3 reasons why I FAILED Ranger School

There are 3 reasons that I failed Ranger School my first time through. They might surprise you so be sure to watch the whole video.
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If you have any specific questions, leave them in the comments and I will try to answer them in the next video.

[@jamesallen3799]

An honest man: The goal is to gain the Tab. Pace yourself. These words ring true today as in my time 50 years ago.

[@VinylToVideo]

Thanks for having the humility to make this video.

[@AustinCaroe]

Thanks for your comment :-)

[@flyingdutchman7585]

My Ranger Class was 12-85...long time ago but maybe some of this still applies. Be in better than average shape. During the PT test which was the 1st day when I was there they cut more than 50%. I think you had to do like 60 push ups but when you hit about 50 they would just keep repeating ...50, 50, 51, 51, 51, etc till lots of guys just quit...I figured I did about 130 plus pushups just to get the 60. If you can, way before you get to Ranger School, join a local Orienteering club in your area and learn to Land Nav on the Run...just by chance I had a mentor that was an old Infantry guy and he got me into Orienteering at a young age...when I left for Infantry School, I was ranked 19th in the Nation for my age group so I had a firm grasp on Map Reading...and it paid off my whole military career...so many times. Learn to enjoy misery...the worse the weather was the better I liked it...the more tired...didn't let it phase me. Also, maybe I got lucky but my Ranger buddies, we got tight real quick and because of this covered each other for things like getting extra sleep, stealing food, extra help when in a leadership position. If I was platoon leader lets say..I could farm out things to my squad and know they would get done..if you try and lone wolf...you probably won't pass. I remember when one of our squad would be like...man, I don't know if I can make this >>>(fill in the blank) the standard response from everyone would be "Hey Joe, you know we like you...but if you can't hang f#ck ya." That was all it took for them to reach down and finish the task. Lastly...we had an RI tell us very early..."If you ain't cheating, you aren't trying. If you get caught, you weren't trying hard enough." We stole food like crazy...we even would designate two guys that was their sole job during ambushes and raids on the aggressors...while we were gathering intel, weapons, those two would be going through the trucks, tents, bunkers, whatever just looking for food and bagging it. We did it sooo many times...sometimes it wasn't much...but even a little was such a moral booster...oh and back then we only got three MRE's for two days or just 1.5 meals a day.

[@katrinad.571]

Looking forward to hearing how you changed things up to pass the second time around. Kudos for going back.

[@gunsgalore7571]

Thank you! Eighteen, incoming freshman ROTC cadet. Hoping to become an infantry officer.

[@AustinCaroe]

@@gunsgalore7571 check out my substack: thedistro.substack.com Download the app and shoot me a DM on Substack.

[@2mexclejraco307]

It’s self correcting just plot the point on the stake lol

[@richardsiemion5903]

01-09 here. The way you cover ranger school and remain humble is fantastic. If I was your CO or BC and you came to my unit wo a tab with this attitude …. I wouldn’t care. You get it. You’re a leader.

[@nickcarranza4687]

Fail. Pt test, all runs, roadmarch, 2xfail patrols, lucky if u get a third patrol, soup sandwich, peer evaluations. Spot reports, based on patrol evals, peer and spot report up to company committee to send to next phase or recycle, usually recycle. Former RI.

[@OldGrunt227]

What a great video. I appreciate your candor. Before I went to Ranger School - I got some great advice from a guy who went through in the 60s (in between tours in Viet Nam) - “75% effort, 100% of the time.”

[@Tarheel2019]

Solid input. I'm a weak swimmer - any advice to build up endurance to be able to swim that 15 meters in uniform and boots? Anytime I go in the water with a uniform on, I just sink like a rock and can barely move forward.

[@AustinCaroe]

Being a weak swimmer at Ranger School is an advantage. You get to go first on the CWSA and you don't get smoked. I am not a swimming expert. I'd just say to practice.

[@RA-kk1rf]

First off, spend the money to have to the lightest uniform possible. At Ranger school I wore regular OCPs and Garmont NFS boots for the CWSA. I went to jungle school 6 months ago and I bought a jungle OCP uniform and light weight Oakley boots for the CWSA. That made a huge difference in weight. Next, start going to an Olympic pool and practice your strokes in the shallow lanes. I think you can use any stroke as long as you keep your head above water. My advice would be to learn the breast stroke. Take your time to practice making your body horizontal with the water and then slowly learn how to work your arm and leg strokes together. Stay calm, control your breathing, and focus on your strokes and you’ll be surprised how much distance you cover as you start gliding across the water. Biggest thing is to stay calm and not force any unnecessary movement that will just tire you out faster.

[@Tarheel2019]

@@RA-kk1rf Solid advice. Yeah I plan to take the some pairs of the hot weather OCPs + Oakley SIs. Thanks.

[@Tyler_255]

thank you for this video

[@acerrubrum5749]

👍

[@Lion-nv2bw]

Austin, this video is great, thank you. I am a current ROTC cadet, I'll be attending ranger school in a program called the RTLI this upcoming year. during our last FTX I literally did the same exact thing on land nav, we were running on 2 hours of sleep and I plotted my point in a whole different sector, got a laugh out of that but it's a great thing to pay attention to, thank you.

[@OldGrunt227]

Good luck at Ranger School. If the course hadn’t been self correcting, I would have failed as I drifted left to my second point and thought it was my first point. It seems like a dumb thing to say, but always double check yourself. The grids coordinates on the sign are correct. I commend you for seeking out training as a cadet. Good luck, don’t give up (again, it seems like a silly thing to say, but you will see your peers quit - which is far worse than never going) and ignore the old farts that tell you it was so much harder back in the day. Class 04-02.

[@Lion-nv2bw]

@@OldGrunt227 Thanks for the advice, Sir. I know I won't leave that school without the tab, not sure when I'll be slotted but I'll re-reply to your comment after Victory Pond no doubt.

[@GRANDMAST3R614]

Thank you man

[@C_Florida863]

Wait you get your phone in ranger school ? I am trying to get ready and prepared for it but I am having no luck 😅

[@AustinCaroe]

No, you don't get your phone.

[@energeez]

awesome vid

[@tech_45]

Awesome Video!

[@chuckiepeoples]

Females are tabbed and scrolled nowadays. I’d say the tab doesn’t hold the prestige it once did anymore. Just like the blue cord.

[@johnm1765]

Just be a female next time, they have easier standards in ranger school

[@OldGrunt227]

It was all male when I went through. Did you go through with women? I don’t have a personal perspective, but considering the differences in physiology, I don’t think it’s easier to complete Ranger School as a female.

[@Tyler_255]

Guess im transitioning