Introduction - Brad

[Brad]

Hello everyone, my name is Brad. I am a 23 year old looking to enlist as a 68w with an Option 40 contract. I am currently scheduled to take the ASVAB next Tuesday and the physical as soon as my medical documents are in.

I graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2014 with a Master's in Accounting and passed the CPA right after that. I worked for a year at a forensic accounting firm doing economic damages analysis and fraud investigation. Although parts of that job were challenging and engaging, ultimately I realized that a 9-5 office job is not for me. While I was in college I stumbled upon a job as a personal care attendant for a man with SMA. That experience made me realize that I'm at my best when I'm taking care of other people.

I had a pretty severe ankle sprain with bone contusions back in July from a rock climbing accident. I have been training ever since I got out of the boot about 2.5 months ago. My running mileage is pretty low right now (4 miles per week) and I am increasing it by 10% every week. I have had to cross train for cardio.

My current scores are as follows:
Push-ups: 52
Sit-ups: 57
2-mile: 15:00
Pull-ups: 16

I have a lot of improvement to do, but I'm confident I can hit my goal of a 300 APFT by the time I ship for basic. Right now the recruiter is saying that I'm looking at a mid February ship date at the earliest. They can't start to pull contracts for me until after I'm okay-ed on the physical. I've already told them that I want 68w Option 40 and they immediately started feeding me lines about how hard it is going to be to get. I told them that's what I wanted and that I will wait for it. However, privately I'm thinking if they have not gotten me an Option 40 by mid March I would be willing to take an Option 4 and just apply for RASP at Airborne.

Anyway, I have been lurking on this site for about a month now so I figured I should go ahead and introduce myself. This site has provided a lot of useful information for me and I am excited to be a part of this community.

[Jim]

Welcome Btad. If you truly want to earn a place in the 75th Ranger Regiment, you came to the right site. We at armyranger.com take a great deal of pride in the young men who pass through here on their life journey. Please tell us more about yourself. Why do you want to be a Ranger? You established a PT baseline to build on, so we look forward ty your posting your APFT scores. Most of the questions you might have can be addressed by using the search feature, located on the top right of this page. Please read the FAQs, as well as select stickies and threads. Never, never quit!

[CharlieRanger1FFV]

Welcome to the site, Brad.


RLTW!!!

[Brad]

Thank you for the welcome Rangers. When I was first considering my next step after quitting my job, I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare, because to me nothing compares to the feeling of taking care of people who are suffering and in pain. I considered paramedic, nursing, PT, PA, NP, MD. But then my friend in the Army recommended I consider going in as a medic. He argued that the Army was a better fit for me because I am an outdoorsman (eagle scout and very experienced backpacker), fitness enthusiast, and basically a masochist. I take pride in striving to be the best at everything that I do, and would like to surround myself with people of the same mindset. It would be a great honor to serve among the best of the Army and to be the guy that has their back when things go downhill.

[Jim]

Try this link. You should find it helpful. Have you contacted an Army Recruiter? Look at the letters from school for a discussion of Ranger Medic training.

http://www.benning.army.mil/tenant/75th ... uiting.htm

[Brad]

Hello all, just wanted to give a SITREP.

There are several issues slowing down the enlistment process. First I had plantar warts on both feet. I had to get multiple chemotherapy injections to get rid of them. Recruiter said that they would be an immediate disqualifier and they needed to be gone before submitting med documents. Because of this I did not submit medical documents until the last week of April.

Second, I took pills for ADD in middle school and high school. I stopped taking them when I went to college and my grades actually went up, but I guess the Army still requires a waiver for it. I'm pretty confident I will get it though, considering I got a Master's degree without medication. Also got a 99 on the ASVAB which my recruiter said will help.

Third, I used to get migraines in elementary school and middle school. I ended up taking low dose Amitriptyline to treat it. It seemed to work, and after a couple years taking it I stopped and have hardly had a headache since. Going to need a waiver for that.

Fourth, in March 2015 I was arrested for alcohol related property damage. I'm not going to go into details, but that was the low point of my life. I ended up getting the charges dropped on diversion after taking alcohol counseling classes. Obviously, I'm going to need a morality waiver for this, and I believe it will also disqualify me from Option 40.

Taking all these things together, my recruiters assessment is that my chances are probably below 50%. However I am still fully committed to this path. I should hear back in the next couple of weeks after they have a chance to review my medical documents. Best case scenario, I get to go in for a physical and begin the waiver process. In the mean time, I am just continuing to prepare myself physically and mentally for life in the Army.