Intro-Phil

[Jim]

however college is definitely something that I'd like to do at some point. To me, enlisting as soon as possible and completing college while in battalion sounds like a great plan.

Given the Operational Tempo of the Ranger Battalions, your chances of going to college while in a unit is unlikely.

[Sleepy Doc]

Roger that Ranger The Sleepy Doc! As of now, promotions don't seem that important to me, the Army could pay me in pebbles and I'd be happy, however college is definitely something that I'd like to do at some point. To me, enlisting as soon as possible and completing college while in battalion sounds like a great plan, however I will definitely consider college first, if you believe that to be a better plan.
Thank you for you advice and welcome!

Ahh, Grasshopper.. It is not what I feel is the best plan, it is what you think is the best plan. You, and you alone must make that decision. I'me merely pointing out something you may not have considered yet. Either or will get you to your stated goal. I'm not saying you won't be able to do college classes while in Batt, especially with all of the online distance learning that is available now. Shit, you can take classes from MIT and Harvard online that will count towards a degree nowdays. What I'm trying to say is that while in Battalion your first job will be to learn everything you can about how to kill bad guys. Your second job is to become the best you can at your MOS, whether you are a cook, medic, radio repairman.. whatever. If the first two take all of your time, there is precious little time for anything else.

To be honest, I'm not really sure how it would be with the modern operations tempo. I'm basing it on what I saw almost 15 years ago during peacetime. I'm sure one of the youngsters around her could better answer that. There are members of this site that started right where you are now, made it to Batt, did multiple deployments, and have since ETS'd. Look around. Do some searching. I'm pretty sure that question has been addressed somewhere. Good luck with it.

[Sleepy Doc]

Perhaps you are confusing the two. To reiterate Jim's post, you won't have time to physically go to a college classroom setting, even part time. Distance learning is available, but it would take a ridiculously long amount of time to complete a traditional college degree while in Batt. If you want to go to college, go to college. If you want to be a Ranger, do that. At this point, you have plenty of time to do both.

[GreySpe95]

Thank you for your counsel Ranger Jim and Ranger The Sleepy Doc. When it comes down to it, my dream is to be a Ranger, not to go to college. If I get the chance to go to college after my goal of making it to the 75th is realized, I will take it if it doesn't interfere. I will definitely look further into the options for online classes, if I'm able to get some credits completed while I'm serving I will, however I do of course realize that there are other priorities, especially in a high speed group like the Rangers. Thank you for this alternative perspective Ranger The Sleepy Doc, I greatly appreciate any words of advice from a Ranger

[Jim]

Thank you for your counsel Ranger Jim and Ranger The Sleepy Doc. When it comes down to it, my dream is to be a Ranger, not to go to college. If I get the chance to go to college after my goal of making it to the 75th is realized, I will take it if it doesn't interfere. I will definitely look further into the options for online classes, if I'm able to get some credits completed while I'm serving I will, however I do of course realize that there are other priorities, especially in a high speed group like the Rangers. Thank you for this alternative perspective Ranger The Sleepy Doc, I greatly appreciate any words of advice from a Ranger

When you serve in the Army, you will get college credits. As an example, I went to Methodist College in Fayetteville, NC. BTW, I am a member of the Alumni BOD. They gave me credit for going to the Vietnmese language school and serving as an advisor. While I was in Viet-Nam, I took end of course tests for the basic undergraduate junk courses. I spent a semester and a summer at Methodist. It can be done.

[GreySpe95]

Roger that Ranger Jim. I'll do more research on the topic and find out what all my options are. Thank you for the info Ranger Jim

[Jim]

Roger that Ranger Jim. I'll do more research on the topic and find out what all my options are. Thank you for the info Ranger Jim

With experience, you discover options exist for almost anything you want to accomplish.

[GreySpe95]

Good afternoon gentleman! Sit Rep here.

Fast forward past graduation, I was offered a spot to wrestle Greco-Roman at an Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University.
I decided that wrestling at such a high level would not only give me great conditioning, an almost free education, but also some hand-to-hand combat experience, so I accepted the spot and am now in my 4th week in the program.
As of now, my plan is to enlist after I graduate with an Opt.40 contract, however I know that when trying to get contracts that require certain security clearances, debt can prevent one from being eligible, so my question is this; after I graduate I will have a good amount of debt in student loans, however, since this debt is "healthy", will it prevent me from securing an Opt.40 contract?
Thank you for your time and service men! Have a good day

[Jim]

Thank you for letting us know what your decision was. You know where to find us. Never, never quit!

[GreySpe95]

Good afternoon everyone, quick PT sitrep here.

Pushups: 81
Situps: 66
Pullups: 9
2 Mile Run: Not Completed.

My IT band is causing some bad knee pain, I was advised to rest it until it's 100%, hopefully I'll be running again soon. I'm able to ruck, so I have been doing that instead of running.

Thank you,
GreySpe95

[Jim]

My IT band is causing some bad knee pain, I was advised to rest it until it's 100%, hopefully I'll be running again soon. I'm able to ruck, so I have been doing that instead of running.

Did your MD give you permission to ruck? Ensure you heal fully. Never, never quit!

[GreySpe95]

Ranger Jim, my athletic trainer said to avoid any activities that cause pain and everything else is ok. I'm able to ruck without pain unless I jog too fast, so I think that I'm alright. I also reduced the weight in my pack from 45lbs to 30lbs, so that took some strain off my knee as well.

[Jim]

Ranger Jim, my athletic trainer said to avoid any activities that cause pain and everything else is ok. I'm able to ruck without pain unless I jog too fast, so I think that I'm alright. I also reduced the weight in my pack from 45lbs to 30lbs, so that took some strain off my knee as well.

Take it easy and completely heal. Never, never quit!

[GreySpe95]

Roger that Ranger Jim, will do!

[GreySpe95]

PT Update as of 07022014:
2 minute timed pushups: 78
2 minute timed situps: 72
Continuous dead-hang pullups: 10
2 mile timed run: incomplete due to knee injury

Thank you,
Greyspe95