Is it still that Difficult for a Non Infantry Officer to get a slot.{Armor FA}

lrsrng, Yes and no. Back in the bad old days when I was LT (really not that long ago - mid 90's), there were plenty of slots for officers from the other combat arms branches. However, the non-IN branches had their LTs go through a special pre-Ranger program at their OBCs, pretty much revolving around a Ranger PT program that started an hour prior to standard PT. The 0530 hit time for 5 days a week during OBC is enough to weed out the feint hearted ones, so they usually didn't use all of their alloted slots if I remember correctly. One of my good friends from school who went armor made it straight through Ranger School in the class ahead of me (he was torn between IN and AR, and going to Ranger School was one of those goals that he had always wanted to complete). I'd imagine that it's even easier now with all the forces deployed to get a slot (I'm sure that that's one of the factors behind opening up to non-combat arms as we've talked about before), although I'm sure you ability to do day 1 recycles is low since units won't want you hanging around in the gulag too long.

When I was a 2LT in muzzle loading era, for IN LTs to get to Ranger school was one morning the platoon TAC Officer asked who wants to go to Jump School and Ranger School? He counted raised hands and 4 weeks later you got orders. Combat arms guys can usually get a slot.....though fewer than you would expect actually go.

Albany I never realized how hard it was to get a slot.In Bn it was so easy They just told you not to come back with out a Tab or you were going to the 24th Mech.

If I feel I'm ready for Ranger school (in good enough shape, mature enough, mentally tough enough, etc) and I have a chance to go to Ranger school, then I will jump on it at the first opportunity. Don't you have to go through OCS (or ROTC) before you can become a 1st or 2nd LT? Is it possible for me to go from the 82nd airborn to being a Army Ranger? I realize I can go to Ranger school while being in the 82nd, but could I go from the 82nd to the 75th Rangers?

"I realize I can go to Ranger school while being in the 82nd, but could I go from the 82nd to the 75th Rangers?" Yep, happens all the time. The only time it gets hard is when you pass the E-6/O-2 mark.

GOP you can also go back to the 82nd after Ranger Bn. Most do not stay in Bn.You can go anywhere from there.My Ranger Buddy went from Bn to the 25th ID after Bn He wanted Hawaii.As you get older your needs change guys with family start looking for assignments to spend more time with them or be closer to some where.Do as much as you can before you shack up because it will change everything because you will have someone else's needs to consider.

That is kind of like trading in a Mercedes for a Ford (no offense to the 82nd). My goal is to get to Delta (by the grace of God), and yes, I know how unlikely that is, etc etc etc... but that is definitely my goal. I think I will have a much better chance of that if I go and stay in the Rangers. Of course, the smartest thing to do might be to join the 82nd and go to Ranger school, but not join the 75th, considering that the 82nd share a base with Delta and SF.

And just what was wrong with the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized)?!?!?!?!? Since that is where I commanded my rifle company and served 5 years I have pretty fond memories!!! I ended up with several soldiers from Hunter in my unit before we converted to Bradleys. They were good soldiers...usually came to us because they could not maintain jump status anymore. I have a great story I'll tell you about that at a later date.

Albany nothing is wrong with the 3rd ID oops I mean 24th mech.GOP The 82nd has troops the equilvent of those in Bn.IT is not a step backward this is not High School where you have Varsity and JV.Different missions thats all!If you think anyone is less a soilder for his assingnment you will aproach everything wrong.Rangers Lead The Way and you can not lead troops you do not respect!A tab does not command Respect Leader do! Respect is commanded not Demanded!