Introduction- Hop

[Hopkins]

Rangers,
My name is Tim, I turned 17 on 20091012 and the next day I met my recruiter. He was a former Ranger in the 1/75, and couldn't have been a bigger help at all. I have always had a strong desire to be a Ranger, and have been put through challenges my entire life. My dad was in Pararescue for 20 years and has never ceased to push me. I went to MEPS and was offered an Option 4 due to lack of Option 40 spots. I politely refused and walked out. The next night I received a call that a 40 Option was reserved next to my name, I signed it the next day. I am enrolled in a JROTC program in my high school and I have been urged to do ROTC or West Point for the past four years. I took their advice to heart, but did not want to roll the dice as an officer and end up in transportation or logistics. I leave 20100727 for Fort Benning, Georgia. I've never been so excited in my life. I would like to thank you all in advance for reading this and for any advice that may come my way in the next six months.

[Nomad]

Good intro and a good choice.

Welcome to ArmyRanger.com!

[McD]

Welcome.... This is a Great Country and worth serving... Good on you.

[al_2ndWolfhounds]

Congratulations on your Option 40 Contract. You have six months to prepare yourself; use this site extensively to be very ready for the challenges you will face.

Always give your best effort and never quite.

[Jim]

Tim, a man has only one opportunity to make afavorable initial impression. So far you are doing well. Please conduct a self-administered PT test and post the results on this thread NLT midnight, Sunday, 24 January 2010. In addition, please tell us more about why you want to earn a place in the 75th Ranger Regiment. Never, never quit!

[Ranger Bill]

Welcome and congratulations for enlisting for the opportunity to become an Army Ranger. It's amazing, we must have four or five Future Soldiers on this site with the same ship date. Be sure to read and heed the ROE PM I have sent you.

[Hopkins]

Jim,
My push-ups (2 min.) = 78
My sit-ups (2 min.)= 79
2 mile run= 12:45

One of my army instructors at my high school (former 82nd Airborne) gave me an eight week workout plan which, by the end, will increase my push ups to atleast 100, along with my sit ups. It should decrease my run time to sub-12 minutes as well. It is a reach right now, but I will achieve these results.

Why do I want to join the Rangers?
I don't want be a businessman, and ever since I was real young I have wanted to "get the bad guys." I figured, if I'm going to go in the Army, might as well be with the best. I have grown up around "operators" my whole life and there is no other type of people I'd rather emulate. I started getting serious about my research and training my sophomore and junior year of high school. Since then, I have yet to have a passion so strong, or to be locked on to anything else, besides getting my Ranger Scroll.

[Jim]

OK response. You have lots of time to work on improving your level of fitness. Do you live in New York City? If so, where?

[Hopkins]

Yes, Ranger Jim, I live in Manhattan in Stuyvesant Town (Gramercy/ Lower East Side).

[Jim]

Yes, Ranger Jim, I live in Manhattan in Stuyvesant Town (Gramercy/ Lower East Side).

You learn a little more each time, Tim. That's a good thing. Now expand on this and tell us more about yourself. Sports? Boy Scouts? School? Never, never quit.

[Hopkins]

Well I've lived in New York City my whole life, I go to Xavier High School. Year after year, Xavier produces West Point/ Annapolis Cadets; I took a different path. I am a LT in the JROTC and a member of the "Raider" team (Physical Fitness Team). My goal is to win the "Ironman" award at the Raider Challenge in April.
I was brought up playing Judo, but when I got to high school I started Wrestling. Been wrestling for the past four years. I have attended two intensive wrestling camps (J Robinson 14 day, and J Robinson 28 day).
Though I live in the city, I love the mountains. My family has a house upstate and I love to hike. Over the summer, I flew out to Oregon to meet one of my dad's friends, John (former PJ). We climbed and peeked Mount Adams (12,287 ft) in Washington. As for boy scouts, I was a cub scout when I was real young, but that's where my boy scout career ends. Thanks again, Rangers.

[Hopkins]

Yes, my enlistment was a huge shock to my peers and Army Instructors from my JROTC program. My Senior Army Instructor is a West Point Graduate and was pushing me for West Point for the past four years. All of my Army Instructors suggested I do ROTC/an Academy. Most of them emphasized the salary differences of an officer. But, with this being said, none of my Army Instructors were Rangers, and I do not think they realize I am not doing it for the money.
Coming from NYC, one of the most liberal cities in the world, I often get the whole “Wow, you joined the Army? That’s stupid, you’re just gonna die” lines. But, I don’t even entertain these thoughts with a response because of their ignorance.
As for my family, my mom and sister never thought I would actually join the Army. When the time came my Mom was hesitant to sign the parental consent form considering I am underage, but I got her to sign it on Christmas. My Dad has been supportive since day one. He has put me in front of Rangers, Special Forces, and Pararescuemen my whole life. When he was going thru the Pararescue pipeline, there were not any officer positions. People would give up their commission to become a PJ and he emphasized that. Maybe one day I will try the officer route, but I refuse to roll the dice on something that I feel so passionate about.

[Jim]

So, Tim, another product of Jesuit education. That's a good thing. I have my MA from Georgetown. Do what is best for you. If you later decide you want to become an officer, it is something you may want to do.