Army Ranger School – Age is No Limit

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 3/15/2019 | G Chad

[w1n1]

Soldiers Complete Army's Toughest Schools after 40
A weapons expert with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Master Sgt. Jole Alvarez had completed some of the most challenging courses the Army has to offer, but Ranger School eluded him for two decades. He'd been slated to attend in 1999, but instead was sent to Combat Diver Qualification Course first. Then the 9/11 attacks kicked off years of high operations tempo that kept him posted overseas or deployed much of the time since. But, late last year, he got his chance. "They called me 'Old Man Jole' or 'The Old Man,'" Alvarez said of his peers and instructors in a recent interview. For him, it was a chance to “get amongst the younger guys and see where you sit.”

Alvarez earned his Ranger tab at Fort Benning, Ga., in December at 42, nearly two decades older than the average student, about half of whom typically fall out before completing the 62-day leadership and small unit tactics course. Alvarez is one of two soldiers to recently complete physically grueling courses at a time in their lives when many soldiers might be tempted to coast into retirement.

Alvarez is also among a rarified group of older Ranger School graduates, though not the oldest. That distinction is held by Rob Fortenberry, a command sergeant major with the Fort Drum, N.Y.-based 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, who graduated at age 45 in July 2016, according to an Army release.
Age has some advantages for students who train 20 hours a day with minimal food and sleep, said Col. Chris Colavita, who earned his tab a few months shy of his 40th birthday in 2009. Younger soldiers often need more sleep and may lack perspective on the course’s hardships. Read the rest of Army Ranger school.

[grobdriver]

Saaaaalute, Master Sargent!

[BipolarBob]

“We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”

[House Atreides]

Props to Sergeant Alvarez. Although age may be “no limit” it certainly makes it physically tougher and makes the mental and “willpower” aspects more important. And Alvarez can now wear that Ranger tab with well-deserved pride.

[yarddog]

I remember a few years ago, several Rangers died at Eglin. It is obviously not fun and games.

[2banana]

+500 for that mustache in Ranger School.

[DesertRhino]

“He’d been slated to attend in 1999, but instead was sent to Combat Diver Qualification Course first. Then the 9/11 attacks kicked off years of high operations tempo that kept him posted overseas or deployed much of the time since.”

Already SF, then spends most of the time since 9/11 in high tempo combat operations?I’m glad he got a few months to kick back and unwind.

[Sir_Ed]

Sad fact at the end of the article. His brother, who also went to Ranger school, died in a training accident at age 28.

[Paal Gulli]

Why do you choose to give credit for this story to the hacks at ASJ rather than following the link yourself and posting from the original source at Stars and Stripes?

The obvious answer would be that you’re a paid shill for ASJ. I know I couldn’t be bothered to read their crap unless they paid me.

[Chode]

how hard can it be if a 37yr old mother of 2 can do it?

do i really need to explain myself???