Undergrad, military, THEN med school?

[tijames]

i'm a premed biochem major. I'm starting to think that I would like to enter the military after undergrad and enter the special forces (SEALS or Rangers, etc), then enter medical school after 6 years in the special forces or so. Have any of you heard about people doing this? what are your general thoughts? If I entered the military, but did not go into the special forces, how would this effect the situation?

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[NavyFP]

i'm a premed biochem major. I'm starting to think that I would like to enter the military after undergrad and enter the special forces (SEALS or Rangers, etc), then enter medical school after 6 years in the special forces or so. Have any of you heard about people doing this? what are your general thoughts? If I entered the military, but did not go into the special forces, how would this effect the situation?

There are multiple threads discussing the ins and outs of doing active duty time prior to starting med school. There are many who have done it (although not necessarily in special forces) but it is full of uncertainties and possiblities. While the cinematic romance of spec ops is appealing, the bottom line you need to address is do you want to be a warfighter or a doctor? The path to becoming a practicing physician is long and arduous and time on the line side of the military is not always conducive to enabling that goal. For now work on studying hard and getting good grades. Your outlook may change as time goes by.

 

[Mirror Form]

i'm a premed biochem major. I'm starting to think that I would like to enter the military after undergrad and enter the special forces (SEALS or Rangers, etc), then enter medical school after 6 years in the special forces or so. Have any of you heard about people doing this? what are your general thoughts? If I entered the military, but did not go into the special forces, how would this effect the situation?

There are plenty of people who enter medicine after being in the military for several years before hand. Doing special forces might make you stand out on your application to med school, but it probably won't be a major factor. Worry more about your mcat's and research opportunities.

 

[IgD]

Is that a realistic goal? I did meet a Navy guy that was a SEAL who was an intern. I don't have any idea how he went down that path. Have never met anyone since in that situation.

 

[FNU LNU]

I echo most of the above comments. I am a former Marine and there are a bunch of other prior military people in my med school class. We even have an M3 who is a former SEAL. Every school that I interviewed at looked upon my military service favorably, but don't expect prior service to make up for a low MCAT or lack of medically-related experiance. If you are truely the type of elite athelete capable of making the cut in SF, you should look into Air Force pararescue. They have very cool peacetime/wartime missions and receive a lot of medical training. Good luck.

 

[paradude]

i'm a premed biochem major. I'm starting to think that I would like to enter the military after undergrad and enter the special forces (SEALS or Rangers, etc), then enter medical school after 6 years in the special forces or so. Have any of you heard about people doing this? what are your general thoughts? If I entered the military, but did not go into the special forces, how would this effect the situation?

That's pretty close to my story. I spent 8 years in AF Pararescue as an enlisted airman prior to and during undergrad. I actually have a few friends who are in various stages of medical training so it's probably not that rare of a route. The sort of type-A person who volunteers for Spec Ops has some similar attributes a certain sub-set of the medical student population. You will certainly be a non-trad student when you do get to medical school which has good and bad aspects. I wouldn't trade the experiences and friendships for anything, although I find it tough to compete with 23 year-olds fresh out of college for grades sometimes.

Bottom line is that it's kind of cool that I'm the only student in my class who has ever put in a chest tube but that doesn't mean much on Micro exam. If you want to be a Ranger because you want to kick down doors and wupp some ass, cool. If you want to be a Ranger because it'll make your med school application look good, you may want to reconsider.

 

[S-Mart]

i'm a premed biochem major. I'm starting to think that I would like to enter the military after undergrad and enter the special forces (SEALS or Rangers, etc), then enter medical school after 6 years in the special forces or so. Have any of you heard about people doing this? what are your general thoughts? If I entered the military, but did not go into the special forces, how would this effect the situation?

Are Rangers really special forces? The ones I saw were in pretty poor shape. They didn't even know how to read a map.
Anyway OP, I don't know much about SEALs but I suspect that if you do become one, you really want to ask yourself "Do I want to kill people, or do I want to heal people?"
Either way, good luck.

 

[Perrotfish]

No experience here, but I'll throw out some speculation. Don't you think you'll go a little nuts if, after 2 years in Infantry and 4 years in SF, you had to take orders from a 26 year old Intern during your hospital rotations?

Also your MCAT will expire before you're out of the military, which means that after 6 years away from undergrad you'd need to scramble to regain all that knowledge from your undergrad.

 

[navdoc47]

Look at the big picture. If you spend 4-6 yrs playing SF, that will delay an already long and painful climb thru medical training. When you're in your late 20s or early 30s, odds are you will be married and will be starting a family. You can be an attending (board certified doc) by age 30 if you don't delay your medical studies while likely having more financial resources to more comfortably support family life. If on the other hand you go play SEAL, you'll be starting internship in your early 30s, grueling thru 30 hr calls and wondering why you switched careers.

If you want a better life, I would recommend dentistry over medicine. They make the same as primary care physicians, but work an average of 30-40 hrs per week as opposed to the typical 60 hr weeks physicians enjoy. Plus, they don't have to do internship/residency, never do call (unless you're oral surgery), and a high quality of life is the rule. If you do medicine, high quality of life is the exception, not the rule. Also remember that dentist earnings keep climbing (because little 3rd party payment), while physician earnings continue to be flat (thanks to HMOs and Medicare). It won't be long before we're like England, where mothers hope their daughters marry a dentist over any other profession.

 

[Mirror Form]

Look at the big picture. If you spend 4-6 yrs playing SF, that will delay an already long and painful climb thru medical training. When you're in your late 20s or early 30s, odds are you will be married and will be starting a family. You can be an attending (board certified doc) by age 30 if you don't delay your medical studies while likely having more financial resources to more comfortably support family life. If on the other hand you go play SEAL, you'll be starting internship in your early 30s, grueling thru 30 hr calls and wondering why you switched careers.

I disagree to some extent with this argument. Your medical training will be miserable no matter what age you do it. You're better off enjoying your 20's and being miserable in your 30's then vice versa.

 

[q123]

That's pretty close to my story. I spent 8 years in AF Pararescue as an enlisted airman prior to and during undergrad. I actually have a few friends who are in various stages of medical training so it's probably not that rare of a route. The sort of type-A person who volunteers for Spec Ops has some similar attributes a certain sub-set of the medical student population. You will certainly be a non-trad student when you do get to medical school which has good and bad aspects. I wouldn't trade the experiences and friendships for anything, although I find it tough to compete with 23 year-olds fresh out of college for grades sometimes.

Bottom line is that it's kind of cool that I'm the only student in my class who has ever put in a chest tube but that doesn't mean much on Micro exam. If you want to be a Ranger because you want to kick down doors and wupp some ass, cool. If you want to be a Ranger because it'll make your med school application look good, you may want to reconsider.

his situation is different(he plans to do this after ugrad). if he enlists, his mcat will be no longer valid and he'll forget everything he learned in his premed classes. also very few enlisted spec ops guys end up in med school, so you're an exception.

 

[q123]

I disagree to some extent with this argument. Your medical training will be miserable no matter what age you do it. You're better off enjoying your 20's and being miserable in your 30's then vice versa.

hey i have a similar outlook on life. i made a thread on premed forum about the possibility of not going to med school just for this reason(and instead be a navigator/flight officer for 8yrs,etc). but med school is only 4yrs. afraid if i postpone it now, i'll be too old. i made a poll on myspace(i asked only the hottest girls of chicago) if they preferred to date a usmc officer(i didnt specify doctor or pilot or infantry) or a doctor, and they said doctor. they must realize that most doctors are not in good physical shape and are not as kind and charismatic as portrayed on tv. so stability is all that really matters.

 

[PJDent]

Look at the big picture. If you spend 4-6 yrs playing SF, that will delay an already long and painful climb thru medical training. When you're in your late 20s or early 30s, odds are you will be married and will be starting a family. You can be an attending (board certified doc) by age 30 if you don't delay your medical studies while likely having more financial resources to more comfortably support family life. If on the other hand you go play SEAL, you'll be starting internship in your early 30s, grueling thru 30 hr calls and wondering why you switched careers.

If you want a better life, I would recommend dentistry over medicine. They make the same as primary care physicians, but work an average of 30-40 hrs per week as opposed to the typical 60 hr weeks physicians enjoy. Plus, they don't have to do internship/residency, never do call (unless you're oral surgery), and a high quality of life is the rule. If you do medicine, high quality of life is the exception, not the rule. Also remember that dentist earnings keep climbing (because little 3rd party payment), while physician earnings continue to be flat (thanks to HMOs and Medicare). It won't be long before we're like England, where mothers hope their daughters marry a dentist over any other profession.

I took the long course and did 9 years in pararescue before deciding I wanted to do something that allowed me to spend some time with the family; dentistry. If you've got the bug and you're serious about it then go do it. Back in 1996 I did some cross training with the SEALS out in Coronado and I met several older guys (BUDS candidates) that had prior careers as chemists and engineers. All of them never stopped wanting it so they dropped everything and went back. So, if you really do want to do something special then do it NOW while you're young and with no regrets. Remember that these are dangerous jobs that take the HIGHEST level of commitment that you will ever make. Your teammates will rely on you and you will place your life in their hands as well. I hate to say this because it sounds arrogant but it's true: Just about anybody can get through med school, law school, or dental school but not many people have what it takes to be an operator. Yes you'll be older when you go back and attend medical/dental/law/whatever school but you'll have memories, experiences and friendships that will last your lifetime. Besides who else in your class can say they've jumped off the ramp of a C-5 at 24,999 feet wearing full combat equipment on a pitch black night to an unknown drop zone? And yes, I do miss it sometimes. Good luck.

 

[paradude]

his situation is different(he plans to do this after ugrad). if he enlists, his mcat will be no longer valid and he'll forget everything he learned in his premed classes. also very few enlisted spec ops guys end up in med school, so you're an exception.

Yes, if you serve time in a line unit you will have to take your MCAT at a later time. Not a big deal. Don't worry about forgetting stuff from undergrad, your going to be learning new "stuff" and quickly when you get to med school. I also disagree with your last point about me being an exception. I know a number of former enlisted "spec ops guys" who are docs now or are in med school.

 

[q123]

Yes, if you serve time in a line unit you will have to take your MCAT at a later time. Not a big deal. Don't worry about forgetting stuff from undergrad, your going to be learning new "stuff" and quickly when you get to med school.

well i'm certain if i spent even several years on a real job, doesnt have to be spec ops, but something less demanding, i wouldnt have any strength/ambition to study for mcat and then study in med school like a nerd. i understand some people can, but still.

 

[megadon]

I drove submarines before doing this. One of my classmates was an enlisted SEAL. Basically, if you want, go play, and you can come back to this. My experience it is easier to get out after your hitch than trying to transfer while still in. The SEAL got out, got his undergrad, and got into school. There are plenty of people who did something in the military, then went to med school. I'm glad I did it this way, and I don't regret not going straight through.

 

[tijames]

thank you all very much for your thoughts. I really appreciate your honesty. If you have any more advice that you'd like to share, feel free to PM me or otherwise let me know. thanks again

 

[RangerD]

Are Rangers really special forces? The ones I saw were in pretty poor shape. They didn't even know how to read a map.
Anyway OP, I don't know much about SEALs but I suspect that if you do become one, you really want to ask yourself "Do I want to kill people, or do I want to heal people?"
Either way, good luck.

You must be confusing true Army Airborne Rangers (the Special Operations soldiers who are a part of a Ranger Battalion) with some other military person who completed Ranger School, earning the Ranger Tab at some point during their military career.

There is NO true Army Airborne Ranger in poor shape and unable to read a map. They are true Special Operations soldiers. Serving in a Ranger Batallion is a very demanding duty. They are very disciplined, very highly trained, and experts at what they do.

On the other hand, I have seen plenty of people that were what we call "Ranger Qualified" meaning they sucked it up and made it through the couple months of Ranger School, but later in their career they let themselves go. The real Rangers who actually work as a Ranger 24/7 within a Ranger Batallion don't consider these guys Rangers. It is disappointing that many people get this issue confused. Just because someone wears a Ranger Tab does not mean they are a real Ranger. It just means they passed Ranger School, where they learned some advanced infantry skills from the real Rangers.

 

[Perrotfish]

I'd definitely say try to limit your commitment to 4 years, or even 2 (enlist under the National Call to Service plan, they should offer Rangers, though not SEALs or Green Berets). This path is long enough without adding an extra 6 years.

People definitely do it, though. We have about half a dozen veterans in my class.

 

[notdeadyet]

Two points to consider, OP:

1. If you go Army --> Rangers, no worries, but if your desire is Army --> SF or Navy --> SEALS, keep in mind that with the wash-out rate in training, odds are very good that you'll end up in another field. Make sure that you don't sign up for just these jobs: if you can't be happy in a non-special ops role in the military, joining the military is a bad idea.

2. If you end up SF or somesuch, also keep in mind that after your six years are done, if we're in a war of any kind of tempo, the chances of you being reactivated or stop-lossed are much higher than your average bear. Keep it in mind.

 

[haujun]

i'm a premed biochem major. I'm starting to think that I would like to enter the military after undergrad and enter the special forces (SEALS or Rangers, etc), then enter medical school after 6 years in the special forces or so. Have any of you heard about people doing this? what are your general thoughts? If I entered the military, but did not go into the special forces, how would this effect the situation?

It depends. If you considering staying in the military, doing operational tour etc..then do it. But you want that coveted derm/radiology/ortho etc spot and get out to civilian sector I think not...

I did just that, spent 4 years between undergrad and medical school at Ft. Bragg. Although this experience helped me get into USUHS (opted for HPSP) it sure did not help my performance during medical school. First year of medical school kicked my butt and I was not used to mediocre academic performance. Having these active duty service have helped my transition my life as an attending physician doing operational tour, but most people wil agreed that (>90% get out) this is sort experience they could do without and leave military service after serving their obligation.

 

[RangerD]

This is the 12th thread where you have explained the difference between Ranger-qualified and "real Rangers".

Here's an idea, if Rangers are really so bad-ass, don't give the title away to every shmuck with a couple months to kill in your school.

I mean hell, you don't see a lot of fat, "SEAL-qualified" guys running around the Navy.

You obviously have me confused with someone else. But regardless, we don't give the "title" to those that went through the school, it is only shmucks who don't know any better (like you apparently) that refer to them as actual Rangers.

That would be the same thing as someone taking an undergraduate Physics course, and when passing the course considering that person a Physicist! Ridiculous!

Now when these guys pass through our school and learn some of the basic skills used by Rangers, the intention is that they take these skills back to their home unit, which should increase the combat effectiveness of the home unit. However, there are definitely those that go through the school just so they can say they did it, and afterwards become slackers. Its a shame, but it happens for sure. The reason you don't see "SEAL-qualified" guys doing it is because the SEALs don't have that type of school available to outside units. The Rangers are unique in that they host a school available to non-Rangers for the purpose of improving the combat skills and effectiveness of the military as a whole.

 

[DoesntMatter]

Are Rangers really special forces? The ones I saw were in pretty poor shape. They didn't even know how to read a map.
Anyway OP, I don't know much about SEALs but I suspect that if you do become one, you really want to ask yourself "Do I want to kill people, or do I want to heal people?"
Either way, good luck.

This thread is old, but a reply has to be given... You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Its funny how somebody who's aspiring to be a professional would just make purely ignorant comments without any attempt to assure legitimacy.

well i'm certain if i spent even several years on a real job, doesnt have to be spec ops, but something less demanding, i wouldnt have any strength/ambition to study for mcat and then study in med school like a nerd. i understand some people can, but still.

Then you dont deserve to be a doctor.

You must be confusing true Army Airborne Rangers (the Special Operations soldiers who are a part of a Ranger Battalion) with some other military person who completed Ranger School, earning the Ranger Tab at some point during their military career.

There is NO true Army Airborne Ranger in poor shape and unable to read a map. They are true Special Operations soldiers. Serving in a Ranger Batallion is a very demanding duty. They are very disciplined, very highly trained, and experts at what they do.

On the other hand, I have seen plenty of people that were what we call "Ranger Qualified" meaning they sucked it up and made it through the couple months of Ranger School, but later in their career they let themselves go. The real Rangers who actually work as a Ranger 24/7 within a Ranger Batallion don't consider these guys Rangers. It is disappointing that many people get this issue confused. Just because someone wears a Ranger Tab does not mean they are a real Ranger. It just means they passed Ranger School, where they learned some advanced infantry skills from the real Rangers.

THANK YOU. Solid information.

Two points to consider, OP:

1. If you go Army --> Rangers, no worries, but if your desire is Army --> SF or Navy --> SEALS, keep in mind that with the wash-out rate in training, odds are very good that you'll end up in another field. Make sure that you don't sign up for just these jobs: if you can't be happy in a non-special ops role in the military, joining the military is a bad idea.

2. If you end up SF or somesuch, also keep in mind that after your six years are done, if we're in a war of any kind of tempo, the chances of you being reactivated or stop-lossed are much higher than your average bear. Keep it in mind.

If you think SF would have a higher potential for recall, you're highly misinformed. Furthermore, Q-course and RASP have similar drop rates. DO RESEARCH FIRST!!!!!!

 

[sonofva]

@DoesntMatter -

strong first post... from your status it appears that you are a pre-med of some sort, so i'm assuming your age has something to do with your "foot-stomping" response to the above posts. Just FYI, this particular forum is inhabited largely by full-fleged military physicians. No one on here is willfully going to give misinformation about, or malign any of the US armed services or special forces. I'm sorry if you were offended by any of the above comments. I'm sure it wasn't intentional. But realistically, if someone comes to a bunch of DOCTORS for information on how to become a special operator, then that's bad on them...

 

[Gastrapathy]

Lecturing people who last posted in the prior decade sure makes you look tough shipmate.

 

[sonofva]

Lecturing people who last posted in the prior decade sure makes you look tough shipmate.

Who me?

 

[Shikima]

Who me?

Doesntmatter.

 

[pgg]

Then you dont deserve to be a doctor.

Strong work!

It's been a while since someone's invoked Burnett's Law with their very first post on SDN.

And I got to hand it to you, necrobumping a 7-year-dead thread to do it is a nice touch. You're gonna go far, kid.

 

[DoesntMatter]

@DoesntMatter -

strong first post... from your status it appears that you are a pre-med of some sort, so i'm assuming your age has something to do with your "foot-stomping" response to the above posts. Just FYI, this particular forum is inhabited largely by full-fleged military physicians. No one on here is willfully going to give misinformation about, or malign any of the US armed services or special forces. I'm sorry if you were offended by any of the above comments. I'm sure it wasn't intentional. But realistically, if someone comes to a bunch of DOCTORS for information on how to become a special operator, then that's bad on them...

"But realistically, if someone comes to a bunch of DOCTORS for information on how to become a special operator, then that's bad on them."

Good point.

My post came out of surprise by the obvious lack of understanding before the deliverance of information and advice. I have never used this site before, but I was under the impression that these posts would be better informed.

I see that this is 7 years old post, and my "necrobumping" may be looked down upon, but I believe giving blatantly wrong information is worse. Lastly, I apologize for the B-Law accusation, I overstepped there.


I appreciate the responses, and the enlightenment on some of the SDN norms.

 

[Gastrapathy]

SDN norms? In what setting was this appropriate behavior?

 

[DoesntMatter]

SDN norms? In what setting was this appropriate behavior?

This being the response to wrong and misleading information, or this being the "necrobumping" and B-Law invocation? To which are you referring? If its the spotlighting of wrong and misleading information, then I would say its appropriate in quite a few settings. If its the "necrobumping," I would say I don't know, as I'm not much of a forum user, but I now know not on SDN. If its the expression of personal opinion (the "you shouldn't be a doctor" statement) as to the mindset of a potential, or practicing physician, I might be inclined to say the special operations community; however, I do admit that statement shouldn't have been made (hence the apology), as my opinion has no bearing on someone's actual potential ability to practice medicine.

Also, I'm curious, which of my original comments led you to believe I was trying to be "tough?" Furthermore, which do you disagree with specifically? Or was it simply my lack of tact in addressing the issue that came off as rude, or as though I was trying to lecture?

If I were to get on a thread regarding a medical specialty for which I was ill-informed, and started giving people clearly wrong advise, would I be met with anything less? Honest question.

Again, thank you for your feedback.

 

[Gastrapathy]

OK, let's try again. In what venue would you jump into an ongoing conversation where you know no one and start slinging insults? You called the poster ignorant and questioned his qualifications for a profession of which you aren't a member.

Let's take it a step further, although this pains me, but let's say you were an E5 who marched into O-country and behaved this way. On top of that, you picked an issue that no one here cares about and shouted at people that aren't here anymore.

These peeps are an incredible resource for young military physicians. If we are going to be pestered with nonsense, it should at least be entertaining.

 

[KettleCorn]

Also, I'm curious, which of my original comments led you to believe I was trying to be "tough?" Furthermore, which do you disagree with specifically? Or was it simply my lack of tact in addressing the issue that came off as rude, or as though I was trying to lecture?

You bumped a thread and tried to give a point-by-point takedown of a discussion that stopped over 7 years ago. If you're going to call BS on everything, at least cite some sources. Your first post reminded me of something I'd expect to read in a local news website comment section.

 

[pgg]

If we are going to be pestered with nonsense, it should at least be entertaining.

We're getting there!

 

[DoesntMatter]

You bumped a thread and tried to give a point-by-point takedown of a discussion that stopped over 7 years ago. If you're going to call BS on everything, at least cite some sources. Your first post reminded me of something I'd expect to read in a local news website comment section.

"Your first post reminded me of something Id expect to read in a local news website comment section."

Funny, some of the information given in this thread reminded me of the same.




And considering the information can so easily be found, I didn't think citations would be necessary, but here you are...

Army Rangers Special Operations:
http://www.benning.army.mil/tenant/75thranger/
http://www.soc.mil/Rangers/75thRR.html


Special Operations Ranger vs Ranger School "Rangers:"
http://sofrep.com/4356/the-75th-ranger-regiment-is-not-the-same-as-ranger-school-2/


Graduation Rates:
SF
"Successful completion rates for assessment and selection courses range from 38 to 80 percent; graduation rates for the qualification courses average between 70 and 85 percent."
http://archive.armytimes.com/articl...ps-Thousands-needed-huge-cash-bonuses-offered

Special Operations Ranger vs Ranger School "Rangers"
"Just 37 percent of RASP I candidates will graduate from the program, compared with the 50 percent to 60 percent who graduated from RIP between 05 and 09."
http://archive.armytimes.com/articl...0316/75th-s-aim-More-grads-from-Ranger-course

 

[DoesntMatter]

OK, let's try again. In what venue would you jump into an ongoing conversation where you know no one and start slinging insults? You called the poster ignorant and questioned his qualifications for a profession of which you aren't a member.

Let's take it a step further, although this pains me, but let's say you were an E5 who marched into O-country and behaved this way. On top of that, you picked an issue that no one here cares about and shouted at people that aren't here anymore.

These peeps are an incredible resource for young military physicians. If we are going to be pestered with nonsense, it should at least be entertaining.

"You called the poster ignorant and questioned his qualifications for a profession of which you aren't a member."

Only one of the comments to which I responded was from that of a resident (member of said profession), so I'm not sure what you meant by that.
The first I would have deemed as ignorant, and revealed as giving wrong information was a premedical student, and the
post in which I gave my opinion (wrongfully) was that of a premedical student.... So again, what do you mean?


"Let's take it a step further, although this pains me, but let's say you were an E5 who marched into O-country and behaved this way."

Ok, lets say I were........? Was something supposed to come next?


"On top of that, you picked an issue that no one here cares about and shouted at people that aren't here anymore."

If writing my concerns, and giving honest feed back is shouting, ok. And I know the post is old.. I got it. I addressed that in the original comment... Im starting to think this is the only thing you're really upset about; I posted on an old thread.


"These peeps are an incredible resource for young military physicians. If we are going to be pestered with nonsense, it should at least be entertaining."

Who are? The premed students I quoted?
Again, what do you mean?
Did you think they were all residents or attendings?

 

[Gastrapathy]

I'm an attending. I tried. Good luck to you.

 

[Perrotfish]

"Your first post reminded me of something Id expect to read in a local news website comment section."

Funny, some of the information given in this thread reminded me of the same.




And considering the information can so easily be found, I didn't think citations would be necessary, but here you are...

Army Rangers Special Operations:
http://www.benning.army.mil/tenant/75thranger/
http://www.soc.mil/Rangers/75thRR.html


Special Operations Ranger vs Ranger School "Rangers:"
http://sofrep.com/4356/the-75th-ranger-regiment-is-not-the-same-as-ranger-school-2/


Graduation Rates:
SF
"Successful completion rates for assessment and selection courses range from 38 to 80 percent; graduation rates for the qualification courses average between 70 and 85 percent."
http://archive.armytimes.com/articl...ps-Thousands-needed-huge-cash-bonuses-offered

Special Operations Ranger vs Ranger School "Rangers"
"Just 37 percent of RASP I candidates will graduate from the program, compared with the 50 percent to 60 percent who graduated from RIP between 05 and 09."
http://archive.armytimes.com/articl...0316/75th-s-aim-More-grads-from-Ranger-course

Would you mind letting us know your qualifications? Could you please let us know what, if any, experience you have with the SF, or the Rangers, the military in general, or with medicine?

 

[DoesntMatter]

Would you mind letting us know your qualifications? Could you please let us know what, if any, experience you have with the SF, or the Rangers, the military in general, or with medicine?

My qualifications are irrelevant, and given that anybody can claim to be anything in this environment, if I were to give them, they would not, nor should they be believed.

 

[Shikima]

My qualifications are irrelevant, and given that anybody can claim to be anything in this environment, if I were to give them, they would not, nor should they be believed.

I don't believe you.

 

[DrMetal]

My qualifications are irrelevant, and given that anybody can claim to be anything in this environment,

Quite true: Im a scratch golfer with a 300 yd drive

 

[deleted480308]

I don't believe you.

I just want to say how much I've missed you milmed folk...

 

[Gastrapathy]

My qualifications are irrelevant, and given that anybody can claim to be anything in this environment, if I were to give them, they would not, nor should they be believed.

You shouldn't be believed. Check.

Most folks here are what they say they are.

 

[sonofva]

You shouldn't be believed. Check.

Most folks here are what they say they are.

Agreed. This is one forum where I believe that most people here are who they say they are. And if they're lying there's usually obvious holes in their story.

 

[notdeadyet]

Yep. Sign one is folks who feel divulging any info about their background or experience is "irrelevant."


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[j4pac]

Anonymity is a myth. I think that people in the military, who have more at stake and with more restrictions of free-speech, have better grasp of that. When you have so much at stake, you might as well be out in the open about your identity as a reminder to yourself to be careful with your words.

I'm pretty sure that even an amateur hacker could find out the identity of most of us on this forum if they really wanted to. I have no interest in hiding my identify. I have nothing to hide.

 

[Homunculus]

Anonymity is a myth. I think that people in the military, who have more at stake and with more restrictions of free-speech, have better grasp of that. When you have so much at stake, you might as well be out in the open about your identity as a reminder to yourself to be careful with your words.

I'm pretty sure that even an amateur hacker could find out the identity of most of us on this forum if they really wanted to. I have no interest in hiding my identify. I have nothing to hide.

any identifying characteristics would be divulged by the member. SDN has a good system in place to protect people's identities, and it would take more than an amateur hacker to pry anything meaningful about anyone. more likely someone could parse through posts and put together some kind of profile, but like people have mentioned previously in a way that just keeps people honest. i suspect that is what you meant.

unlike the premed forums like you said for the most part we have nothing to hide. i've not said anything here that i wouldn't/haven't said to colleagues. maybe a few things i wouldn't say to a general but hey, that's living life on the edge i guess, lol.

the interesting take on the "tell us your qualifications" is similar to those "stolen valor" videos-- not the one of some poor sap wearing a uniform because he's mentally ill or ******ed or trying to feel cool but the legitimate douchebag trying to play the part and keep up the act. you can google and research and hear and read stories, but there are cultural details and innuendos that people pick up on really quickly who have been through it. so in certain situations, i think asking for some background info is legit, and not offering it up because "i can fake it anyway" is eyebrow raising at the least.

--your friendly neighborhood i'm really a fat warcraft player in my underwear drinking mtn dew and eating doritos and have kept this charade for 15 years caveman

 

[NavyFP]

My qualifications are irrelevant, and given that anybody can claim to be anything in this environment, if I were to give them, they would not, nor should they be believed.

Well, they kinda are. Some of us are "been there, done that." And I am not sure what your point actually is....
A buddy of mine's son went through Ranger school very recently. He was an Army MSC and got "voted off the island." had nothing to do with his performance just the other guys didn't want him sticking around.
It really did remind me of the TV show Survivor.