Question about Rangers and career

[dvpj]

Hey, I'm an old Navy guy and have a couple of questions.
1. Is the Ranger designator a skill ID that is billeted for in all combat arms units, or is it just found in the Rgts?
What I mean is, are the skills learned used/required by units other than Ranger Rgts.

2. Are the skills of an Airborne Ranger any better, besides the ability to decend via silk?

3. Are there a lot of Ranger tabs out there worn by men with no real need for the skills? I mean do you find many finance people or mechanics sporting the tab?

4. What seems to be the oldest age of an operating Ranger out there, some one really doing it not a CSM in an admin role? Or do the senior enlisted fill operational billets?

Just an old Navy guy curious that's all.

[Sharky]

The old saying is "The tab is a school, the scroll is a way of life." Ranger school is a tactical leadership course and a serious gut check. But it is only a school. The other old saying is "a tab doth not a Ranger make." The Ranger regiment is a Special Operations Unit. In battalion, it's not over after 58 days. (Not sure how long it is these days)It is your life and will stay with you for the rest of your life. There are many people in the army with Ranger tabs who never have and never will serve in the regiment. No disrespect towards them. Not everybody can be in the Regiment. But, yes, they take those skills and even better, the mindset, back to their units and apply it. The Regiment and the school are two totally different things. As for the older Rangers, I can only speak for when I was there but I'm sure very little has changed. Our E-8's, E-9's, O-5's and O-6's were not only operational but they smoked many a young Ranger. In the Regiment everybody takes the same PT test. Everyone is scored in the 18-21 bracket no matter what your age or rank may be. This was true of everyone from the lowest private to the Regimental Commander. Nobody gets a break. Everyone performs to the same standard. A good example would be CSM Leon-Guerrero. He was our Regimental CSM but could still do more PT than 95% of the guys in the regiment. Oh well, I'll shut up now. Hope this helped answer some of your questions.

------------------
F.I.D.O.

[dvpj]

So the black and yellow tab are an indicator of completing the school, while the larger black, red, and white scroll tell me that the wearer is in or was in a Ranger Regiment.
Okay!

I sort of thought of the course as a leadership development school in a combat environment. I've known a few Marines several years ago from Camp Pendelton that attended some or several portions of the course and spoke well of it.

It does me well to hear of more senior operators holding their own and leading from the front! In the dive and EOD business we have our share of forward leaders, but there are not as many as most would like to see.

I fear that our leading edge troops, are being lead by younger less experienced men. Not that being young is an indicator of no ability, but with the experience of time and seeing mistakes comes an invaluable wisdom.

Granted exprience comes from being placed in new situations, but that fresh face needs a shoe leather face to look to for guidance.

I had a phone conversation some time ago and an old friend was speaking of the way many senior leaders with drive, respect, and ability are kept busy "informing" civilian leadership (of canned opinions) and showing off there badges and ribbons to visiting VIPs.

It's good to hear of the troops being lead from the front.

Thanks fro getting back.....

and thank you Tom for the forum!!

[Dark Helmet]

Originally posted by dvpj:
...but with the experience of time and seeing mistakes comes an invaluable wisdom....


Just wanted to say that that is a wonderful line.