Greetings to all,
My name is Eric, and I'd like to first express my true thanks to all of the past, present, and future Rangers and other military personnel for the things you've done or will do that we as a country, at times, fail to appreciate. Yours is a true service that I hope to one day take part in.
I am a Senior at Virginia Tech with a major in Psychology.I played ice hockey my entire life and served as the team Captain for multiple years on multiple teams. Since I was in high school I've wanted to join the military. I initially wanted to attend medical school after college and then become a medical officer, but plans have a way of changing throughout one's life. I realize now that my place is in the army, out in the field with my fellow Americans. I am 6'1'', 180 lbs, have a GPA of 3.77 and an SAT score of 1300. I am in good physical condition, and I try to run daily. I do not mean to "brag" by any means, I simply wish to get some insight onto what my chances are of becoming a Ranger given my statistics.
I'm not going to say that I've always dreamed of becoming a Ranger because that isn't true. I just know that it is a current passion of mine, and I will do all that I can to become one. The two main reasons I want to become a Ranger are to protect my loved ones and to be prepared for anything that this world has to throw at me. I have a steadfast work ethic, and I know that if I take the challenge to become a Ranger, I will succeed.
My plan is to attend OCS to become an Infantry Officer. Once that training is complete, I will put in my application to become a Ranger. I hope to do this right after I graduate in May, but I am regrettably hearing that active duty acceptance into OCS is incredibly slim. Fortunately, I have a friend who has been a Ranger for about 5 years now, one who is almost finished with his training, and a friend of my father who is a retired Ranger. I hope that letters of recommendation from them will truly increase my chances (yes?). I will also be asking multiple congressmen for letters of recommendation.
I guess there isn't much more to say about me. I would love to get to know all of you and hopefully hear some stories (good and bad) about life as a Ranger. I'm new to the forum, so I will be sure to look around before I start asking too many questions. Thank you all for allowing me to be here.
Allow me to leave you all with a quote that truly exemplifies my drive to become a Ranger:
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour."
-- Sir Winston Churchill
Introducing Myself
Moderator: Site Admin
Introducing Myself
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." - Winston Churchill
Introducing Myself
Greetings to all,
My name is Eric, and first I'd like to express my true thanks to all of the past, present, and future Rangers and other military personnel for the things you have done that we as a Country, at times, fail to appreciate. Yours is a true service that I hope to one day be a part of.
I am a Senior at Virginia Tech with a major in Psychology. I played ice hockey most of my life and served as a team Captain for multiple years on multiple teams. I have wanted to join the military since I was in high school. My initial plan was to attend medical school first, then join the Navy as a medical officer, like my father did. Plans have a way of changing, however, and I realize now that my true place is in the Army out in the field with my fellow Americans. I am 6'1'', 180 lbs, have a GPA of 3.77 and SAT scores of 1300. I am in good physical condition, and I try to run every day. I by no means am trying to "brag"; I am simply hoping to get some insight into what my chances are of becoming a Ranger.
I won't say that I've always wanted to become a Ranger because that isn't true. I can say, however, that it is a current passion of mine, and I will do all that I can do become one. The two main reasons I want to become a Ranger are to protect my loved ones and to be prepared for whatever this world has to throw at me. I have a steadfast work ethic and I know that, given the chance, I will succeed.
My plan is to attend OCS to become an Infantry Officer. Once that is complete, I will put in my application to become a Ranger. I have regrettably heard that the Army is very tight with accepting OCS applications for active duty. The recruiter didn't even seem to give me the light of day; he went right to talking about enlisting. I fortunately have a friend who has been an active Ranger for 5 years, one who is just finishing his training, and my father has a friend who is a retired Ranger. I hope that letters of recommendation from them will increase my chances of being accepted into OCS (yes?). I am also currently asking multiple congressmen for letters of recommendation.
I guess there's not much more I can say about myself. I would like to thank the Rangers that run this forum for allowing me to be here. I am new to the site, so I will try to do as much searching as I can before I start asking too many questions.
Allow me to leave you all with a quote that might shed some light onto why I truly want to become a Ranger:
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour."
-- Sir Winston Churchill
My name is Eric, and first I'd like to express my true thanks to all of the past, present, and future Rangers and other military personnel for the things you have done that we as a Country, at times, fail to appreciate. Yours is a true service that I hope to one day be a part of.
I am a Senior at Virginia Tech with a major in Psychology. I played ice hockey most of my life and served as a team Captain for multiple years on multiple teams. I have wanted to join the military since I was in high school. My initial plan was to attend medical school first, then join the Navy as a medical officer, like my father did. Plans have a way of changing, however, and I realize now that my true place is in the Army out in the field with my fellow Americans. I am 6'1'', 180 lbs, have a GPA of 3.77 and SAT scores of 1300. I am in good physical condition, and I try to run every day. I by no means am trying to "brag"; I am simply hoping to get some insight into what my chances are of becoming a Ranger.
I won't say that I've always wanted to become a Ranger because that isn't true. I can say, however, that it is a current passion of mine, and I will do all that I can do become one. The two main reasons I want to become a Ranger are to protect my loved ones and to be prepared for whatever this world has to throw at me. I have a steadfast work ethic and I know that, given the chance, I will succeed.
My plan is to attend OCS to become an Infantry Officer. Once that is complete, I will put in my application to become a Ranger. I have regrettably heard that the Army is very tight with accepting OCS applications for active duty. The recruiter didn't even seem to give me the light of day; he went right to talking about enlisting. I fortunately have a friend who has been an active Ranger for 5 years, one who is just finishing his training, and my father has a friend who is a retired Ranger. I hope that letters of recommendation from them will increase my chances of being accepted into OCS (yes?). I am also currently asking multiple congressmen for letters of recommendation.
I guess there's not much more I can say about myself. I would like to thank the Rangers that run this forum for allowing me to be here. I am new to the site, so I will try to do as much searching as I can before I start asking too many questions.
Allow me to leave you all with a quote that might shed some light onto why I truly want to become a Ranger:
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour."
-- Sir Winston Churchill
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." - Winston Churchill
Re: Introducing Myself
Ranger ZoneIV,
Thank you for your reply. The information you've given me is very informative. I have known about this method to join to Rangers, but I am unfortunately hindered by a very strict father who has a no-enlist policy. He, for some reason, is extremely against my enlisting. He says it is the "dumbest idea I have ever had" and "will never support [my] decision to enlist". I tried telling him that the military has changed since he's been in it and that it is a more commonly sought out route even for college graduates. He simply won't hear of it. He says I'm wasting my college degree, but I don't believe that is the reason why. I don't know if it's something he saw when he was in the Navy as a medical officer, but there is some underlying problem that is biasing his views. To be honest, I would love to enlist under the 11x Option 40 contract. I feel that it is a good way to build myself up from the ground. He tells me that it's not that easy to move up to OCS once I finish; he says it's not going to happen that way.
I don't know why I didn't sign up for ROTC. Given the opportunity over again, I would definitely do it. I guess I figured getting into medical school post-college would get me a spot as an officer. To be honest, I simply was thinking, and I am paying for that decision now. I will be talking to the Ranger friend of mine tomorrow. I will run the 11x Option 40 plan by him and see what he thinks about it as an active military officer. He may be able to give some insight to myself and even my father onto how the military currently is.
Thank you again,
Eric
Thank you for your reply. The information you've given me is very informative. I have known about this method to join to Rangers, but I am unfortunately hindered by a very strict father who has a no-enlist policy. He, for some reason, is extremely against my enlisting. He says it is the "dumbest idea I have ever had" and "will never support [my] decision to enlist". I tried telling him that the military has changed since he's been in it and that it is a more commonly sought out route even for college graduates. He simply won't hear of it. He says I'm wasting my college degree, but I don't believe that is the reason why. I don't know if it's something he saw when he was in the Navy as a medical officer, but there is some underlying problem that is biasing his views. To be honest, I would love to enlist under the 11x Option 40 contract. I feel that it is a good way to build myself up from the ground. He tells me that it's not that easy to move up to OCS once I finish; he says it's not going to happen that way.
I don't know why I didn't sign up for ROTC. Given the opportunity over again, I would definitely do it. I guess I figured getting into medical school post-college would get me a spot as an officer. To be honest, I simply was thinking, and I am paying for that decision now. I will be talking to the Ranger friend of mine tomorrow. I will run the 11x Option 40 plan by him and see what he thinks about it as an active military officer. He may be able to give some insight to myself and even my father onto how the military currently is.
Thank you again,
Eric
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." - Winston Churchill
Re: Introducing Myself
Ranger ZoneIV,
Thank you again for your reply. You're right, I don't know a thing about the military, so I guess me saying that the military has changed is just what the recruiters were feeding me while trying to get me to go enlisted.
I have talked to the Army ROTC Officer, Colonel Christopher St. Jean, and he told me I am doing the right things as far as getting letters of recommendation goes. I will ask him about 11x Option 40 and see what he has to say. I will also ask Colonel David Chase, the Professor of Military Science. Your advice has been very helpful, and I appreciate the reality of what you have said to me. I will keep you updated to what they say to me.
Eric
Thank you again for your reply. You're right, I don't know a thing about the military, so I guess me saying that the military has changed is just what the recruiters were feeding me while trying to get me to go enlisted.
I think you make a very valid point here. I will try to talk to him about it; I guess I am just a little timid to bring it up again after how he reacted the first time. If I could ask, what is the reality of going green to gold directly after training? I realize that I can say "I know I can do it" as much as I want now, but you're right, it all comes down to the days of training. When I told my dad about "green to gold", he said something like "that's not how the military works".ZoneIV wrote:That said, if your father was an MD in the Navy, then he probably does not realize the realities of being a typical officer in the US Army. I suspect the MDs in the Navy are just as isolated as the MDs in the Army from the rest of the Officer Corps.
I have talked to the Army ROTC Officer, Colonel Christopher St. Jean, and he told me I am doing the right things as far as getting letters of recommendation goes. I will ask him about 11x Option 40 and see what he has to say. I will also ask Colonel David Chase, the Professor of Military Science. Your advice has been very helpful, and I appreciate the reality of what you have said to me. I will keep you updated to what they say to me.
Eric
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." - Winston Churchill
Re: Introducing Myself
Eric,
Well, that was the course I took. I was a Staff Sergeant who went to OCS, followed by the Ranger course. I retired in my 30th Year of service, having been selected for battalion command and the Army War College. You are the only one who can decide what is best for you. Never, never quit!
Well, that was the course I took. I was a Staff Sergeant who went to OCS, followed by the Ranger course. I retired in my 30th Year of service, having been selected for battalion command and the Army War College. You are the only one who can decide what is best for you. Never, never quit!
Ranger Class 13-71
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
Trainer, El Salvador 86-87
Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
75th RRA Life Member #867
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
Trainer, El Salvador 86-87
Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
75th RRA Life Member #867
Re: Introducing Myself
Ranger Jim,
Thank you for your reply. I am beginning to look more and more into the 11x Option 40. As I said to Ranger ZoneIV, I have sent out emails to some Virginia Tech Officers asking about the program. I will keep you both updated as I hear back from them.
I guess what it comes down to is: in the end, do I want to be an officer, or do I want to be a Ranger? My heart is telling me the latter, but I need to do the research and exhaust all possible resources before making a decision.
Good day, Rangers. More to come.
Eric
Thank you for your reply. I am beginning to look more and more into the 11x Option 40. As I said to Ranger ZoneIV, I have sent out emails to some Virginia Tech Officers asking about the program. I will keep you both updated as I hear back from them.
I guess what it comes down to is: in the end, do I want to be an officer, or do I want to be a Ranger? My heart is telling me the latter, but I need to do the research and exhaust all possible resources before making a decision.
Good day, Rangers. More to come.
Eric
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." - Winston Churchill
Re: Introducing Myself
I am not an officer, nor do I have any ambitions to be one. But from my personal experience, every single Ranger I have served with in Regiment who put in an application for OCS or Green to Gold program, was accepted. Same goes for the warrant officer route. That Ranger Scroll on your shoulder speaks very loudly when you put in applications such as these.
One should always value and respect a parents advice. But if you want advice on Rangering, the men on this board or men that you know in person THAT HAVE SERVED IN REGIMENT are the best source of information when guiding your decision.
One should always value and respect a parents advice. But if you want advice on Rangering, the men on this board or men that you know in person THAT HAVE SERVED IN REGIMENT are the best source of information when guiding your decision.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
1/75 2006 - 2010
-Theodore Roosevelt
1/75 2006 - 2010
Re: Introducing Myself
Ranger goon175,
Thank you for your reply. I have decided not to go the enlisted route. I see the Rangers as a goal to achieve in years to come. I think I need to have the experience and leadership skills prior to attempting to become one. I have narrowed my options down to two. One option would be to attend OCS and hopefully be placed as an Infantry Officer. The other option that the Professor of Military Science told me this morning would be to attend graduate school at Virginia Tech and sign up for the ROTC program. I would attend Lieutenant Training Camp before school starts, then after two years of graduate school I would be able to choose (as long as I am at the top of my class) to become an Infantry Officer.
My question now is, what are some graduate school degrees that would really be beneficial to me if I am trying to make a career out of the military? I was thinking about a language, but I don't know if they require any prior learning or if it is a fresh start. I will look into that. As I said, I have a friend who is a Ranger Officer. He says there is a Ranger Officer in his squad that is a Psychology specialty. My current undergrad major is in Psychology, so maybe I could continue this in graduate school and possibly do something along those lines.
I still see OCS as an option. I've heard that Infantry is a very big field and that my chances of being placed there are good given that I choose it as my first option and do exceptional at OCS (no telling how I'll do now, but I will try). Is there really a much better chance of getting Infantry if I take the ROTC route, or are they pretty equal? Thank you Rangers.
Eric
Thank you for your reply. I have decided not to go the enlisted route. I see the Rangers as a goal to achieve in years to come. I think I need to have the experience and leadership skills prior to attempting to become one. I have narrowed my options down to two. One option would be to attend OCS and hopefully be placed as an Infantry Officer. The other option that the Professor of Military Science told me this morning would be to attend graduate school at Virginia Tech and sign up for the ROTC program. I would attend Lieutenant Training Camp before school starts, then after two years of graduate school I would be able to choose (as long as I am at the top of my class) to become an Infantry Officer.
My question now is, what are some graduate school degrees that would really be beneficial to me if I am trying to make a career out of the military? I was thinking about a language, but I don't know if they require any prior learning or if it is a fresh start. I will look into that. As I said, I have a friend who is a Ranger Officer. He says there is a Ranger Officer in his squad that is a Psychology specialty. My current undergrad major is in Psychology, so maybe I could continue this in graduate school and possibly do something along those lines.
I still see OCS as an option. I've heard that Infantry is a very big field and that my chances of being placed there are good given that I choose it as my first option and do exceptional at OCS (no telling how I'll do now, but I will try). Is there really a much better chance of getting Infantry if I take the ROTC route, or are they pretty equal? Thank you Rangers.
Eric
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." - Winston Churchill
Re: Introducing Myself
Just out of curiosity, what Battalion is your friend in?
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
1/75 2006 - 2010
-Theodore Roosevelt
1/75 2006 - 2010
Re: Introducing Myself
Ranger goon175,
I'm really not sure. He's my sister's ex-boyfriend, so I really haven't talked to him in years. I've only just recently spoken with him a few times. It is by no means any offense to you, but I don't think I feel comfortable asking him that information and then posting that on the internet.
I'm really not sure. He's my sister's ex-boyfriend, so I really haven't talked to him in years. I've only just recently spoken with him a few times. It is by no means any offense to you, but I don't think I feel comfortable asking him that information and then posting that on the internet.
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." - Winston Churchill
Re: Introducing Myself
Ranger ZoneIV,
I simply meant that I would not like to jump right into "Rangering". I think it'd be better to go Infantry Officer, serve in active duty there, then in a few years attempt to go Ranger Officer. I'm pretty positive that my friend has served in the Regiment. He will be talking to me about his experiences as a Ranger on Saturday.
I simply meant that I would not like to jump right into "Rangering". I think it'd be better to go Infantry Officer, serve in active duty there, then in a few years attempt to go Ranger Officer. I'm pretty positive that my friend has served in the Regiment. He will be talking to me about his experiences as a Ranger on Saturday.
"To every man, there comes in his lifetime, that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; What a tragedy if that moment should find him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." - Winston Churchill
Re: Introducing Myself
That is what I was getting at with my question.Did this "Ranger Officer" actually serve in the Regiment or is he only a Tabbed Ranger?
I'm just gonna go ahead and call it what it is. Being a Ranger appeals to you, and your probably know in the back of your head that the BEST route to take would be enlisting with an opt. 40 contract, but you don't want to dissapoint your dad who doesn't want to see you as a lowly enlisted man in the U.S. Army. So that leaves going the officer route, where you will hope to be among the VERY small minority of officers who is even given the opportunity to apply. Going the officer route, you will more than likely be afforded the opportunity to attend Ranger School, so atleast you have that. You or your dad (or both) seem to have an elitist attitude towards serving as enlisted, and if that actually is the case, that attitude will definately be picked up on by the NCO's you serve with if you do make it into Regiment, which usually does not work well for the officer in that situation.
I hope I am completely off on these observations, but honestly as a recruiter I deal with attitudes like these all the time.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
1/75 2006 - 2010
-Theodore Roosevelt
1/75 2006 - 2010