Congratulations to SFC Jeremy Lemma and SFC Timothy Briggs of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, winners of this years Best Ranger Competition. SFC Briggs was also a member of the 2013 winning BRC team.
The 32nd annual David E. Grange, Jr. Best Ranger Competition was held Friday 10 APR 15 – Sunday 12 APR 15 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Video coverage of the event can be seen at this link.
Below is the Class Schedule for Ranger School start dates between 1 October 2015 and 30 September 2016 (Fiscal Year 2016). For FY2015 class dates look here. FY2017 class dates are not yet available.
The Ranger Course is conducted in three phases at different geographic locations, reporting (on a Sunday) and graduation (on a Friday) will be at Fort Benning, Georgia. The first phase (Benning), is conducted at Fort Benning for 20 days. The second phase (Mountain), is conducted near Dahlonega in the mountains of North Georgia for 21 days. The third and final phase (Swamp/Jungle/Urban), is conducted at Eglin Air Force Base in North Western Florida for 18 days. Two days at the end of the course are used for out processing and graduation.
| Class | Report Date | Start Date | Graduation Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 04 Oct 2015 | 05 Oct 2015 | 04 Dec 2015 |
| 002* | 01 Nov 2015 | 02 Nov 2015 | 22 Jan 2016 |
| 003 | 03 Jan 2016 | 04 Jan 2016 | 04 Mar 2016 |
| 004 | 31 Jan 2016 | 01 Feb 2016 | 01 Apr 2016 |
| 005 | 21 Feb 2016 | 22 Feb 2016 | 22 Apr 2016 |
| 006 | 24 Apr 2016 | 25 Apr 2016 | 24 Jun 2016 |
| 007 | 15 May 2016 | 16 May 2016 | 15 Jul 2016 |
| 008 | 26 Jun 2016 | 27 Jun 2016 | 26 Aug 2016 |
| 009 | 24 Jul 2016 | 25 Jul 2016 | 23 Sep 2016 |
| 010 | 21 Aug 2016 | 22 Aug 2016 | 21 Oct 2016 |
| 011 | 11 Sep 2016 | 12 Sep 2016 | 11 Nov 2016 |
Looking for the FY2015 Ranger School schedule (for start dates through September 2015)?
Reporting Information: Incoming students will report as early as 1000, but NLT 1300 on Day 0 (Sunday) of the Ranger Class they are scheduled to attend. Reporting location is Building 5002 (Multi-Purpose Training Facility) on Camp Rogers located in the Harmony Church area of Fort Benning GA. Students must report in ACU uniform (or their Service equivalent).
Here’s the Ranger School packing list.
* Class 2-16 will be required to take Holiday Block Leave – details will be posted here when available.
To date six female officers have been invited to attend the US Army Ranger Course (class 6-15) in April after successfully completing the 16 day Army National Guard Ranger Training and Assessment Course (RTAC). More female soldiers could be joining this group, as there are a total of four RTAC classes before the 19 April Ranger School report date. Those who fail are allowed to try again if approved by their sending unit.
The January RTAC class started with a total of 122 soldiers. More than half of those failed to meet the course standards, but of the 58 graduates, five were women. In all, 26 women attended the course – 19 officers and 7 enlisted – for a pass rate of 19%. For comparison, the pass rate for men in the same class was 55%.
The February 6-21 RTAC class had 17 women among the 100 soldiers who started. Only 35 men met the standard and one woman (officer). The pass rate comparison: men 42%; women 6%. Six of the women who were dropped elected to stay and complete the training, knowing they would not graduate.
The Army is conducting the one-time “assessment” of the Ranger Course in April 2015, to gather data to be used should gender integration of the course become mandatory.
Ranger Instructors have long joked about females attending the course. At least as far back as the 1980’s. Usually it was in response to some (seemingly politically motivated) change the POI or interpretation of standards. Now, like it or not, the time is here.
Since September 2014, the Army has sought out and began grooming female volunteers to attend as either students or observer/advisers. In January females began attending the two week Army National Guard Ranger Training and Assessment Course (RTAC) at Fort Benning, GA. All National Guard personnel are required to pass RTAC before attending the Ranger Course; but the Army has only said female Ranger Candidates must attend RTAC as a prerequisite.
The first “female class” will be 6-15, which begins on 20 APR 15.
The photo above has generated much comment fodder as the soldier appears to wear a turban of braided hair instead of the traditional buzz-cut. But the picture is from last fall and any female candidates will report with “Short Hair” IAW the AR 670-1 standard.
Short hair is defined as hair length that extends no more than 1 inch from the scalp (excluding bangs). Hair may be no shorter than 1/4 inch from the scalp (unless due to medical condition or injury), but may be evenly tapered to the scalp within 2 inches of the hair line edges. Bangs, if worn, may not fall below the eyebrows, may not interfere with the wear of all headgear, must lie neatly against the head, and not be visible underneath the front of the headgear. The width of the bangs may extend to the hairline at the temple.
Reference:
Female Observers/Advisors Participating in Ranger Course Asessment
Female Students for the US Army Ranger Course
PAAUZYUW RUJAAAA2055 2542234-UUUU–RUJAAAA.
ZNR UUUUU ZUI RUEWMCF1570 2542234
P 112045Z SEP 14
FM ALARACT RELEASE AUTHORITY WASHINGTON DC//CMOC//
TO ALARACT
INFO RUEAUSA/ALARACT RELEASE AUTHORITY WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ/ALARACT 222/2014 – FEMALE STUDENTS FOR THE UNITED STATES ARMY
MANEUVER CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (MCOE) RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT
THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY US ARMY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
AGENCY (USAITA) ON BEHALF OF HEADQUARTERS, US ARMY TRAINING AND
DOCTRINE COMMAND (TRADOC)
SUBJECT: FEMALE STUDENTS FOR THE UNITED STATES ARMY MANEUVER CENTER
OF EXCELLENCE (MCOE) RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT
NARR/(U) PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO SEEK ARMY-WIDE SUPPORT OF
ELIGIBLE FEMALE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MCOE RANGER COURSE
ASSESSMENT(DECISION REGARDING EXECUTION OF ASSESSMENT WILL BE MADE IN
JANUARY 2015).
1. (U) BACKGROUND: AS PART OF THE ARMY SOLDIER 2020 INITIATIVE TO
ENSURE THE BEST-QUALIFIED SOLDIERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN
ANY POSITION WHERE THEY ARE CAPABLE OF PERFORMING TO STANDARD, THE
MCOE MAY CONDUCT A RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT IN 3RD QTR FY15 (EXACT
DATES TBD).
1.A. (U) MCOE MAY CONDUCT A RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT TO INFORM FUTURE
DECISION MAKING.
1.B. (U) FEMALE VOLUNTEERS SELECTED TO ATTEND THE RANGER COURSE
ASSESSMENT (EXACT CLASS TBP) WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET ALL COURSE
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.
2. (U) ARMY COMMANDS (ACOMS), ARMY SERVICE COMPONENT COMMANDS
(ASCCS), AND DIRECT REPORTING UNITS (DRUS) WILL CONDUCT A RECRUITING
EFFORT TO IDENTIFY FEMALE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE RANGER COURSE
ASSESSMENT.
3. (U) PREREQUISITES FOR ENTRY INTO THE RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT CAN
BE FOUND IN THE ARMY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND RESERVATION SYSTEM
(ATRRS). ADDITIONAL STUDENT INFORMATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
CAN BE FOUND ON THE AIRBORNE AND RANGER TRAINING BRIGADE (ARTB) WEB-
SITE UNDER THE STUDENT INFORMATION LINK
(HTTP://WWW.BENNING.ARMY.MIL/INFANTRY/RTB/)
3.A. (U) ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRICTIONS PROHIBITING WOMEN FROM ATTENDING
THE RANGER COURSE ARE SUSPENDED FOR SELECTION INTO THE RANGER COURSE
ASSESSMENT.
3.A.1. (U) THE RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT IS OPEN TO ALL FEMALE
VOLUNTEERS IN THE GRADES E4-O4.
3.A.2. (U) FEMALE SOLDIERS MUST BE VOLUNTEERS. FEMALE SOLDIERS WILL
NOT BE DIRECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT.
3.A.3. (U) ALL FEMALE VOLUNTEERS MUST HAVE AN END TERM OF SERVICE
(ETS) NO EARLIER THAN 01 OCTOBER 2016.
3.A.4. (U) FEMALE VOLUNTEERS MUST COMPLETE AN APPROVED RANGER
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION (DD FORM 2807-1, DD FORM 2807-2, AND DD FORM
2808) AND AUDIOGRAM (DD FORM 2216) PERFORMED IAW AR 40-501, CHAPTER
8. FEMALE VOLUNTEERS MUST PROVIDE COPIES OF ALL LABORATORY OR
SPECIALIZED CONSULTATIONS SIGNED BY A DOCTOR AND DENTIST, DATED
WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF COURSE START DATE. VOLUNTEERS MUST MEET MEDICAL
FITNESS STANDARDS IAW AR 40-501, CHAPTERS 2, 5-3, AND 5-4.
ADDITIONALLY, VOLUNTEERS MUST PROVIDE A CURRENT COPY OF MEDPROS THAT
INCLUDES A ROUTINE ADULT + H1N1 MODULE AND A ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION
SUMMARY.
3.A.5. (U) FEMALE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ADMINISTERED A PREGNANCY TEST
DURING IN-PROCESSING. POSITIVE TESTS WILL RESULT IN DISENROLLMENT.
3.A.6. (U) ALL FEMALE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE US
ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, RANGER TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT COURSE (RTAC)
CONDUCTED AT FT BENNING, COLUMBUS, GA PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT IN THE
RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT CLASS.
3.A.7. (U) ALL RTAC COURSE (ATRRS) RESERVATIONS, IN SUPPORT OF THE
RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT, WILL BE COORDINATED THROUGH THE US ARMY
INFANTRY SCHOOL (USAIS).
3.A.8. (U) ALL FEMALE VOLUNTEERS WILL HAVE A COPY OF THEIR COMMANDERS
VALIDATION LETTER FOR IN-PROCESSING. IN-PROCESSING PREREQUISITE
INFORMATION, INCLUDING AN EXAMPLE COMMANDERS VALIDATION LETTER, CAN
BE FOUND ON THE ARTB WEB SITE UNDER THE STUDENT INFORMATION LINK
(HTTP://WWW.BENNING.ARMY.MIL/INFANTRY/RTB/).
3.A.9. (U) THE COMMANDERS VALIDATION LETTER WILL CERTIFY ALL
PARTICIPANTS ARE PROFICIENT ON RANGER TASKS AND RANGER ASSESSMENT
PHASE REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING: THE RANGER PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT (49
PUSH-UPS, 59 SIT-UPS, 5-MILE RUN IN 40 MINUTES, and 6 CHIN-UPS); 12-
MILE FOOTMARCH IN 3 HOURS; THE COMBAT WATER SURVIVAL ASSESSMENT
(CWSA); AND LAND NAVIGATION. THE 12-MILE FOOTMARCH IS CONDUCTED IN
THE ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM, BOOTS, FIGHTING LOAD CARRIER (FLC), PATROL
CAP, AND RUCKSACK WEIGHING A MINIMUM OF 35 LBS (WITHOUT WATER) WHILE
CARRYING AN INDIVIDUAL WEAPON.
3.B. (U) VOLUNTEER IDENTIFICATION AND ENROLLMENT TIMELINE.
3.B.1. (U) UNITS WILL PROVIDE USAIS THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL
ASSESSMENT VOLUNTEERS NLT 3 NOV 14.
3.B.2. (U) UNITS WILL PROVIDE USAIS STANDARD NAME LINE INFORMATION OF
ASSESSMENT VOLUNTEERS NLT 1 DEC 14.
3.B.3. (U) DETAILED SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION WILL BE
PUBLISHED IN A SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGE. ALL ATRRS RANGER COURSE SEATS
FOR THIS ASSESSMENT WILL BE HELD AND MANAGED BY THE USAIS.
3.C. (U) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
3.C.1. (U) FEMALE VOLUNTEERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE 90-DAY
RANGER COURSE PREPARATION PROGRAM ON THE ARTB WEB SITE
(HTTP://WWW.BENNING.ARMY.MIL/INFANTRY/RTB/).
3.C.2. (U) ALL WOMEN WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AND GRADUATE FROM THE
RANGER COURSE WILL RECEIVE A GRADUATION CERTIFICATE AND BE AWARDED,
AND AUTHORIZED TO WEAR, THE RANGER TAB. UNTIL FUTURE INTEGRATION
DECISIONS ARE MADE AND REQUIREMENTS UNDER TITLE 10 US CODE, SECTION
652 ARE SATISFIED, FEMALE GRADUATES WILL NOT RECEIVE THE ASSOCIATED
RANGER SKILL IDENTIFIERS OR BE ASSIGNED TO RANGER CODED UNITS OR
POSITIONS.
4. (U) FUNDING INFORMATION FOR ASSESSMENT PARTICIPANT ATTENDANCE AT
RTAC AND THE RANGER COURSE ASSESSMENT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A
SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGE.
5. (U) POINTS OF CONTACT (POCS).
5.A. (U) INITIAL REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO
THE USAIS AT
USARMY.BENNING.TRADOC.MBX.OCOIWEB@MAIL.MIL OR BY VOICE
MESSAGE AT (706) 545-0458; DSN 835-0458
5.B. (U) INDIVIDUAL POCS (FOR FUNDING, ORDERS, AND ATRRS) WILL BE
IDENTIFIED IN SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGES.
6. (U) EXPIRATION DATE OF THIS MESSAGE WILL BE 365 DAYS FROM ISSUANCE
DATE.
BT
#2055
NNNN
Received from AUTODIN 112238Z Sep 14
Original/Source document: http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/rtb/content/PDF/ALARACT%20222_2014%20-%20FEMALE%20STUDENTS%20FOR%20THE%20UNITED%20STATES%20ARMY.pdf