FAQ from Graduates

You need to exceed the RPFT minimums comfortably — 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, 6 chin-ups, and a 5-mile run under 40 minutes. But "passing" isn't enough. You should be able to max push-ups and sit-ups, do 12+ chin-ups, and run 5 miles in 35 minutes or less. You'll be operating on 0-4 hours of sleep and 1-2 meals a day — your fitness buffer is everything.

Garmont T8 Bifida or Belleville C390 are the go-to choices. Break them in for at least 4-6 weeks before you report. Do NOT show up in new boots. Some guys swear by the Rocky S2V for Florida Phase. Whatever you pick, make sure they're comfortable for 20+ miles a day.

62 days if you go straight through with no recycles. RAP Week is ~4 days at Fort Benning, Darby Phase is ~20 days, Mountain Phase is ~20 days at Camp Merrill (Dahlonega, GA), and Swamp Phase is ~17 days at Camp Rudder (Eglin AFB, FL). Add travel days between phases.

If your unit offers it, absolutely. Pre-Ranger gives you a realistic preview of RAP Week standards and weeds out issues before they cost you a slot. It's not required, but guys who go to Pre-Ranger have a significantly higher first-time GO rate. Some units require it.

Historically around 35-45% of students who start will earn the tab, though this varies by class. About 50% of students who make it past RAP Week will graduate. RAP Week is where most people drop — typically 40-60% of the class. The attrition rate is highest in winter classes.

The combination of the RPFT, 12-mile ruck march, land navigation (day and night), RTTs, and water confidence test all packed into 4 days with minimal sleep. No single event is impossible — it's the accumulation. Most guys who fail RAP Week fail land nav or quit during the ruck.

You get a map, a protractor, a compass, and grid coordinates for 4 points. Day nav: find 3 of 4 in 5 hours. Night nav: find 2 of 3 in 3 hours. The course is at Fort Benning in thick Georgia woods. Terrain association is king — don't rely solely on compass bearings. Learn to read the terrain.

Ranger Tactical Tasks — hands-on tests on weapons systems and equipment. You need to pass 5 of 7. They include M240B, M249, Claymore, SINCGARS, MBITR, and others. Each is timed and scored GO/NO-GO. Study the TMs and practice. These are memorization-heavy — know the steps cold.

You need a minimum number of GOs per phase: 1 GO in Darby, 1 GO in Mountains, 1 GO in Swamp (3 GOs total to graduate). You're graded in a leadership position — PL, PSG, SL, TL, RTO, etc. The RI grades you on planning, troop leading procedures, tactical execution, and leadership under stress.

PL (Platoon Leader), PSG (Platoon Sergeant), SL (Squad Leader), TL (Team Leader), RTO, FO, and Medic are all gradable positions. PL and PSG are the hardest to get a GO in — more responsibility, more things to manage. TL is often considered the easiest path to a GO.

You get more opportunities. You need a minimum number of GOs per phase, not a perfect record. If you're not getting graded opportunities, peer evals and "Ranger buddy" performance matter. If you exhaust all graded opportunities without enough GOs, you'll be recycled to repeat that phase or dropped from the course.

Plan on 0-4 hours per night, broken up by guard shifts. Some nights you get zero. The sleep deprivation is deliberate — it simulates combat conditions and tests your ability to make decisions and lead when exhausted. You will hallucinate. It's normal. Keep moving.

Most guys lose 20-35 lbs over the course. Some lose more. You're burning 5,000-7,000 calories a day and eating 1,500-2,500. The weight loss is mostly muscle and water. You'll look terrible at graduation. It all comes back within a few weeks of eating normally.

Very limited. You might get a phone call between phases (2-5 minutes). Some RIs allow mail. Don't count on regular communication. Brief your family before you go: no news is good news. If they need to reach you, they go through your unit's rear detachment. See our Family & Spouse Guide for more details.

Elevation changes, cold weather (depending on season), knot testing, rappelling, and long movements through the mountains of North Georgia. The terrain is brutal — steep climbs with full kit. Knot test is a gate: tie 5 of 6 knots correctly in 5 minutes. Camp Frank Merrill in Dahlonega is no joke.

It depends on the season. Summer in Florida is miserable — heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and swamp water. Winter can be surprisingly cold at night. The water confidence test is a gate. You'll be wet most of the time. The upside: by Swamp Phase, you're a seasoned Ranger student. The hardest part is already behind you.

You get your Ranger Tab pinned on at a ceremony at Camp Rudder (Eglin AFB). Your family can attend. You'll be exhausted, skinny, and proud. The tab is a permanent award — it goes on your left shoulder. You're authorized to wear it for the rest of your career. RLTW.

Every single tab holder will tell you yes. It's the hardest thing most people will ever do. It changes how you see yourself, how others see you, and what you believe you're capable of. The tab opens doors — assignments, promotions, respect. But more than that, you'll know you didn't quit when everything in your body told you to. Rangers Lead The Way.