Fat-Bodied Old Man (Fbom)

[Fbom]

Rangers, thank you for the time and effort necessary to make this resource (armyranger.com) available. More importantly, thank you, Rangers and Veterans, for your service to our great country.

I'm fat-bodied (around 250 lbs.) and relatively old (almost 35 years-old). Despite that, I have decided to join the military. My sole intention is to join the brotherhood of the 75th Ranger Regiment. For a variety of reasons that I've collected over the past 15 years or so, this is not an easy or flippant decision for me to have made.

During the journey up to this decision, I've witnessed many road signs and mile markers that have directed my path. I've experienced bends and breaks in my road that, frankly, I hope many of the younger Ranger recruits will have the good fortune of avoiding. For me, this isn't about becoming a "Spec Ops guy". When I was a boy growing up, my friends and I didn't daydream about night vision goggles and flash bangs. No, we daydreamed about the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and nuclear fallout - what can I say, it was the 80s. In fact, my first introduction to U.S. special operations forces was in high school when I watched the movie "Navy SEALS" starring Charlie Sheen. All joking aside, I first heard mention of U.S. Army Rangers in 1993 (Somalia) and only then again with the media coverage of Ranger Tillman (RIP) in the years shortly after 9/11. So, as you may have noticed, I had no real exposure to the U.S. Army Rangers until I discovered this website.

I have not yet met with my local area recruiter, and I do not plan to do so until I am in acceptable physical condition. I understand that the recruiter may have to spend more of his time on me to reserve an Option 40 contract, especially when compared to the other, non-Option 40, recruits. According to the current USAREC message on Opt. 40 contracts, as posted by Ranger goon175 on 7/19/10, the prerequisite Option 40 PT score is 240 or above, with a minimum of 80 points per event, by the end of AIT. As a non-traditional recruit, I plan to achieve this PT score by the time I meet with the recruiter to initiate the enlistment process. While I am a high school graduate, I do not have a college degree. Over the years, I have earned some college credits however, I have discovered that I could achieve any of the following two but not all three: academic fulfillment, a stable job to pay the bills, be a responsible role model and father to my now teenaged son.

Since the physical shape I am currently in is best described as "round and doughy", I will begin SGM Rush's "Maximize your APFT score", as posted by Ranger Silverback. I will return with an initial APFT assesment score 3 weeks from today, on October 3rd, with monthly follow-up assessments after that.

All that needs to be said, has already been said by the Rangers of this site. This is a site created by Rangers for Rangers. As a guest, I have very little value to add so I will read more and post less. Any questions I had were already answered. I found them by the utilizing the search function - the answers that I didn't find were to questions that don't matter.

My Goals
Now: Lose the fat body
Later: Option 40 contract

On 1/10/03, Ranger Spartan (RIP) explained how I am to succeed in this journey.

I need nothing more.

Very respectfully,

Fbom

[Elguapo]

Welcome. You have some pretty big goals. Only you can make it happen. Good luck!

Wolverines!

[Bravo57]

Welcome to the site. Good intro, and never quit on your goals.

I look forward to your P.T. results on October 3rd.

[Ranger Ron]

Welcome to ArmyRanger.com. Only you can keep you from achieving your goals. If you want it bad enough you will certainly get it. NEVER QUIT!

[Silverback]

I look forward to your P.T. results on October 3rd.

This date is important to you in ways he may never know or understand.

[Bravo57]

I look forward to your P.T. results on October 3rd.

This date is important to you in ways he may never know or understand.

He'll figure it out. He had a decent intro.

[Fbom]

Ranger Elguapo, Ranger Bravo57, and Ranger RangerRon thank you for the welcomes.

Ranger Bravo57, and Ranger Silverback, I have taken notice of my lack of situational awareness. I understand that, in the future, I may be in a position where my brothers to the left and right of me will be depending my SA and they will not tolerate such carelessness. Thank you for allowing me to adjust accordingly.

I will post my initial PT results no later than midnight (PST), Friday, October 1, 2010.

[Fbom]

Push-Ups: 16
Sit-Ups: 18
2 Mile Run: over 22 minutes

Failure to meet minimum standards.

I have established my baseline performance. I am also adjusting so that I can continue driving forward.

I was reading more, posting less. Now, I will be PT'ing more, posting less.

[Fbom]

... I'm too damn old!

On 1 APR, 2011, I was cockblocked by the Army when they lowered the max age from 42 to 35 (I hit 35 in Jan '11). I'm so fucking pissed off... at myself! If the Army decides to raise the age limit again (I doubt they will though), I'll be ready.

Rangers, this will be my last post and log-in... unless I find some other way in...

[Elmo]

Almost everything is waiverable. I was told I was too old in 2005 when I wanted to enlist with an OCS contract, but I got a waiver no problem. If your recruiter tells you that you are too old and that is the end of the story, he is not trying very hard (and if you take no for an answer, neither are you). Go back and tell him you want to try to get an age waiver. If he doesn't even try, then go to another recruiter. After getting my age waiver, my recruiter called me and told me I was "permanently medically disqualified" from military service because I had lasik surgery back in 1998. He looked at me expecting me to walk out the door but I asked him to try for another waiver and he said he would. I could tell he did not want to do the extra work, but a week later he called back and said I got the waiver.
Hopefully your PT score has improved since your scores from September. Post some recent scores if you have any.

And quit saying you are too old. I turned 35 last year, in Ranger School.

[K.Ingraham]

Timing is everything. Keep working out to make sure you are ready when they raise the age again. Be prepared to consider alternative paths - the reserve components, Marine infantry, lots of good ways to serve, but you need to be lucky: "Luck: when preparation meets opportunity".

Post you latest PT scores and drive on.