Introduction - Kraddy

[Kraddy]

Greetings Rangers, Vets, and Ranger families.

My name is Ian and I'm 19 years old. I am from central New York. Last week I paid a visit to my local recruiting office and went through with my decision to become a soldier in the Army. It's been something I've been considering since well before I graduated from high school, and after 2 years of pissing my life away at community college, I've decided to take the leap. My decision to become a Ranger is one that lies in my disappointment with my life thus far, I have always been an underachiever and it's time to turn my life around and be the best, because I know that I can if I put my mind to it.
I walked in and told the recruiter that I was interested in an 11x contract with Option 40. He was surprised at my knowledge, as I've done a decent amount of research into the recruitment process and the steps one must take to become a Ranger. I took my ASVAB on Wednesday and scored a 93. As soon as I finished the test, my recruiters were on the phone with each other and managed to reserve an 11x Opt 40 contract for me. I go to MEPS on Monday for my physical. Should everything go as planned, I will be shipping on January 24th and starting OSUT on February 4th.

My PT scores (these were not timed meticulously, so they could be a bit off)
Push ups: 42
Pull ups: 17
Sit ups: 87
2 Mile: 18 Minutes

I know that my PT could use some work, but I have 6 months to get up to speed with it. I do 3 sets of max reps pull/push/sit-ups and run 3.5 miles 5 or 6 days a week. Some days I go to the YMCA and swim laps as well. I also just quit smoking last week cold turkey after smoking about half a pack a day for 3 years, so I'm sure that will continue to make things easier as my time smoke free goes on and my lung capacity recovers.

Thank you all for creating these forums, as I have been reading them for quite a while and the information here has been invaluable to me in my PT as well as in the recruitment process.

[Ranger Ron]

Welcome to ArmyRanger.com and thanks for your interest in serving our great country as an Army Ranger. Please read and heed the ROE document I just sent you by PM (Private Message)

[al_2ndWolfhounds]

Welcome and thank you for your desire to serve. Keep us posted on your progress.

[Jim]

Well, Ian, a man has only one opportunity to create a favorable initial impression. You did not waste yours. If you want to earn a place in the 75th Ranger Regiment, you came to the right site. You do need to work on your PT, and now I'm going to give you your initial task: Please tell me why you think you want to be a Ranger. Provide your response on this thread not later than midnight, Sunday, 25 July 2010. Never, never quit!

[Kraddy]

Ranger Jim,

My choice to serve in the Army is one that I have considered for a long time, since I was a young boy I always aspired be like my father, who is in the Army Reserves. Once I got older, due to outside influences in my life among other factors, I decided I'd go the route in life that you're "supposed to". Go to college, get a job, get married, get a better job to buy a better house, so on and so forth until retirement. I don't want to look back on my life and wonder where I went wrong, wonder what could have been if I had pursued my own goals instead of doing what other people said I should.

My selection to become a Ranger is, as I mentioned, one that's rooted in my disappointment with my life thus far and desire to turn it around. For once, I want to be the best. I want to apply myself entirely and feel good about what I've gained from that. I want to push my body and mind to their limits. I have no delusions of combat glory or heroism, I simply want the opportunity to serve my country alongside people who have proven themselves able, strong, and motivated. I want to be a part of the brotherhood that is the United States Army Rangers.

[Ranger Bill]

Welcome. Your desire to serve our country as an Army Ranger is appreciated. Now get to work on your push-ups and running.

[Jim]

Ranger Jim,
I want to push my body and mind to their limits. I have no delusions of combat glory or heroism, I simply want the opportunity to serve my country alongside people who have proven themselves able, strong, and motivated. I want to be a part of the brotherhood that is the United States Army Rangers.

Ian,
I could not have said it better. Sounds like something I would have said if I were more articulate. Never, never quit!

[Kraddy]

Back from MEPS and all squared away. Sworn in and have all of my paperwork sorted out. I did get a bit of hard time about my body weight (116 lbs at 5'10") but Doc says I'm fine, just not to lose anything, shouldn't be an issue. Quitting smoking combined with eating right and working out should help to get me up to a decent weight by my ship date.
Now that the easy and boring part's taken care of, time for 6 months of PT.

[Kraddy]

I neglected to mention that on 20100727 I signed a 4yr 19wk 1X with option 40 contract and am officially a Future Soldier. Shipping 20110124 to Ft. Benning.