The Faith to Go the Distance: 10th Group Chaplains Reflect on Ranger School

Photo By Staff Sgt. Tanisha Karn | 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Chaplains Maj. Lorenzen, Maj. Jump, and Capt. Roland reflect our their experiences at Ranger School as they embark on a camaraderie ruck march on March 12, 2019 at Fort Carson, Colorado.  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

05.03.2019

Story by Sgt. Tanisha Karn 

10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Three chaplains march under the heavy weight of military rucks along the paths and tank-trails surrounding the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) compound on Fort Carson, Colorado. They laugh and enjoy the sunny day in each other’s company, reflecting on the Army, on 10th Group and on their various faith denominations. Soon, however, one topic takes center stage. It is a topic that transcends any theological difference these men of god may have: the universal struggle of completing the U.S. Army’s infamous Ranger School.
“My faith took me through Ranger School,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Lorenzen, the 10th Special Forces Group Chaplain.
The way he recalls it, “If I couldn’t be there to bless my fellow students and glorify God during such a difficult time, then I really had no business there.”
Approximately 1,600 chaplains serve in the United States Army. Of those, only about 20 of them have earned the right to wear the Ranger tab.
Two of them, Chaplain (Maj.) Lorenzen and Chaplain (Capt.) Roland, are current members of 10th Group, and a third, Chaplain (Maj.) Jump, is on the way.
“Coming to 10th Group is one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Lorenzen. “It is also one of the greatest challenges of my career.”
After all, he explained, a Special Forces Group, not unlike Ranger School, is a fast-moving train that does not slow down for anyone.
It is no secret that Ranger School is tough; with graduation rates typically as low as 50 percent according to the Ranger Training Brigade’s website.
The course’s motto is “Not for the weak or faint-hearted.” And being Army chaplains did not exempt them from any of the hardships associated with it.
Roland recalled leading one of his graded patrols in ice-cold February rain.
He and his platoon sergeant readied a security position for the night just as the wind picked up, causing the temperature to drop drastically. Burdened by the harsh elements of winter, the lack of food and sleep, and mental fatigue, it was a tough position to be in, but not one unique to Ranger School. Knowing that they need to get through the night, they moved their men close together, kept each other awake, and shared what little warmth they could.
"It was kind of a bonding experience,” said Roland, “but at the same time it was just awful. We were both miserable and it seemed like that operation took forever."
For a chaplain to even have a chance at Ranger School, there are many obstacles to overcome.
Aside from fulfilling every other prerequisite of a prospective Ranger student, they needed to get permission from their command to spend up to six months away from the unit while completing the school. They also needed the support of the Chaplain’s Corps, a letter of recommendation, an essay on why they wished to become a Ranger, and an exemption to policy memo and a memo from their ecclesiastical endorser for the right to bear arms for training.
After all that, the work of surviving the arduous school begins.
Chaplain Jump, who had been in the Army for only a year at the time and was not well-versed in combat operations, found himself struggling early on.
"It was a steep learning curve," Jump admitted. "I just did everything according to The Ranger Handbook."
Lorenzen had less trouble with the tactics themselves than with actually leading others in combat operations.
"My biggest challenge was of not being taken seriously when I was in a position of leadership,” Lorenzen said. "I felt like I was under extra scrutiny because I was a chaplain."
For Roland, the biggest trial was getting through the physical challenges of the first week, known as the Ranger Assessment Phase or “RAP Week”. He ended up going twice.
"We had to do a 12-mile ruck march in under three hours," Roland said. "It was raining, and my watch died. I was not in the right mental state and droned out. I ended up missing it by 80 meters."
Roland said missing the mark motivated him. He didn't believe that God had taken him that close to the finish line just so he could fail and give it up. Fortunately, his commander allowed him to try again, and the second time turned out to be the charm.
Some trials were more spiritual in nature, Jump recalls.
"I would find myself being envious of other Ranger student's MRE's (meals ready to eat) or care packages," Jump said.
He explained that it may seem like a small thing to others but to him, he felt he was violating the 10th commandment, thou shalt not covet. It didn't sit well with him and he took it as a good character-building opportunity.
As difficult as the experience was for all three, there were also moments of blessings.
For Chaplain Jump, one blessing came in the form of a candy bar tossed to him by a fellow student on a particularly challenging day.
For Chaplain Lorenzen, it was losing a piece of his weapon during field maintenance and then being blessed to actually find it just in time for a patrol.
“Only five minutes remained until we were to move out,” he said. “I stopped and prayed, ‘Lord, you are the finder of lost things. You know exactly where this retaining pin is located. Please open my eyes to see. Help me, please, to find it!”
According to Lorenzen, just as the light of the day, and the prospect of a successful patrol, was nearly gone, the Lord answered.
“I opened my eyes,” he said, “scanned the ground, and there it was. Right under my nose. God is good.”
All three men struggled through the notoriously difficult school, all three persevered, and all three believe that wearing the Ranger Tab now helps them in their ministry within the Army.
"Being a chaplain is all about relationships,” said Jump, “and Ranger School does not allow for isolation. It helped emphasize for me the value and importance of team-building and relationships that enhance and execute religious support."
Roland said the school allowed him to communicate on several levels within the Army.
"The struggles of Ranger School have given me a wealth of experiences and teaching points that help me relate and interact with Soldiers." Roland said. “If dealing with a newer Soldier, I can pull from an experience or time when things were not good or things were uncomfortable and show how certain aspects of humanity can help someone overcome struggles in their way.”
It was a sentiment echoed by the 10th Group Chaplain.
"We all need each other,” said Lorenzen. “There are no lone Rangers."

• Date Taken: 05.03.2019
• Date Posted: 05.06.2019 17:28
• Story ID: 320693
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US