Introduction

[Jim]

Joel, Please keep us updated on your progress. Don't injure yourself. Never, never quit!

[J031]

Roger, Ranger Jim. I will have a task list update and PT update in on the 15th. I plan on doing my poncho hooch either Friday or Saturday night this weekend and will include that in my task list update. I will do everything within my power to remain uninjured.

[Jim]

Roger, Ranger Jim. I will have a task list update and PT update in on the 15th. I plan on doing my poncho hooch either Friday or Saturday night this weekend and will include that in my task list update. I will do everything within my power to remain uninjured.

Excellent. Look forward to your next SITREP. Never, never quit!

[J031]

Ranger Jim, due to the weather this past weekend and being involved in a hit and run accident with a friend I was unable to complete my poncho hooch task item this weekend. We were on the receiving end of the collision, but we are both fine. I will knock out 50 push-ups for not completing a task I told y'all to expect by today. I will have that task completed as fast as I can get it done.

SITREP 20170315

Yesterday all of the recruiting centers from around South Carolina came to Fort Jackson to take part in a mass swearing in ceremony. Though I've already sworn in, as had every other future soldier in attendance, it was a great experience. Major General John "Pete" Johnson opened up the ceremony with a speech about the commitment needed to pass basic training before walking to shake every recruits hand and congratulate them on joining the army. While the speech was intimidating to the other recruits as evidenced by their reactions afterward, for me the speech served as a reminder of the long road ahead and the hard work that I MUST put in to be successful on the path I've chosen for myself. As I've picked up tips from the future soldier training and from my mentors outside of the site the Ranger Handbook has began to look less like Greek as it did the first time I opened it up and more like the guidebook it was intended to be, informative and helpful.

PT Update 20170315

Graded on 20170313 by the future soldier leader at my recruiting center.
Push-Ups: 81
Sit-Ups: 87
Pull-Ups: 19
2-Mile Run: 11:26

I got a new PR on my 2-mile which is great, but I know I can improve my other numbers as well. In the past couple weeks I've seriously started to implement pull-ups into my workout routine and today it showed. In weightlifting today we had a pull-up challenge after class and I got 31 good reps before attempting about 10 more where I couldn't get my chin above the bar for anything. I know my numbers will be different during a PT test, but before today I would max out around the 25th rep. Progress.

[Jim]

Joel, great SITREP. Keep working on your task-list. Never, never quit!

[J031]

Roger, Ranger Jim. My next Task-List update will be posted on the first of April along with my SITREP and PT updates.

[J031]

SITREP 20170401

For the last week I've been mostly holed up in my house with the some illness, which from what I've gathered looking on the internet is most likely mono or the flu, but I was able to get out yesterday afternoon and run up to the recruiting office where they were holding a meet and greet with one of the Command Sergeant Majors from Ft. Jackson. After I see the doctor later today I'll have a task list update ready. Since I started following my new ruck improvement plan my times have dropped considerably with my last ruck last Thursday being finished in 2 hours 24 minutes. In terms of pacing myself I seem to do best by keeping a steady pace the whole time instead of running the first 6-7 miles as some of the mentees who are either in or have passed RASP have said to do. If y'all have any suggestions for how to improve my time from a pacing standpoint I'd greatly appreciate any input. Next weekend is looking like when I'll finally be able to complete the poncho hooch task.

Ranger Jim, I know you've already told LionsDen, but I would like to point out how good of a job he's been doing as the DEP in charge. We've got a pretty big group of mentees to control and he's constantly keeping the pressure on us to meet deadlines for updates. The mentee group message seems to be one of the key factors in the DEPIC being able to communicate with us. Whenever Andrew ships out I would highly advise the new DEPIC to set one up to keep the other mentees accountable. The deadlines on the 1st and 15th are also helpful not only with giving us a specific timeframe to have our updates in by, but also from having the five mentees thread becoming too crowded.

PT Update 20170401
This PT test is from 20170322 and was graded by the future soldier/DEP lead recruiter. I know y'all would rather have a more recent score, but with me not testing this past Wednesday this is the most recent score I have.

Push-Ups: 84
Sit-Ups: 86
Pull-Ups: 23
2-Mile Run: 11:39

[Jim]

Joel, good SITREP and great PT scores. Take the time to heal. Never, never quit!

[J031]

Ranger Jim, tonight I'm doing my poncho hooch and I'll have an update in by tomorrow which will conclude my task list.

[Disinfertention]

Ranger Jim, tonight I'm doing my poncho hooch and I'll have an update in by tomorrow which will conclude my task list.

I hope it rains

[J031]

Ranger Disinfertention, sadly it did not rain. Blue bird weather.

[J031]

Rangers, I apologize for missing the dates of the PT update and SITREP. On the 10th I left to go camping on an island in Lake Murray with my uncle an hour away from my house. Needless to say I was not able to access a computer during that time. I will still be sure to knock out 100+1 push-ups for missing a known deadline.

SITREP 20170416

One of my mentors from off the site heard that an SOF unit was somewhere nearby on training and one of the role players for the training got hurt, I got offered to play the role of a guerrilla fighter for sixteen days for $3500. This sounded like a dream come true; get a sneak peak into the life and training of an SOF unit, and get paid an ungodly amount of money for 2 weeks worth of work (ungodly to an 18 yer old at least). In the end I wasn't able to take the job because of school coming back in tomorrow and their preference for someone with actual experience in a military environment. I was bummed I didn't get the job, but this was a serious reminder of how close I am to realizing my dream of becoming a Ranger. If these next five weeks are anything like the first 31 weeks of school I will soon be spending every ounce of my energy preparing instead of wasting what seems to be endless hours on school assignments.

PT Update 20170416

Push-Ups: 76
Sit-Ups: 72
2-Mile Run: 12:23
Pull-Ups: 11

My numbers are atrocious compared to what I had been putting up before I got the flu. I don't want to use that as an excuse, but merely to point out the reason for me not working out for almost two weeks which is the reason for my numbers falling so much. When I put back on the weight I lost from the flu and get back on a regular workout schedule I expect my numbers to bounce back and improve.

[Disinfertention]

Good update Joel. Great PT numbers post flu. Never be satisfied and keep working for your goals.

[Grim666]

Any illness will knock you backwards. You just have to work up to it again. Make sure you hydrate. With the setbacks what sets you apart is how you chose to move past them.

[J031]

Roger, Ranger Disinfertention and Ranger Grim666.

Ranger Grim666, it's absolutely infuriating not having my body where my minds knows it can go. I know for a fact I can do more push-ups, so when I fail to rep out more at 76 it drives me insane.

That being said I will work to get my numbers up to where they were again, and I will then work to improve them even more.