Why are There So Many Soldiers with a Ranger Tab but Have Never Served in Ranger Regiment?

2024-06-02T22:27:44-04:00

When I get asked why I never tried to go to Ranger school, I immediately remember all the guys I met who have a salty attitude because they earned their tab, but never got to join an elite unit. One 1SG in particular was extremely pretentious and all of his NCO's hated him. Dude took himself way too seriously. Meanwhile, his SSG's and SFC's had real combat experience, and despised his pompousness.
What can one do to attend Ranger school and actually serve in an elite unit?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2024 11:36 PM

2024-06-02T23:36:47-04:00

You join the Ranger Regiment. That's how.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 3 at 2024 10:38 AM

2024-06-03T10:38:27-04:00

Look there is only 1 Ranger regiment, about 200+ people. The school graduates at least 45+ folks per class. You have to be selected to go to regiment, anyone who can pass the initial requirements can go to the school.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jun 3 at 2024 12:33 PM

2024-06-03T12:33:46-04:00

Some people are just salty because it's easier to complain than actually do something. During my career I was proactive and drove my career where I wanted to be. I got the duty stations I wanted, the billets I wanted, promotions I wanted and the awards I wanted because I pushed, asked questions and did the foot work to make it happen. So many barracks lawyers out there have torpedoed theirs and others careers because it is easier to stand by the water cooler and complain instead of doing the research and doing the work to connect the necessary dots.
If you want to go for a specific Unit (Rangers, SF, Delta, etc.) go to the screening, pass, do the indoc, pass and keep attending follow-on training and pass said training. It's not a complicated process.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jun 3 at 2024 3:56 PM

2024-06-03T15:56:22-04:00

Because Ranger School is about teaching Infantry Officers small unit tactics and was not ever meant to be a gateway to the Battalion.

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Jun 3 at 2024 8:18 PM

2024-06-03T20:18:06-04:00

Answering your question, all kinds of people have gone to Ranger School and have gotten Ranger Qualified. But not everyone Ranger Qualified gets to be a Qualified Ranger i.e. serving in a Ranger unit and performing their duties in combat. Some soldiers just got the tab for promotion candy so they can look cool in front of soldiers without tabs.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2024 10:41 PM

2024-06-03T22:41:39-04:00

You have too look at who you are asking. Ranger school dates back before Ranger Regiment. It was meant to build elite and strong Soldier that can lead. You will see a few ranger units in WWII but they didn't have the impact that today's Ranger units have. In Korea there was really only one Ranger Company. In Vietnam you would come to find the start of the modern Ranger units. But still, Ranger school was not supposed to be a feeder for these units. It is a qualification school ran by the unit. It is a small unit tactics and leadership school. At least for the officers, it is expected you have a tab but there simply isn't enough slots for everyone to serve there. I thought about as a PVT but even after getting a ranger tab I have never wanted to go there.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jun 7 at 2024 11:57 AM

2024-06-07T11:57:36-04:00

Let's dispel some of the problem and myth here.
Combat doesn't mean shit. It means you served either in deployment or in station in a designated combat zone and depending on branch you are authorized to wear a combat patch and can do so when you transition to your next duty station. It doesn't make you a better soldier, corpsman, airman or sailor. It literally just means that you served in a warzone, not whether you took fire, sent fire or saw action.

Similarly, there are thousands, tens of thousands of people that have a Ranger tab and never served a moment as an operator. They went through a school. Their either contracted for it or volunteered or were selected by their command to go. It is a leadership school. And if they passed the school they could wear the Ranger tab.

But.... unless or until they went through selection, passed and went on to the Regiment they were not operators.

To answer your question: You get that shot by being the top physical and mental condition you can be, never accepting that your best is good enough and knowing your shit but being humble. You earn a spot, you don't deserve it... and you must be hungrier for it than every other person. You have to want it deep down... really want it because if you go in thinking otherwise... you won't even be selected.

Response by MSG Lonnie Averkamp made Jun 16 at 2024 11:27 PM

2024-06-16T23:27:53-04:00

All of the answers are quite good, but there is also a matter of LUCK. In 22 years of military service (6 years Active and 16 in the Reserves), I was fortunate enough to have spent about 12 1/2 years on Jump Status, 8 years of that on Reserve Special Forces Teams, and 4 years (non-jump status) as a Drill Sergeant. Now you need to have the basic qualifications for the Slot, but aside from that, and putting in my best effort, and being the Honor Graduate from my D.I. Class, there is nothing magic about me. I was just VERY fortunate to have been there and got selected when some of those limited slots became available.

I have seen guys from the 82nd Airborne Division looking down their noses at the rest of the Army, and it kind-of nauseates me. Being in the "Deuce" requires a lot of effort and sacrifice, but there are thousands of soldiers (especially Reservists) who would LOVE to go to Jump School, but will never have the opportunity, because of many of the slots being taken, and there being no funds or slots for their units to send them. I have heard of instances of reservists being offered a slot at jump school for winning Brigade Soldier of the Quarter. How's that for fighting to achieve a spot in a school?

Response by 2LT Ronald Reimer made Jun 27 at 2024 9:31 AM

2024-06-27T09:31:25-04:00

Because they sell them at the PX

Response by CPT Greg Alford, PhD made Jun 30 at 2024 10:14 AM

2024-06-30T10:14:06-04:00

Ranger school is a leadership school that anyone can apply for, if qualified and accepted. 75th Ranger Regiment is a Special Operations unit that requires passing RASP and being INVITED to join.

Response by Lt Col Richard Miller made Jun 30 at 2024 5:08 PM

2024-06-30T17:08:30-04:00

I actually earned my Ranger Tab in the early 70's after completing Airborne and Jump Master courses during my enlisted period with the US Army. Unfortunately, I never served in a Ranger or Airborne unit during my Army enlistment. Nearly 25 years later, I was OEF deployed in 2003 with JTF-180 as the Senior USAF Officer in Charge. Unfortunately, USAF Instructions prohibit the wearing of the Ranger Tab on its DCUs unless directed. The JTF-180 Commanding General authorized the issuance and wear of the Tab as an exception in my case during my deployment. Once I returned to my USAF Unit, I was required to remove my Ranger Tab which I still have today.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2024 9:46 PM

2024-06-30T21:46:28-04:00

I'm an Infantryman and the thought of going to Ranger School has crossed my mind a thousand times or more. I had even volunteered when the training NCO in a couple of units asked who wanted to go, but I just didn't seem to get there. Admittedly, when I was slogging through the muck, and endless kilometers of patrolling and all that's involved, I can recall that at one moment after hallucinating in a link-up and defense in an ORP, I thought to myself....no, I don't want to go to Ranger School!! I will always kick myself in the ass for not taking that challenge, but at the same time, I am still fortunate to have lead the Infantry career and experiences that I have had.

Response by MSG Kenneth Bucy made Jul 1 at 2024 12:59 AM

2024-07-01T00:59:23-04:00

The skills acquired at the Ranger school are useful throughout the Army, not just in the Regiment.

Response by PFC Jeffrey Villarreal made Jul 27 at 2024 9:05 AM

2024-07-27T09:05:45-04:00

having a ranger tab shows they went thru a intense training school but it doesnt mean their a ranger or in reality ranger trained but it it respectable and to be commended hooah
i spent 3 years at 1st 75 at hunter army air feild c co wpns plt and i am a ranger and am ranger trained period not a school class but blood brothers forever ...those that are left
anyone from 1st 75 86/89 reach out to me i have some questions on a helicopter accident while were were doing fast rope exercise and rangers got hurt

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2024 1:11 PM

2024-07-27T13:11:29-04:00

Not only are there many soldiers that have been to Ranger school and who have tabs but never served in the Regiment but there are many soldiers that have served in the Regiment that don't have tabs. A SSG I knew had been to the course three times while in a battalion but never passed the course.

The Army considers Ranger school a leadership course. So many soldiers from branches other than infantry are sent to the Ranger course. In my own case, I was an ROTC Reserve Officer sent to the Armor Officer Basic Course, with the intention of completing the course and going back to school, getting a law degree and serving in the National Guard. At the end of the course the Army personnel branch sent a couple of officers to meet with the class member, primarily to make first duty assignments for those officers going on active duty. When they arrived the put the who class in an auditorium and one of the first things that they said was that they were looking for four Reserve/National Guard officers to go to Europe on a three year assignment. After talking to my wife that night I went back to one of the personnel guys and told him that I was interested in the three year assignment to Germany but that I had always wanted to go to Airborne School so if I would agree to go to Germany would he send me to the Airborne Course, he said, sure, want to go to Ranger School too. So, I signed up for the whole package. Although I was 30 years old (and the oldest guy in my class) I was in excellent physical condition and had no problems completing the course. I sometime refer to myself as an accidental Ranger.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2024 1:29 PM

2024-07-27T13:29:00-04:00

Not only do people from branches other infantry attend Ranger School but people from other services also attend. In my Ranger class there were ten or eleven guys from the Marine Corps Force Recon Battalion. A couple of 1LTs and the rest were enlisted, in fact, the Honor Graduate in my class (Class 6 1978 was a Marine Corps CPL. People from foreign countries also attend Ranger School, I took an American platoon from my Armor battalion through the French Commando School and the course training officer was a graduate of the US Army Ranger School.

Response by SFC Barbara Layman made Jul 28 at 2024 8:46 PM

2024-07-28T20:46:51-04:00

There's an old saying about 'opportunity knocking."
Truth be told, opportunity does not come knocking at your door. It's up to you to do the research and take the necessary steps to CREATE your own opportunities.
If there are correspondence courses you can take, enroll. Start at the bottom and work your way up the ladder. When there is a resident school available that you can make yourself eligible for, jump on it.
You may not get pats on the back, but you will be noticed and those opportunities you have created for yourself will open up.
I don't understand how/why it is that the attitude of the current generation is expectant that they are entitled to have the world open up for them without labor. And, at the same time, they speak negatively of those who have accomplished what they seek. Zip it up - you have no idea what those of whom you are envious endured to achieve what they have.
In fact, you might do well to approach and ASK questions - it's how we educate ourselves.

Response by 1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR) made Jul 28 at 2024 8:52 PM

2024-07-28T20:52:41-04:00

SPC July Macias The vast majority of Ranger school graduates never serve in Ranger units and are considered "Ranger qualified". Their enhanced skill sets are of considerable importance in the conduct of their missions in non-Ranger units. Basically, it is another skill qualifier designed to make you a better soldier. A good example of this is what we call the Triple Canopy in Special Forces. The three tabs are Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces qualified. Makes the person a higher qualified soldier. Very few grads serve in the 75th Rangers. The 75th Ranger Regiment is an elite airborne light infantry combat formation within the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The six battalions of the modern Rangers have been deployed in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Ranger Regiment traces its lineage to three of six battalions raised in World War II, and to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)—known as "Merrill's Marauders", and then reflagged as the 475th Infantry, then later as the 75th Infantry.

Response by 1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR) made Jul 28 at 2024 8:57 PM

2024-07-28T20:57:29-04:00

SPC July Macias I do't know what it is but, I suspect the real reason you did not go to Ranger School had nothing to do with the actions of other's with Salty Attitudes. Those type Rangers are few and far between. The majority are far better soldiers with the training then they were without it and don't have a need for a salty or any other kind of attitude! I am totally unbiased... In other words, I did not go to Ranger School -- had enough excitement with SF training!

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Sep 8 at 2024 3:25 PM

2024-09-08T15:25:24-04:00

In my day, there were not many folks that were Rangers only in RVN in LRRPs. They wore scroll, not tab. My unit, the 199th Inf Bde, had M Co, 3/75. There was a lot of talk of them not being real Rangers. Not a new thing, there was COL who was in KPA and claimed to be a Ranger and caught a lot of grief. I think his name was Beckwith, but my memory may not be right.
The biggest thing it was good for was if one was an AUS officer and wanted to become a USA officer with an OF prefixed serial number, it was necessary.

Response by SGT Neal Quigley made Oct 30 at 2024 8:25 AM

2024-10-30T08:25:00-04:00

You have to request a slot for the school. If you are not infantry, it will be hard to get a slot...or it has been historically. Different units might want you to do prep work before, especially fitness. But, other than those things, same as any school request.