What It Takes To Become a Ranger.
Ranger School progresses through three phases over the course of about 62 days. Darby Phase and Mountain Phase will unfold in the woods and mountains of Georgia, and the final phase takes place in the coastal swamps of Florida.
Darby phase is about 21 days long, split into two parts, and takes place at Camp Rogers on Fort Benning. The first week is called Ranger Assessment Phase, commonly called RAP Week. Here, Ranger Instructors will put candidates through hell to weed out those not physically or mentally prepared for the rigors ahead.
Mountain Phase is 20 days at Camp Frank D. Merrill near Dahlonega. In this phase, candidates learn and hone their mountaineering skills and tactical prowess in a mountain environment.
Florida Phase is held at Camp Rudder, located on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for 21 days. It’s the final phase, where candidates reach their absolute limits both physically and mentally. They will learn waterborne operations and tactics, stream crossings, and how to survive and be tactically proficient while leading a small unit in a coastal swamp environment.
Soldiers must mentally prepare their selves for the reality that many soldiers will have to repeat, or recycle one or more phases. There really isn’t one point in the course where people make it to and they’re good to go. There are individuals who are stellar pretty much all the way through and then fail on the last day. The main thing you need is a no-quit attitude. A lot of people think they have it, but once the lack of sleep, little food, and endless patrols start to take a toll, people find out what they are really made of.
RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!