Posted on 04/29/2007 10:03:53 PM PDT by World_Events
Inspiring video clip of a 42 year old medic who graduated tops at Army Ranger School, one of the hardest if not hardest military training schools available. Hoo-ah!
“He had to apply three times and he had to put up with a ton of s--t, but when he threatened to resign, they gave it to him. The next youngest guy in his class was half his age. They must have thought he was some far-out old man humping it over that course. I did it when I was 19 and it damn near wasted me. A tough mother------.”— Apocalypse Now.
I recently read a book by a man who had been a “Green Beret” and later became a Navy Seal and even later graduated from the Army Ranger School. He wrote that the Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUDS or the Seal “Boot Camp”) was the hardest physically, Special Forces School was the hardest mentally and the Army Rangers School was the hardest endurance wise.
We need 100 Col. Kurtz right now in Iraq.
Perhaps one in the White House.
My son went through in early 04 at the age of 29. He looked like a concentration camp survivor when I went down for graduation. I asked him if he was the oldest, and he said there may have been one who was 30. He also said that the only good thing about making it through Ranger School is that you don’t have to go through it again. He’s damn proud of that Ranger Tab.
I cannot imagine going through at 42. Although I turn 38 on Wednesday and have 20 in June, it is harder and harder everyday especially PT. lol. God Bless this guy and any others who join at an older age.
I think this is fabulous! I hope he inspires many more!
Well, maybe he really liked to swim.
Ranger School like to killed me at 23 and I could run all day and do sit-ups all night back then. In fact, one morning one of the Cadre stopped me and asked me how old I was... I told him “23”... He said “You look 63”.
I’d have never made it through hell week at BUDs either before or after (recovering from) Ranger School though.
Q course was pretty easy physically, and I found it mentally easier too... Because I wasn’t as exhausted and stressed as in Ranger School. You have to be more competent at a wider variety of tasks, but at least you get more sleep, can catch your breath occasionally and stop to think.
His name is Jeff Kraus, the book/manual is “You Want Me to do What?”. LOL, I loved it too! It’s well worth anyone’s time to read it!!
Here’s a link to check it out:
http://www.navyseals.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=38
Thanks so much for your service to our Country!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope it’s a good one!
Thank you for your service to our Country!
WELL NOW, this is real inspiring.
Thank you World_Events for posting this video.
(No excuse for not doing my sit ups tonight.)
Thank you very much!!!
Watch the video. This is a bald TV reporter who tried to sign up at 36 and had to go in even later, when the rules were changed to accept him. He was motivated by 9-11. He wanted to become a medic for the Rangers. He says “It was tough, but not that tough.” Amazing man.
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I self-administer the Army PFT every year on my birthday (coming up in May). It's a personal gut-check at 57. I despise every minute of the training for it but I'm not ready to surrender to father time yet.
Thanks for posting the link. Folks here in Springfield are very proud of Jerry Jacobs - he covered sports then moved to news anchor at KY3 several years ago. Local residents have flooded the TV station with letters thanking Jerry for his service and congratulating him on his accomplishments. Interestingly, former Attorney General John Ashcroft dedicated his book “Never Again” to Jerry. The Ashcroft family farm is just north of Springfield and Ashcroft will be the guest speaker at our National Day of Prayer breakfast on Thursday.
Martin was talking about Jump School. Of course, Martin had been to neither.
I went through in ‘95 as a very old-feeling 28 year old competing with 18-21 year old Ranger Battalion Soldiers who were so prepared mentally and physically that going through was nothing more than a formality.....
First you try to get through the week...
Then you try to get through the hour.......
Then you try to get to the next tree.........
It was a long course.....
RLTW
Bought it!
great story..
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