I just wanted to let the ArmyRanger.com community know that I’ll be starting RIP on Monday. I graduated from Charlie Co. a week ago. Airborne School was alright. As others have stated, the PT is rather easy. I found myself getting bored on the runs as opposed to feeling tired (many others expressed the same sentiments). The actual training was a different story as I felt rather beat up after ground week. I somehow banged up my shoulder and elbow during tower week. Jump week was a blast, with the exception of waiting in the harness shed for hours.
The anticipation of the first jump was so high. But when it came time to hook up I was able to clear my mind and relied on the many repetitions we conducted in the mock doors. So I mechanically shuffled forward, handed off my static line to the safety, turned ninety degrees and went out the door. When I made that turn it was as if I was jumping into a painting. The feeling I got when I exited was that of weightlessness. I felt like I was floating. It sure didn't feel like I was dropping at about 100 feet per second. It was really quiet too. The cargo hold of the plane gets really loud, as most of you know, with the four props turning and the wind rushing through the open doors. Once you hit the door it gets quiet. This lasts only a couple seconds as the chute begins to deploy. The chute opened really softly for me. I didn't feel a sharp jerk at all which everyone else said they felt ("chute shock"). I'm not sure exactly why I didn't. At this point I felt immense relief. I was dropped over the trees on the far end of the DZ. So I spent most of my descent slipping toward the DZ and fortunately landed in some nice soft grass.
After making that first jump I was golden and couldn’t wait to make my final four jumps. I did have a rough landing on my second jump. The wind died when I was about 25 feet off the ground and I went straight down and did a feet to butt landing. My knee didn’t like that very much. I tried to do a side PLF but there wasn’t enough momentum. When I am falling straight down should I try and do a front PLF? All the rest of my landings were nice and soft (ant hills are particularly soft, but the inhabitants left their mark on my fifth jump).
We were picked up for RIP on Monday. I don’t think they do the run to the RTD with all your bags like they did in the past. We merely put our bags in the back of a truck and walked there (the previous pickup did run from what they tell me). The PT test went well. I didn’t score very high choosing to go slow and steady and make my reps count. My grader was extremely fair only omitting one of my pushups, which was warranted. The run was on the mile long dirt track in front of building four. It is a fairly slow track but I was able to run it in the low 13 minute range. For the pull-ups my grader only allowed us to do six and dismount, so I did mine and dismounted. Like others have said before, those were the six easiest pull-ups I have ever done. I think it because I had so much adrenalin running through me. I think about 110 people took the test with a little over 30 failing. Most scored high enough to retest.
So our class started with 78 on Thursday morning with a few VW’s happening by noon. During the Ranger Standards briefing the Sergeant giving the briefing said that no-one would be allowed to quit after Monday. The recycles said that he didn’t say that to the last class. Also, infantrymen are getting a $3,000 bonus for finishing RIP. Put two and two together I think it is safe to say that the private network is way off. All I heard during Airborne hold was that the Battalions were overmanned, particularly with 11 Bravos, and the Cadre were dropping them left and right. I’ve been in the Army for six months now and have learned this: the private network is wrong at lest 90% of the time. So you guys in OSUT, Airborne hold, and Airborne School don’t listen to the retards around you. PT your ass off at night even though your body aches from details or doing 40 PLF’s during training. Stay motivated and you’ll be just fine on the PT test.
Anyway, I’ll let you all know how RIP goes. Till then.
- Geek
Let the Indoctrination begin!
In fact, don't be any kind of quitter. Good luck.
Aside from sounding like your preparing to write a fuckin novel when you get out (or even while you're still in) follow Tenn-RGR's advise.
My advise is that you Quit your snivellin about the bumps and bruises you "THINK" you got during Airborne School.
The key is that you passed your PT test, hopefully you'll pass the others that are soon to come.
Good luck kid.
My advise is that you Quit your snivellin about the bumps and bruises you "THINK" you got during Airborne School.
The key is that you passed your PT test, hopefully you'll pass the others that are soon to come.
Good luck kid.
1984 - 1985 5th Inf Div
1985 - 1986 75th Inf Ranger Regt
1986 - 1988 3/12 SFG (ABN)
The strength of the pack is the Wolf... and the strength of the Wolf is the pack...
1985 - 1986 75th Inf Ranger Regt
1986 - 1988 3/12 SFG (ABN)
The strength of the pack is the Wolf... and the strength of the Wolf is the pack...
,
Good luck! Stay motivated, focused and tough.
Eat this shit up Airborne!
Eat this shit up Airborne!
RS Class 5-82
French Commando 11-83
LRSLC Class 5-87
U.S. Army 1980-1984 and 1987-1990
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“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
George S. Patton
French Commando 11-83
LRSLC Class 5-87
U.S. Army 1980-1984 and 1987-1990
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“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
George S. Patton