Articles — For the Prospective Ranger Student – A Philosophy for Success

CAMP FRANK D. MERRILL, Georgia – A Ranger student completes the 200-foot lead climb during the two-day exercise at Mt. Yonah during the Mountain Phase of U.S. Army Ranger School. Applying skills learned during lower mountaineering, students conduct one day of climbing and rappelling over exposed, high-angle terrain. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Public Affairs)
CAMP FRANK D. MERRILL, Georgia – A Ranger student completes the 200-foot lead climb during the two-day exercise at Mt. Yonah during the Mountain Phase of U.S. Army Ranger School. Applying skills learned during lower mountaineering, students conduct one day of climbing and rappelling over exposed, high-angle terrain. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Public Affairs)
(FORT BENNING, GA) - Ranger students negotiate the rope climb obstacle at the Malvesti Confidence Course. The Confidence Course is conducted during the first phase of U.S. Army Ranger School known as the Benning phase. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Public Affairs)
(FORT BENNING, GA) - Ranger students negotiate the rope climb obstacle at the Malvesti Confidence Course. The Confidence Course is conducted during the first phase of U.S. Army Ranger School known as the Benning phase. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Public Affairs)
CAMP FRANK D. MERRILL, Georgia – A Ranger student executes a rappel on an overhanging cliff face on Mt. Yonah during the two-day exercise that is part of the Mountain Phase of U.S. Army Ranger School. The rugged terrain, severe weather, hunger, mental and physical fatigue, and the emotional stress that students encounter afford the opportunity to gauge their own capabilities and limitations as well as that of their peers. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Public Affairs)
CAMP FRANK D. MERRILL, Georgia – A Ranger student executes a rappel on an overhanging cliff face on Mt. Yonah during the two-day exercise that is part of the Mountain Phase of U.S. Army Ranger School. The rugged terrain, severe weather, hunger, mental and physical fatigue, and the emotional stress that students encounter afford the opportunity to gauge their own capabilities and limitations as well as that of their peers. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Public Affairs)
FORT BENNING, Ga. – Candidates at one of the military’s toughest training schools – Fort Benning’s U.S. Army Ranger School – paddle assault boats along a waterway in Florida Dec. 7 during the “swamp” phase of Ranger training. The Ranger candidates were members of Ranger class 01-20, which graduated Dec. 13 at Fort Benning. Among the 122 who graduated were six Army National Guard Soldiers who volunteered for Ranger School straight out of their entry-level Infantry training at Fort Benning, an unusual step because Ranger School candidates typically have been in the Army for a few years before considering Ranger School. Their straight path from initial entry training to the strenuous demands of Ranger School reflect an effort underway by the Army National Guard to increase the number of Ranger-qualified Soldiers in its ranks by looking to Fort Benning’s initial training centers for National Guard members who might be interested in volunteering for Ranger School.
FORT BENNING, Ga. – Candidates at one of the military’s toughest training schools – Fort Benning’s U.S. Army Ranger School – paddle assault boats along a waterway in Florida Dec. 7 during the “swamp” phase of Ranger training. The Ranger candidates were members of Ranger class 01-20, which graduated Dec. 13 at Fort Benning. Among the 122 who graduated were six Army National Guard Soldiers who volunteered for Ranger School straight out of their entry-level Infantry training at Fort Benning, an unusual step because Ranger School candidates typically have been in the Army for a few years before considering Ranger School. Their straight path from initial entry training to the strenuous demands of Ranger School reflect an effort underway by the Army National Guard to increase the number of Ranger-qualified Soldiers in its ranks by looking to Fort Benning’s initial training centers for National Guard members who might be interested in volunteering for Ranger School.

For the Prospective Ranger Student – A Philosophy for Success

By: Jacob Woodruff – 04 September 2025

To the Future Ranger Student:

The fabled 62-day crucible known as United States Army Ranger School is infamous for its grueling nature and high washout rate. Most who report to Camp Rogers will not graduate. Many who graduate will recycle one or more phases. 

First and foremost, a prospective Ranger student’s success will be dictated by their physical fitness, baseline competence for patrolling and fieldcraft, and ability to work as a member of a team. For these requisite abilities, there is no cheat sheet or playbook. But for those who do possess what it takes to eventually reach Victory Pond, a streamlined and bearable experience is what we all hope for. 

There is a high variance in the amount of suffering and level of contribution that different Ranger students experience compared to one another. I have found that this stems from one’s mental framework more than their physical ability. As an honor graduate of the course, I share my personal philosophy that I developed during Ranger School and applied daily to get me through: 

 Rule 1: Get It In While You Can. 

In Ranger School, there is never as much time as one needs. Once structured timelines become rapidly condensed at a moment’s notice. Lulls in action and movement become unpredictable and sporadic. At an individual level, you must quickly seize those opportunities of micro-freedom to get yourself and your battle buddies right. Do I have time to top off my magazines or use the latrine? Get it in while you can. Should I change my socks and soles out now, or tough it out until we get to the patrol base? Get in while you can. And what about a moment to stop and do a map check en route to the objective? Get it in while you can. Keep your gear and kit tight so that moments spent improving your own condition do not delay your squad or platoon. Maintain a philosophy of decisive action that allows you to shift your focus from your own problems to those of the team. 

 Rule 2: Protect Yourself at All Times. 

Let there be no doubt, during Ranger School, you are in the ring. The Ranger Instructors are trying to knock you out, the weather and terrain are trying to knock you out, and even the flora and fauna are trying to knock you out. As the course wears on, mistakes become inevitable. You must take all precautions to mitigate risk.

Do I really need to check that tie-down? It’s probably fine, right? Protect yourself at all times. Should I pull security in the prone or hop on a knee to stay awake while the Ranger Instructors roam the patrol base? Protect yourself at all times. Do I sneak an MRE early in the day, or keep it packed away until we are told to eat? Protect yourself at all times. Keep your head in the ring, keep your hands up, and keep yourself from getting complacent. Too many competent Ranger students recycle due to avoidable mistakes like these. Discipline is your only shield against these lapses. And like a hoplite within a Greek phalanx, this shield protects not only you but must extend to cover your battle buddy next to you. 

 Rule 3: Take The Mission Seriously, Not Yourself.  

Ranger school will unavoidably include extreme cold and heat, physical exhaustion, hallucinations, hunger, brutal terrain, and Ranger Instructors with the goal of breaking you down. Your spirit is being tested at all times. What will your reaction be when it is 0430 in Mountain Phase, you finally set into your patrol base, and you hear that wakeup is at 0500? Do you curse the school and pout? No, you elbow your buddy, joke about how screwed up this is, and bed down for your 30 minutes. In the Florida Phase, when you find yourself waist-deep and immobile in biodegrading muck, you will look and see dry land a few meters away, but forbidden to walk on. As you free yourself, you trip face-first on some unseen cypress below the surface. Do you let the stress mount? No, you chuckle to yourself and recognize the incredulity of the situation. And when your battle buddy does the same right behind you, you laugh at him, too.

If a Ranger student is unable to hit these release valves, frustration builds, and the Ranger becomes fixated on their own suffering, rather than the task at hand. Humor is often your only weapon against such things and must be employed liberally. In Ranger school, poor morale is highly contagious, and you must inoculate against it. Allowing for moments of respite enables you to lock in when the mission is at stake and graded looks are on the line. They build camaraderie among small teams and provide the reminder that everyone is experiencing the same conditions. Understand that when you cannot change the environment around you, the only panacea to these challenges is your own mind. 

Remember the Rules

It may seem counterintuitive that this philosophy is focused on oneself. However, as a leader and teammate, you must always imagine a circle drawn around you. Before you can be maximally effective as a member of the platoon, everything in that circle must be squared away. Furthermore, this philosophy acknowledges that the uncontrollable is precisely that – uncontrollable. Recognize when and where you can exercise control, and if you cannot, accept the circumstance with dispassion. For its utility, I found myself reciting at least one of these rules daily in response to a situation. For the prospective Ranger student, good luck, and remember: get it in while you can, protect yourself at all times, and take the mission seriously, not yourself. 

Author Biography 

 2LT Jacob Woodruff graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Point in 2024 and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer. He will serve as a Platoon Leader in the 173rd Airborne Brigade at Vicenza, Italy. 2LT Woodruff was the Officer Honor Graduate for Ranger Class 07-25 and is currently stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The articles and other content which appear on the Center for Junior Officers’ website are unofficial expressions of opinion. The views expressed are those of the authors, and do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense.

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