What are my options now?

[jrbaker81]

First I would like thank you Rangers for any advice you can give me and please forgive me if I missed anything anywhere relating to this topic. I will do whatever it takes to correct my faults and do whatever it takes to become a Ranger.

I already signed my contract and have my ship date, which is 20110105. I did not obtain the coveted Option 40 in my contract nor the Airborne option. So, basically what I have is an 11X contract. I do not have any issues with serving my country as an Infantryman if that is my only option and will do my best to make those who served before me proud. I am 4th generation Army, amongst the other branches of service in my family. So, the Military is no stranger to me and my brother is an MP in the 571st at Ft.Lewis. I would really like to know what my options are in obtaining a spot at RIP and eventually Ranger School. I did notice in the FAQ that I should attempt to renegotiate the contract, and am wondering how to properly go about this. I tried going to another Recruiter before I signed my contract because of issues at my Recruitment Office. I even really wish I would have found this forum before I signed my contract, but what is done is done now and I have to live with those consequences.

A few things in my back story that I feel maybe vital bits of information to your help.

1. I have a DUI on my record as well as many other traffic tickets.
2. My credit report looks almost as bad as my driving record.
3. I had to get a medical waiver for a broken hand.
4. I have waivers for exposed tattoos, i.e. one hand tattoo and one on the back of my neck.

I own my mistakes and will and am paying for them. I, also, understand that at 29 years old I should be way farther in life than I am now but I'm not just enlisting because of my needs but it is something I want to do. A friend of the family heard of my hopes to enlist and told me that Ranger School would be one of the best things I ever did if I went that way but said it would be one of the hardest things I ever did. I looked into it, watched a documentary and said to myself that I wanted the challenge and would do whatever it took to get there. I have fought tooth and nail for the wrong reasons in life and want nothing more than to serve my country and fight for the right reasons. I, also, want to be a part of a Battalion and not just Qualified. I really am being honest here and am super thankful and happy for any advice you guys can give me.

Thanks again, Rangers.

Future Soldier Baker.

[IEDmagnet]

I don't want to overstep my bounds, as you specifically asked the Rangers, but I'd say the first two of those problems are going to stop any chance of a security clearance for a while. That is the number one problem.

[Dan B 3/75]

Your options as it stand now imo are as follows:

1. Attempt to redo your contract.

2. Volunteer for Regiment in basic.

3. Serve out your initial contract with honor and volunteer as a re-up option.

Bottom line, there is no fast and sure route to a RASP slot with your current situation.

Regardless, it is an honorable thing to volunteer for service to your country in a time of war. FULFILL your contract honorably and know that there is NOTHING you can not achieve in service that you desire with motivation, hard work, and time.

Good luck to you lad.

[RANGER513]

Your options as it stand now imo are as follows:

1. Attempt to redo your contract.

2. Volunteer for Regiment in basic.

3. Serve out your initial contract with honor and volunteer as a re-up option.

Bottom line, there is no fast and sure route to a RASP slot with your current situation.

Regardless, it is an honorable thing to volunteer for service to your country in a time of war. FULFILL your contract honorably and know that there is NOTHING you can not achieve in service that you desire with motivation, hard work, and time.

Good luck to you lad.

Damn good advice right there.

You have obviously made some poor decisions in your past, Wildman, but from the sounds of it, you are now taking correct steps to improve your life, and your future. GOOD JOB !

If you truely desire to serve in a Ranger Battalion and the fire is in your heart, then one and ONLY one thing in your life will detour you from making it to a Ranger Battalion....and that ONE thing is YOU. If you want it, go get it.....and most important: NEVER QUIT !!

[goon175]

I would say your best shot is volunteering in OSUT, if you can't get an airborne contract thrown on before you leave.

[K.Ingraham]

An active duty recruiter posted the latest Opt-40 memo a few weeks ago. No waivers for moral reasons, period and med waivers are few and far between. You aren't going to RASP via MEPS.

With your chequered history, you need to prove the reformed self. So, your option is to do the very best that you can in everything the army has for you, improve your PT because you aren't getting any younger, pay off your debts (bad credit means you are a security risk) and establish a track record of excellence. It might take a few years, but you are the master of your fate, long term. Take the long view and to quote an old hackneyed cliche: the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

It is slightly possible for your performance at OSUT to earn you a shot at airborne and RASP, but don't count on it. The "big army" needs good soldiers too, make sure you are one of them. As I see it, that's your only route to Regiment.

[jrbaker81]

Thank you to IEDmagnet, Ranger Dan B 3/57, Ranger Ranger513, Ranger goon175 and Ranger K.Ingraham. I promise you guys this. I will adapt and overcome my current obstacles. I will not accept my fate as is. I will put in the work it takes to complete my goals and will go above and beyond what is asked of me. I want to be a Ranger and will do whatever it takes to become apart of the elite brotherhood called Rangers.

From what I understand from Ranger K.Ingraham's post, my options are to fix what I have broken with my credit and always go above and beyond what is required of me and prove I am worthy. It will at the longest take me a year to fix my credit. I have money coming from a settlement from a car accident I was in that killed my mother when I was a five years old. So my credit will be fixed soon enough, Army or not. I guess my next plan of attack would be to ask how long will all of this haunt me? Will it last my entire first enlistment? Or will I have a shot at RASP during my first enlistment? Also, I know I will need Airborne, will my current situation affect that as well? Or can I go ahead and attend that school providing that I can secure a slot?

Thanks again and it means a lot to me personally that you guys are willing to take the time to fill me in and give me the time of day to answer my questions.

[Ranger Bill]

Okay, you don't qualify for Option 40 at this time. So get Otion 4. That gets you part of the way there.

[IEDmagnet]

Thanks again and it means a lot to me personally that you guys are willing to take the time to fill me in and give me the time of day to answer my questions.

High Speed, we are all at least part human. We've all made mistakes, mine cost me the priveledge of being called Ranger. My point being a man that learns from his mistakes, and makes himself better from them is a well rounded man in my book. You are willing to take up arms in the defense of our wonderful nation....and that is another plus.

Just listen to the Rangers and other vets on here, gather some wisdom, and get a rock hard gut. At least you are already aware that the "rose colored glasses" 99% of the civilians look through are shit . It's what you do with that knowledge....