Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 10/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: hello sir,my name is akeen i was wanted to ask you how will i be able to get a airborne contact or a path to be a ranger that were i wan be i know i got what it takes.

ANSWER: Akeen,
Before you can become an Army Ranger, you must first join the U.S. Army.  You must sign an Army Ranger contract (select the 11X, Option 40 contract) at the time you enlist.  The Army Ranger contract requires that candidates:
Be at least 18 years old
Have a high school diploma or equivalent
Be a U.S. citizen or resident alien
Be able to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test
Be eligible for a Secret Level Security Clearance

Additionally, you will be required to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test with a score of 50 or higher.  You must also score 110 or better on the General Technical  portion of the ASVAB.

Candidates undergo many months of specialized training before they become Army Rangers.

If you are accepted as an Army Ranger candidate, you will complete 9 weeks of basic training.  After Boot Camp, you will then earn your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 11X by completing Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Additionally, Army Ranger candidates must complete Airborne training. To do this they must graduate from the 3 week Army Airborne School.  Then you'll be assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment to undergo a four-week Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP)at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Get through infantry Basic Combat Training, Airborne School and pass RIP. Once you pass RIP you'll be assigned to one of the three Ranger Battalions.  After you pass RIP and you'll be assigned to a Battalion.  You will deploy with them, train with them and fight with them.

Then you must complete the Ranger Assessment & Selection Program, which has a failure rate of over 50%.  The successful soldier then serves in the 75th Infantry (Ranger) Regiment, on probation, for 6-12 months: he is a "scrolled Ranger" because he wears the 75th's regimental scroll on his uniform; those found unsuitable for Ranger service will be processed out - often as many as 30% fail (or quit) during this probationary period.

Those deemed suitable for transfer to the permanent cadre of the 75th then must complete the Ranger School: an intensive 9 week course in small unit tactics, operational planning & leadership with an emphasis on reconnaissance & raiding.  Successful completion of Ranger School earns the Ranger Tab, at which point the soldier becomes a "Scrolled & Tabbed" Ranger.  You will continue to attend training courses, as appropriate, to enhance your skill set/ capabilities.  Examples of such courses include HALO/ HAHO parachuting, sniper, FAC, demolitions/ field engineering, Special Forces Medic, combat diver, communications specialist etc.

Until any of these actually serve with the Infantry Regiment they are not, strictly speaking, Rangers; rather, they're "Ranger trained".

As you can see, it takes a lot of training to become a Ranger.  You must be sharp mentally as well as in great physical condition.  If you're in that good of physical shape I envy you.

Good luck,
Colonel H



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the answer,sir what would be the path of us army 10th mountain divison,and what would be a better path us army or marines.Is it really rare to score a 110 on the (gt) on the asvab.

Answer
Akeen,
The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) is a light infantry division of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York.  The 10th Mountain Division requires a lot less training than a Ranger.  It specializes in fighting under harsh terrain and weather. The division retains the "mountain" designation for historical purposes but is actually organized as a light infantry division.
All you need do is enter the infantry career field and request to be assigned to the 10th.  There are no guarantees that you'll get it.

As to whether the USMC is better than the Army, it depends upon what you want to get out of it,  If you want to be a sniper or Recon, go with the Marines.  If you want to be a communication-electronics guy, go with the Army.  The choice is really yours, you can'i go wrong with either.

Scoring 110 on the General Technical portion of the ASVAB is not that difficult.  500 is a perfect score.

Colonel H