Participation in Ranger Challenge

[GunslingingPanda]

Hi yall,

I'll be an MS2 this upcoming fall and I'm excited for what the year has in store. However, my chain of command is pressuring me into doing Ranger Challenge. For some reference, I am the top runner/rucker in my detachment and got a 590 on the acft. I just work out to be healthy and try hard in PT. The problem arises when I don't want to do Ranger Challenge. I feel like I've painted a metaphorical target on my back now that I've distinguished myself as one of the more athletic cadets. I ran a marathon last year which conflicted with the ranger challenge competition so that was my excuse then. This year I don't have a legitimate excuse besides the fact I want to rush a fraternity and think the extra commitment would be too much to handle. Every time I go to bring this up with a cadre member or an older cadet I get the same response. "It won't look good if you don't do Ranger Challenge. Cadre will question your commitment to ROTC and thus your commander ranking will go down." I'm trying to get a somewhat competitive MOS but simply cant juggle the responsibility this fall. I'm probably overthinking it but I wanted input.

I am curious what some of yall think and how you would phrase it if you were in my shoes.

All feedback is welcome. Thank you

 

[SOG-SA]

When you say "chain of command," are you talking about fellow cadets that are higher in the food chain at your school, or Cadre members that run the ROTC program on campus?

My advice to you hinges upon the answer to that one question.

Standing by, with no shortage of opinions...

 

[MidCakePa]

This comes down to simple prioritization. We all get the same 24 hours per day, seven days per week. So the question is, how do we choose to spent that time? And whatever decision we make, we must accept that there are consequences, both positive and negative.

So what’s more important to you: upping your standing within the battalion or improving your social life? The benefits are obvious. Now what are the downsides? And can you live with those downsides? Net-net, which will better help you reach your goals for what remains of college and then into your professional career?

You can also ask yourself: Is there a third way? If you want to elevate your ROTC standing, are there ways to do so without doing Ranger Challenge? If you want to improve your social life, are there ways to do so without joining a fraternity?

No easy answers here. But adulthood is all about trade-offs, because we can’t have it all. Good time to start building that trade-off muscle.

 

[cb7893]

Hi yall,

I'll be an MS2 this upcoming fall and I'm excited for what the year has in store. However, my chain of command is pressuring me into doing Ranger Challenge. For some reference, I am the top runner/rucker in my detachment and got a 590 on the acft. I just work out to be healthy and try hard in PT. The problem arises when I don't want to do Ranger Challenge. I feel like I've painted a metaphorical target on my back now that I've distinguished myself as one of the more athletic cadets. I ran a marathon last year which conflicted with the ranger challenge competition so that was my excuse then. This year I don't have a legitimate excuse besides the fact I want to rush a fraternity and think the extra commitment would be too much to handle. Every time I go to bring this up with a cadre member or an older cadet I get the same response. "It won't look good if you don't do Ranger Challenge. Cadre will question your commitment to ROTC and thus your commander ranking will go down." I'm trying to get a somewhat competitive MOS but simply cant juggle the responsibility this fall. I'm probably overthinking it but I wanted input.

I am curious what some of yall think and how you would phrase it if you were in my shoes.

All feedback is welcome. Thank you

Describe your participation in ROTC.
Do you enjoy it? Get along well with the other cadets?
What is Your Major?
What is Your GPA?
What MOS are you thinking about?

 

[MohawkArmyROTC]

Not being on RC will not negatively affect you, and you should not be coerced to join. Join if you want, but not because of peer pressure. If you are generally tied with another cadet, RC can be the tie breaker that puts you ahead of them. However, your participation in the ROTC program does play a factor in your OML score. Discuss with your PMS or cadre that you are unable to do RC, because of the time requirement, but inquire about other ways you can be more involved with the ROTC BN.

 

[cb7893]

Not being on RC will not negatively affect you, and you should not be coerced to join. Join if you want, but not because of peer pressure. If you are generally tied with another cadet, RC can be the tie breaker that puts you ahead of them. However, your participation in the ROTC program does play a factor in your OML score. Discuss with your PMS or cadre that you are unable to do RC, because of the time requirement, but inquire about other ways you can be more involved with the ROTC BN.

+1

Would only add that OP should continue to excel in running/rucking and always show up 10 min early for PT, if he isn't already.

 

[TB_Rays]

Hi yall,

I'll be an MS2 this upcoming fall and I'm excited for what the year has in store. However, my chain of command is pressuring me into doing Ranger Challenge. For some reference, I am the top runner/rucker in my detachment and got a 590 on the acft. I just work out to be healthy and try hard in PT. The problem arises when I don't want to do Ranger Challenge. I feel like I've painted a metaphorical target on my back now that I've distinguished myself as one of the more athletic cadets. I ran a marathon last year which conflicted with the ranger challenge competition so that was my excuse then. This year I don't have a legitimate excuse besides the fact I want to rush a fraternity and think the extra commitment would be too much to handle. Every time I go to bring this up with a cadre member or an older cadet I get the same response. "It won't look good if you don't do Ranger Challenge. Cadre will question your commitment to ROTC and thus your commander ranking will go down." I'm trying to get a somewhat competitive MOS but simply cant juggle the responsibility this fall. I'm probably overthinking it but I wanted input.

I am curious what some of yall think and how you would phrase it if you were in my shoes.

All feedback is welcome. Thank you

I did ranger challenge for the past two years and will not be returning for my third year. I too take pride in fitness and have excelled physically, however, every year I actually lose fitness ability due to ranger challenge. This is because my training is interrupted and our program does PT for ranger challenge 6 days a week. I lose a lot of sleep and have missed out on some really fun important moments over the last few years (cousin's wedding, social functions, football games, etc.). Honestly, it does not define you at all. Sure you can progress with land nav, for some people the physical component, knowledge, and marksmanship, but if you take ROTC seriously you are more than equipped in these areas. For some, ROTC is all they want to do with their college lives and for others (myself included) there is a need for more of a balance. There will be a time and a place for the military to be your life, but personally, I wouldn't burn yourself out on ranger challenge due to external pressure. Keep the fitness up and continue to excel in leadership and knowledge and you will be a-okay!