The Company LeaderRanger School Archives - The Company Leader

“Where’s Your Tab” and other Sad Lieutenant Stories

Joo Chung — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:02:20 +0000

A Scrutinizing Look at Tab Culture

Four months into being a platoon leader, I earned my Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB). I became, in the eyes of many, a “complete” infantry lieutenant. I was Airborne-, Air Assault-, and Ranger-qualified…and an expert. Never mind that the next day I returned to the same job that my “not-as-complete” peers were probably doing better.

Students in Ranger Class 5-21 conduct graded patrols during Darby Phase of Ranger School. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jaerett Engeseth)

The post “Where’s Your Tab” and other Sad Lieutenant Stories appeared first on The Company Leader.

Ranger is not a Leadership School

David W. Parmly — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 01:50:05 +0000

An Education in Self Discovery

Junior Army Leaders considering going to Ranger School expecting to be taught how to be better leaders ought to know something: Ranger School is NOT a place the Army will formally instruct them in new ways to be a better leader. That may be surprising to many, but factually, Ranger School never introduces any new, advanced troop-leading methods. The Ranger Handbook I carried in 1982 isn’t very different from one my father carried in 1958, or that carried by Ranger students today. Almost every task Ranger Students perform should already be familiar to them.

Ranger School Candidates conduct combatives training

The post Ranger is not a Leadership School appeared first on The Company Leader.

A Look Inside the Best Ranger Competition

Mark Gaudet — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 01:17:00 +0000

Q & A with a 4-Time BRC Competitor

The Army’s David E. Grange, Jr. Best Ranger Competition is a three-day (62 hour), two-man team gauntlet of physical, mental, and emotionally challenging events meant to test the mettle, technical skills, and tactical proficiency of the competitors. The first requirement to compete – being Ranger Qualified, meaning that you are a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School. The 2019 Best Ranger Competition begins on Friday, April 12. The Company Leader conducted an interview with Mark Gaudet, a four-time BRC finisher and member the 2016 5th Place Team. Below are his answers, insights, and recommendations.

The post A Look Inside the Best Ranger Competition appeared first on The Company Leader.

CSM Don Purdy’s Rules to Live By

Doug Meyer — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 00:57:12 +0000

Repost from Open Source

A few weeks back, a mentor of mine shared a post from Colonel (Retired) Keith Nightingale. The post was titled “Don Purdy’s Rules to Live By (Don’t Forget Nuthin’)”. Col. Nightingale served with CSM Purdy in the original 1st Ranger Battalion (now 1/75th RGR). I asked Col. Nightingale for permission to repost and he shared that it is open source and has been posted multiple places before. This advice should be reposted as many times as possible and read by every warfighter.

CSM Don Purdy served in Ranger Companies in Vietnam and in the first activated Ranger Battalion, 1/75 RGR. He also served in the 101st ABN DIV (AASLT), 4th RTB, and other units.

The post CSM Don Purdy’s Rules to Live By appeared first on The Company Leader.

Commitment, Discipline, & Follow Through

Brandon Morgan — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 02:40:17 +0000

I earned my Ranger Tab largely, if not completely, through persistence. My Ranger School journey required 7 phases and a signature from my future Brigade Commander. It took me 175 days to earn my Ranger Tab – half of 2014 – but at the end of September I graduated. Through all of this, and in the time and space I have had to reflect back on it, I learned that graduating Ranger School requires commitment, discipline, and follow through. If I can do it, you can too.

The post Commitment, Discipline, & Follow Through appeared first on The Company Leader.