29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
05.30.2011 Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy BAGHDAD – There were 22 who showed up for the competition, but only 10 who would go on to the next level. For some, this was the difficult part, for others, it was something they could do in their sleep. But for all, it was something they had trained long and hard for.
Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division-Center, make their way along the course of a 12-mile ruck march as part of a unit competition at Camp Taji, Iraq, May 27, 2011, for the opportunity to attend Ranger School. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy
The 22 soldiers taking part—all from the 1st “Vanguard” Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center—were competing to earn one of the battalion’s 10 slots for Ranger School.
Held recently at Camp Taji, Iraq, the competition featured a Ranger physical training test—which included
The competition was designed to emphasize some of the physical and mental demands those going through Ranger School face.
“When you get to Ranger School, you’re going to have the Ranger PT test like we had this morning,” said Sgt. Corey Hessler, an infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. “You’re going to have the swim test. There may be different variations from what we completed this morning, but [this is] going to prepare you.”
And for those taking part, preparing for the competition started months ago.
“About three months ago the [battalion] sergeant major came up with a plan for us to get selected to go to Ranger School,” said Hessler. “So, for the past three months we’ve been training up, getting ready, and today is finally the day for the Ranger School selection process.”
The selection process only begins with the battalion competition. Those 10 that make the cut will then first go to the Pre-Ranger Course held at the Warrior Training Center at Fort Benning, Ga., and after completing that course, they will then move on to Ranger School.
Many who competed said they know that both the Pre-Ranger and Ranger Courses are rigorous and challenging, but they had prepared themselves to meet those physical and mental challenges.
“Mentally, I just tell myself that I know it’s going to be bad, but I have to wake up every morning—if I do get to go to sleep—and just keep driving on and fighting through to the Ranger objective and never quit,” said Hessler. “That’s all I can do.”
But for now, the first challenge was to get through the battalion selection process, which many discovered wasn’t going to be easy.
“The hardest part so far was the swim test,” said Staff Sgt. Nathan Haag, a targeting noncommissioned officer with HHC, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. “Swimming with the rifle, I think a lot of guys took it for granted how easy or difficult it could be, and it tended to be quite difficult swimming in the uniform.”
For those to be successful, it comes down to having the mental fortitude to push through, said competitors.
“I think it has to do with [having] a lot of heart,” said Haag. “The kids that have the most and, obviously, put forth the effort, is what’s going to show through today.”
And for many in the competition, earning the tab was a long-standing goal.
“I’ve been looking forward to this since I joined the Army,” said Haag. “Earning a Ranger Tab was always a goal of mine. With the deployments, it’s always been hard to get [a slot in the school].”
And for others it comes down to simply wanting to be among the best.
“This is very important to me,” said Hessler. “It shows that you’re one of the best. I just want to be the best, so I want the Ranger Tab.”
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