Introduction- Luke

[68Wrunner]

Hello Rangers,
My name is Luke, I'm 18, and I enlisted in the PA National Guard as a medic about a month ago. A little bit of background, I come from a military family and have an Uncle who is a tabbed Ranger. I was accepted to West Point and was pressured by my parents to go, but I wanted to enlist so I resigned my appointment during CBT. I enlisted a couple months after I resigned and ship for basic training on March 8th. I hope to gain experience in the regular Army before I make any plans for a career. However, I have a great respect for Rangers and all members of Special Operations community and once I gain more experience I hope to join that community in some capacity. Although ever since I was a little kid I have always wanted to be a Ranger and no matter what I decide to do in the military I do want to attend (and hopefully graduate) Ranger School.

I mostly plan on reading and not posting while I'm here. If any Ranger or veteran has any advice it is always appreciated.

[Elguapo]

So you gave up West Point to join the Guard and be enlisted with the goal of going to an Army school that you would have a great chance of getting when you finished West Point?

[Jim]

Well, young man, a man has only one opportunity to make a favorable initial impression. So far, it looks like you are about to kick the old hornet's nest. Actually, as a medic in the 28th ID you will have lots of opportunity to deploy. So far, both 2d and 56th Brigades have been deployed to Iraq and 2d has recently been alerted for a second deployment. Where do you live? Have you already enrolled in college? Never, never quit!

[68Wrunner]

Ranger Elguapo I suppose the answer to your question would be yes. I decided that I did not want to become an officer, at least not yet. I can always get a degree paid for by the Army and go to OCS at a later date if I decide I want to go that route.

Ranger Jim I live near Harrisburg, PA and I have not enrolled in college yet. The reason I enlisted into the Guard for the unit that I did was for the likelihood of deployment that you were talking about. That is one reason I haven't enrolled in college yet, I was hoping to deploy and then decide if I want to go to college or switch to active duty. I can get the Guard to pay for all of my college depending on the college I go to but as soon as I accept money from them I'm locked into the Guard for another 6 years. So I didn't want to deploy and then decide that I want to go active duty but be locked into the Guard for however many more years.

[Jim]

Ranger Jim I live near Harrisburg, PA and I have not enrolled in college yet. The reason I enlisted into the Guard for the unit that I did was for the likelihood of deployment that you were talking about. That is one reason I haven't enrolled in college yet, I was hoping to deploy and then decide if I want to go to college or switch to active duty. I can get the Guard to pay for all of my college depending on the college I go to but as soon as I accept money from them I'm locked into the Guard for another 6 years. So I didn't want to deploy and then decide that I want to go active duty but be locked into the Guard for however many more years.

OK, very good logic. Refreshing to see someone who actually did some homework, rather than just show up here and start blowing smoke. Let me know if you need a point of contact in the PAARNG. Never, never quit

[Elguapo]

Well, at least you made an educated decision. What I would do is not necessarily what's best for you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with passing up college for a year to deploy. It's too bad more dudes your age don't feel that way.

However, I will tell you this. If you're going to be in the Guard, use everything you can get to go to school. Finish it up asap. It's quite the opportunity you get for free or nearly free school. Do it while you can. Good luck.

[68Wrunner]

Thank you Ranger Jim I will remember that should the need arise.

Thank you for the advice Ranger Elguapo. I have gotten that same advice from several other members of the military so I am definitely taking it into consideration.

[MarineRanger]

The Marines offered me OCS while I was in boot camp. I turned it down.
Too much politics in the Officer ranks for me.

If I had stayed in, I might have attempted to become a Chief Warrant Officer someday.