What advice can you give about FABOLC and competing for a Ranger School slot while there?

As a currently serving artilleryman, my personal experience is a bit dated, but I'll provide the following to assist and allow you to used as you see fit. If there are more students than slots, the normal criteria to weed out folks that you should try to learn for yourself or consider include: class ranking, academics are the most important thing for you to focus on while at BOLC; PT score, they will want to know you're in the shape to make the minimum requirements of Ranger school. They will also normally set a standard above minimum at BOLC. Know what those are and prepare accordingly; follow-on assignment, if you're going to a light assignment, they normally lean towards those folks over others going heavy; your attitude and performance while attending any pre-ranger prep they have going on. The order I listed, both in my experience and if I was running the program for selection, is the order of importance and/or weight. Keep in mind that going to Ranger school will not get you promoted etc... It is the best small-unit leadership course that anyone can go through in the Army. You will learn a good deal about yourself and what you are capable of. The light community has gotten better over the years, but there are always those that do the uniform check to see what "flare" you have... If you're doing it for any other reason than to test yourself, take on a challenge, and want to be the best small unit leader you can be then it's not for you... Recommend verifying this criteria with what the cadre at Sill will share with you if they haven't already. Good luck.

PT your tail off! Most ranger school fails are from PT. Don't be soft be hard as steel! Even do two work out sessions a day!

As many have said it's not that difficult to get slots. In the other branches like infantry everyone gets a shot. But outside of that many don't even want to do. It's really not going to damage a career if they don't have it. I would make your intent known though. The worst thing you can do is train on the wrong areas and not get a slot.