Ill be graduating college soon and getting my commission as a 2nd LT. At which time Ill be put in one of 5 MOS Schools...not sure which 5 yet. Is there anyone who can tell me if there are certain MOS qualifications that are not allowed to go to either school. My father was in Artillery and went SF and I know a few of his friends who went to Ranger School. I really want my Ranger Patch and the pride and sense of accomplishment that comes with that. So if anyone can tell me if their are restritions for officers and/or certain MOS's please let me know.
Every Infantry officer automatically goes to Ranger School following OBC. There's no way out of it but to quit or disqualify yourself, which would not help your future in the Infantry.
Other combat arms (armor, field artillery, etc) officers can compete for a limited number of slots at their OBC class. Some combat support branches (MI, Engineer Corps, etc) offer one or two slots for OBC honor graduates. Combat service support branches (ordnance, quartermaster, transportation) do not offer this incentive.
Bottom line, if you really really really want to go to Ranger School, branch Infantry -- you WILL go to Ranger School.
Special Forces - male officers from any branch (except special branches -- doctors, lawyers, dentists, etc) can apply for SF once selected for promotion to Captain. Once SF qualified, you can ask your SF unit to send you to Ranger School.
This is second hand information, but from a reliable source. Still, take it with a grain of salt.
Pretty much any Combat Arms officer can go to Ranger School. The reason for this is the heavy focus on leadership at the school. I know many FA officers enroute to Light Infantry units get sent to Ranger school by their divisions.
So, in theory, if you don't get infantry, you could get Artillery. Then you could get someplace like the 101st, 82nd, or 10th MTN for your first assignment, and be sent to Ranger school by them.
Posts: 39 | Location: CONUS | Registered: 29 December 2003
Yeah, it is called a tab. I'm intrested in this info also...if there anything I can look at that is an official army document? The only thing I can find is the in-service special forces recruitment pamphlet (i think it was a pamphlet), but I can't find any mention about officer, etc.
(Also, can anyone please check out my post in SF info? I could really use some advice...)
Posts: 20 | Location: NYC | Registered: 20 November 2003
This just in (add to my 23 Jan post)...... Ordnance, Quartermaster, and Transportation Corps will now offer Ranger School slots to outstanding Lieutenants at their Basic Courses (OBC).
Since Ranger school is essentially Infantry that's the surest way of getting in. The Army would like to send [i:8f6e7f8575]all[/i:8f6e7f8575] junior officers there as it's another path to making good leaders but Infantry still has dibs on it. Keep applying for it when you get to your unit if you haven't gone yet & you'll have a better chance as Field Artillery if you put in for an Infantry Division as your unit of choice. Top out.
Posts: 126 | Location: Milwaukee, WI | Registered: 27 January 2004
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