Pass Ranger

Pass Ranger! Earning the Tab.

2017-05-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

(Today's update: 100-mile Review of Wiivv 3D-printed Custom Insoles.)

Whether you are a Private or a Colonel, you're here to find out how to earn your Ranger tab. This page will give you all the info you need to start off on the right foot and to finish Ranger School with a first-time GO. Here you'll find:

The up-to-date official packing list with hyperlinks to suggested items and real-world advice on what to buy that isn't on the list
Ranger Training Brigade physical training plans with videos explaining each exercise
And links to informative books that past graduates swear by

And for when you graduate and earn your tab:

Great gifts for new Rangers
Books and movies about US Army Rangers past and present
And more . . .

Good luck, God speed, and RLTW!

100-mile Wiivv 3D-printed custom insoles review

2017-05-29T10:56:00.003-07:00

Check it out -- after over 100 miles in these things, I'm happy to report that the Wiivv 3D-printed custom insoles have been awesome for my training. Support our fundraising by heading over to https://shop.wiivv.com/?discount=Jame... and ordering your own.

Pushing Your Limits

2017-04-12T21:32:00.002-07:00

Everyone loves to say that Ranger School will push you to your limit, but we don't often get into what that means. So let me share a secret -- Ranger School will push you to your limits, again and again, until you fail or succeed.

Many people who attend hit their first limit in the first day or two. Although we can all run the 5 miles, or do the CWST, or crush a buddy run, it becomes a lot harder when each event is back-to-back, with little opportunity for physical or mental rest.

The first limit comes when you say to yourself, for the first time, "what have I gotten myself into." It is a mental limit, and one you can easily overcome by remembering why you are there and what you hope to be by graduating.

The second limit is when you feel deep and genuine exhaustion for the first time. Until Ranger School, I had never been so sleepy deprived that I would pass out while standing up. I never hallucinated from being so tired, believing that a guy pulling a black garbage back out of his ruck was playing with a dog. I never rucked and then suddenly found myself walking into a tree, barely remembering the past few minutes (or was it hours?). You will get there, and when you do it is far harder than simply being burnt from too many pushups. Your body and mind want to shut down, and will sometimes do so without your permission. Just accept it, and drive on. Remember that all you have to do, in the end, is put one foot in front of the other.

The third limit is, for many, the hunger. I lost 35 pounds in Ranger School, and remember how hard it was to stay warm without anything in my system. You could smell the ammonia of everyone's muscle tissue burning up, and licking out the MRE bag was perfectly normal. But food will come -- you'll get the occasional golden walk with some extra chow, or you'll starve through 5 days and make it back to those Mountain blueberry pancakes. Just remember that everything is temporary except earning the Tab, which you'll have for long after the hunger.

The fourth limit, and the worst at times, is the mental game. Can you shut up and let someone else lead? Can you be a team player even when you have no patience left? Can you follow a nonsensical plan? And can you do it all without pissing off everyone else in your squad? When you get overwhelmed enough, and tired enough, and hungry enough, your deepest self will start to show through. You may not like what you see, and it may distract you from the task at hand. Remember that part of mental toughness is being able to set aside a temporary emotion to focus on the larger goal.

In the end, Ranger School will push you to multiple limits multiple times. Every time you feel yourself hitting that wall, just put one foot in front of the other and it will pass. Once it does, take a deep breath and think to yourself "okay -- ready for the next one." Make it to the end, and you'll find that most "limits" are self-imposed.

Fight Harder! A Run for the GallantFew.

2017-02-06T06:26:00.002-08:00

Here at Pass Ranger, we firmly believe that earning the Ranger Tab is both an honor and a commitment: an honor to join such a select group, and a commitment to always "be a Tab bearer, not a Tab wearer." Once you earn the Ranger Tab, you must always set the standard and live the Ranger Creed.

We believe that this doesn't end when you leave the military either. A Ranger's dedication to service, to excellence, and to "never leave a fallen comrade" extends to helping other veterans. Over 200,000 veterans a year leave the military, and many of them face significant personal challenges. Some have been physically injured, some have faced mental trauma, and some just don't know how to make the move back to civilian life.

That's why we're excited about Fight Harder. Don't know what this is? Click through, check it out, and consider making a donation to help support your brothers and sisters.

GPS Watches for 2017

2017-01-01T11:21:00.002-08:00

Okay -- let's be super-clear up front. NO GPS WATCHES ALLOWED AT RANGER SCHOOL! Do not show up with a GPS watch, or any other GPS device, at Ranger. At the very least, they will take it away from you and you won't see it until the end. Worse, they may consider that you failed to follow instructions, or didn't read the packing list, or didn't get your ruck checked by your unit -- all of which could lead to a Major Minus or to you being sent home.

With that out of the way, you should definitely be running and rucking to prepare for Ranger School, and a GPS watch can help you to track your distance, times, total mileage, and routes. With that said, here are some recommendations:

BUDGET:

If you are looking for a decent GPS watch for under $100, the Tom Tom Runner is a great choice. While it doesn't come with a heart rate monitor, you can buy the additional heart rate monitor strap for less than $30. Again, this is a budget model, but it will take care of your needs and will track you as you move, maintain records of your runs, is waterproof, and will even track you on indoor treadmills.

PRICEY:

Next up is the Garmin Forerunner 230 for a bit over $200. More money pays for the better screen, link to your cellphone for notifications, and a battery life allowing active GPS tracking for up to 16 hours. Again, this device requires a separate heart rate monitor strap unless you want to upgrade to the Garmin Forerunner 235 for an additional $100, which provides an optical heart rate monitor built into the watch.

FITNESS TRACKER OPTION:

If you want an overall fitness tracker, the FitBit Surge is an increasingly popular choice for just over $200. Although you certainly won't impress anyone with the way this device looks, it incorporates GPS tracking, built-in heart rate tracking at the wrist, and will measures metrics all day such as steps taken. The biggest negatives are the appearance of it and the critical fact that it isn't waterproof. Although it should be able to handle day-to-day moisture from running, swimming is a no-go.

A GPS tracker is absolutely not necessary for you to prepare for Ranger School. It is just another tool you may consider using in our preparation. Remember, however, that a Ranger's greatest tools are the heart and the mind -- everything else just makes the job a bit easier.

Tips for Passing Land Navigation in Ranger School

2016-08-01T18:59:00.002-07:00

Worried about land navigation during RAP Week? Here are some things to keep in mind as you
prepare for school:

Stop cheating at land nav now. You know exactly what I mean -- following the trails of other cadets, listening for that one loud Specialist who is good at land nav and will give a cough when he is at the point, or even seeking out the fireworks of red lenses that cluster around the first find of the morning. Just stop. Treat land navigation seriously by talking to Soldiers who are good at it, listening during hip-pocket training, and actually trying to do it the right way.
Do some trail running. Unless you have no idea what you are doing, you have been running quite a bit in your train-up for school. (If not, better head over to the PT Prep page now.) Most of this running is probably not on foot paths in the woods, or uneven construction roads. Get some time in your boots running in these conditions. Doing so will build your confidence, strengthen the supporting muscles in your legs (reducing injuries), and get you ready to run the land nav course. Wait -- what?!
Run the land nav course. You read that right -- run the land nav course. You don't have time to simply step it out and hope you make it. The points are far apart and require some significant travel to get between them. You will need to run from area to area, and then use the extra time you've earned to search out your points. Ask some recent grads, and you will hear stories of Ranger students who had all their points but miss their time. Guess what? They usually get to do it again -- and then are so tired after that they fall out on another event. You need to focus on a first-time GO in every Ranger event, and for land nav that means running.
Plan then go. When the start time comes, use your first minutes to orient to the map, plot your points, and make a plan. Any Ranger course is going to make you think, and now is the time to do it. Decide what order you'll go in, how you'll travel from point to point, and actually think about what the map means. Could there be a swamp there? Does that one point look easy at first but is actually buried deep in the brush? Which points can I get closest to off reference points rather than bushwhacking for 600 meters? Plan your work, then work the plan.
Darkness is for movement. You will begin the course before the sun comes up, meaning dark dark dark. If you are lucky, full moon and clear. If not, try not to fall into the swamp, holes, ravines, drainage ditches, etc. That said, don't waste your dark hours trying to find your first point. Using your plan, identify the farthest point you need to hit, and start movement. Move quickly but move safely. If you have great illumination, you can actually jog pretty quickly. On other nights, slow down but keep a good speed. You need to burn up that darkness getting to your critical point. If you do it right, you'll start getting the benefits of sunrise as you are

seeking your second point (if not sooner).
Don't trust the roads on the map. If you're plan sounds like "I'll run to the first intersection, go left, then next intersection, go right" you will fail. If you add in "I'll run 400 meters at 45 degrees to the first intersection, which I know is at a 90 degree angle, then I'll go right at 135 degrees for 800 meters to the next intersection, which . . ." you have a better chance. No matter what, stop at every intersection, drop down to the ground, and do a map check. Does the distance seem right? Do the roads intersect the way you expect them to? If not, make a decision and drive on. There are false intersections on every land nav course -- confident use of your compass and map, combined with trusting your plan, will defeat them every time.
Don't cheat. Remember point 1 above? You will get caught. Will RI's pretend to be another student and ask you for help? Yep. Will you get dinged if they told you not to use white light and you use it? Yep. Can they see you in the dark? Uh.....yep. Do not cheat at land nav. Even if you are freaking out, stay calm, trust your plan, and find your points. Now let's be clear. Not cheating means "do the right thing." But if you are near your point, look up, and see three red headlamps near something? You should probably check it out. Saw a guy looking for his point a few minutes ago, and now he is booking away like he found it and is off to the next one? Maybe you should head in the direction he came from. The purpose of point number 1 above is to get you good enough that people want to follow you -- but don't be an idiot. Find your point using every fair way you can.
Know when to stop. Anyone who has done land nav knows the feeling of being "so close" to their point, and getting sucked into the search. That obsession can be your downfall at Ranger School. If you are circling and circling and cannot find it; if you have retraced back to the road and recheck your azimuth but the point is nowhere to be found; if you know you have spent way too long searching for one point, count it as a loss and give up. Further, do not, under any circumstances, believe that getting a major plus from finding all your points is worth it. What is worth it is finding your points, getting back, and having your GO. Ranger School continues to have the coordinates on the points, so you'll know when you have them. Go back and take whatever breather you can get.

Have more insights on Ranger School land nav? Post them in the comments below!

Ranger School Pushups!

2016-07-11T20:25:00.001-07:00

Why do so many Ranger students fail the pushup portion of the Ranger Physical Fitness Test? Often, it is because they haven't been properly graded for most of their time in the Army. Many Soldiers who claim to do "true pushups" would be surprised with their score at Ranger School -- and perhaps be angered to be sent home after hearing "1 . . . 1 . . . 1. . ."

The fix is simple, but you don't need an article from me -- trust Command Sergeant Major Dennis Smith and watch his video here.

First Female Ranger Graduates

2015-08-21T08:40:00.003-07:00

I know, I know -- you've seen it everywhere, so no need to post more here.

That said, here are the top links I recommend.

Livestream of Class 8-15 Graduation

Why all graduates are Rangers

If COL Puckett says it, I agree

One fine American who overcame cancer to graduate

Reply to the haters

Why the Woobie is the greatest invention in the history of humanity

Packing List for Women in Ranger School (and Pre-Ranger)

2015-01-22T07:34:00.000-08:00

The official packing list for women attending the WTC Ranger Training Assessment Course is not out, nor is there an official list for women attending Ranger School (although there is a standard packing list). That said, we can look to other packing lists such as that for West Point Cadets or Sapper School students for insight.

1) Three sports bras. The first few days of RTAC are physically very strenuous, as is RAP week at Ranger School. Rangers have to run frequently, overcome numerous obstacles, and get smoked almost non-stop. For that reason, female attendees should plan on packing at least three sports bras. Why three? First, you will get very sweaty no matter what the temperature is outside. Second, you will likely get wet and muddy a few times, and things take a while to dry. The bras will likely need to have the minimum amount of spandex possible and will have to be black or brown.

2) Extra baby wipes. As a matter of hygiene, male attendees have it easier, given the way we're build below. Female attendees will likely use significantly more baby wipes for hygiene reasons, so I expect the packing will allow for more to be brought. Remember, however, that you should not bring a gargantuan bag of them -- it is better to bring smaller units that are sealed. They will pass inspection more easily and will be less likely to dry out.

3) Menstrual pads. Face it -- this will happen while you are at school, so you will need to be
prepared. I highly doubt tampons will be allowed because of the risks of Toxic Shock Syndrome. The packing list will likely require unscented individually wrapped pads sufficient for one menstrual cycle, and the PX will provide a restocking opportunity during each phase. Medics will likely be provided with some pads just in case, but you should always try to pack for your own needs.

4) Medication for during menstruation -- very doubtful. The West Point Camp Buckner packing list allows this, but I doubt it will be allowed for female attendees. I'm also 100% certain that no female attendee will ask for it, but I added it to this list for the sake of completeness.

If you have any other thoughts of what female Rangers need to pack, please mention them in the comments section. If you have some thoughts about why women shouldn't attend Ranger School, please write them on a piece of paper and put them in your pocket.

RLTW!

ROTC LDAC and the Road to Ranger School

2014-04-09T04:12:00.003-07:00

For many young Soldiers, completing the ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) is a critical step towards the eventual completion of Ranger School. In this post, I'll talk about why LDAC is so important to future officers who want to earn the Ranger Tab, and also give some hints and ideas related to the packing list, TACSOP, etc.

What is LDAC?

There is plenty of information on the web about LDAC, stating its purpose is to "train U.S. Army ROTC cadets to Army standards and to develop leadership and evaluate officer potential." Much more important to those who want to earn the coveted Ranger Tab is the next part: "this is accomplished through a tiered training structure using light infantry tactics as the instructional medium." Think of LDAC as a baby step towards Ranger School -- a chance to develop light infantry basic skills, get experience leading a group of Soldiers you just met, and identify early weaknesses to work on before you head out to your Officer Basic Course.

Also, stop for a moment and think about how you'll actually earn a slot at Ranger School. As an officer, your best chance by far is by branching Infantry. To maximize your chance of doing that, you have to get higher in the ROTC Order of Merit List (OML). And to do that, you have to earn high rankings in your ROTC Regiment.

See how it all fits together? Now let's dig into the details.

The Packing List

Here is an example of an ROTC packing list. "Isn't that list a few years old?" Sure is -- Cadet Command seems to hide the packing list each year, but luckily it doesn't change much. There are a few basic things you'll definitely want to get, so why not buy items you can also use when you get to OBC and then Ranger School? I have already posted the Ranger School packing list with plenty of hints and suggestions, so head over there to check it out. Pay particular attention to items like the headlamp, gloves, etc. -- these are items that should last you years. If you order any items from Amazon, you should sign up for the Student Amazon Prime program -- a good deal that is only available if you have a .edu email address.

The TACSOP

You will be carrying your TACSOP with you during your entire time at LDAC, and you'll most likely refer to it oftent during your MS IV year while training the other Cadets. Why not prep it up to last by giving it the same treatment you'll give your Ranger Handbook? I give a good overview on the best methods to use here. Not only will the TACSOP last longer, but you'll also become familiar with this method and figure out your own tricks as you go along.

The Terrain Model Kit

Just like at Ranger School, you'll need an LDAC Terrain Model Kit. You'll use it to plan out operations and brief the other Cadets, and you'll be able to save most of the pieces to reuse at OBC and Ranger. Even if you think you'll lose everything, now is your chance to figure out what works for you -- which pieces are important, do you want to use chalk or not, etc. Here is an entire post on the kit.

The end?

If you follow the advice I've already put together, I'm confident LDAC will just be the next step in your path to Ranger School. Remember: train as you fight. Treat LDAC (and every other military experience) with the seriousness it deserves, and the fun will come along with it. Next thing you know, you'll have great skills, great memories, and great opportunities ahead.

Ranger School Chin-Ups (Not Pull-Ups)

2014-01-26T08:45:00.001-08:00

Looking good -- bar at collarbone level. But watch those feet!

The Ranger Physical Fitness Test (RPFT) has four events: the push-up, the sit-up, the 5-mile run, and the chin-up. Although only one or two people fail to achieve the 6 chin-up minimum each cycle, that shouldn't matter to you. This is what is important:

Practicing the chin-up will make certain you have no stress about that event
If you work on chin-ups, you'll be stronger at rope climbs
The chin-up will help you with rappelling in Mountains
You'll be doing chin-ups before each meal in garrison
The chin-up will help you when you get to The Wall on the first field day of Mountains
The chin-up strengthens the back, balances your chest muscles, and will reduce injuries overall

So, pretty important, right? Let's break down this exercise and how to do it right.

First thing first: you will fail the chin-up event of the RPFT if you don't do them strict. Strict means that the Ranger Instructor (RI) will stand about six inches in front of you and will direct your movements. The only part of your body that should move is your arms. So here is the breakdown:

When the RI says "mount the bar" (or "get the f**k up on the f'in bar"), mount the bar by jumping up and grabbing it with your palms towards you (palms away would be a pull-up).
Hang completely slack so you are fully extended.
When the RI says "up," pull-up using just your arms -- no movement of your feet, knees, or abs. A good trick here is to tense your lower body slightly and point your toes downward. At the end of your pull, the bar should be right at the level of your collarbone -- not just below your chin. Get comfortable -- you'll be there for a second.
When the RI says "down," lower down in a controlled way to a full dead hang. Again, slightly tensed body with toes pointed downward will keep you from swinging. Get comfortable again -- you're on the RI's schedule.
At this point, the RI will either keep directing you or will just tell you to continue. Do not rush this -- straight up with just arms, brief pause with the bar at collarbone level, controlled downward to full dead hang, brief pause at bottom, then back again.
After your sixth chin-up, go to a dead hang and wait. The RI will tell you "dismount" or "get the f**k of my g*ddamn bar, Ranger."
Congratulations! You just passed the RPFT and you're officially in the class for RAP Week.

The takeaway? Forget the guys in the gym doing 1,000 chin-ups. Forget the awesome kipping and butterfly pull-ups you're learning at the CrossFit box. And forget going fast to build your numbers. Get on the chin-up bar and work like you're doing the RPFT.

What do you need? Nothing but a bar:

Here is the basic bar I used -- hangs from any standard door and doesn't need any bolts or screws.
Here is a super-fancy bar -- same price, but I've never used it.

Chin-up Time!

But guess what? You probably have a playground near you -- and that means there is probably playscape with a horizontal ladder ("monkey bars") or even a set of pull-up bars ready to go. Just don't be creepy -- go in the morning when kids aren't there.

CrossFit and Ranger School

2012-12-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

The very best way to prepare physically for Ranger School is to follow one of the PT plans posted on this site. They were created by the school, approved by Army fitness instructors, posted on the official school site, and followed by countless students who have since earned the coveted Ranger Tab. And they are strongly influenced by CrossFit.

Why CrossFit? The best answer is to quote from the CrossFit site itself: "constantly varied functional movements performed at relatively high intensity" will create true fitness. And that quote? Also a perfect summary of RAP Week. If you want to make it through those first days and actually get the chance to earn your Ranger Tab, you need to "train as you fight."

Although a CrossFit affiliate is the best place to go, you can always get the basic gear yourself and do the PT plans on this site on your own. Here are a few basics I recommend:

Reebok Nano shoes: these shoes are designed to improve flexibility and maximize your natural strength by positioning your feet and hips correctly. Go to any CrossFit box and 90% of the people will be wearing them. The Nano 3.0 is worth the money, but if you're on a budget you can definitely buy the Nano 2.0 and get great results.

Kettlebell: Most CrossFit workouts (called workout-of-the-days or WOD's) have men using a weight of 1.5 or 2 pood (53 and 70 pounds). Don't worry about that. If you are new to the kettlebell and you're buying it to train for Ranger School, 53 pounds is the most you should get. I'd recommend 45 pounds for a smaller guy and 53 (or close to it) for a bigger guy.

Speed rope: Learning to do double-unders will build leg speed and strength to help you pass the running events. This rope is cheap, easy to size correctly, and fast -- exactly what you need.

Bumper plates: Ok--let's not get crazy. You definitely don't have to buy these to get ready for Ranger School. But if you want to build a basic CrossFit setup at home, bumper plates (along with a bar and collars) are essential. The proper use of this equipment is beyond this post, but the videos in the PT plans are a good start.

Running to Ranger -- the GPS watch

2012-12-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

At the end of the day, Ranger students need to be able to run -- and a key part of your training should be mixing up a variety of distances, times and terrains.

First, regular running will turn whatever body type you have into the "lean-and-mean" variety, which is exactly what you want for the low-calorie, high-output days you'll have to handle for two (or more) months. If you have a ton of muscle, expect to lose much of it during Darby, and expect to feel the loss. Once you start smelling the ammonia in the field, you'll wish you had leaned up more beforehand and made your muscles as efficient as possible.

Second, running prepares your body for the stresses of long days on your feet, and for the slow but consistent energy output that Mountains will demand from your legs. You want to build up the stamina of your lower body, and a combination of rucking and distance running is just the thing to do it.

Third, running is an easy metric to keep you on a training schedule. As you follow the training schedules on this site, you'll see that they require regular runs of different durations and distances. Rather than just run on a track or a fixed path, why not get out, mix up the terrain, and explore? This is where a GPS watch comes in.

Although there are tons of GPS watches to choose from (Garmin, Timex, and Nike are the top brands), I strongly recommend the Nike+ Sportswatch. The simple reason is the online tracking program. After each of your runs, you can sync the watch to Nike+ Online, and it will track everything about the run -- the path you followed, the average pace, the distance, etc. You can even add notes to each run, and can export the runs to share the path with others.

Even as you run, the watch can provide you with positive feedback, letting you know when you have set new distance or pace records. For the Ranger student in training, this can be helpful during those long solo runs that none of your buddies want to do with you.

At the end of the day, a GPS watch is not a necessity -- but it sure is a helpful tool.

ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: You cannot bring a GPS watch to school with you! Check this packing list for recommendations on items for school.

Terrain Model Kit for Ranger School

2012-06-14T06:32:00.001-07:00

Why do you need a Terrain Model Kit?

Standard Sand Table

During the planning phase before every mission, you have to prepare and brief your entire Warning Order (WARNO) and Operations Order (OPORD) to your Soldiers. During the Execution paragraph, you will spend a long time going through every single step of the unit's movements and tasks -- and you'll do it on your sand table.

A Terrain Model Kit is a portable map set you use to setup a model of the terrain you'll be covering during your mission. It has to have everything you need for every type of mission, as well as additional pieces that help you to model obstacles and terrain features you expect to see.

What should be in it?

A complete set of laminated, colored cutouts for every type of squad and platoon unit. You have to laminate them to write on them, and to protect them from the elements. Here are a few starter options:

ROTC LDAC kit -- PDF format
Lower quality option -- Powerpoint format

An extra set of alcohol markers and eraser -- keep them in the kit and don't use them for anything else or you'll lose them.
Ten feet of colored yarn -- at least five different colors. You can use cord, which is thin but durable, or knitting yarn, which tends to fray over time. I recommend going to a craft store (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc.) where they sell the yarn on arge spools and you can cut off and buy only what you need.
Thick sticks of sidewalk chalk -- you'll scrape these with your knife to fill in water, greenery, etc.
Index cards, cut into quarters and laminated. You can use these smaller squares to show landing zones, linear danger areas, target reference points, and a heck of a lot more. I would make at least 20 of them.

Have additional ideas? Put them in the comments below!

Developing Mental Toughness for Ranger School

2012-05-21T05:26:00.001-07:00

Ranger School is, above all else, a test of your mental toughness -- your ability to lead your men and complete the mission despite your hunger, lack of sleep, frustration, and physical exhaustion. A common misconception is that you have to be in the best physical shape of your life to pass Ranger School. While that is true (and you need to be on a focused PT plan like one of these), physical fitness is only half the preparation. In fact, I believe the majority of guys that fail RAP Week do so because they haven't built up their mental toughness.

So how do you do it?

First: check out the Ranger Training Brigade brief called "Developing Mental Toughness for Ranger School" -- it's a great overview of what they mean by mental toughness, but it's also heavy in confusing charts and graphs that won't mean much to you now. What you need is some concrete advice. Which leads me to . . .

Second: start identifying your mental weaknesses and addressing them head on. Here are some weaknesses and fixes.

PT'ing in your comfort zone. Start finding ways to push yourself extra hard during PT. The very best way is to get a training buddy who has been to Ranger. My buddy used to add on extra "surprise" exercises at the end of a session. I remember doing a full-on sprint workout to the point I thought I'd puke. The second I finished the last sprint, he made me drop down and do Ranger push-ups to failure. The point wasn't to test my push-ups -- it was to test my mental toughness and my ability to go beyond my comfort zone. The feeling you get doing that will be quite familiar once you get to School, and you'll know how to handle it.

Fear of the water. No matter how great of a swimmer you are, you need to spend some time in the water in ACU's and boots. Try treading water for 15 minutes. Try swimming 200 meters with a weapon. Try jumping in the deep end, going to the bottom, and coming back up five times in a row. And don't skip the awesome swim/push-up/sit-up workout on the 90-day PT prep page (day 25). Unlike the normal Combat Water Survival Test, you will fail the Victory Pond day at Ranger School if you show fear or hesitation. Pushing yourself past your comfort zone now will making you look and feel more confident when you have to do the Slide for Life, gear drop, etc.
Rucking like you're walking. This is a big one -- Ranger School is not Air Assault, or the German Proficiency Badge, or your "hardcore" unit ruck. Don't get lulled into thinking you can do what you've always done. By the time you get to the ruck march in RAP Week, you'll be physically and mentally exhausted -- and it's the mental part that will make you fail. When you are rucking in training, mix it up and push your limits. Ruck with a weapon and force yourself to keep it at the low ready the entire time (I would switch from right to left-handed when I got tired). Hit the woods and ruck some shorter distances on steep terrain. Do a few rucks alternating rucking with jogging (but watch your body -- don't break yourself before you get to Ranger!). If you find yourself zoning out and slowing down, you're doing it wrong. If, like me, you genuinely feel like you might start crying on the 16th mile -- good stuff. You're developing mental toughness.
Big ego. Many people fail out of Ranger because of big ego -- ego with Ranger Instructors, ego with peers, and ego with self. As you train up, now's a good time to start humbling yourself. Take that hard-charger attitude that got you this far and shift it a bit -- keep the fire but lose the arrogance. Stop checking out the mirror in the gym and focus on your true fitness. Don't talk about Ranger all the time -- just silently prep for it and show your unit you're the best by acting that way. Help out the guy at your unit who you find the most annoying -- it's good practice for the annoying guy in your squad who you'll be stuck with for months. The more you genuinely convert yourself into a team player now, the easier that adjustment will be when you get to Ranger School. You'll do better on peers, and you'll actually be a better peer -- which is what a Ranger should be.

I'll post more on this topic in the future, but I hope you'll post some thoughts and ask some questions in the comments section.

Prepping your Ranger Handbook

2012-05-09T05:18:00.000-07:00

Insert laminated "cheat sheets"
with index cards.

You made it through RAP Week, and now you're actually at Darby -- ready to start Ranger School for real. If you haven't prepped your Ranger Handbook by now, you are behind the curve. The earlier you get your book ready for the field, the more useful it will be for you and the longer it will last.

Here are the steps:

Laminate both covers. You can use overlapping packing tape, but even better is a solid sheet of Lamination Paper. That way there are no seams for water to leak in (even though it will eventually get soaked, this will keep it in better condition for longer).
Wrap the entire outside in 100 Mph Tape. Be careful not to cover the inside of the front cover, since you'll need it for the Ranger Creed (which you definitely should have memorized already).
Use a pen to poke through the tape and lamination paper covering the two holes at the top of the handbook.
Run 550 cord through the holes, tie each strand into a loop, and cover the knots with 100 Mph Tape or Electrical Tape. NOTE: don't burn down the 550 cord so much that you can't untie the knots. You will need to untie the cord later to insert Index Cards in your handbook.

These plastic tabs hold up
through anything, but bring
extra just in case.

Tab the sections you will need with color index tabs. Make sure you get plastic tabs -- they'll hold up when your handbook gets soaked (as it will).
As you drink from the firehose of classes the first few days, make time to prepare index card inserts for each class. At this moment, making these cards is far more important than getting sleep. You will use them every time you brief and every time you are in leadership -- for the rest of Ranger School.

Pre-Ranger

If you are heading to Pre-Ranger, you will get a copy of the Ranger Handbook there. You can't bring this copy with you to Ranger School. I still strongly recommend you follow the steps above, and treat Pre-Ranger as if it is actually Ranger School. You'll figure out how you want to prep your book, and maybe make some mistakes you'll learn from.

Good luck!