I wanna be an Airborne Ranger…
…I wanna live a life of danger. Or, so says the running cadence. And, for certain members of 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, earning the Ranger Tab–and the title of Ranger–is a big goal. However, the selection process is a grueling, often arduous task. Starting at 5 a.m., potential Ranger candidates are put through their paces with push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and then a five-mile run.
At the end of that, it’s then on to the Combat Water Survival Test, where they first have to jump into the water in full uniform and remove all gear while underwater. After that, the requirement is to swim for a specified distance–still fully clothed–while keeping the muzzle of their assigned weapon above the water’s surface. For many who tried out, the swim test was the most grueling aspect of the selection process.
For some, it was being underwater without being able to maintain focus that caused them to panic. The result was a frantic splashing for either a thrown flotation device or a panicked grasp for the edge of the pool. For others, being underwater,or in deep water, wasn’t the issue. Instead, it was simply the mechanics of having to move through the water while holding an eight-pound object up and fighting against the drag caused by waterlogged uniforms. It was the physical aspect of aching muscles and tired limbs that failed them.
And this was just the start of the day. By 8 a.m., and a short break for breakfast, many candidates found themselves already exhausted, yet the bulk of the testing hadn’t even started. The rest of the morning was, for some, a heavy-lidded, sleep-hazed blur of map reading, testing on weapons knowledge and basic infantry skills.
By the time the afternoon rolled around, the heat of the Iraqi summer hung on tired muscles like the weight of wondering who would make it. The final test, which started at 3 a.m. the following day, was a 12-mile road march with full gear and carrying a 35-pound rucksack, to be completed in less that four hours.
For some, it was an easy walk. But for others, the already-exhausted muscles from the day before meant it was arguably the most grueling 12-miles they had ever encountered. And they hadn’t even made it into the school yet. By meeting the challenge here at Camp Taji, Iraq, it simply meant the opportunity to go. Once in Ranger School, the challenges there would make this look like summer camp. And for those who made it through, that’s all part of wanting to earn the right to be called Ranger.
