Introduction - Andrew

[LionsDen]

Andrew, as you are in contact with the other mentees. please remind everyone to work on their task-list as the holiday season approaches. Never, never quit!

Roger, Ranger Jim.

[LionsDen]

Rangers,
As it has been a while since I posted something of substance, I thought I should post a SITREP. Two weeks ago, I was promoted to squad leader in my Law Enforcement class. There's a lot of quirks that comes with managing 4 other kids in a class that I didn't realize. So far, it's worked out well. We've had finals last week and this week, as well. My grades are borderline in my math class, and I've been busy trying my best to keep those up. I took the OPAT this week, and the results are below. Apparently, the standard PT test is being replaced with the OPAT by next year. I also hit a new 2-mile record of 12:32 on 20161204.

OPAT 20161206
Standing Long Jump: 234 cm
Seated power throw: 560 cm
Strength Deadlift: 220 pounds (which is very low, but the max)
Shuttle Run: Level 10-4

Us mentees have made a group chat and added one more person, so the mentee list now includes: J031, letmeinplease, belman1, KeepRunning3, and I.

I will have an update to my task list within 24 hours.

[Jim]

Excellent update. Please continue to encourage all the mentees to work on their task-lists. Saltydog will be joining you shortly. Never, never quit!

[LionsDen]

Rangers,
PT Update 20170101
Push Up - 71
Sit Up - 73
2 Mile - 12:55
Pull Up - 15

Score: 292/300

My push-up score dropped noticeably because a 2LT fresh out of OCS came back to our recruiting office and dropped me for push-ups, to see how we were looking. That wasn't my first time hearing "25, 26, 26.... 26.... 27" so my focus now is to really ensure I am fully locking my elbows at the top. I would rather slow down and not have as high of a number than practice wrong and set myself up for failure. My score did increase from last time, because despite my drop in push ups I still maxed the push up and increased my sit ups as well.

SITREP 20170101

I was recently given both the Land Navigation FM and the RAW (Ranger Athlete Warrior) PT books. I am incorporating RAW into my workouts, and am planning a sample week right now. It's more of a guideline than a strict regime, so I have to set it up myself. As for the Land Nav Field Manual, that's a must-read over the time I have left before I ship.
I spun out the other day and hit a stationary object on the highway near my house when the temperatures dropped to near-zero. It was a lack of caution on my part, even though I was under the speed limit, and a wake up call to be more careful so I don't mess it up before I ship. Funny story though, I took my car to the shop and my buddy was supposed to pick me up. As I walk out, I watch him take off and leave me - supposedly he had a final to take. I got to run the 5 and a quarter miles home, in the 5 degree weather through snow with only my brand new shoes, jeans, and a hoodie. I made sure he got an earful after that, but, life goes on. Those in Ranger School have it far tougher than I do.

[LionsDen]

Rangers,
PT Update 20170115
Push up - 73
Sit up - 67
2 mile - 12:29
Pull up -15
Score: 289/300

5 mile 20170107 - 34:59

[Jim]

Good SITREPs. Andrew. Please encourage everyone to update their task-list on the five mentee thread. Never, never quit!

[LionsDen]

Good SITREPs. Andrew. Please encourage everyone to update their task-list on the five mentee thread. Never, never quit!

Roger, Ranger Jim. Everyone in the group chat (J031, Pope, CH525, Belman1, and KeepRunning3) have all acknowledged they need to have an update on or before the first of each month, and at a size that allows for completion before shipping. That includes myself, as well.

[Jim]

Andrew, nobody has posted on the five mentees thread since last Sunday. A week has passed. Never, never quit!

[LionsDen]

Andrew, nobody has posted on the five mentees thread since last Sunday. A week has passed. Never, never quit!

Ranger Jim,
I apologize on behalf of us mentees. Pushing out 50+1 incline, and there will be at least 2 updates within the next 24 hours, and all of ours within 60 hours. For me, the current time is 15:15 on Sunday 20170129.

[LionsDen]

Rangers,
PT Test 20170131
Push up - 84
Sit up - 67
2 mile - 11:49
Pull up - 14

This PT was my first PT that was graded by someone else - this time, a Drill Sergeant turned recruiter graded me. I think I need to switch up my core workouts, I'm not seeing the progress I need to see. I got a couple good ideas last monday from a friend, so I'll see if they help at all for the next PT test.

Sitrep 20170201
I met a former Vietnam-era Ranger named Tony at my local home depot. However, I have doubts about his claim. First, he inly mentioned Ranger School, not RIP. Secondly, he claimed he was so well fed at Ranger School he left weighing 225 in pure muscle. He said he served from '69-'74 and attended Ranger School in '71. I'm not calling him a liar but I have skepticism.

One thing I'd like to bring up is the attention to detail stressed here and everywhere in life. I started training to compete on a CSI team for SkillsUSA, a venue for our Law Enforcement program to test ourselves against others. Our first competition is this weekend, and I've heard the words "attention to detail" more times in the last week than ever before. It's all part of investigative work, but it made me think of the hundreds of times I've read "attention to detail" on these forums.

Lastly, pushing out 50+1 inclines for one mentee not posting in the promised time frame. We all are working to improve our image as a group, and we recognize we need to get it together with the task list updates.

[Jim]

Rangers,
Sitrep 20170201
I met a former Vietnam-era Ranger named Tony at my local home depot. However, I have doubts about his claim. First, he inly mentioned Ranger School, not RIP. Secondly, he claimed he was so well fed at Ranger School he left weighing 225 in pure muscle. He said he served from '69-'74 and attended Ranger School in '71. I'm not calling him a liar but I have skepticism.

Andrew, a couple comments on this. I graduated in Ranger Class 13-71. I started the week after graduating from OCS, so I was in excellent shape and weighed around 155 pounds. At RS graduation, I weighed 135. We ate well in the mountains (blueberry pancakes), but only got one C Ration a day during the 10 day patrol in Florida. I share your skepticism. In addition, in 1971, RIP / RASP did not exist, there were no Ranger Battalions. There were several LRRP/Ranger companies on AD and ARNG.

[LionsDen]

Andrew, a couple comments on this. I graduated in Ranger Class 13-71. I started the week after graduating from OCS, so I was in excellent shape and weighed around 155 pounds. At RS graduation, I weighed 135. We ate well in the mountains (blueberry pancakes), but only got one C Ration a day during the 10 day patrol in Florida. I share your skepticism. In addition, in 1971, RIP / RASP did not exist, there were no Ranger Battalions. There were several LRRP/Ranger companies on AD and ARNG.

Ranger Jim,

Ah. I apologize, I'll need to read up some more on the Vietnam-era then. As for the food selection in mountain phase, was that a regular thing? And was there a reason/catch to the nicer foods, perhaps they fed you and then made you run? I wouldn't mind blueberry pancakes every day :)

Very, very similar to Ranger Jim--Ranger School November 71-January 72 (Class 7-72); started at about 155 as well and weighed 131 when we returned to Ft. Benning from the Florida Phase. I know of people who gained weight in Basic Training (and needed to do so) but don't know of anyone like you describe here.

Ranger GTP,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I think I'll have to go back and talk some more to this man to see what's really going on. If you don't mind me asking, how tall were you at that time?

[LionsDen]

5' 7"

Ranger GTP,
Wow, that's a significant amount of weight for your height. All of the Ranger School weight loss stories have their own level of craziness, but apparently that's just what one MRE a day does to people. Thank you for the insight.