Ranger School, did it hurt or help your career?

2014-12-31T14:50:41-05:00

Ranger school is the epitome of Infantry leadership school. Many have tried, and with a 50% attrition rate, many have failed. Which group do you fall in? State your class number, if passed or failed, and if you'd do it again...and if you want to share, why you failed and what you learned from it. I suspect there are many on RP that have been to RANGER. I know we hate to talk about our failure, bit if a subjective lesson was learned (ie. I wasn't cut out for the infantry), than it was not a failure but instead a morale builder.

How many have tried and failed? Did failing hurt or help your career?

For those that made it, has it hurt or helped your career?

Is it rumor, to make MAJ as an infantry officer, you must have your tab?

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 2:56 PM

2014-12-31T14:56:02-05:00

Ranger Class 3-95, a winter class. First time GO, had I failed, I would have never gone back.
I had the rare opportunity to go as a Marine Cpl. I was 24 years old.
I made a lot of good Army friends and the experience changed my perception of the ARMY. Happy to have made it, I feel sorry for those that died during my class, and those that lost fingers and toes. Very ardous. Not for the faint of heart.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 11:24 AM

2015-01-01T11:24:39-05:00

I graduated fairly recently... class 11-13. With the addition of 2 weeks of Pre-Ranger prior, I had some tough mental moments as time dragged on. I don't know how guys have the fortitude to keep recycling (including Day 1 recycles) and finally graduate after something like 7 months. I'm not a quitter so that was never really an option for me but I did occasionally hope I would snap an ankle haha. I can tell you 100% that if I had failed I would never have gone back. I say that now but as I put some distance from that 75 day nightmare I start to see it more through rose-colored glasses and forget the feeling of being so tired that you fall asleep standing or walking... so who knows.
All-in-all, I don't feel like I gained much knowledge from the course, certainly nothing I couldn't learn from studying the Ranger handbook. What I did gain was a sense of how far I could push myself mentally and physically... that can't be learned in any book. While I don't feel like having a tab has necessarily helped my career directly, it has certainly gained me some notice and notoriety from the right people (especially in a state NG that probably has less than 10 tabbed NCOs out of 13,000 soldiers).

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 11:39 AM

2015-01-01T11:39:32-05:00

Ranger Class 06-06. It helped me plenty to become a better leader but it's not a requirement to make major. My board met while in Ranger School, and I still got selected.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 2:17 PM

2015-01-02T14:17:37-05:00

BLUF: For the rumor portion, I do not have my tab and recently pinned LTC and am still Infantry. I went once and failed - 01-99 immediately after IOBC (now IBOLC). I do think going should be a personal decision, not just to make others happy. There's a great benefit in understanding your limits and pushing through. The earlier you do that in your career enables you to make better decisions about what is right for you and the Army.

Unfortunately, that is not how it is advertised or pushed. It is a tool for promotion as you mention. There are many ways to test yourself. Ranger School is the Infantry's "approved" version. However, anything that one does to "improve" themselves and has a certificate, badge, tab etc to prove it can only add to their profile. If it is something that can be knocked out, then do so. Even if it's just to remove the potential for someone else's (i.e. selection board) doubt about your own capabilities, then it would be worth it. That is the pain in the ass part and where it becomes less of an "option" to better yourself.

I would have gone back, but an injury and deployments ( then lack of motivation after a certain point) didn't allow that to work. It has been a distraction at each assignment as I have had to prove myself over and over again simply because I don't have it...or maybe because I'm short, skinny, and wore glasses, lol!

Did it help or hurt? I can only say that I feel like I would have had more influence or positions of influence over the years if I had it. I make do with what I am given and will only do my best to make it better. It is always a selection criteria whether it is stated or not. Some assignments specifically, others not so much. My promotion appears to be based on the trend of what I have accomplished and potential to handle more. Cool assignments and commands on the other hand...there have been some doors not opened over the years. Nobody knows what the future brings with the current draw down, but I know at least two incredible Officers with their tab that were not selected for promotion to LTC. Numbers will matter more and those things you do to separate yourself (in a better way!) from the pack will have an impact.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 6:42 PM

2015-02-18T18:42:44-05:00

I failed my first attempt and it did hurt my career. I was in a Long Range Surveillance Company were all of the NCO slots were "v" coded. I was still able to pick up SGT while I was deployed but it meant I had to go back to Ranger School or find another unit. I ETSed due to lacking the time required to go back to Ranger. If I had made it I would have reenlisted and would have had the ability to get more schools like HALO.

I did go back as an officer and made it in Class 05-14. I can say it does help. It shows you know what you are doing and adds to your credibility. I can say that I haven't seen many field grades without tabs. Not saying that it can't happen But I don't know of any BCT commanders that are infantry and don't have a tab.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2017 6:47 PM

2017-07-08T18:47:01-04:00

I was a first time Go at Ranger School. Here is my Youtube Series recounting my experiences. RLTW! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP3vQUHboK3KiILSrMSUry-KCwU_Yg5Wz

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2017 6:47 PM

2017-07-08T18:47:15-04:00

I was a first time Go at Ranger School. Here is my Youtube Series recounting my experiences. RLTW! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP3vQUHboK3KiILSrMSUry-KCwU_Yg5Wz

Response by LTC Mark Scott made Jul 10 at 2019 10:33 PM

2019-07-10T22:33:39-04:00

Class 5-86. First time Go. Attended as an Intel officer from the 25th ID. Got my opportunity when the Infantry officer’s were either already tabbed or refused to go. My battalion commander was very supportive and sent me despite that I was not an infantry officer. I was an honor graduate and won the Merrills marauder award. I’m very proud to continue to wear the tab as a medical officer in the National Guard. I don’t think I would ever go again knowing what I know, but I am very proud to have attended once.

Response by MAJ David Creamer made Feb 1 at 2020 2:06 AM

2020-02-01T02:06:32-05:00

Class 6-81 FA Officer. AS a FIST Chief in an Infantry unit...it helped. Fo the rest of my 30 plus year career in RA //USAR // NG it was an ice breaker in a lot of situations.