Introduction - Daron

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dp454so
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Introduction - Daron

Post by dp454so »

Rangers, (long post ahead)

Thank you for this forum. My name is Daron and I am pursuing an Option-40 contract and am here for information regarding the Ranger Regiments, MOS selection, and security clearances. In all candor, I am 32 and had an age waiver request in for an 18X contract which did not come through which was expected but I was encouraged to still try for it anyway. Seeing that life taught me lesson and I re-assess my situation, the more I have learned about the Ranger Regiments, the mission types, their way of life, culture, and reputation, the more humbled I become at the thought of being able to attend RASP and, the Lord willing, earn a slot at one of the Battalions. I have read that the Regiments are the best place to start out as a new soldier and I look forward to the opportunity to learn the many lessons that are lie before me.

To give a little background: I was born and raised in rural West Virginia in a county with 1 stoplight and a single high school. I had an amazing "country" childhood hunting, fishing, shooting, off-roading, bailing hay, fixing our own equipment, camping, lifting weights, playing football, running track, working in a huge vegetable garden, and getting a salt of the earth upbringing many here may be familiar with. I gravitated towards the collision and contact in football, did well in the weight room, on the football field, and fell in love with year round cross training and the commitment required to constantly push my own limits and take the pain to my opponents. I considered enlisting upon graduating but my parents persuaded me to go to college first since neither of them had the opportunity to do so. I studied at a state school in WV where I earned a BS in Architectural Engineering and played a year of football as a walk-on strong safety working my way up to 2nd string behind a 4 year starter but in front of 2 other recruited, more talented, scholarshipped, but unmotivated players that took it for granted. I played for only a year as I realized I wouldn't be playing football forever and it was taking away from my studies so I walked away. I went on to get a Master of Architecture degree, travel around to Europe for 6 months (mostly Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Spain - to run with the bulls) and know some German but not enough at this moment to declare it on my paperwork. I worked as an architect in a central Virgina town, DC, and now I am in Manhattan working for a large international contractor building instead of designing buildings. Besides the full-time job, I do not have a family or any other personal commitments that otherwise distract from my training.

I have seen enough of the world and experienced enough to know how amazing the American way of life is, as intended by our forefathers, and I have realized that it is time I activate the call to serve that I have had buried. In many ways, having flipped this switch, I feel like I’m coming home. I know that my place is not with the meek that I see daily; more concerned with consumerism than something that has genuine meaning or purpose. Brotherhood, Honor, Integrity, Discipline, Country, and Elite are concepts that I want my life to be based on. I have much to learn and though my soldiering life is just beginning, in many ways, I feel the desire to protect young American soldiers. If I have a chance of being trained by, with, and be among the best, then send me.

My current PFT scores are ok but not as bulletproof as they can be with a more effort and they're constantly improving.
Ht: 5’-10”
Wt: 170-180
2.0m: 13:05 (goal of 12:00)
Push: 89 (goal of 100+)
Sit: 85 (goal of 100+)
Pull: 15 dead hang (goal of 22+)
ASVAB: 93
TAPAS: GO (recruiter said: “wow, this is very good”)

I have been running through Stew Smiths 2.0-3.0 mile program and it is tough but gets results. I love being strong and powerful like a football player but have been focusing on runs, muscular endurance, durability, mobility, flexibility to prepare me for the length of selection. I need to start focusing more on rucking to become more acclimated to the pace without GPS but in the few trials I’ve done, I’ve been able to keep sub 13:30’s for 4-5 miles on various paved surfaces with 50lbs if I'm adequately hydrated (Central Park).

I mentioned security clearances and my concern about clearances and credit (Divorce) but perhaps that is for another thread. I have researched the issue here and elsewhere but still have lingering questions….

Regarding MOS selection, my recruiter said that 11x (B/C) is the best MOS to choose for ultimately applying for an SF packet and the best way to get into the fight. However, I am attracted to the MI MOS’s (35_) but have questions about exactly what that job tempo is like with the 75th compared to 11B/11C as well as the skill set learned and TS earned from MI. What would be the better choice of MOS?

Thank you for your time and I appreciate all insight, opinions, and information.
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Jim
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Re: Introduction - Daron

Post by Jim »

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
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Sleepy Doc
Ranger
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Joined: September 19th, 2006, 4:54 am

Re: Introduction - Daron

Post by Sleepy Doc »

WOW! You made Jim skip his normal "first impression" spiel, and that aint easy to do!

For your recruiter to say 11x is the "best" for SF should tell you he doesn't know jack-shit about it. You can be a 92W (water treatment specialist) and still get picked up as 18B, provided you pass selection.
B Co 3/75 '95-'99
4th RTB '00-'01

"ahh, Daniel-san.. When balance good, Karate good...everything good!.." K. Miyagi
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Ginger
Future Soldier / Opt40
Posts: 86
Joined: June 5th, 2014, 6:28 pm

Re: Introduction - Daron

Post by Ginger »

Welcome Daron

PM Inbound!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
11X OPT. 40
SHIP DATE: 20150713

"Five Mentees Report Here" Thread Member
dp454so
Egg
Posts: 2
Joined: September 23rd, 2014, 8:18 am

Re: Introduction - Daron

Post by dp454so »

Thank you for the replies.

Jim, I will dig into that link regarding my outstanding questions about enlistment and my concerns regarding clearances.

Re: Sleepy Doc, I agree that his comments seemed shortsighted as SF takes all MOS's to attend SFAS as attending and completing the Q Course and further advanced training molds you into the type of soldier they want you to be. I was just trying to plan ahead so that I have a sharp skill set and experience while both in Regiment and further down the road.

Are there any current or ex-Rangers here with experience with the MI MOS's (35_) that could provide perspective into the day to day of what those MOS's are like? Though interested in that type of work, I don't want to be stuck behind a desk any more than necessary.

Regards,
DP
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rangertough
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Joined: January 27th, 2005, 3:02 pm

Re: Introduction - Daron

Post by rangertough »

dp454so wrote:Thank you for the replies.

Jim, I will dig into that link regarding my outstanding questions about enlistment and my concerns regarding clearances.

Re: Sleepy Doc, I agree that his comments seemed shortsighted as SF takes all MOS's to attend SFAS as attending and completing the Q Course and further advanced training molds you into the type of soldier they want you to be. I was just trying to plan ahead so that I have a sharp skill set and experience while both in Regiment and further down the road.

Are there any current or ex-Rangers here with experience with the MI MOS's (35_) that could provide perspective into the day to day of what those MOS's are like? Though interested in that type of work, I don't want to be stuck behind a desk any more than necessary.

Regards,
DP
STOP POSTING. Read the FAQ's and use the search function. When you learn how to properly address members on this board start posting again. If you want to go MI you'd better start paying attention.
Rangertough
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
C CO/HHC 2/75 '93-97, Bragg '97-'99, HHC/C CO/A CO 2/75 99'-'01 RS 8-94.
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