Photo By Corinna Baltos | Sgt. 1st Class Reag Wood, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 1st AD...... read more read more
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EL PASO, Texas - The Soldier is tired. His muscles screaming in agony, his feet hurting. He is miserable. He is hungry, wanting real food and not another MRE. He is cold. Yes, it is safe to say, “He is pretty much hating life right now.”
Then he hears it. A little voice in his head speaking very quiet, almost seductively, “Quit. It will be easy. You can go home, take a nice hot shower, eat some real food, drink a beer, sleep … Quit.” That voice is drowned out by the Soldier who yells, “No, a Ranger never quits!” The Soldier digs down, blocks that voice from his head, and continues on towards his objective; which in this case is passing the 1st Armored Division Iron Training Detachment’s Pre-Ranger course and getting a slot to attend Ranger School.
Thirty-one Soldiers started the course on Nov. 2; by the time the course was done on Nov. 20 five Soldiers were recommended to attend Ranger School.
The Pre-Ranger course is designed to prepare Soldiers for both the physical and mental challenges of Ranger School by providing a curriculum which mirrors the first phase of Ranger School.
“We want our Soldiers to be as successful as possible when they go to Ranger School. So we focus on small unit tactics, such as patrolling over rugged terrain, and engaging the enemy with violence of action,” said Sgt. 1st Class Reag Wood, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the 1st AD Pre-Ranger course.
However, before the candidates can begin to focus on tactics they need to prove that they have the physical stamina to complete Ranger School. During the first week of Pre-Ranger candidates must pass the Ranger Physical Fitness Course, the Combat Water Survival Test, an obstacle course, land navigation and a 12-mile ruck march, as well as attend classes on tactical leading procedures, ambushes and setting up patrol bases.
“This course is physically demanding,” said Staff Sgt. Sergio Hernandez, one of the Pre-Ranger Course instructors. “A lot of Soldiers don’t make it through because they haven’t conditioned their body correctly. By the end of the first week, your body is broken down, you are tired, and you still have to perform.”
Nearly a third of the class did not make it through the first week. For those that made it through the next two weeks were spent in the field learning and then being tested on squad combat operations, reconnaissance and combat patrols.
“Rangers need to be able to get to the enemy without being detected, and then strike at them with precision fire maneuver and violence of action,” said Wood. “During Pre-Ranger we teach the candidates the Ranger way to do thing.”
While Ranger School is primarily attended by Soldiers in combat arms fields, it is open to all Soldiers. So for some Pre-Ranger candidates this course was the first time they did infantry-style tactics.
“All of these battle drills are new to me,” said Spc. Daryl Anderson, a construction equipment repairer with the 147th Maintenance Company, 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade. “I am not in a combat MOS, so I am trying to learn them, while others already know them. It is a real challenge.” Anderson said when his unit offered him the chance to attend the pre-Ranger course he jumped on it. “Going to Ranger School is an opportunity that most Soldiers in my MOS don’t get.”
While all of the Soldiers faced challenges while they were attending the course, some, like 1st Lt. Daigoroh Abreu, said the challenge for him was proving that he was worthy of getting another shot at Ranger School.
“This is the Army’s premier leadership school,” said Abreu, an infantry officer with 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. “I went to Ranger School last year, but got injured. I want another chance to attend.”
Abreu, who served as the squad leader for the classes’ first graded patrol, said he was happy that he and his fellow candidates had come together to complete their mission. “We just met each other two weeks ago, we come from different backgrounds, have different skill sets, but we all want to be here,” he said. “Guys are stepping up and leading when they need to lead, and also following when they need to follow.”
For those who successfully completed the course and were given the green light by the Ranger Instructors at the Iron Training Detachment to attend Ranger School, their journey has just begun.
“We continue to work with Pre-Ranger candidates on whatever they need to be successful at Ranger School,” said Wood.
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2015 13:00 |
| Story ID: | 182461 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 200 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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