How To Become An Army Ranger

Army Rangers are the largest special operations combat force within the U.S. Army. They are a rapidly deployable strike force, and are the world's premier light infantry combat professionals. Are you interested in enlisting and want to know how to become an Army Ranger? Are you disciplined, courageous, tough, smart, and physically strong? Are you a hard charger, adventurer, and self-starter? If so, you may want to think about a career as a U.S. Army Ranger, an elite group of men serving the nation with their lives.

Army Rangers have been serving the nation for centuries. They fought in the mid 1700's in the French and Indian War and in King Philip's War. The elite group of men also fought in the Revolutionary War. More recently, they have been in the forefront of the Global War on Terrorism. Rangers have conducted operations inside Afghanistan and Iraq. Therefore, becoming a part of the U.S. Army's elite Special Forces is more than getting to use the best weapons, wearing the uniform, and getting trained by the best; it is becoming part of an illustrious history and heritage.

What Do Rangers Do?
Rangers protect American lives, rain or shine, 24/7, 365 days a year. They execute special operations or light infantry missions deep inside enemy held territory. To achieve the task, Rangers use specialized equipment, operational techniques, and various modes of infiltration. Over the course of history, Rangers have conducted operations to accomplish the following tasks:

• Sensitive site exploitation
• Clandestine insertion
• Personnel recovery
• Special reconnaissance
• Airfield seizure
• Direct action

How To Become An Army Ranger
What Rangers do is the stuff that makes legends, but becoming one is a tough job. They undergo rigorous training to become physically and mentally tough enough to overcome impossible odds and the toughest challenges.
Rangers are volunteers who have volunteered three times:

• Volunteer to serve in the Army
• Volunteer for Airborne School
• Volunteer for an assignment to a Ranger regiment

New volunteers have to successfully complete Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) courses. After successfully completing these courses, they are moved to the Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA; where they learn how to safely conduct airborne operations in three weeks. From Fort Benning, the volunteers are moved to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program facility. Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) is divided into RASP 1 and RASP 2. The former is for enlisted soldiers and junior non-commissioned officer, while the latter is for officers, warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers. Irrespective of designation, all volunteers are trained for:

• Physical fitness/li>
• Mobility
• Medical proficiency
• Small unit tactics
• Marksmanship

The training, needless to say, is tough, intense, and fast-paced, which prepares the volunteers to efficiently use their skills in continued training as well as worldwide operations. During the course of their training, Ranger-volunteers are consistently screened to ensure that only the best soldiers are chosen as Rangers. Becoming an Army Ranger is not easy by any stretch of imagination; however, becoming one could be a life-altering experience for the better.