Introduction

dkrr24 · Post by **dkrr24** » June 24th, 2008, 12:48 pm

Hey Rangers, my name is Dillon. I'm just about 17 and currently in the process of getting my forms filled out for the Army. I've been wanting to be a Ranger since I was a little kid. Failure to become a Ranger is not an option. I want to be with the best. If the forms and MEPS goes through just right I should be on track to leave sometime by next July. I'm very excited and I'm expecting hell but it will all be worth it.

Sleepy Doc · Post by **Sleepy Doc** » June 24th, 2008, 1:19 pm

Next July, huh? I guess that means you will be in the delayed entry program and you are trying to secure an "option 40" contract? What kind of PT scores do you have, and more importantly, what MOS are you looking at? (as he emphasizes that "Ranger Medic" is one of the coolest jobs in the world..) Go easy on the "failure is not an option" rhetoric. I assume it wasn't intended, but it can sound patronizing if excessive. You don't sound like that yet, just know it carries little water around these parts. Let your actions do the talking.

That being said, read much, post little, hit up the other DEPs for info as needed. Just do what is asked of you, and keep your responses short, sweet and to the point. I'm sure you will find the site a valuable resource.

Oh yeah, and welcome..

dkrr24 · Post by **dkrr24** » June 24th, 2008, 1:39 pm

Thank you sleepy doc, and yes it is the Option 40 contract, I just haven't gotten to the job deciding part yet (barely got my folks to sign). I haven't taken the PT test yet at future soldiers yet but I'm doing fine, a little work on push ups, but in a years time of waiting to leave I'll have them down. I was being told of taking Advanced Infantry for my MOS but I'm not too familiar of what MOS's there is. I was taking deep thought of taking Medical though because I thought a Ranger Medic would be a pretty awesome job. How do you like it? I apologize for it being patronizing, I just get a lot of crap from people telling me how it's impossible to get and I want to make it clear that I'm going to give it 110%.

Sleepy Doc · Post by **Sleepy Doc** » June 24th, 2008, 2:55 pm

PM inbound

Copperhead · Post by **Copperhead** » June 24th, 2008, 3:07 pm

Dillon,

Welcome to the site. PM inbound.

-Caleb

dkrr24 · Post by **dkrr24** » July 8th, 2008, 1:56 pm

Thought I'd add a bit more since the original intro was a bit lousy. Won't post an update for months. My recruiter made a mistake on my parental consent forms but he said he could secure an 11x Option 40 contract. I still have about a year before I leave which will be much needed to improve my PT scores. They are quite embarrassing but here they are: 2 minute PU's - 37, 2 minute SU's - 73, and 2 mile run - 16:36 minutes. I understand that I'm lacking a bit in PT but that is partially due to my weight. I'm 6 foot and weigh 125 pounds (very underweight). I'm drinking protein shakes and eating a lot healthier and I've noticed I've put on weight very fast. I'm very bright and know everything from Army/Ranger History, to land nav. I'm motivated and I'll continue to stay that way. Thank you very much Rangers for all the information on this sight.

RangerJurena · Post by **RangerJurena** » July 8th, 2008, 4:10 pm

dkrr24 wrote:Thought I'd add a bit more since the original intro was a bit lousy. Won't post an update for months. My recruiter made a mistake on my parental consent forms but he said he could secure an 11x Option 40 contract. I still have about a year before I leave which will be much needed to improve my PT scores. They are quite embarrassing but here they are: 2 minute PU's - 37, 2 minute SU's - 73, and 2 mile run - 16:36 minutes. I understand that I'm lacking a bit in PT but that is partially due to my weight. I'm 6 foot and weigh 125 pounds (very underweight). I'm drinking protein shakes and eating a lot healthier and I've noticed I've put on weight very fast. I'm very bright and know everything from Army/Ranger History, to land nav. I'm motivated and I'll continue to stay that way. Thank you very much Rangers for all the information on this sight.

Easy there killer, comments like the one in bold can only get you in trouble. The odds are you don't know everything about anything including Army/ Ranger History or land nav.

Ranger Bill · Post by **Ranger Bill** » July 9th, 2008, 8:05 am

Welcome and thanks for your desire to become an Army Ranger. Keep us posted on your progress with your recruiter.

dkrr24 · Post by **dkrr24** » August 9th, 2008, 11:36 pm

After about 4 hours of sorting out paperwork that was confusing for the recruiters I am finally on track. I'm going back to the recruiting office on Monday to finish another 2 hours of paperwork and get a piss test done. I have MEPS Monday night and all through Tuesday. Hopefully, by the time I get back I'll have a ship out date.

RangerJurena · Post by **RangerJurena** » August 14th, 2008, 4:59 pm

dkrr24 wrote:After about 4 hours of sorting out paperwork that was confusing for the recruiters I am finally on track. I'm going back to the recruiting office on Monday to finish another 2 hours of paperwork and get a piss test done. I have MEPS Monday night and all through Tuesday. Hopefully, by the time I get back I'll have a ship out date.

SITREP? How did it go?

dkrr24 · Post by **dkrr24** » August 14th, 2008, 9:28 pm

Ranger Jurena, Actually, it went awful. I passed all the phsyical exams except they kept on putting me at the back of the line for everything so it ended up being an 18 hour stay with not much sleep. I failed the color blind test by 1 question. I talked to my counselor and he said he can not give me Airborne with being colorblind. I asked him If I could retake it because I know for a fact that I can pass it. I passed the red/green test 100% hoping that they could make an exception. I see colors just fine, I guess shades are a little tough to see for me. After my counselor saying that he could give me Basic Infantry and "maybe" givin the oppurtunity to go Airborne once I'm in the Army I can "possibly" go to Ranger. Only problem was, the guy looked like a con artist and I couldn't trust a word he said or a word my recruiter said. I called my Father and once I explained to him the situation he told me to walk away. After the counselor called me a "traitor" to the Nation and the Army for not taking the lowest form of Infantry I said thanks for the oppurtunity but I'm going to pass on it. My recruiter wasn't to happy. Now, in no way do I mean to disrespect Basic Infantryman it's just that I signed up for a job and I want THAT job and nothing less. I want that Option 40 contract and I am not going to settle for anything less. My rectuiter said he could get me Airborne after OSUT but not RIP/Ranger School. I tought about it and I took the offer. He called me the next day and said he couldn't get the Airborne but he could get me RIP/Ranger. The story sounded fishy so I need a Ranger's advice. They said after AIT I would go to RIP (to my knowledge you must be Airborne qualified to go to a Battalion and during RIP there is Airborne Operation Training). Later that day they said they can get me a slot for Option 40 because they made an "exception" for my color blindness(it's only a slight case). I got excited and they said it's only a slot, no guarantee's which I understand. Tommorow at 0500 I have to be back to MEPS for swearing in and all that good stuff. If they can't get me Option 40(which there is a good chance they can't) I'm sure they're going to try to sell me the Ranger Contract without Airborne in it. I have a difficult time buying that Contract. If that doesn't work I've been really thinking about being 68W. I'll give a SITREP tommorow morning. I'm hoping that all goes well. If I could give advice to anybody going to MEPS it would be that if you don't feel comfortable with what your counselor is telling you, there is a good reason for it and walk out. Recruiters might act like your buddy but really (99% of the time) their job is to get you to join no matter where you will be at 3 years from now. Don't do a single thing just because they tell you to. My mistake if this was overkill, just had a lot to say. Thanks.

dkrr24 · Post by **dkrr24** » August 15th, 2008, 7:58 pm

After 11 hours of waiting at MEPS things couldn't have gone better. My recruiter worked his butt off and made phone calls. I got an exception and obtained an Option 40 Contract. I swore in today and ship out 20090702. I still have about a year to get in shape which I find to be plenty of time. Training starts tommorow. This site has given such great knowledge about being a Ranger and I look forward to the challenge. I took the word "quit" out of my vocabulary and I will never, never give up.

RangerJurena · Post by **RangerJurena** » August 15th, 2008, 11:26 pm

Being an old goat and not familiar with these processes, who is this "counselor" person?

Seems like my recruiter did most everything to include entering my shit into the computer. Meps was like final signature shit.

dkrr24 · Post by **dkrr24** » August 16th, 2008, 10:35 am

RangerJurena, I'm sure MEPS has changed a whole lot. The counselor is the person you see after taking the "go" from the doctor. He sits down with you (your recruiter is typically suppose to be there in case something goes wrong) and talks to you about what jobs you qualify for(my counselor wouldn't tell me what jobs I qualified for, just the job he wanted me to do which was Basic Infantry). He signs some papers and sends you on your way to get finger printed and swearing in.