Podcast Summary
Understanding the Haunting Impact of Ranger School: Ranger School pushes soldiers to their limits, instilling endurance, resilience, and leadership skills, with lessons applicable to civilians' lives.
The Army's Ranger School is renowned for its challenging training program for officers and special operators. Will Bardenwerper, a former infantry officer and author, went through Ranger School twice - first as a soldier in 2004 and later as a third-party observer in 2019. He wanted to revisit the experience to understand why it continued to haunt him in his dreams. Ranger School consists of three phases: Benning, Mountain, and Swamp. The course tests soldiers' physical, mental, and emotional endurance, and those who graduate earn the coveted Ranger tab. However, being a Ranger is not the same as belonging to the Ranger Regiment Special Operations Force. The conversation also touched on controversies surrounding women in the course and its perceived ease compared to the past. Despite the challenges, the lessons in endurance, resilience, and leadership learned at Ranger School can be applied to civilians' lives.
Elite military forces with similar objectives: Both seals and Army Rangers are elite forces, Rangers have a special ops component, and officers can attend Ranger School to enhance skills.
Both seals and Army Rangers are elite military forces with similar mission objectives, such as locating, capturing, or killing high-value targets and conducting reconnaissance in dangerous environments. The Army Rangers have a special operations component, the 75th Ranger Regiment, which soldiers can join after completing basic training, infantry training, and passing a rigorous selection process, including Ranger School. Young officers, like the speaker, can also attend Ranger School to enhance their skills and knowledge to benefit their infantry units. The process for officers is more complex, requiring them to serve in conventional combat arms units first before applying to join the Ranger Regiment.
Ranger School: Testing Human Endurance and Building Leadership Skills: Ranger School is a challenging 9-week program for infantry officers, testing physical and mental strength through simulated combat patrols and mountainous and swampy terrains. It's a crucial training ground for building resilience and leadership abilities, open to military branches and foreign students.
Ranger School is a challenging nine-week program for infantry officers, lasting three weeks per phase, with the first week focusing on physical assessments. The rest of the time is spent on simulated combat patrols, with the third phase taking place in the mountains of North Georgia and the final phase in the swamps of Florida. The experience serves as a test of human endurance, where officers must prove themselves both physically and mentally to build confidence and tactical skills. Ranger School is open to other military branches and even foreign students, and the opportunity to attend is seen as a chance to better prepare for their first assignments. The author's article in Outside Magazine provides a unique perspective, highlighting the importance of this grueling training ground for building resilience and leadership abilities.
Preparing Soldiers for Combat through Ranger School: Ranger School is a grueling 9-week military training program where soldiers face extreme physical and mental stressors, including sleep deprivation and harsh weather conditions, to develop the mental and physical toughness needed for combat situations.
Ranger School is a rigorous military training program designed to prepare soldiers for combat. The training consists of three three-week increments, with the final three weeks taking place at Eglin Air Force Base. Throughout the nine weeks, soldiers are subjected to extreme physical and mental stressors, including lack of sleep and food, to simulate combat conditions. The physical fitness tests, typically not challenging on their own, become more difficult due to the sleep deprivation, harsh weather conditions, and the pressure to perform well to impact future army careers. The simulated patrols, which make up the heart of the training, involve waking up in the middle of the night for operations, such as raids, ambushes, or reconnaissance, and being evaluated as leaders. The overall goal is to push soldiers beyond their limits and develop the mental and physical toughness required for combat situations.
Evaluating Teamwork in Ranger School: Ranger School assesses teamwork by observing students during missions, rewarding those who help teammates, identify strengths, and support the group.
The instructors observe students as they lead their fellow ranger students and soldiers during combat missions, evaluating their ability to work as a team and contribute to the group. Successful students are those who focus on helping their teammates, identifying their unique strengths, and using them to support the group. This not only benefits the team during evaluations but also helps individual soldiers by taking their minds off their own discomfort and hardships. Ultimately, Ranger School is about producing well-rounded leaders who can effectively lead and contribute to their team in challenging environments.
Women in Ranger School: Equal Treatment and Challenges: Since 2016, around 40 women have graduated from Ranger School, facing similar challenges as men, including long hours, lack of sleep, and harsh weather conditions.
Women have been allowed to attend Ranger School since around 2016, and approximately 40 have graduated so far. This decision was met with controversy due to concerns over lowering standards. However, from the speaker's observation, women were treated equally by instructors and peers. One change that might have made the school less physically demanding is the reduction of the first week's road march distance from 16 or 17 miles to 12 miles. Despite this change, Ranger School remains challenging, with students still facing long hours, lack of sleep, and harsh weather conditions. The speaker emphasizes that the perception of easier training for newer classes is not accurate.
Overcoming the Challenges of Mountain Military Training: Soldiers face tough physical and mental tests during mountain military training, resulting in a smaller, stronger group of trainees who are better prepared for their military careers.
The mountain phase of military training is significantly more challenging than the earlier combat patrols due to the harsh terrain and extreme weather conditions. To progress to this phase, soldiers must first pass rigorous physical fitness tests, resulting in a smaller group of trainees. The mountains present steep inclines and long distances, making carrying heavy loads over such terrain a major challenge. Additionally, the weather in the North Georgia mountains can be severe, with freezing temperatures and even lightning storms posing risks. Soldiers shared with the interviewer their struggles with the unforgiving conditions, including falling during nighttime descents on rough terrain and dealing with the mental and physical exhaustion that came with it. Despite these challenges, those who successfully complete the mountain phase emerge stronger and better prepared for their military careers.
Pressure and Uncertainty in Ranger School: Ranger School tests soldiers physically and psychologically, with uncertainty of graduation and peer evaluations adding pressure to improve before leading real troops.
Ranger School is a challenging and uncertain experience for soldiers, both in terms of the physical demands and the psychological pressures. The uncertainty comes from the possibility of being recycled or dropped from the course, which can mean a delay in graduation and time away from loved ones. Peer evaluations, a unique aspect of the school, add to the pressure as soldiers must evaluate each other, and a bad evaluation can result in being dropped or recycled. This can be a devastating experience, but it also provides an opportunity for soldiers to identify their weaknesses and improve before being in charge of real soldiers in high-stakes situations. Overall, the uncertainty and pressure of Ranger School create a sense of limbo and disconnection from comforts and enjoyments of everyday life.
Swamp Phase of Special Forces Training: The Swamp Phase tests trainees with waterborne operations and evaluations, pushing them to the brink of graduation. Those who fail may choose to recycle and try again, demonstrating resilience and determination.
Special Forces training is a rigorous and challenging process that tests individuals both physically and mentally. The training consists of multiple phases, each with unique challenges. After the mountain phase, trainees move on to the swamp phase, which takes place in the Florida panhandle. Here, they continue to undergo combat patrols and evaluations, but with added waterborne operations. By this point, trainees are so close to graduation that the challenges may not seem as daunting, and those who fail are met with a mix of frustration, sadness, and relief. Despite the disappointment, many choose to recycle and try again. The process can be long and grueling, with some trainees recycling multiple times, but ultimately, those who persevere and succeed earn the coveted Green Beret.
Finding motivation beyond oneself during Ranger School: Soldiers who graduate from Ranger School often do so by focusing on something beyond their personal struggles, leading to higher success rates.
During the Ranger School training, soldiers who persisted and eventually graduated did so by focusing on something beyond themselves. They found motivation in memories of loved ones, inspirational quotes, or the thought of completing the challenge for the greater good. The passage rate for Ranger School is typically around 45-55%, with only 15-18% of students making it through without recycling at all. This reporter's own experience as a Ranger student, who didn't excel but still managed to graduate, was influenced by this newfound understanding of the importance of thinking outside of oneself during difficult times.
Observing resilience in high performers and those who struggled: Basic needs are often met and should be appreciated, and quitting can lead to long-term regret
The speaker was humbled by observing high performers who seemed to effortlessly endure the rigors of the program, but was also inspired by those who struggled and ultimately succeeded. He emphasized the value of remembering that basic needs are usually met and not taking them for granted, which can help during challenging times. Additionally, he shared the advice of a chaplain who encouraged students not to quit, as the regret of quitting can linger long after the decision is made. The speaker's first book, "The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid," offers further insights into his work.
Unexpected bonds formed with Saddam Hussein before his execution: Humans can form emotional connections with even the most despised individuals, as journalist Will Bardenwirper discovered while guarding Saddam Hussein before his execution. He also writes about the impending extinction of minor league baseball teams in Appalachian communities and their impact on local communities.
Even in the most unexpected circumstances, humans can form unexpected bonds with others, including those who have committed heinous crimes. Will Bardenwirper, a journalist and author, shared his experiences of guarding Saddam Hussein before his execution and the strange relationships that developed between him and the guards. Despite intellectually knowing Hussein was a terrible person, they grew to like him on a human level, making his execution a tearful moment for some. Meanwhile, Bardenwirper is also writing a book about the impending extinction of minor league baseball teams, specifically in Appalachian communities, which have been a significant part of these towns for over a century. The loss of these teams will leave a significant hole in the lives of these communities, but Bardenwirper aims to tell the story of the forces leading to baseball's demise and, hopefully, its rebirth in some of these towns. For more information on these topics, check out Bardenwirper's work on Outside Magazine and his website. Tune in to the A1 Podcast for more insightful conversations and don't forget to leave a review or share the show with a friend.
