Leaving for RTAC after I pass DRSA on the 7th of Aug. How did some of you train physically for Ranger School (I'm on the fence with my ruck)?

2017-07-28T16:44:34-04:00

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2017 4:47 PM

2017-07-28T16:47:11-04:00

RASP or Ranger School?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2017 6:31 PM

2017-07-28T18:31:55-04:00

If you are going to RTAC you should be at your best. RTAC mirrors ranger school and is often considered tougher then Benning Phase. I would make sure to know the Creed. Study your ranger handbook. They do a good job there teaching you most of what you need to know. But if you don't know anything about battle drills, Ranger Training Tasks, and Opords then you are going to struggle, if you make it.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2017 8:42 PM

2017-07-28T20:42:12-04:00

Be in good shape. If you're not, it will eat you up. But over everything it's all mental brother. Never quit and the best advice I got from a friend is just "attack ranger" don't be shy, don't be intimidated, go after it and earn your tab.

If you need a program before for the physical, google 90 day ranger training or check out the military athlete program

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2017 6:51 AM

2017-07-29T06:51:13-04:00

If you're going to RTAC on the 7th, there's no more training to be done. Your training for Ranger School should have been conducted over the last 6 months.
When I went there was no special training conducted, but our normal unit PT was an 8-12 mile road march once a week at 55 pounds dry weight. I think that's a good preparation for handling the weight of Ranger school. Other than that, just being able to run fast enough to pass the 5 mile run.

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jul 29 at 2017 1:46 PM

2017-07-29T13:46:26-04:00

Along with other replies to this question, I'll share my experience, not of Ranger Course, but the Sapper Leadr Course.
In my early 20's I was one of those gung-ho 60 gunner, RTO, and point man, and would still get told to slow down.
Anyway, I did 30 days in PLDC, no PT at all. Once I got back to my unit my PSG told me that I got caught in anything other than PT gear, boots, and a ruck I would be taken off the list for SLC. I had 30 days to get in shape, cool, an adventure. I would get out in the AM and catch some of the 1st Group SF guys doing their daily walk in the woods (it took me about a week to be able to keep up with them), then I'd do a walk around FT Lewis, around the perimeter of North Fort Lewis, then out around the stockade, the Log Center, then back to North Ft Lewis. That took til about noon, I'd stop to eat then go for an 8 mile run, do practice land nav, and any other physical exercise I could. With 2 weeks to go, the parent company going to SLC started doing their PT train up. So every other day we would do a ruck run, the other days we'd do tuck marches, usually a 12 mile minimum.
My ruck rarely weighed less than 65 pounds, the packing list plus rocks to get the weight. We also had classes on top of all that.

This was 30 days to get ready for a 30 day course. If you aren't already in shape for the grueling 90 day course, you should pull out and let someone else who IS ready take your slot. You are not only hurting yourself, but you're hurting your entire patrol.
Yes it is 98% mental, and 200% physical, yeah, math is my strong suit. If your body is screaming No More and your heads not in it, you've lost and hurt the others with you. You should already know what they are going to teach you, if not, you're not ready for the course.

As I always told my troops, if you're not out for my job, you're better make sure your resume' is up to date.