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Napalm Pisser
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For those hoping to attend Ranger School here is a draft of a document entitled Ranger School Prepartion:
DRAFT
(27 August 2003)
Ranger School Preparation
1. Attrition
The majority of attrition in Ranger School happens during the Ranger Assessment Phase (RAP). The first 7 days of Ranger School are commonly referred to as RAP Week. 45% of all students who start Ranger School fail to graduate. Over half of those are dropped because they failed a RAP Week event.
RAP Week incorporates several key Must Pass Events that require a GO in order to continue your Ranger training. The RAP Week Must Pass Events are the Ranger Physical Fitness Test (RPFT), Combat Water Survival Test (CWST), 5-Mile Run, Day/Night Combined Land Navigation, and the 14.5 Mile Foot March. The RPFT accounts for almost 40% of all RAP Week failures. Most of the RPFT failures occur during the Push-Up event.
The bottom line: RAP Week Attrition is a direct result of students that are physically unprepared to achieve the minimum standards.
Ranger Student Quotes: A CW2 from 3rd Special Forces Group says to sustain “the rigorous standards of RAP Week.”
46% of all Ranger School graduates are recycled for failure to meet the standard - - they either lack the knowledge or basic Infantry skills that are required in Ranger School. Additional focus on the Ranger Common Tasks (Section 4) and Battle Drills (Section 5) prior to attendance is a must in order to complete your preparation for Ranger School.
2. RAP Week Preparation
a. RPFT (Ranger Physical Fitness Test)
Standard: The RPFT is administered to the standard as depicted in FM 21-20 (APFT). The event consists of the push-up, sit-up, two-mile run, and chin-ups. Regardless of age, the student will be tested in the 17 to 21 year old age bracket, and you must score 70 points per event. This means 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, and 15:12 on the run, and 6 chin-ups, as a minimum, must be achieved.
The prospective Ranger student goal should be 100 points per APFT event and 12 chin-ups prior to attending Ranger School. Units should ensure that their Ranger candidates are able to pass the RPFT well beyond the minimum standards prior to reporting to Ranger School. Slow, steady push-up repetitions executed to standard (elbows are locked, your body forms a generally straight plane, and you break the plane on the way down) will ensure you a GO.
- Push-Up Improvement:
1) Timed sets of push-ups – Do timed sets of Regular, Wide arm and, Diamond push-ups for 40-30-20 seconds each with no more then 30 seconds rest between sets. Adhere strictly to proper form described in FM 21-20. (3 sets minimum)
2) Bench press – Strength improvement. Perform 20 repetitions of 50% of body weight working towards 20 reps at 65%. Do 3-4 sets per session.
3) Front Deltoid raises – 10-15 pounds 3-4 sets working towards temporary muscle failure (TMF).
4) Triceps Extension – 10-15 pounds 3-4 sets working towards temporary muscle failure (TMF).
5) Seated or bent over row - Strength improvement. Perform 20 repetitions of 50% of body weight working towards 20 reps at 65%. Do 3-4 sets per session.
6) Swimmer or Prone Row – 3-4 sets at 20-30 reps each.
7) Roman chair – 3-4 sets 20–30 reps per set, facing down.
8) Dips- 3-4 sets working towards muscle failure.
- Sit-Up Improvement:
1) Timed sets of sit-ups- Do timed sets of sit-ups for 60-40-30 seconds each with no more then 30 seconds rest between sets. Adhere strictly to proper form described in FM 21-20. (3 sets minimum)
2) Flutter kicks – 3 sets of 50–100 reps.
3) Hanging leg raises* – 3 sets of 50–100 reps. Start with legs bent and work towards legs straight.
4) Incline sit-ups* - 3-4 sets of 30 to 50 progressing to weights as strength improves.
5) Flat bench leg raises* – 3-4 sets of 20 to 30.
*Exercise should be done very slowly to ensure a contraction is maintained throughout the repetition.
- 2-Mile Run Improvement:
Intervals are the best way to improve your 2-mile run time. See FM 21-20 or the unit MFT for the proper method of conducting interval training. Interval training should not be conducted more than one day per week.
- Chin-Up Improvement:
The chin-up event is conducted immediately following the 2-Mile Run of the RPFT. You must complete a minimum of 6 chin-ups to pass. The start position is achieved by mounting the bar and coming to a motionless hang with palms facing towards your body and arms fully extended overhead. On the command “GO” you will begin by pulling your body up to a motionless pause with your chin over the top of the bar then lower the body down to the start position -- this is one repetition. Remember that you will not be allowed to swing or otherwise use your legs to assist your movement.
Begin your training by assessing your current ability. Following your assessment, begin training for improvement by using one or all of the following methods:
1) 3 sets of assessment total. Have a spotter available to assist you by lifting on the legs as you attempt to execute the chin-ups.
2) Lat pull-downs. 3 sets at 50% body weight 8-12 reps per.
3) 3-4 sets to TMF on the Gravitron.
b. CWST (Combat Water Survival Test)
Standard: The CWST consists of three stations:
1. 15 Meter Swim: Swim 15 meters with rifle, wearing BDU’s, boots, and Load Carrying Equipment (LCE) consisting of pistol belt, suspenders, two ammunition pouches and two full canteens; without loss of rifle and equipment.
2. 3 Meter Drop: walk blindfolded off a 3-meter diving board with rifle and LCE. After entering the water, remove blindfold and swim to poolside without loss of rifle or equipment.
3. Equipment Removal: starting at poolside, enter the water and immediately submerge, discard rifle and remove LCE prior to surfacing and swim to poolside. You cannot be touching any of your equipment when you surface.
NOTE: All swim events must be accomplished without showing fear.
- 15-Meter Swim Improvement:
Begin your swim training by assessing your current ability. The progressive training gates below should be used to guide the focus of your swim training:
1. Swim 200 meters in trunks using any stroke without stopping?
a. Yes = Move to # 2 below.
b. No = Train at least 2x week on improving your side stroke technique until you can reach 200 meters without stopping.
2. Swim 50 meters in BDUs/Boots without stopping?
a. Yes = Move to # 3 below.
b. No = Train at least 2x week on improving your side stroke technique until you can reach 50 meters without stopping and are comfortable with the weight of the BDUs/Boots in the water.
2. Swim 15 meters with rifle, wearing BDU’s, boots, and Load Carrying Equipment (LCE) consisting of pistol belt, suspenders, two ammunition pouches and two full canteens; without loss of rifle and equipment?
a. Yes = Continue to practice weekly until you report to Ranger School.
b. No = Continue to practice the side stroke in BDUs/Boots/LCE/ and Weapon until you are comfortable with the weight and can reach 15 Meters.
- 3-Meter Drop and Equipment Removal Improvement:
The key to success for both of these events is to practice. Practice sessions must be done in the correct uniform outlined above. Repetition of these events is the only way to improve your technique and overcome your fear.
c. 5 Mile Run
Standard: Five mile run (8 minute, + or - 15 sec pace per mile) in formation over rolling terrain; 40 minutes (+ - 15 sec) total run time.
5-Mile Run training should include stretching and a calisthenics session with sufficient intensity to produce TMF in a moderately fit soldier. This warm-up drill will be conducted during RAP Week. You must train yourself to conduct a thorough warm-up and calisthenics session prior to your long training runs so you will be prepared for the cumulative effect that results from the RPFT, CWST, and the stress of Day 1 Ranger School prior to the 5-Mile Run on Day 2.
1) Fartlek run – Once per week at 3-4 miles per run. Heart rate should not drop lower then 70% training heart rate (THR) and no higher than 90% THR.
2) Long slow run – weekly 6-8 mile run with a pace goal of 8 minute miles or less.
Goal: Your end goal should be to run 5 Miles at a 7:30 pace per mile (total time of 37:30).
d. Land Navigation
Standard: Combined (Day and Night) land navigation test: Must find 5 of 6 points in five hours during examination in the Ranger course. Uniform is BDUs, Boots, Patrol Cap, LCE and Weapon.
The key to passing the Land Navigation test is practice. Your training must be realistic. You must wear your LCE and carry your weapon during practice sessions. The Ranger School land navigation test is a combined day and night test approximately 10 kilometers in length. The start time will be adjusted to ensure the Ranger Student has 2 ½ hrs of limited visibility (night) and 2 ½ hrs of daylight. The test starts with the night portion first. Therefore, you must train until you can successfully locate at least 2 points during 2½ hrs of limited visibility or you will not make 5 out of 6 points in 5 hours. Most of the Land Navigation failures do not make the time standard. The only way to get faster is to practice.
Route planning is a skill commonly overlooked by Ranger School’s land navigation failures. Keep it simple by using checkpoints (road intersections, streams, prominent terrain, etc) along your route to keep you on track. Another good technique is to pick a backstop to let you know you have gone too far on a given leg of your route. Examples are improved roads, railroad tracks, trails, creeks, and prominent terrain. Picking the furthest point away from your start point during hours of darkness may not be your best bet. Unless you are experienced with land navigation, you should attempt to locate the closest points first. Remember, keep it simple.
e. 14.5 Mile Foot March
Standard: Conduct a 14.5-mile foot march in BDU’s, boots, LCE, weapon, and Rucksack (Seasonal Packing List) in 6.5 hours or less (17-24 minute pace).
The 14.5 Mile Foot March is conducted with all combat equipment issued to the Ranger Student. Training should incorporate at least one foot march per week in the uniform prescribed above while progressing to a minimum of 15 miles at a 17-24 minute pace.
Historically, there are only a few foot march event failures during RAP Week (varies from 1 to 14 per class). Nevertheless, training for the foot march will set you up for success for the other 8 weeks of Ranger School. Once RAP Week has ended, you will continuously walk with a rucksack over varying terrain while patrolling and conducting technique training in each phase. Soldiers who train for the foot march have fewer injuries and infections from blisters than those soldiers who failed to incorporate foot marching into their preparation program. Focus on toughening your feet as well as strengthening your back (use back specific weight machines and free weight exercises) and abdominal muscles to mitigate injuries and increase your potential for success. Remember to train for the maximum pace standard – not the minimum. This approach will aid you in dealing with the cumulative effect of all the RAP Week events as well as varying weather conditions (i.e. hot/cold).
Ranger Student Quotes:
1. A Marine Sergeant sums up foot march training with a comment about Florida Phase, “The field problem had us marching all night most of the time…this was good for endurance testing.”
2. A Second Lieutenant from the Armor Officer Basic Course says “The Armor School Pre-Ranger Program did an excellent job preparing me for Ranger School. In retrospect, I wish we had ruck-marched more.”
*Cumulative Effect: The physical RAP Week events, when taken individually, are not very difficult. However, RAP Week’s cumulative effect will make each task a serious challenge for any Ranger. You must train to the maximum standard on all events to mitigate the cumulative effect produced by these events over a one week period. Lack of sleep, food deprivation, heat and/or cold weather, and the overall stress induced in Ranger School will add to this cumulative effect. You must get yourself ready now.
*Ranger Student Quote: An Army Captain from 5th Special Forces Group summed it up best by saying “The fitness events (during RAP Week) were very challenging.”
*Heat Acclimatization:
Heat Acclimatization is defined as improved tolerance to exercise in heat. Acclimatization does not reduce, and may actually increase, water requirements. The acclimated soldier displays increased sweating to enhance the evaporative cooling capacity of the body. The primary benefit of heat acclimatization is increased work output with reduced cardiovascular, thermal, and metabolic strain on your body. Bottom line: the acclimated soldier can perform at a higher level with decreased risk of personal injury in the heat.
Recent medical studies state that total heat acclimatization requires up to 14 days. Although individuals adapt at a varying rate, significant benefits can be gained in as little as 5-7 days. Therefore we recommend that prospective Ranger students plan to arrive in the Fort Benning area one week prior to their Ranger Class start date. This recommendation is even more critical to those soldiers assigned to moderate or cold climate duty stations.
4. Ranger Stakes
Knowledge of the 27 Ranger Common Tasks will directly affect the Patrolling grades and Peer Evaluations of each Ranger Student. Ranger candidates need a base knowledge of these tasks in order to be an asset to your squad and platoon while patrolling. Do not become a liability to your squad or platoon because you could not perform one of these common tasks.
Ranger Common Tasks:
1. Maintain a M240B MG
2. Maintain a M249 MG
3. Load, Fire, Reduce Stoppage, unload, and clear a M240B MG
4. Load, Fire, Reduce Stoppage, unload, and clear a M249 MG
5. Prepare a Range Card, M240B MG
6. Employ an M18A1 Claymore mine
7. Place into operation and troubleshoot AN/PRC-119/119A Radio
8. Send a Radio Message
9. Use night vision devices AN/PVS 7’s, 14’s
10. Call for and Adjust Fire
11. Camouflage yourself and your individual equipment
12. Navigate from one point on the ground to another point while dismounted
13. Determine grid coordinates of a point on a military map
14. Determine a magnetic azimuth using a lensatic compass
15. Determine the elevation of a point on the ground using a map
16. Determine a location on the ground by Terrain association
17. Measure distance on a map
18. Convert azimuths
19. Determine azimuth using a protractor
20. Orient a map using a lensatic compass
21. Orient a map to the ground by map-terrain association
22. Locate an unknown point on a map and on the ground by intersection
23. Locate an unknown point on a map and on the ground by resection
24. Practice preventive medicine
25. Prepare an M136 launcher for firing
26. Operate a AN/PSN-11 (PLGR)
27. Operate an ANCD
5. Battle Drills
Battle Drills are an essential part of a Ranger student’s success during Ranger School. Your knowledge of and ability to execute these battle drills directly influence the Ranger Instructor’s assessment of your leadership ability as well as your overall patrolling grades. More importantly, your peers will look to you for guidance when in a leadership position and will evaluate you at the end of each phase. You should have a base knowledge of these battle drills and be able to execute them as both a leader and a member of a team.
FM 7-8 Battle Drills
1. Platoon Attack
1A. Squad Attack
2. React to Contact
3. Break Contact
4. React to Ambush
5. Knock out a Bunker
6. Enter Building/Clear Room
7. Enter/Clear a Trench
8. Conduct Initial Breach of a Mined Wire Obstacle
Not included in this post is the table is Sample Physical Training Schedule. It can be found at the RTB link below.
http://www-benning.army.mil/rtb/RANGER/RgrSchoolPreparation.htm
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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OIF Veteran
 
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Hard Charger
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| 509, slap a "sticky" designation on this one. It would be a good refrence for people who come here that ask about Ranger School.
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Trooper
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TO complete Ranger school the best preparation you can do is mental. You just have to want to make it. While not all Ranger Batt boys make it, most do and it is because of peer pressure. They know they will be considered a sh*tbag if they don't make it. Of course they probably get more preparation than anyone else but the fact remains that they are scared to death of failing and having to face their squad again without their tab. So when I went I knew I wasn't going back without it. Besides no one wants to remain a private in the Ranger batts without a tab, it is just too painful.
Being in the best possible shape always helps too.
Ranger2
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Napalm Pisser
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Ranger2, I agree that Ranger School, and others like SFAS, are mostly mental. My purpose for posting it was to give potential recruits a fitness program that would help them get in shape for the Army. If an individual is physically in shape for Ranger School he will be physically prepared for anything else the Army has. For the mental preparation we can help those individuals to a point, but they will have to find that strength within themselves.
Joel, I made this a sticky when I first posted it for that reason.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Trooper
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quote:
Originally posted by 509Trooper
Ranger2, I agree that Ranger School, and others like SFAS, are mostly mental. My purpose for posting it was to give potential recruits a fitness program that would help them get in shape for the Army. If an individual is physically in shape for Ranger School he will be physically prepared for anything else the Army has. For the mental preparation we can help those individuals to a point, but they will have to find that strength within themselves.
Joel, I made this a sticky when I first posted it for that reason.
I know 509, in fact that is one of the better posts about it I have seen. Just adding my two cents.
Ranger2
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Anti-social
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If a Ranger Batt guy doesn't make it through Ranger school is he DX'd from BN or does he get a second chance?
U.S. Army 80-84 1/508th Abn Inf, 82nd Abn Div 81-83 1/4th Inf (Mech), 3rd Inf Div (USAEUR) 83-84 SGT\EIB\Recondo I'm right 97% of the time. Who cares about the other 4%
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Napalm Pisser
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RedDevil, my understanding is that it depends on why the soldier didn't complete the course. As I understand it, if he is a medical drop he can return the 75th and go through the course later. But now Ranger School recycles individuals from each phase so if he doesn't pass a phase and refuses the recycle he would be out of the Regiment.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Trooper
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If you fail due to some cause beyond your control then you can go back. But then you are on the bottom of the list again and it could be another 6 months or longer to go again. You don't seem many people do that just because to remain a private in Batt for that long is just not fun. So usually you have a very low rate of that happening or when they return they quit the Batt. I had a guy who probably was one of the most prepared guys that we ever sent. My squad leader at the time had been a RI in Desert phase and trained him up on op orders and everything. We made him give op orders and basically go through a mini Ranger school in preparation even before pre-Ranger. He was also a PT stud. But he failed after recycling a phase twice. It was just bad luck. Weather and many other things beyond your control can and does screw people. He came back to Batt and hung around awhile but he didn't want to go back to school and he was dxed. It was really too bad as he was an outstand soldier and now he is a lawyer in California.
If you quit Ranger school you are gone.
Ranger2
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Napalm Pisser
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Ranger2, I met a guy from the 1st Batt at Ft. Stewart who had been to Ranger School three times and had not passed the course. He had not made it because of injuries twice and one time his Ranger buddy walked off without him and they were both dropped. This was back in the day when you had to be a Sp4 to go and there was no recycle. He refused to quit the Batt and at the time I met him was preparing to go for the fourth time.
Now one other reason for not passing would be if your unit is being deployed to someplace like, say Haiti, and you are so indispensable that they pull you out of Ranger School for your combat jump.[ ]
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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