Blackhawk 6
Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2003
- Messages
- 439
As a Ranger-qualified infantryman and former Ranger Instructor I would like to thank those of you who have seen fit to comment on the perceived reduction in standards of the U.S. Army's Ranger School. As I am currently assigned to Ft. Benning, and having been on both sides of the course, I feel I may have information that would contribute to the discussion and serve to reduce your fears. The incident decribed in Hackworth's article is true, though, as is typical slightly exaggerated and lacking some key facts. I would like to contribute the fllowing:
1. The fact that complaints were brought to MG Eaton's attention by recent graduates is true. What has not been mention is that one of the graduates was 2LT Eaton. I do not have any details regarding the exact nature of the complaints.
2. Several people have made unflattering comments about the Commander of the Ranger Training Brigade. I worked for COL Kidd when he was my Battalion Commander at 6th RTBn. I can assure you that COL Kidd is committed to turning out the highest quality soldier possible and holds each ranger-student to a high standard. Some suggest that he is complicit in undermining the standards of the course (more on that later) because he implemented MG Eaton's orders. Gentlemen, part of being a good Ranger is obeying orders (as long as they are legal, ethical and moral). I have no doubt that COL Kidd expressed his views on the subject, but in the end his 20+ years of discipline demanded that he follow those orders. Remember, MG Eaton is the Chief of Infantry. COL Kidd is charged with implementing his vision for Ranger Training.
3. Much of the criticism about MG Eaton's new policies stems from the bans on profanity and the use of PT as a form of punishment. Allow me to address each of these.
First the ban on profanity is nothing new. For the past several years, profanity in the Army has been discouraged. Occasionally someone in a position of authority makes it their pet-peeve and their subordinates adapt until that person leaves. Then things return to the way they were. Generally, the use of profanity is accepted or at least tolerated, unless it is used to make a personal attack. For example, "You f***ed up!" is acceptable but "You are a F*** Up!" is not. The reason being is the latter
is disrespectful to the individual and while you do not have to like everyone in the Army, any person willing to put on a uniform and serve their country deserves respect.
With regard to the PT. It is a non-issue. Most ranger-students are too run-down after the first or second week of the course to do any push-ups. I arrived at Ranger School in the best shape of my life. I ran 5 miles in just over 30 minutes the week prior to attending and regularly did multiple sets of 100 push-ups as part of my work out. By Day 5 of Ranger School is was exhausted and for the remainder of the course I performed on shear will power rather than physical ability. That is one on the learning points of the course. In the Mountain Phase I was dropped for 10 (that's ten, not a typo) and I was unable to complete them due to my physical state. Taking PT away as a means of punishment impacts the conduct of the course but not the end result. (See #4)
4. One of the greatest strengthes of Ranger School is that it is run primarily by NCO's who understand the realities of combat and know what it takes to succeed. Each student is assessed every day as to their ability to not only perform under the conditions of the course but to lead. Most who do not measure up will not pass, period. (I say most becasue you always have one or two slip through despite all efforts to the contrary.) The course is subjective in its grading and if you do not measure up you will not pass. With regard to punishment for minor infractions committed, if I am unable to have you PT then I will give you a spot report. Too many spot reports results in either a recycle (repeating the phase- not good) or being dropped from the course based on your overall performance to that point. The point here is that if you tie my hands and force me to work within a system, I will still achieve the desired result. RI's are masters of massaging the system to achieve the desired result. The truth is, taking PT away as a disciplinary tool probably made things worse for future classes.
5. The reality is that Ranger School has been getting easier since the accident in 1995. That is not to demean that quality of recent graduates or to say they had it easy. The truth is that the course I helped instruct was not as hard as the one I went through. Whether or not that is a good thing is something for someone else to decide. Ranger-qualified soldiers continue to distinguish themselves regardless of when they went through the course.
In closing, I would like to make one final point. There has always existed, in our Army, a small group of men who were willing to undertake the toughest missions, endure extreme hardship and who have demanded nothing but the best of themselves and those around them. Whether the Army toughens the standards at the Ranger School or abolishes the course completely, those men will still be within our Army. At this point in history, we call those men Rangers.
Thank you for your concern about the quality of our training. Please share your concerns with those who you think can make a difference. My apologies for such a long post.
Rangers, lead the way!
1. The fact that complaints were brought to MG Eaton's attention by recent graduates is true. What has not been mention is that one of the graduates was 2LT Eaton. I do not have any details regarding the exact nature of the complaints.
2. Several people have made unflattering comments about the Commander of the Ranger Training Brigade. I worked for COL Kidd when he was my Battalion Commander at 6th RTBn. I can assure you that COL Kidd is committed to turning out the highest quality soldier possible and holds each ranger-student to a high standard. Some suggest that he is complicit in undermining the standards of the course (more on that later) because he implemented MG Eaton's orders. Gentlemen, part of being a good Ranger is obeying orders (as long as they are legal, ethical and moral). I have no doubt that COL Kidd expressed his views on the subject, but in the end his 20+ years of discipline demanded that he follow those orders. Remember, MG Eaton is the Chief of Infantry. COL Kidd is charged with implementing his vision for Ranger Training.
3. Much of the criticism about MG Eaton's new policies stems from the bans on profanity and the use of PT as a form of punishment. Allow me to address each of these.
First the ban on profanity is nothing new. For the past several years, profanity in the Army has been discouraged. Occasionally someone in a position of authority makes it their pet-peeve and their subordinates adapt until that person leaves. Then things return to the way they were. Generally, the use of profanity is accepted or at least tolerated, unless it is used to make a personal attack. For example, "You f***ed up!" is acceptable but "You are a F*** Up!" is not. The reason being is the latter
is disrespectful to the individual and while you do not have to like everyone in the Army, any person willing to put on a uniform and serve their country deserves respect.
With regard to the PT. It is a non-issue. Most ranger-students are too run-down after the first or second week of the course to do any push-ups. I arrived at Ranger School in the best shape of my life. I ran 5 miles in just over 30 minutes the week prior to attending and regularly did multiple sets of 100 push-ups as part of my work out. By Day 5 of Ranger School is was exhausted and for the remainder of the course I performed on shear will power rather than physical ability. That is one on the learning points of the course. In the Mountain Phase I was dropped for 10 (that's ten, not a typo) and I was unable to complete them due to my physical state. Taking PT away as a means of punishment impacts the conduct of the course but not the end result. (See #4)
4. One of the greatest strengthes of Ranger School is that it is run primarily by NCO's who understand the realities of combat and know what it takes to succeed. Each student is assessed every day as to their ability to not only perform under the conditions of the course but to lead. Most who do not measure up will not pass, period. (I say most becasue you always have one or two slip through despite all efforts to the contrary.) The course is subjective in its grading and if you do not measure up you will not pass. With regard to punishment for minor infractions committed, if I am unable to have you PT then I will give you a spot report. Too many spot reports results in either a recycle (repeating the phase- not good) or being dropped from the course based on your overall performance to that point. The point here is that if you tie my hands and force me to work within a system, I will still achieve the desired result. RI's are masters of massaging the system to achieve the desired result. The truth is, taking PT away as a disciplinary tool probably made things worse for future classes.
5. The reality is that Ranger School has been getting easier since the accident in 1995. That is not to demean that quality of recent graduates or to say they had it easy. The truth is that the course I helped instruct was not as hard as the one I went through. Whether or not that is a good thing is something for someone else to decide. Ranger-qualified soldiers continue to distinguish themselves regardless of when they went through the course.
In closing, I would like to make one final point. There has always existed, in our Army, a small group of men who were willing to undertake the toughest missions, endure extreme hardship and who have demanded nothing but the best of themselves and those around them. Whether the Army toughens the standards at the Ranger School or abolishes the course completely, those men will still be within our Army. At this point in history, we call those men Rangers.
Thank you for your concern about the quality of our training. Please share your concerns with those who you think can make a difference. My apologies for such a long post.
Rangers, lead the way!