Train to Become a U.S. Army Ranger

The United States Army Rangers: The most expertly trained light infantry in the world. These few suggestions can make your goal suddenly seem reachable.

Steps

  1. Design an exercise program. This one may seem like common sense, but start an exercise plan. Cover everything you possibly can in your workouts. Don't switch off days for strength and cardio, you won't get those opportunities in Ranger School to pick what you feel like doing. Do EVERYTHING, and take the next day off. That way, you'll learn how to function and perform with pain, even though your other muscles are still sore and aching. With your exercise plan, don't leave any exercises out. You may not like doing sit-ups or you hate push-ups, but you're the United States Army's for the length of your contract. The Army can't make you do anything, but they can make you wish you did.
  2. Start simple. Start off relatively simple, but include a lot of different exercises. Such a list might include: push ups, squats, lunges and other calisthenic exercises.
  3. Start swimming. Try to get access to a pool. If you join a gym, make sure you can get access to the pool, because you will have to pass Water Confidence Tests.
  4. Talk to a recruiter and ask about the options you have.
  5. Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude (ASVAB) test. The recruiter can recommend books to study from.
  6. Increase your workout over time. Just because you want to join a Special Operations force doesn't mean you can do 150 push-ups in a row. Take it easy, don't hurt yourself in a way that your muscle doesn't grow, and don't get discouraged.
  7. Re-evaluate what you want to do before you sign up. DON'T SIGN ANYTHING UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE.
  8. Sign up. If you're positive about your decision, sign up, do the best you can on your entrance exam, and be a leader and a model soldier.



Tips

  • Unless you want to become a Sniper, you don't really need to practice shooting before you enter the Army. Your Drill Instructors will teach you everything you need to know. However, I do recommend it, as your firing skill will be graded.
  • Pack on 2 or 3 pounds before Ranger School. You will lose that weight and then some during training, so don't worry about it being there.
  • I can not stress this enough: Be sure this is what you want.
  • For workouts, don't try to do everything at once. Muscle doesn't heal during breaks, it heals when you sleep. Spread everything out over an hour or two, but realize that the best results come from near muscular fatigue in a short amount of time.
  • Do as little weightlifting as possible. If you want to be a huge muscle wuss you see on MTV, then that's fine, but that extra weight will just slow you down. Train with your body weight, and train for endurance, not to look good. A big bench press WILL NOT get you any closer to doing push-ups.

Warnings

  • Do not run if overweight. Especially if you are flat-footed. Get some good insoles and sneakers, start walking and doing stationary bike cycling, and work your way up to jogging and running. That foot pain doesn't mean your feet are getting "ripped". Trust me, this is coming from a 220 pound, 5'10" 17 year old with flat feet. Build muscle and do cardio. I was 225 not a month ago, and I can guarantee that "Miracle Pill" will not get you any closer to what you want to be.
  • People die during training. It's as simple as that. Consider the risks of EVERY job you want, and make your decisions wisely and with thought.

Things You'll Need

  • A place to do pull-ups/chin-ups.
  • Space to exercise.
  • Foot insoles for the overweight and flat-footed.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  • To Be A U.S. Army Ranger (Book)
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