Former Marine Future Soldier

[Ron Burgundy]

Hello Rangers, Veterans, Dep'ers, et al,

I am a former Marine looking to reenlist and continue to serve. I have been out for 8 years.
I signed up with the Marine Corps to be in Security Forces, even have it to this day written in my SRB, somehow the they must have decided I would rather be a Radar Repairman. I love the Marine Corps but I hated my job. I was not allowed to lat move to another job so I got out.

I was able to take the training and experience and use it to get good civilian jobs but I have been missing something ever since getting out. I have many tattoos and so I can't go back into the Marine Corps because they have changed their policy. I am fairly certain I would be forced to go back into Radar if I could go back, anyway.

Which leads me to the Army. I don't know a lot about the Army but I have been trying to find out as much as I can. I did not like being in the Air Wing as they are a different breed then what I was looking for. There were still many Marines that were hard chargers but there was also a great many that didn't seem to want to be there. I am looking to become a part of something where everyone not only wants to be there but is honored and privileged to be there and they have proven so.

Naturally, the US Army Rangers comes to mind. I don't know if I have what it takes but I do not quit and I know how to prepare and train like a MF'er.

I have read some posts here that prior service either don't get Ranger option or they need an act of God. The recruiter that I talked to is saying to just sign up for whatever and I can switch jobs easily later. I don't believe that for one second. I am not signing up unless I get what I want but I do have a question about changing jobs. Is it possible/likely to be able to switch jobs at some point?

I also am interested in two other jobs, Cav Scout and MP. I don't know anyone from either job so it is hard for me to learn the real deal on what it is like.

I apologize for the long intro. I have lots of questions but I will continue to try the search feature to answer them. Thanks for allowing me here and thank you all for your service and sacrifice.

[Steadfast]

Welcome Marine to this site.

I have noticed recently many veterans of different branches (other than Army & including Army) getting opt 40's. I'm sure if you look (in intro) over this past month (& March too) you will find more than 1 that got opt 40.

[Ron Burgundy]

Thank you, Ranger Steadfast.

I should have included this in the intro but is it better to go to MEPs Oct 1 so as to have all options available? Thank you.

[Steadfast]

Thank you, Ranger Steadfast.

From our FAQ's: http://forum.armyranger.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=1842
excerpt:

Other Veterans, Active-duty and Ranger Parents:
-------------------------------------------------

If you are a Ranger's wife or non-Veteran parent you are expected to address all Rangers on this site in the form of 'Ranger Username'.

excerpt:Veterans of the Armed Forces, US and Foreign you have our respect and thanks for serving and are not required to do so.

You do not have to preface my name with Ranger - only those Ranger's that have Ranger in their names such as RangerRon or Ranger Bill.

We thank you for your service Marine.

[smokn38]

Welcome

[garyedolan]

Semper Fi & thank you for your service, Youngster!

[Ron Burgundy]

OOH-Rah, Steadfast, I think I am squared away now. I will just reread the rules a few more times to be sure. LOL

Thank you Smokin38 and Garyedolan.
Garyedolan, I thought the youngster part was funny until I saw the time frame you served, we would call that the "Old" Corps, not sure if you guys have a term for hardcore old school Army, probably just Bad Ass.

[K.Ingraham]

Your use of "jobs" is rather vague. Pick an MOS that you would do anywhere in the Army, but is also one required by our regiment.
https://www.benning.army.mil/75thranger/htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Somewhere in there is a list of MOSs in the 75th. Check it out.
Since you were radar, you have a brain and important skills. Try the signal repairman type MOSs. Everyone in the 75th trains in the "shoot 'em up stuff", some more than others, but in this regiment, there are no easy slots, except in comparison to elsewhere in the Regiment. (that being said - stay the hell out of the kitchen!!)
If you want to be close to the fight every day but want to keep the grey matter ticking, more medics are always required. Men who can meet the mental AND physical requirements of being a medic in a Ranger Battalion at war are few.
Are you one of them?

[boscounderfoot]

Welcome Marine! I can't tell you enough how important it is to stick to your guns when it comes to the recruiter. I made the mistake of listening to my recruiter tell me that I could transfer to the Rangers once I got to my unit. WRONG!!!! As you found out in the Corp, laterally transferring, or in my case "upgrading" was a NO-GO. Your unit commander will have to authorize the transfer and if you are a squared away soldier, there is no way that he is going to allow that to happen. I had to make the best of my first enlistment in a leg unit as an infantry scout but I busted my ass and did get Airborne and Ranger school completed before reenlisting and moving to 1/75. Don't let them stonewall you and tell you it can't be done. If you really want the option 40, go for it and tell them that is all you will accept!! If that recruiter is unwilling to help, go see another one! But DO NOT sign anything without that option 40 on the contract, even if they tell you that it can be changed at MEPS.

[Ron Burgundy]

Thank you, K.Ingraham, I will search through the mos list. I was thinking infantry but I hadn't given too much thought towards the other mos's available to Ranger Regiment. For some reason Cav Scout and MP also interest me . I would still want to go to Airborne School and Ranger School. I have been to talk to the recruiter but I am 6 months from being where I need to be to go to MEPs and ship so I am trying to get all the info to make a solid decision. I am a bodybuilder and while I look in shape I am not...yet.

boscounderfoot, thanks for the welcome and for the info. You have confirmed what I thought. I know from my own experiences but I am glad you shared your experience.

[boscounderfoot]

Hey Marine, I'm very impressed with the high level of humility you are showing here. That will prove to be a very positive thing in your favor if you make it to Regiment. As for your conditioning, I seriously doubt that you are in bad shape. Because you have the intestinal fortitude to succeed in bodybuilding, the transition to a more cardiovascular and endurance training regimine should not be that difficult for you. And the fact that you are a prior service Marine who knows the meaning of hard work, that will go a long way too.
I wouldn't totally abandon the weight training, but I would ask you to start swimming and running as well. With anything new, start slowly and let your body grow accustomed to the new training. Swimming is super low impact and offers the best bang for your buck as far as endurance. Running is a staple in Regiment so I can't stress the importance of being able to complete 5 miles in 35-40 minutes. I would also tell you to start road marching and be able to complete 12 miles in 3 hours with a 35lb ruck. If you need any help, or have any questions, I am here to help you.
If you really want this, it is going to require a lot of hard work and sacrifice on your part but the reward will be the honor of being a team member in the best military organization in the world!!

[Ron Burgundy]

Hey Marine, I'm very impressed with the high level of humility you are showing here. That will prove to be a very positive thing in your favor if you make it to Regiment. As for your conditioning, I seriously doubt that you are in bad shape. Because you have the intestinal fortitude to succeed in bodybuilding, the transition to a more cardiovascular and endurance training regimine should not be that difficult for you. And the fact that you are a prior service Marine who knows the meaning of hard work, that will go a long way too.
I wouldn't totally abandon the weight training, but I would ask you to start swimming and running as well. With anything new, start slowly and let your body grow accustomed to the new training. Swimming is super low impact and offers the best bang for your buck as far as endurance. Running is a staple in Regiment so I can't stress the importance of being able to complete 5 miles in 35-40 minutes. I would also tell you to start road marching and be able to complete 12 miles in 3 hours with a 35lb ruck. If you need any help, or have any questions, I am here to help you.
If you really want this, it is going to require a lot of hard work and sacrifice on your part but the reward will be the honor of being a team member in the best military organization in the world!!

Thanks for the kind words and advice. I am onboard with what you have suggested. I used to run my tail off and it is a matter of getting back into it. I have planned out a pretty decent path to getting back into endurance and fitness. I do love bodybuilding so I will always lift weights just have to focus more on strength and endurance rather than mass. I really appreciate the help. I am doing and working on each thing you have hit upon but it is in the early stages. I also plan on learning as much from this site and all those that have been there as I can so I will have the best shot of making it. I know I will do my best and never quit. I am also planning on trying to learn a little Arabic, of course I won't be fluent but I wouldn't mind knowing a little. I am a firm believer that I can accomplish anything I set to and while there are things to slow my progress, there is nothing that can stop me.

[Ron Burgundy]

JLTW, I agree with both of your statements. Not to slam either MP's or Cav Scouts but I have done more searching and while I think they are both valuable and important, they don't seem to be what I am seeking. I guarantee that they have some hardchargers there but I would rather not be the big fish in a small pond, meaning it's easy to stand out when you are surrounded by mediocrity. I hope I have not offended any service members. I have the highest respect for all that have served.


Thank you, TC204. This site seems to have representation of all the services. That's good to see.