A hard lesson for you DEPs

[Earthpig]

This is a letter I received some time ago, from the parent of an Option 40 DEP. This individual (the DEP) worked extremely hard in the DEP program and had the potential to make it to a Ranger Bat. Unfortunately, he fell in with the majority of Option 40 DEPs, and established a set of bad habits that crushed his performance and drive. In the end, it cost him his chance at becoming a Ranger.

I feel like this young man will become a good soldier, as he has already realized that he made a huge mistake. He will still serve his country. Will he ever become a Ranger, though? The cards are stacked more against him now, than they were in the beginning. Only he can make that happen.....and then, it will only happen if he truly wants it more than anything else. Time will tell.

I have intentionally left the names out of this post. Here is the letter.

RLTW
EP

Ranger Earthpig,

I'm glad my son finally decided to check in with you. He made the classic error of being young, away from home for the first time, lots of cash and no brains...Hopefully he learned a lesson about responsiblity.

As you recall, he went to Benning strong and very fit. Did well through OSUT, but made the mistake of not doing enough extra PT on his own, even managed to gain some weight at the Chowhall "All You Can Eat Buffet". He felt that he was in much better shape than the others and did not need to worry about his diet or doing extra PT. I knew he might have a problem, when on a weekend pass I offered to go on a run with him and he refused saying "I'm off" and would not go.

He graduated OSUT and was placed in airborne hold, there he stopped doing PT unless told, and started eating McDonalds two or three meals daily and partying every night with his buddies. He did this for about four + weeks and managed to blow about $5000.00 and gain 20+ extra pounds. He also started smoking for some reason, which certainly did not help his PT.

Come PT test day he looked sloppy and blew it. He swears the Blackhats were trying to cut people and they failed him, even though he did well over the minimum, but realizes he fucked himself with his lack of regular PT and too much partying during holdover. He went overboard with his first taste of freedom and paid the price for it.

Luckily his new unit seems pretty high speed. He is doing PT daily and afterhours as well. He is very happy being an infantryman. He is also motivated and proud of his new unit.

Ironically...he was just one of the top scorers on his units last APFT...

[Joseph PrettyDeepWater]

Thanks for posting this letter for us DEPs to learn from Ranger EarthPig.


~Joseph

[rgrpuck]

Thanks for posting this letter for us DEPs to learn from Ranger EarthPig.


~Joseph

Ok brush your knees off and start reading again.

[Hoover]

Thanks for posting this letter for us DEPs to learn from Ranger EarthPig.


~Joseph

Read and then re-read that letter. That young man stepped on it big time.
Remember to stay focused and train while waiting to go to RIP.

Airborne PT is just a very small sample of what comes after that!


Joseph.....I want you to write a short essay explaining how this young man's actions differ (or not) from quitting out right.

I want you to tell me in you own words what you feel he should have been doing with his spare time and extra cash.

PM me with your essay.

[K.Ingraham]

Thanks for posting this letter for us DEPs to learn from Ranger EarthPig.


~Joseph

Ok brush your knees off and start reading again.

[Hoover]

OK, outstanding essay recieved...and Joseph is correct by saying in part that "the guy quit in his mind and really defeated himself". unquote.

Airborne hold is not a frat house and you are not there to drink beer.
You are there temporarily waiting to ship out to RIP and a wise man will remember that and always do all they can to get ready for that fateful day. Or else you really are just wasting your time, but then that's just my 2 cents worth.


And, that's a Killer avatar Ranger Puck!!!!!

[Black 6]

And, that's a Killer avatar Ranger Puck!!!!!

you aint liein i want one of those!




back on topic; the moral of the story is keep your eyes on the goal. i was lucky and was a holdover at the end of basic and airborne. but i was with other like minded joes that had the 11x contract with RIP acceptance letter. we ran our asses off. i even ran to the club and back during my off time. and i will tell you for all the running i did, RIP was a different story. you DEPs are lucky to have this information and all the Rangers that are willing to help you prepare but it ultimately falls on your shoulders to get the job done.

............... hell gore hadn't even invented the internet yet when i joined

[Rock Island Ranger]

............... hell gore hadn't even invented the internet yet when i joined

Internet???? Geez..... my first jump was out of a Conestoga Wagon.

[Vee]

A consta...

A coneg...

A constegona....

A what? :?

[Atrax]

Probably poor reading comprehension on my part but:
-Did he fail the Airborne PT test, or the PT test at RIP?
-What is meant by "they failed him, even though he did well over the minimum"?

[rgrpuck]

A consta...

A coneg...

A constegona....

A what? :?

A Wagon Vee....a Covered Wagon.

[KW Driver]

A consta...

A coneg...

A constegona....

A what? :?

A Wagon Vee....a Covered Wagon.

the origonal land yacht...

[Vee]

A consta...

A coneg...

A constegona....

A what? :?

A Wagon Vee....a Covered Wagon.

Don't laugh at me, bitch! Yer only 2 months older than me.

Stop actin like yer as ancient as the Pastor.




...knowin shit I don't know and shit.......

[ANGRYCivilian]

............... hell gore hadn't even invented the internet yet when i joined

Internet???? Geez..... my first jump was out of a Conestoga Wagon.

Ranger Agell9,

Was that to secure enough cow/horse chips to keep the fire goin'?