Introduction

[bowers]

Hello Rangers, Paratroopers, all other military personnel, and my fellow aspiring members. Thank you for allowing me the privelige to learn from you all. After several days on this page I believe I have learned more than any book or 99.9 percent of recruiters (I have met a few good ones). A little bit about myself, I'm currently 18 years of age residing in Southern Maryland. Since the age of 5 I have been intrigued by the the military both here and abroad and thus have researched various facets of such. At the age of 11 I joined the Civil Air Patrol and after many weeks of schooling and commitment became the leader of a Ground Search and Rescue team. This experience led to me becoming a volunteer firefighter at the age of 16. When I earned my EMT certification I then began working as a "medic" for CAP activities and was given the nickname "Doc" from several members who are active duty military (a great honor in my opinion).
My desire to become a Ranger started awhile back and after talking to some 18Ds and Rangers at the Andrews AFB Open House I decided the best way to serve my country and further my medical training would be to serve as a Ranger Medic and maybe someday a SF Medical Sergeant. I am currently not in the DEP due to being overweight which I have started to work on fixing. I'm not in the greatest shape but mentally I am completely fixed on this goal and I will not quit. I again thank you for your time and look do look forward to learning as much as I can.

-Doc_Bowers

PS: I apoligize for my avatar but I couldn't find the "Newt" gallery and in effort to meet the criteria of having an avatar but not stepping out of bounds by using an avatar I have not earned, I hoped Old Glory would suffice until I can get that situation squared away.

[Spartan]

When I earned my EMT certification I then began working as a "medic" for CAP activities and was given the nickname "Doc" from several members who are active duty military (a great honor in my opinion).

When you become a military medic you can use the 'nickname' doc on this site.

[RTO]

Welcome to the site. Read much and post little while you are pushing away from the table and stepping up on the treadmill..... You should do just fine.

[bowers]

Roger that Ranger Spartan, I apoligize for overstepping my bounds. Ranger RTO, I'll get to work on that treadmill right away. I've also been using some of the calisthenics plans provided in the Army PT section of this site which have helped me improve.

-Bowers

[Ranger Bill]

Welcome and thank you for your interest in becoming an Army Ranger. Of course, you know that to lose weight your body must use more calories than it consumes. So it comes down to self discipline in your eating and exercise habits. You can do it if you want to. Be sure to read the posts in the Physical Fitness Forum on this site. There is a lot of information there that can be of benefit to you.

[Glass Cannon]

Welcome, PM inbound.

[Rock Island Ranger]

I am currently not in the DEP due to being overweight which I have started to work on fixing. I'm not in the greatest shape but mentally I am completely fixed on this goal and I will not quit.

Curious, Bowers and take this the way it was intended. If you are too overweight for the DEP program that would mean that....your fat. All that being said, it would also indicate that you have lived a pretty soft life, not really invested in your physical conditioning, eaten poorly, and let yourself degrade to a point where even a recruiter would deny you entrance. And for a recruiter to say no is landmark unless you raped the President's dog.

So while this sounds harsh, explain to me this all of a sudden "I can do" attidtude while your life doesnt necessarily reflect that. Make no mistake, Bowers...Vol. Firefighter, EMT....all good things and kudos to you but do you REALLY understand what you aspire to do? I mean, have you ever run so hard that you puked several times and then had to keep running? No hitting your knee's, no pity for your condition, noone saying nice things about "better luck next time". Just failure. Have you? Because you can hire a work out manager, and do all kinds of bullshit that will make you feel inspired and cool but I have to tell ya...this aint no mountain your climbing. A mountain wont make you keep moving. This is a very unforgiving environment where excuses are ignored and failure is common. IN short young man, all the CAP certificates, fire training and EMT courses wont add up to a pile the size of a gnats ass and trust me when I say....noone will give a damn if you fail. You need to get off your fat ass and do it hard, fast, and for a long time because if you dont......you WILL fail.

[bowers]

Ranger Abell9, PM imbound.

[Rock Island Ranger]

No more PM's stud...just prove me wrong.

[Sleepy Doc]

Damn!.. every day I'm am more impressed by the Pastor..

Son, take his words to heart for he brings up excellent points. For a recruiter to say your "No", especially when the country/military is in a war footing speaks volumes.

When I went through basic trainig at Ft Bliss there was one dude in my platoon who was visibly, undeniably overweight; "Candyman". (not because of eating habits, but a play on his last name. He was from the Phillipines..)
Because of his weight, he got extra special love from the cadre; they fucked with him at every opportunity.. and fucked with him hard!!. Because he "no speaka engles so good.." made things even worse. We all felt really bad because he was getting what today would be considered clear-cut troop abuse, and NCO's would be fired for it.

Candyman, however had a different agenda. He was considerably older than the rest of the privates (32) and had a family back in the Phillipines. Nine kids, to be exact.. and I think some ancillary in-laws if I recall. he said in no uncertain terms that his back was against a wall, he was doing this for his family, and if not they would starve. He sent every single dollar he earned back home, and this is when an E-1 made just over $700 a month. Once he got his first duty assignment he was gonna send for his family to join him, but until then his only contact was through letters. (phone too expensive and no internet back then..) Not only did he take everything they threw at him, and then some.. but also he lost a ton of weight and was born again lean and mean. He won "Most Improved Soldier" of the cycle handily, and in the end the respect and admiration of everyone in the company from the CO on down.

My point is this; the nickname "Doc" is one that is earned not given. As hard as the joes have it, a medic has it even harder. You work longer hours, carry more weight, and are expected to be completely selfless in your duties. You get up earlier, and go to bed later. Believe me, there are medics out there who are not called "Doc", and their own people will have nothing to do with them. The way you show that you are deserving is by being like my braddah, Candyman.

As far as the weight, exercise won't do it alone. You also have to watch what you eat and make better choices.

I think what the Pastor was trying to say is; It's up to you, and you alone. No one will care if you fail. Now, go and get it.

[Sleepy Doc]

Oh yeah, good luck and welcome, too!..

[Steadfast]

Wow bowers, both Rangers; Abell9 & The Sleepy Doc gave you advice you can't get off the street. You're lucky coming here and receiving the truth from men that know.

Welcome. There is much for you to do to measure up.

[Copperhead]

Welcome Bowers,

PM imbound.

-Caleb

[Earthpig]

Welcome to the site.

RLTW
EP