Must I know how to swim to attend Ranger School?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 01:59:33 -0400

A goal I have set for myself is to attend and complete ranger school and earn that tab. My PT is solid however i do not know how to swim. Is that a requirement. (I know ranger school is mostly mental, i feel i can handle that aspect. )

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2019 2:33 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 02:33:38 -0400

I highly recommend you do learn how to swim. I know how to swim, but when I jumped in to the water from that high up and had to release gear under water, it was not simple. We had a few who did not know how to swim and they had to go several times in order to get a "go" and a few didn't make it through because they were too afraid of heights or just could not perform the task under water as required. This was just the tryout phase too for school, a simple one week assessment phase.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2019 3:01 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 03:01:45 -0400

You need to be able to swim 15 meters to pass the CWSA and the confidence course. You can struggle at it, that's fine, you will be marked a weak swimmer. If you cant swim at all they will drop you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2019 10:54 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:54:30 -0400

There is a short swim test you must be able to pass.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Sep 24 at 2019 11:11 AM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 11:11:31 -0400

Yes 15 meters for the CWSA and Confidence Course as MSG Bradshaw says + those bright yellow floatees they make you wear on your arms in Florida clash with your ACUs (:^p)

Response by SSG Brian G. made Sep 24 at 2019 1:35 PM

SSG Brian G. — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 13:35:28 -0400

There is a short swim portion. If it concerns you and this is truly a goal you have set for yourself then go to a local pool and learn. Most posts or large cities have pools and there is some form of class available. As a general thing, military or not you should learn how to swim.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2019 4:47 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 16:47:28 -0400

Get in a pool wearing your uniform and boots and learn the side stroke while keeping your head above water. YouTube has videos that you can learn from. You have to put in the work. So many soldiers won’t go to Ranger school because they fear the water or don’t feel like they can complete the events.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Sep 24 at 2019 7:18 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 19:18:40 -0400

I was a Marine Corps first class swimmer ...tred water for 1 hour. I don't want to risk my life trying to save non-swimmers. You can have Ranger mental motivation and still be laying lifeless at the bottom of the pool. Take swimming lessons. 30 years ago while conducting river crossings our 19D E-4 non swimmer was swept down stream. He was barely saved by a rescue swimmer and safety rope. I had lunch with him 2 days ago.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Sep 25 at 2019 1:35 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 01:35:10 -0400

80% of the planet is water. It's probably a good idea, Ranger of not, to know how to swim! =)

Response by MAJ Michael Patrick made Sep 27 at 2019 6:14 PM

MAJ Michael Patrick — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 18:14:14 -0400

You have to be able to at least tread water. At least that was the deal in the 80’s.

Response by CPO Greg Winkler made Sep 7 at 2020 8:40 PM

CPO Greg Winkler — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 20:40:03 -0400

If it's all in the mind swimming is no problem its confidence in your self

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Sep 2 at 2021 5:25 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 17:25:40 -0400

Lol, so join the local YMCA and take swimming lessons. Read Rob O Neil’s story , he couldn’t really swim joining the Navy being he was from Idaho, MT one of them, but he put in the time so he could pass BUDS. It can be done.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Sep 3 at 2021 7:08 AM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 07:08:54 -0400

I would have loved to transfer from Angelico to Force Recon, we shared barracks at French Creek and I knew a lot of the guys. These guys were top notch and some of the best dudes I’ve ever met on this planet. But reality is there’s wasn’t a chance in hell I could pass their water tests and dive school, not a chance, and as Clint used to say a man has to know his limitations. If a Force Recon guy tells me the Dive School was really tough then you know that’s not bs, physically not much seems to stress them, but water is more than a great equalizer. Most of us can swim well enough not to drown, then there’s free swims in a rolling ocean, two completely different animals.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Sep 3 at 2022 3:16 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 15:16:31 -0400

How do you even get thru boot? Pool Qualifying is part of the deal at Parris Island. And it’s not swimming your in fatigues and gear, so it’s more like learning to float and drown proofing.