Last Updated on May 24, 2023
Recently updated on May 24, 2023
In January 2010, RASP replaced the old RIP (Ranger Indoctrination Program).
This selection process is necessary for all soldiers who wish to serve in a Ranger battalion. Where RIP was four weeks, RASP is now eight weeks long.
What is the 75th Ranger Regiment?
The 75th is part of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).
It is a quick-reaction unit that can be deployed anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours.
While it may be referred to as part of the Special Operations Forces in the Army, it is not the same as Special Forces.
It is the only unit that was continually deployed since the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Ranger Regiment is an all-volunteer unit. The best way to guarantee a slot to attend RASP is to get an Option 40 contract when you enlist. If it is not available, in most cases, you can volunteer during basic.
In addition to PT requirements, you must already be airborne qualified and eligible for a secret security clearance to attend RASP. Your MOS must be found in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
What is RASP?
Lower enlisted soldiers will attend RASP 1, whereas higher enlisted and officers will attend RASP 2.
The training is just as difficult and has been extended so instructors have more evaluation time for soldiers wishing to become Army Rangers. The graduation rate for the course remains low at 30% of the initial class.
Pre-RASP Physical Fitness Standards
- 53 push-ups
- 63 sit-ups
- 2-mile run in 14:30 or less
- 4 pull-ups
- 6-mile ruck march with 35 lb rucksack in less than 90 minutes
Additional PT Requirements to Graduate
- 15-meter swim in full uniform
- 5-mile run in 40 minutes or less
- 12-mile road march with 35 lb rucksack
RASP 1 is divided into two phases of four weeks each. The first phase includes intense physical and psychological evaluations, road marches, land nav exercises, combatives, medical first responder scenarios, and Ranger history.
The second phase is where the real training for Regiment comes into play. The focus will be on combat, airfield seizure, recovery, marksmanship, and explosives.
Rangers Lead the Way & The Creed
This phrase or motto of “Rangers Lead The Way” got its start in Normandy in 1944, as Rangers are often leading the way into battle.
The Ranger Creed is near and dear to every Ranger’s heart. They live the creed every day, in and out of uniform.
The Creed contains six stanzas about character, fitness, and morality. Those who want to attend RASP will be doing themselves a favor by memorizing the Creed before training begins.
The Scroll vs. The Tab
As with RIP, graduates of RASP (Ranger Assessment and Selection Program) will be awarded the Ranger scroll (black and red). Those with the scroll will be assigned to a Ranger Battalion within the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Ranger School is open to those in and outside of Regiment. Upon graduation from Ranger School, the soldier will be awarded the black and gold tab. Those who came from a Ranger unit to attend the school, will return to their Ranger BN. Those who came from a different unit will return to their unit.
Ranger School and/or earning the Ranger tab is not a way to enter the Ranger Regiment. Those who serve in Regiment are required to attend and pass Ranger School to hold a leadership position in Battalion. But a tab is not a requirement to be a Ranger in Regiment.
The saying is, “The tab is a school; the scroll is a way of life.”
In the past, RIP/RASP graduates would be assigned to a Ranger battalion and generally endure at least one or two deployments before being eligible for Ranger School.
With RASP, the top graduates of the program may go directly to Ranger School (including Pre-Ranger) before being assigned to Ranger BN.
All of this training prepares Rangers for being able to take on a leadership position as soon as they arrive at BN.
RASP Graduation
RASP is held at Fort Moore (formerly known as Fort Benning). During graduation from RASP, the Ranger will be awarded the red and black scroll as well as their tan beret. Family members are welcome and encouraged to pin the scroll on their soldiers.
Battalion Assignment
There are five battalions under the 75th Ranger Regiment, headquartered at Fort Moore in Columbus, GA.
- 1st Battalion, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA
- 2nd Battalion, Fort Lewis/McChord, Tacoma, WA
- 3rd Battalion, Fort Moore (formerly known as Fort Benning), Columbus, GA
- Special Troops Batallion
- Military Intelligence Battalion
Ranger Family Life
My husband served in Ranger BN in the early 2000s. It is absolutely like a family and we still miss it. It’s hard to explain the closeness to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.
One thing you can be assured of is Rangers will deploy. My husband was assigned to BN for about a month before he left on his first deployment. When my husband deployed, we never had any issues with communication. He was able to call often, though that won’t always necessarily be the case.
When they weren’t deployed or training for a deployment, I felt like they were pretty generous with time off and shorter days. When they were on post, the day-to-day was similar to any other job. We could meet up for lunch and he was home for dinner most nights. Outside of training or someone doing something stupid, weekends were also off.
If you’re interested in learning more about RASP as well as the Ranger Regiment in general, check out their YouTube channel.
Has your soldier attended RASP? What is his opinion of the program?
I’m a little confused about the whole ranger thing… My husband is at ait right now and he volunteered to become ranger along with 3 other guys. He has yet to get his orders but almost everyone else has gotten them… What does this mean??? Is he going to ranger school/training??? If so would it be right after ait???
He will have to go to Airborne first before going to RASP.
For future Airborne, my video might help. I made it for a fellow w.a.g. but so far I’ve received pm’s telling me how helpful it’s been.
http://youtu.be/K1GLIDos6hQ
thanks, again, Stacey
If your husband is in AIT and volunteered for Ranger training, it means he’s volunteered for Ranger Regiment. Units send soldiers to Ranger School, individuals can elect to put in a 4187 to go to RASP for a shot at assignment to the 75th Ranger Regiment. The scheduling of Airborne school varies. There were initial enlistees that were going Basic->AIT->Airborne->RASP then quitting upon arrival at RASP. Due to the large amount of individuals quitting and wasting an Airborne School slot, they rescheduled Airborne training at one point. Not sure if this is still the case, when I went through it was OSUT(Infantry)->Airborne->RIP->Graduate RIP->Ranger Battalion.
My husband went through the same cycle you did of OSUT(Infantry)->Airborne->RIP->Graduate RIP->Ranger Battalion.
Hello, I hope to become a Ranger, I want to know what is the best way to prepare for RASP/RIP. What should I expect….I just bought a workout book from Stew Smith…thanks
Go to armyranger.com and READ the forums. Don’t comment, ask questions, etc until you have read just about every page there. From my husband – it’s MUCH more about your mental preparedness than it is about your physical ability. Tell yourself every day that you can quit tomorrow and then Ranger on.
My husband has Airborne and RASP in his contract. I am curious if during either school he will have weekends or nights off, or phone privileges? He wants me to move if he does so we can be closer together. He was told that when he enters RASP our move should be covered by the army. Is this true and if I move a bit earlier can the move be reimbursed? Oh and how long is holding before RASP?
When my husband went through Airborne and RIP (8 years ago), I spoke to him a few times a week at night with the exception of Cole Range during RIP. Even if it’s not as much as you would like, it will be a vast improvement over basic training. They used to get weekends off during Airborne – not sure if that is still the case. RASP hold can vary based on all kinds of things – impossible to predict. As far as moving, the Army will pay for all PCS moves. You can’t move with the Army paying until he has orders in hand.
“On hold” time before Airborne or RASP varies on when the next class starts or how many are needed prior to a class. The first 3 weeks, aka Phase 1, is much like RIP; so, don’t expect him to contact you. Just like with every weekend in training, as long as no one royally messes it up for the rest, they ought to have phone privileges and even nigths/weekends off, possibly during Phase 2. Phones are returned on Phase 2. As Stacey mentioned, it’s unpredictable… My advice is to go along with what your husband is told. I don’t even recommend writing letters because of the hold/delay. Hope this helps.
My husband is going to Airborne then he is going to RASP (from what I gather is the general way of doing things with rangers being in his contract) now if he is not “top of the class” and does NOT go immediately to Ranger school, and gets put into one of the battalions, then at those battalions, will he have a way of contacting me VIA cell phone, will I get to see him? We have gotten mixed information from his 1SG and from his recruiters (his recruiters actually went through RIP). His 1SG says we will not get any contact etc,. His recruiters said that because we are married, that we will get to see each other and I could technically move to wherever he is stationed, in that current ranger battalion. I have read through much of the forums and the faq on the Armyranger.com site, and I am not seeing answers to these questions. I would have posted on the website, however the forum went down for maintenance, and hasn’t come back up apparently. If you could let me know what will and will not be allowed… that would be most helpful.
There’s no reason why you can’t have contact with him via phone or in person once he makes it to BN. They have a pretty strict training schedule and of course, deploy often, but outside of that, you can talk to him and see him when you want.
Your husband will be on Temporary TDY orders during his stay at Pre-RASP/RASP, with no accompanyment. Provided he graduates, he’ll be assigned at one of the Battalions and at that point will have PCS orders to either Hunter Army Airfield, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, or Ft. Benning. With PCS orders in-hand he’ll be able to get the Army to move you wherever he is stationed. Expect a bit of a delay for various reasons… depending on if there’s post housing (better to get post housing and then do the move than run into the no-housing and family is there problem) as well as what operational tempo says… if he’s getting to a Batt that’s getting ready to go overseas shortly, he may (and rightly so) decide depending on how your roots are where you are, that you’d be better off staying where home is right now.
Cake walk. Go. Don’t ask anyone if you’re “ready” the is no being ready, just go. People who haven’t been can’t tell you anything about what it takes. Don’t be the 80% of guys who quit before even showing up.
Hi, my boyfriend are hoping to get married once he makes it through RASP before he gets his orders so i can live with him. Will this be possible?
Unless things have changed, he’ll have his orders when he graduates. My husband was told his BN assignment just before graduation.