What to do after USMA?

[USMAZoo98]

Per a cadet I know, it’s quite easy to branch infantry- it’s in low demand due to the US being at peace, though I suppose that could change given how things are shaping up. I’ve also seen pictures from post night of people picking 75th (possibly as support), so definitely possible coming out of USMA.

Just to clarify, you cannot post or branch directly to the 75th Ranger Regiment out of USMA. Officers interested in that path almost universally branch Infantry and report to their first unit. The vast majority also earn their Ranger tab before applying to join Regiment. Demonstrating excellence at that assignment opens the door to possibly pursuing the Regiment. I am pretty certain that Regiment does not accept 2LT's into its ranks (only experienced 1LTs and higher).

 

[Charlie W]

Just to clarify, you cannot post or branch directly to the 75th Ranger Regiment out of USMA. Officers interested in that path almost universally branch Infantry and report to their first unit. The vast majority also earn their Ranger tab before applying to join Regiment. Demonstrating excellence at that assignment opens the door to possibly pursuing the Regiment. I am pretty certain that Regiment does not accept 2LT's into its ranks (only experienced 1LTs and higher).

Thank you for jumping on that, seem to be misremembering things. Sorry to be spreading misinformation!

 

[Casey]

The support folks in the 75th RR go through selection to be there, just like the infantry guys. It isn’t a first time assignment for anyone.

 

[cb7893]

Just to clarify, you cannot post or branch directly to the 75th Ranger Regiment out of USMA. Officers interested in that path almost universally branch Infantry and report to their first unit. The vast majority also earn their Ranger tab before applying to join Regiment. Demonstrating excellence at that assignment opens the door to possibly pursuing the Regiment. I am pretty certain that Regiment does not accept 2LT's into its ranks (only experienced 1LTs and higher).

If you read the obituary of the two Ranger Candidates killed during training there are two facts worth noting that are germane to this thread.

The Officer candidate, 2nd Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon, was still assigned to IBOLC. My understanding is that Ranger School is almost a requirement if the 18A aspires to make O-3. Joining the Ranger Regiment as an 18A would require the tab.

Staff Sgt. George Taber, although already a Green Beret, was not Ranger tabbed, which is why he was a Ranger School. There are GB's, even officers, who are not Ranger tabbed. Not many, but they exist. Just as there are some GB's who didn't start their careers in combat arms. One thing is for sure, if you started out in a support branch and join a team, who better make sure you have the Ranger tab.

 

[USMAZoo98]

If you read the obituary of the two Ranger Candidates killed during training there are two facts worth noting that are germane to this thread.

The Officer candidate, 2nd Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon, was still assigned to IBOLC. My understanding is that Ranger School is almost a requirement if the 18A aspires to make O-3. Joining the Ranger Regiment as an 18A would require the tab.

Staff Sgt. George Taber, although already a Green Beret, was not Ranger tabbed, which is why he was a Ranger School. There are GB's, even officers, who are not Ranger tabbed. Not many, but they exist. Just as there are some GB's who didn't start their careers in combat arms. One thing is for sure, if you started out in a support branch and join a team, who better make sure you have the Ranger tab.

There are plenty of Long Tabbers who never attended Ranger school. It is not really a deal breaker if you do not have a Ranger tab if you want to go into the Green Berets, even if you were/are an Infantry officer. Ultimately, a soldier has to earn the Ranger tab to transition into the Regiment as an officer. Junior enlisted do have the option to have a first assignment in the Regiment, but they are required to attend and eventually graduate Ranger school.

The Ranger school story is frankly terrible. I went through the training a couple years after the big incident that left several Ranger students dead in 1995. The school went through a massive change to prioritize safety after that. Just proves the point that the military is a dangerous business even in training.

 

[AROTC-dad]

The Ranger school story is frankly terrible. I went through the training a couple years after the big incident that left several Ranger students dead in 1995. The school went through a massive change to prioritize safety after that. Just proves the point that the military is a dangerous business even in training.

This is a Navy quote, but the intention applies to all who serve and therefore take on risk every single day. .

"I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm's way."​

​

— John Paul Jones​

 

[Anonymous121]

The Officer candidate, 2nd Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon, was still assigned to IBOLC.

He wasn't an officer candidate. He was a full-fledged 2LT and USMA graduate.

 

[cb7893]

He wasn't an officer candidate. He was a full-fledged 2LT and USMA graduate.

My bad. I saw IBOLC and didn't read forward. I read the part about being a USMA graduate. I didn't mention it because it's immaterial to the discussion on this thread.

My whole point was to suggest that those who aspire to move up through the officer ranks as 11A's--regardless of the commissioning source or whether in or out of the Regiment, are expected to get tabbed and tabbed early.

It is a very tough slog and Lt. Fitzgibbon seemed to be on that track and up to the task. It's a tragedy just as it was for this young man, one class ahead of my DS last year:

Soldier tried to identify as a ‘weak swimmer’ before Ranger School river drowning

The Ranger battalion soldier tried to identify himself as a “weak swimmer” to instructors, but was told it was too late in the course.

www.armytimes.com

 

[Dustoff17]

To the OP: You’ve asked a question that is difficult to answer. You received an LOA, congrats on this! However, you are on step three of, what will become, a one thousand-step process by the time you get to an SOG. Concentrate on getting accepted into an academy and then concentrate on excelling as a leader and academically.
While the academies place you based ”on the needs”, your class standing and performance during your years has a LOT to say about where you’ll end up.

If, by some chance, you don’t get what you want, be the best Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman, OFFICER you can be. Your leadership will take note and will help you get where you want to be. Service to your Country where needed should prevail.

IMHO……..

 

[cb7893]

Correcting a mistake:

If you read the obituary of the two Ranger Candidates killed during training there are two facts worth noting that are germane to this thread.

The Officer candidate, 2nd Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon, was still assigned to IBOLC. My understanding is that Ranger School is almost a requirement if the 18A 11A aspires to make O-3. Joining the Ranger Regiment as an 18A 11A would require the tab.

Staff Sgt. George Taber, although already a Green Beret, was not Ranger tabbed, which is why he was a Ranger School. There are GB's, even officers, who are not Ranger tabbed. Not many, but they exist. Just as there are some GB's who didn't start their careers in combat arms. One thing is for sure, if you started out in a support branch and join a team, who better make sure you have the Ranger tab.