Should I drop a packet for Ranger or SF?

2019-09-14T02:03:51-04:00

I want to drop a packet at my next duty station. I've always wanted to be a Ranger seeing as I'm infantry but I like the maturity level and competency of SF and I'm getting older now so that seems like a good way to go for me. I'm torn between the two at the moment and any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2019 5:10 AM

2019-09-14T05:10:00-04:00

Well what would you want to do? Going to regiment you would still be infantry, going SF you would reclass. Do any of the SF MOS's sound appealing to you? Would you want to learn a language? Also think of duty stations that would come with either choice, i.e. Bragg, Benning, FL, Carson, etc..

Secondly, why wait until next duty station? If you are "ready" then I wouldn't wait, also the leadership you are with currently know you and should support you easier.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Sep 14 at 2019 7:39 AM

2019-09-14T07:39:36-04:00

Only you can answer that question.

Than, have you talked with their respective recruiters? There is where you need to start, inquire and seek information on both mission sets.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Sep 14 at 2019 7:57 AM

2019-09-14T07:57:51-04:00

Ranger

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Sep 14 at 2019 7:58 AM

2019-09-14T07:58:39-04:00

Look up my battalion commander at Fort Ord. 3 star Ronald V Hite.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Sep 14 at 2019 7:59 AM

2019-09-14T07:59:29-04:00

Or Dennis Benchoff. 3 star. Ordnance. Commander 101st

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Sep 14 at 2019 8:00 AM

2019-09-14T08:00:24-04:00

Once a soldier always a soldier young man

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Sep 14 at 2019 8:00 AM

2019-09-14T08:00:54-04:00

Listen to your warrants.

Response by COL Gary Gresh made Sep 14 at 2019 10:05 AM

2019-09-14T10:05:31-04:00

Proud of you. Wanting to serve in either SOF specialties. But make sure your heart is into it as it is s very large commitment. SF service is much the same as originally intended. Small units of extremely well trained soldiers To be expert instructors to other nations military or para military units. A special forces unit has the basic building block of 12 soldiers in an ODA team. You deploy often to regions or countries with little or no comfortable infrastructure. You are basically super instructors and advisors. But don’t be deceived you are also a combat soldier and are called on many times to fight your way in or out of any given situation. SF deployments are usually long and put a lot of stress on family members left behind. Ranger training and ranger units have changed much since they started. Ranger soldiers tend to be younger and are elite strike Troops molded into platoons much like regular units and they usually deploy as companies and battalions to fight and secure areas. They also deploy but the deployment schedule is much the same as other army units. Both Special Forces and Ranger units deploy often and can stress family left behind. Both are extremely needed and extremely fulfilling to your skill set. But both are huge commitments to your time and career. Know what you are signing up for before applying.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2019 1:17 PM

2019-09-14T13:17:11-04:00

You should go to Airborne school and try out an airborne unit. It sounds like your perception of these units is based on unrealistic stereotypes and you could use some experience before making a decision.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 14 at 2019 1:51 PM

2019-09-14T13:51:22-04:00

1. If you aren't Airborne then you can't do either. 2. Go the Benning and get trained. 3. You can ask/enlist to try either, but if you do NOT Pass RASP/SFQAS then you will be for the needs of the service. RASP is tough, SFQAS is tougher. Both require the utmost in dedication, and way too often family live suffers badly. Drive on tho Trooper its your dreams.

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Sep 14 at 2019 8:50 PM

2019-09-14T20:50:27-04:00

Both are a commitment and both are hard in very unique and different ways. The rite path is the one that gets you to were you want to be. That being said all the full tabed out soldiers I have known have said go SF first. The training is much longer but with more down time, however the training is highly strict with little to no room for mistakes. So after about 2 years of training and testing before you can be called a green berret. You will have the mental state needed to endure ranger training, which is highly physical and fast paced with small rations and much sleep deprivation. I guess the proof is how the dropout rates work. In SF more ranger tabs drop out than the opposite where SF are less likely to dropout of ranger school. Both very hard and different, but SF will focus more on the mental aspect of training which is why they are adept to mind over matter. I have worked with both as a medic at Bragg and this is what the SF airborne rangers have told me most also being Pathfinder and air assault. Hope this helps.

Response by CW3 Dan Mackey made Sep 15 at 2019 9:04 PM

2019-09-15T21:04:52-04:00

Ranger units are elite airborne infantry units. Going to Ranger school is a great small unit leadership combat school and many of the members of Ranger units have not attended Ranger school. Col. Gresh has given a very accurate explanation of Special Forces units. Becoming and 18 is far more involved than becoming a Ranger. You could try Ranger school and still move into Special Forces.

Response by SPC Paul Rook made Sep 16 at 2019 1:46 PM

2019-09-16T13:46:41-04:00

Do you have 30 lbs you'd really like to lose? Then, attend Ranger training. Do you want to be in school for more than a year? Then, go SF. There is a channel on YouTube that studies SOF. https://youtu.be/Q1eLYRDBJk8

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Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2019 2:36 PM

2019-09-16T14:36:13-04:00

Before I answer this question, and don't get offended, but it seems that your thought process on Ranger and SF is a bit premature and definitely stereotypical, yet untrue. You've got a long way to go.

Pin SGT, run a team, go to an Airborne slot, and when you've matured as a leader both personally and professionally go to Ranger.

I say this because people have this mindset that the training is the same, it is not. Far different. I've known people who were hardcore gym rats and great NCOs wash out of SF, not in SFAS but in the later phases.

Go Ranger, you can always go SF later but at least with Ranger you would be ahead of the grind.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2019 6:50 PM

2019-09-17T18:50:24-04:00

Go to ranger school. The day before graduation you will get a brief on ranger regiment and SF as well as a buisness card for each person to contact. Talk to each of them, then choose what route to go.