet learned in the Army and the Army receives its most "return on investment.
- Attending Ranger School 5-10 years after coming into the Army benefits the individual and the Army but not as much as above. The individual knows a few things but not everything. The Army still receives a "return on investment" assuming a 20 year career.
- Attending Ranger School after 10 years in the Army is still useful but more so to the individual than to the Army. The individual should have already learned everything that is taught in Ranger School so main benefit is to see if the individual can do the "gut check". Plus much harder to complete Ranger School at an older age than at a younger age (better shape, easier to recover from injury, not as in love with luxuries like eating and sleeping when younger). The "return on investment" for the Army is minimal.

Response by SFC John Cruzat made Jan 20 at 2015 3:49 PM

SFC John Cruzat — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:49:29 -0500

It's never too late if your heart and body say "GO!" ☺️

Response by SSG John Conquest made Apr 3 at 2015 4:59 PM

SSG John Conquest — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 16:59:41 -0400

If you want to do anything go to Special Forces, just remember give it a 110% at all times and never complain once. If you think you have what it takes to be a Ranger then you have what it takes to be Special Forces. SF looks even better for your career!!

Response by SSG John Conquest made Apr 3 at 2015 5:04 PM

SSG John Conquest — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 17:04:02 -0400

Don't waste your time going out for Rangers, Go Special Forces.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 7:41 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 07:41:50 -0400

I had a 1sg go when he was 41 with 19 years in he won the enlisted leadership award, I just went last year at 9 years and I won the enlisted leadership award I feel time makes no difference it's all about how fit you know you are, I'm training up a guy now with 15 years in he is going in July.

Response by MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy made May 20 at 2016 8:45 PM

MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy — Fri, 20 May 2016 20:45:54 -0400

No. Ranger School teaches "Mission-Command" or "Mission-Leadership" skills that are essential to your post-military career.