A friend of the family will be entering RIP fairly soon. His father, who is a 101st ABN Vietnam Vet, went to his BAC graduation and was very jeeped up about it.

He's asked if it is common for parents to attend RIP graduation. I told him, "Sir, I do not know, but I will find out," but that I wouldn't be surprised if anyone who passes RIP is whisked off to a Battalion in short order.

I told him that it is common for parents to attend Ranger School graduation -  but that is a public event.

What's your advice to him?

If I remember correctly and this advice would be 10 years old there were some parents there.  But they do send you on your way pretty quickly.  I don't know what they do now.  But it is war time so everything may be different.  Also I don't remember much free time when you are there and I really can't remember if I even had the time to call home but I really can't remember because it seem like you were always getting smoked.  But if the parent was able to go quickly I would be he could go but you have to remember that many don't make it and some recycle by no fault of there own too.  So it is hard to plan for as is Ranger school graduation because you never know for sure you are going to graduate until a few days before and if you can't drive there then it is hard to go. 

I would have him call the Regiment to find out.

Ranger2

Thanks. I sent him your posts. He lives up here so it would be a day of travel, probably counts it out. His boy starts the 9th, apparently.

Thank you very much for the update! I let hid dad know.

The update is that he entered RIP, nearly had his bicep muscle torn off when the jumper in front of him didn't get the static line to the Jumpmaster, spent a couple of months on medical hold, and graduated recently. His dad was able to attend and took some pics.