Ranger school/ Becoming a Ranger...

[dangerdan87]

Ok, so I am an Infantry Marine and I know a couple of guys who went to Ranger School while in the Marines. Now my question is, and I have heard this alot, is becoming a Ranger about the same as a Marine coming out of SOI (ITB)? I've looked at what the training consisted of. Weather or not it was accurate or not, the course did look somewhat similar to SOI, maybe a little bit easier. The guys I know that attended the course said it was more like a refresher than advanced training.

I am not looking for biased answers...


I'm just wondering about this because I had a run-in with an Army Sgt that had a Ranger tab last deployment. He come up to my post to give me an azz chewin because I had my SAW gunner chew the Sgt's turret gunner out for clearing out a M240 directly at our post. The Sgt didnt like that and came up onto our post after took his gear off and was pointing to his tab whilst trying scare us. He said we would die if we ever went to Ranger School rofl
Needless to say, we got him off the post pretty damn quick after that :)

[Albatross]

I just want to clarify your question.

Are you asking if SOI and Ranger School are basically the same thing?

[dangerdan87]

From what I'm hearing, graduating Ranger School is about the equivalent as a Marine graduating SOI (ITB).
I suppose if someone here that has been through Ranger school coulp post about the training, then we could compare.
I did a quick search on google and the only real thing I could find was water survival training. We dont do that in SOI (ITB), because we did that in boot.

[Albatross]

SOI and AIT for infantry are the same thing.

[MPNFL]

well first off, weapons safety doesn't stop at anyone's rank or tab, but I wasn't there.

Ranger School is a leadership course designed to see if you can put out as a leader when your tired as hell and worn the fcuk out. from what I would imagine the philosophy behind SOI for the Marines to be would be like the Army's AIT in Infantry School: you're told the basics of how a platoon/squad operates and what to expect to do as an E1 (basically).

[Albatross]

BrianT is the only active Ranger posting now that I am aware of. We may have a few more tabs floating around. Not to be a ****, but can you throw up SOI for starters.

[digrar]

Your story proves that you can be an arsehole and have a tab too and that you probably shouldn't believe the parochial interservice trash talking.
I don't know about your Infantry training, but I certainly wasn't in a position to lead a platoon through all the phases of warfare when I marched out, how about you?

[dangerdan87]

All I could currently find is ITB-East's schedule. I was west coast, but the ITB-West schedule link was not working. I assume East and West ITB is essentially the same, except there are bigger mountains on the west coast.

http://www.marines.mil/unit/tecom/soieast/itb/Pages/Expect.aspx

[dangerdan87]

well first off, weapons safety doesn't stop at anyone's rank or tab, but I wasn't there.

I think they guy was just trying to be a d!ck, coming in a Marine FOB and having Marines correct his guys and was insinuating that hes better than me with his tab.

All I could currently find is ITB-East's schedule. I was west coast, but the ITB-West schedule link was not working. I assume East and West ITB is essentially the same, except there are bigger mountains on the west coast.

http://www.marines.mil/unit/tecom/soieast/itb/Pages/Expect.aspx
The link above doesnt go into detail too much.


I certainly wasn't in a position to lead a platoon through all the phases of warfare when I marched out, how about you?

I havn't said anything about leading platoon nor am I posting about leadership.

[digrar]

That's what the Ranger course is all about, if it churned out people equal to USMC SOI, then you'd be able to do that.

[KEEPER0311]

I've got a feeling my fellow grunt has been pounding back a few. Take a rest bud, we've all got stories of running into heinous service members from other branches.

[dangerdan87]

i've got a feeling my fellow grunt has been pounding back a few. Take a rest bud, we've all got stories of running into heinous service members from other branches.

:grin:

1234567

[James]

I believe infantry training for the USMC is loner than the army, (in 1993-94 when I was in boot camp was 13 weeks and SOI was another 8) but it's far from Ranger school. When I was in SOI we slept in the barracks almost every night and ate 3 square meals a day, for starters... I think a Marine who claims SOI = Ranger School is talking trash, kind of like telling a sniper "I hope you can hit at 800 meters, you've got a 10X scope!" As for the sergeant in the OP, I suspect he was embarrassed that his gunner cleared is weapon the way he did and didn't like being corrected by young Marines, so he lashed out in a lame way. I'm going to hazard a guess that he was not in a Ranger BN.

[andrewpotts]

I believe infantry training for the USMC is loner than the army, (in 1993-94 when I was in boot camp was 13 weeks and SOI was another 8) but it's far from Ranger school. When I was in SOI we slept in the barracks almost every night and ate 3 square meals a day, for starters... I think a Marine who claims SOI = Ranger School is talking trash, kind of like telling a sniper "I hope you can hit at 800 meters, you've got a 10X scope!" As for the sergeant in the OP, I suspect he was embarrassed that his gunner cleared is weapon the way he did and didn't like being corrected by young Marines, so he lashed out in a lame way. I'm going to hazard a guess that he was not in a Ranger BN.

James I'm pretty sharp most times but I'm having a huge brain fart at the moment because I don't get the sniper analogy..........lol.......lol........lol....... Is it because a sniper can hit at 800 meters with iron sights and doesn't need optics....? Also I agree Ranger School is more difficult than SOI training. Andrew

[KB]

Ranger School is a tough school and much more demanding than average US infantry training. It's not a cakewalk, but I sent a number of NCOs from my company to Ranger School; all passed and one graduated as honor man of his class.

You can have a Budweiser, HALO wings, SF tab, EGA, etc, but no class has a screen to completely eliminate buttplugs from making it through. Sounds like you encountered one.

[BrianT]

Pointing to your tab trying to intimidate people is complete doucebagery especially if you were ****ed up. With that said, quite a few SF guys, SEALs, Marines, and even Battboys have gone to Ranger School and walked away without their tab. I'm guessing the majority of these guys would have no problem with SOI(The attrition rate for SOI I'm guessing is quite small). Ranger School isn't some crazy 'high speed' training. Its a huge gut check and a leadership course. But by all means feel free to think SOI has put you at a 'Ranger level of training.' I've heard it quite a bit from usually young cocky Marines.

[Troubadour]

This sounds exactly like the time my former friend after joining the Navy and after being attached to Marines began to say things such as "Army medics are incompetent and can't save lives."

[dangerdan87]

So...Ranger School kinda sounds similar to our Squad Leaders Course.

[NineLine]

So...Ranger School kinda sounds similar to our Squad Leaders Course.


Not really. I'd put it some where near IOC. I don't think the attrition levels are comparable though. Any Marine thinks that he is "better than anyone else" because he made it through Boot camp or SOI needs to get his ass hazed by his Staff NCOs for a good minute. Most of those guys haven't done jack in their careers to warrant popping off at the mouth and even if they did the douchenozzlery of trying to justify it blows my mind.

[BrianT]

Yes if your getting 2 meals a day, 2 hours of sleep, and you've been walking with 100lbs of **** day in and day out through swamps, mountains, and woods then yes. I'm guessing SLC is more similar to the Army's BNCOC. The Marines don't have a similar course hence why they send Marines, so you're not going to find a comparative. As far as attrition rate goes, it's probably more similar to Recon Indoctrination.

[James]

So...Ranger School kinda sounds similar to our Squad Leaders Course.

No, and, as a fellow Marine, I'm becoming embarrassed. Please let it go.

[James]

I'm guessing SLC is more similar to the Army's BNCOC. The Marines don't have a similar course hence why they send Marines, so you're not going to find a comparative. As far as attrition rate goes, it's probably more similar to Recon Indoctrination.

This is pretty close. When I was in, the squad leader's course was for infantry NCOs. There was also a Sergeant's course that was open to any MOS, and Division Schools often ran Corporal's courses. I attended the 3rd MarDiv CPLs course in 1997 even though I was only a few months from getting out. It was two weeks, all classroom and drill. As you say, the USMC really doesn't have an equivalent to Ranger School, which is why we send Marines to Ranger School. I suspect even MARSOC guys today are still going to Ranger School at some point in the pipeline.

Having been a young Marine, I will admit that we often have the knack for being astonishingly arrogant and cocky, something I myself was once guilty of, and for which I apologize.

[digrar]

Hindsight is a bitch isn't it James? I've had those flash backs to being a painful 20 year old Infantryman, in a crowd of other painful 20 year old Infantrymen, cringe worthy.

[oldspice]

I think we can best answer the question of "How hard is Ranger School?" by turning to YouTube.
I believe the best phrase to query is "Ranger School Promo" followed by turning up the volume.
"You'll fight tigers!"

The coolest thing I heard about Ranger Schools it that you get to "assault" Florida. How cool is that! Most people I know just want to get out of here :)

[DnA]

The coolest thing I heard about Ranger Schools it that you get to "assault" Florida. How cool is that! Most people I know just want to get out of here :)

They don't "assualt" Florida... The Airborne qualified pers parachute into the base and the non Airborne pers take a bus.

[Apogee]

Ranger school ain't easy, nor is it designed to make you a squad leader like your USMC course. Instead, its a leadership lab. Ranger School by design stresses you in every way possible short of actual combat, and then they make you leader your fellow Rangers. Does it make you super man? No, of course not. Does it make you cooler than anyone else? Nope. But it does separate those who can lead under terrible conditions and those who can't. It was hard when I went in '06 and from what I hear, it continues to be hard. If you fancy a fun 2-6 months, put in a 4187 or whatever your service equivalent is and man up.


EDIT: We had one Marine in my class and he did well. As did the SEAL that was with us. By in large most people that attend Ranger School are (1) Infantry Officers, (2) members of the 75th RGR RGT (3) LRS or (4) members of AFSOC.

[Cipher]

EDIT: We had one Marine in my class and he did well. As did the SEAL that was with us. By in large most people that attend Ranger School are (1) Infantry Officers, (2) members of the 75th RGR RGT (3) LRS or (4) members of AFSOC.
Can infantry soldiers on active duty just volunteer to go to Ranger School? Do they have to be NCO's?

[Commander Shepard]

Can infantry soldiers on active duty just volunteer to go to Ranger School? Do they have to be NCO's?

Its not just for infantrymen though they do end up being the majority there. I believe only 75th Ranger Regiment can send PFCs (E3s), every other unit is subject to the minimum rank of E4 requirement unless waived on a case by case basis.

As far as getting orders to go, it depends on where you are stationed. Soldiers permanently assigned to Fort Benning don't need orders or a hard slot, you can show up as a walk-on as long as your chain of command is OK with it. 9 times out of 10 if its not a spring/summer class there is room to spare, especially considering how many people drop out during RAP week.

If you're not from Fort Benning then you'd need orders and a slot to go.

[Dominique]

Here's a crazy idea, why don't you ask one of the Marines that's actually attended Ranger school what it was like, I'm sure they'll be more than willing to provide you with a breakdown of day to day activities, and how it compares to other training courses they've attended.

[Apogee]

Just to caveat what MacGyver said. You also need to complete a Pre-Ranger Course (PRC). Most BDEs or DIVs will run a PRC at some point. The National Guard and 75th both run PRCs at FT Benning throughout the year.

[Commander Shepard]

Just to caveat what MacGyver said. You also need to complete a Pre-Ranger Course (PRC). Most BDEs or DIVs will run a PRC at some point. The National Guard and 75th both run PRCs at FT Benning throughout the year.

Agreed, though there are a few exceptions to the rule on the enlisted side.

[John2Fast11]

So if you are in a Batt is it required that you go to Ranger School and get "tabbed?"

[Dominique]

So if you are in a Batt is it required that you go to Ranger School and get "tabbed?"

You'll eventually be required to go.

[John2Fast11]

You'll eventually be required to go.

Not to beat this to death, but I thought it Ranger School was required for soldiers in the Regiment who were looking to be combat leaders

[dangerdan87]

Not to beat this to death, but I thought it Ranger School was required for soldiers in the Regiment who were looking to be combat leaders

Usually depending on your billet, you can request to go. I know some Marine snipers who have went. Marine Recon usually has a quota to fill for Ranger school.