Is 42 too old to attend Ranger School?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 02:21:00 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2014 2:24 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 02:24:03 -0500

Age does not matter if the individual has the strength and determination. I also think that you would have to look at the remaining retention time the Soldier has in the Army. No need to waste the taxpayers money on a Soldier to attend Ranger School if he or she will retire in a few years.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Feb 5 at 2014 6:32 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:32:12 -0500

SFC Craig not everyone ages the same way and physically if someone qualifies and meets the standard I don't see why they shouldn't be afforded the opportunity to attend any school.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 7:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:29:05 -0500

if you're in good physical and mental condition, then I don't see why not?

Response by LTC John Czarnecki made Feb 26 at 2014 3:03 AM

LTC John Czarnecki — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 03:03:46 -0500

Not at all, assuming you're (or whoever you're talking about) is up to the standard, is well-trained, and has the motivation to get through the course, which is a true ballbuster. The psychological pressure to quit would be huge for someone that age... the daily pain would be immense. I went through the course (twice, got frostbite halfway through the 1st tiime and recycled back to day #1 six months later) at age 20 and it damn near killed me then. At 42 you better be something special to make the attempt.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 7:38 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 07:38:13 -0500

Age is just a number. I would say it should all depend upon what the individuals physical condition is, which at 42 can still be quite good. Then again, I'm young and have never attended Ranger School, so take my words for what they are.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 10 at 2014 1:19 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 13:19:51 -0400

If you are physically fit, Why Not!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 2:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:26:17 -0400

SMA Glen E. Morrell completed ranger school at 41, so you're never to old

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Apr 10 at 2014 3:07 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 15:07:39 -0400

Well I've been told you are only as old as you feel. For me that's about 70!lol so at 44 I think I'll leave it to you younger guys. Get some, HOOOAH!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 3:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 15:17:19 -0400

I hope not, since I am 40 and thinking about submitting a packet to go work at a Ranger Bat, and my understanding is that if I get the job, I will attend Ranger School too

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 10 at 2014 5:25 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 17:25:53 -0400

SFC Thibault, As long as that soldier meets all admin requirements, and most importantly, as long as the soldier has heart and gets along with others sure, why not?

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Apr 10 at 2014 5:32 PM

CH (CPT) Heather Davis — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 17:32:27 -0400

Absolutely Not! I was 42, and I went to Warrant Officer School. You might be asking yourself "What was I thinking? My prayers are with you!!

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Apr 28 at 2014 2:18 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:18:57 -0400

Only if you think it is.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 1:22 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 13:22:18 -0400

Heck no!!! Although he was already tabbed, my former BDE CDR, who was also a CDR in Ranger Battalion, use to destroy his staff during PT hour. His PT sessions wore no joke. He would use everything and anything he could get his hands on. Whenever he ran PT, it was always something he learned while he was in Ranger Battalion. He's the only 50+ year old I know that can run a legit 12 minute two mile. Mind over matter that's all it is

Response by SFC Gary (Bigsarge) Portier USARMY RET. made Jun 20 at 2014 3:39 PM

SFC Gary (Bigsarge) Portier USARMY RET. — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 15:39:45 -0400

I do not know what the cut off is but if your in great shape at 50 and can go I say go for it if that's what you want.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jun 27 at 2014 1:04 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:04:09 -0400

Would that not be discrimination if you were not allowed having met all the criteria? I have seen folks of all ages at Air Assault School and Airborne, as long as you meet the physical requirement and per-requisites.....Soldier On! HOOAH!

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2014 7:06 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 19:06:42 -0400

I was told I was too short for Air Assault. I had a lot of people tell me I won't make it. I might not have been as strong, fast or as tall as the rest but giving it my heart got me threw it. Air assault is no where as challenging as Ranger school but my point is if you have the heart to do it and give it all you got, will will have nothing holding you back.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2014 4:10 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 16:10:20 -0400

Not if you can make it. If you can take the training then you deserve to wear the tab.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2014 3:49 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 15:49:39 -0400

You will need a waiver and an over 40 Physical.
There are a few who went in their 40s.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 3:09 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 03:09:27 -0400

Hell no. I went through with a 40 year old Captain and a 1SG in my SQDN went through at 41. The oldest I've heard of was 46. If you can hack it physically, go for it.

The Captain who went through with me was a mule, by the way. That man could hump extra 7.62 link all day. By the time he finished he did look more like 60 though. Definitely took its toll.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2015 3:17 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 15:17:06 -0500

Heck NO Sir, but 24 is too young....

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Jan 12 at 2015 3:36 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 15:36:51 -0500

MSG Private RallyPoint Member Anything you believe you can do is possible, age and circumstance has no bearing. I was told this by my Commanding Officer at his change of command ceremony in Berlin, and when you read his story you will have no doubt you can achieve your goal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Shachnow
Steady on,
Steven

Sidney Shachnow - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sidney Shachnow is a Holocaust survivor who attained the rank of Major General in United States Army.[1] He retired in 1994, after 40 years of active service.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Jan 13 at 2015 12:45 AM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 00:45:36 -0500

HELL NO! Do it for us 'old guys'...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 3:02 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 03:02:34 -0500

MSG Private RallyPoint Member, 42 is certainly not too old to go through Ranger School. As a matter of fact, CPT Private RallyPoint Member went through last year at the age of 78. ;-)

Response by SPC Robert Lewis made Jan 13 at 2015 3:59 PM

SPC Robert Lewis — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:59:53 -0500

If they still meet and exceed the standard, are a beast, why not? Everyone ages differently, everyone has different experiences that played a toll on their body, different genetic makeups, I say let them try. Things like this, SF you name it would be a good way for the older members serving that can still walk the walk get the points they need to stay in and continue their career and avoid being pink slipped, a big problem with today's Army, is good leadership are getting handed the pink slip. I know many that are so close to MSG/1SG, and CSM its not funny, that have the points to get promoted but are not getting promoted because the Army for some reason is looking for older, more experienced leadership not as in experience of being in the military but older in age....

Response by CSM Richard Montcalm made Jan 13 at 2015 7:22 PM

CSM Richard Montcalm — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 19:22:06 -0500

No- CSM (later SMA) Glenn E. Morrell went through Ranger School at either 41 or 42. He did so to become the CSM of 1st Ranger Battalion in 1977.

Response by SGT Timothy Byrd made Jan 14 at 2015 2:16 PM

SGT Timothy Byrd — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:16:22 -0500

If you have what it takes physically & mentally than go for it.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 7:41 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 19:41:24 -0400

If you're in shape, you qualify, and meet the standard, go. The biggest thing is your desire to attend. I'm 48 as of the 19th of last month, but I don't desire to go, so I'm not going.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 8:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 20:29:46 -0400

if your in shape then go for it !!!

Response by SFC Nyla Newville made Jun 4 at 2015 8:56 PM

SFC Nyla Newville — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 20:56:02 -0400

It depends on the individual at 40 I still could do a lot of stuff and had a good PT score, it was when I hit 55 and I was over seas things started to go down hill after that the last years in was a struggle I screwed up my back some how that made things hard then I broke my wrist dropping a hatch on my self and in the last year I hurt my right shoulder which was fixed with a total replacement it was worn out, so shit happens fast some times. I am still messed up I guess that's the way it's gone a stay.

Response by MSG Nile Harris made Aug 28 at 2018 5:00 PM

MSG Nile Harris — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 17:00:21 -0400

I’d say no it’s not too old. As long as you can make it through the physical events for RAP week then you will very likely pass barring injury. Ranger school is not very difficult it’s just a grind. I went through as a SFC at 33 and I had a Ranger Buddy from division who was a 1SG at maybe 36/38 and we both made it through no problems... although once we graduated his CSM fired every E8 and below in the battalion who didn’t have a ranger tab