#617: What It's Like to Go to Army Ranger School

#617: What It's Like to Go to Army Ranger School

Which branch of the military has the toughest training course for its officers and special operators is a matter of animated debate, but there's no question that the Army's Ranger School is a viable candidate for carrying that designation. Over nine weeks, and three grueling phases, soldiers undergo physical, mental, and emotional challenges that test their endurance, resilience, and leadership.

My guest today went through Ranger School twice: first as an infantry officer in 2004, and then just last year as the first journalist to embed with a class all the way through the course. His name is Will Bardenwerper and he wrote an article about his experience for Outside Magazine called "Army Ranger School Is a Laboratory of Human Endurance." Will and I begin our conversation with why he wanted to observe Ranger School from a third-party perspective after participating in it firsthand as a soldier. Will then explains the difference between earning your tab by graduating from Ranger School and being an official Army Ranger who belongs to the Ranger Regiment special operations force. Will then gives us a big picture overview of the three phases of Ranger School: Benning Phase, Mountain Phase, and Swamp Phase. We then dive into what happens in each phase, taking side trips along the way into the controversy of allowing women into the course, whether or not it's gotten easier since Will went through, and the importance of doing well in the combat patrol exercises and peer reviews in which the students participate. We end our conversation discussing the lessons in endurance that civilians can take away from those who graduate from Ranger School and earn the tab.

Get the show notes at aom.is/rangerschool.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(1158)

No, There Isn’t a Loneliness Epidemic (And That May Be an Even Bigger Problem)

No, There Isn’t a Loneliness Epidemic (And That May Be an Even Bigger Problem)

Face-to-face socializing in America has declined by more than 20% nationwide. Among some groups, like young adults and unmarried men, the drop is closer to 40%.But strangely, this hasn’t led to the lo...

11 Mar 202553min

Enter the Matrix — The Science of Slowing Down Time

Enter the Matrix — The Science of Slowing Down Time

People commonly think of time as a fixed, linear, objective structure. But our own experiences belie this belief. We’ve all been in situations where time has seemed to drag on or speed up, and there a...

4 Mar 202539min

The Science of Porn: Myths, Facts, and Overlooked Issues

The Science of Porn: Myths, Facts, and Overlooked Issues

Pornography is more prevalent and accessible than ever before, yet its effects on relationships, mental health, and human development aren't popularly well understood. Discussions on the topic are oft...

25 Feb 202554min

The Power of the Notebook — The History and Practice of Thinking on Paper

The Power of the Notebook — The History and Practice of Thinking on Paper

The idea for the Art of Manliness came to me 17 years ago as I was standing in the magazine section of a Borders bookstore. As inspiration struck, I took my Moleskine out of my pocket and jotted down ...

18 Feb 202552min

The 80/80 Marriage — A New Model for a Happier, Stronger Relationship

The 80/80 Marriage — A New Model for a Happier, Stronger Relationship

A lot of people go into marriage with a 50/50 mindset. Everything in the relationship — from tangible things like childcare and chores to intangible things like the effort and energy needed to keep th...

11 Feb 202554min

Sleep Like a Caveman

Sleep Like a Caveman

For several decades, people's reported sleep quality has declined. This, despite the fact that specially optimized sheets, mattresses, and sleep trackers have emerged during that time, and despite the...

4 Feb 202542min

Familiarity Breeds Contempt (And Other Underappreciated Consequences of Digital Communication)

Familiarity Breeds Contempt (And Other Underappreciated Consequences of Digital Communication)

There has been a lot of cultural discussion of the way digital technologies and social media contribute to things like political polarization and adolescent depression.But as I'll explore with Nichola...

28 Jan 202553min

How to Use Leverage Points to Get Unstuck in Work and Life

How to Use Leverage Points to Get Unstuck in Work and Life

When people get stuck in their job or personal life, the common response is to either work harder or shrug and accept that "that's just the way things are."My guest today has a much better solution to...

21 Jan 202550min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
mikkels-paskenotter
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
foreldreradet
treningspodden
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-bisarr-historie
hverdagspsyken
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
sinnsyn
level-up-med-anniken-binz
gravid-uke-for-uke
rss-kull
rss-kunsten-a-leve
fryktlos
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf
hagespiren-podcast
rss-bak-luftfarten