Army Ranger Wing

Yixian

Hey guys,

I'm a doctor, interested at some point in the next few years joining the defence forces medical corps but primarily as a means to apply for the Ranger Wing. I understand the Ranger Wing is highly competitive and the recruitment process difficult, and I have to admit that I am not looking for a future career based exclusively in the IDF, however I am very interested in doing it for a number of years and getting that experience and training. Might as well be honest!

Based on that would it be unreasonable for me to aim for the ARW in the future?

Also, I would not say I am unfit, I train Muay Thai and hit the gym regularly, but I am sure that your typical Ranger would make me look like a slob in comparison. I am wondering what level of fitness is required to have any hope of passing the selection process?

I read that something like 85% of applicants are not accepted, I want to know what I can do to avoid being in that 85%..

Finally, how regular are overseas deployments and are the usually with the Peacekeepers?

DISCLAIMER: Please forgive any ignorance!

ex_infantry man

Yixian wrote: »

Hey guys,

I'm a doctor, interested at some point in the next few years joining the defence forces medical corps but primarily as a means to apply for the Ranger Wing. I understand the Ranger Wing is highly competitive and the recruitment process difficult, and I have to admit that I am not looking for a future career based exclusively in the IDF, however I am very interested in doing it for a number of years and getting that experience and training. Might as well be honest!

Based on that would it be unreasonable for me to aim for the ARW in the future?

Also, I would not say I am unfit, I train Muay Thai and hit the gym regularly, but I am sure that your typical Ranger would make me look like a slob in comparison. I am wondering what level of fitness is required to have any hope of passing the selection process?

I read that something like 85% of applicants are not accepted, I want to know what I can do to avoid being in that 85%..

Finally, how regular are overseas deployments and are the usually with the Peacekeepers?

DISCLAIMER: Please forgive any ignorance!

if i were you i,d concentrate on getting into basic training first or cadetship and then see if ya actually like the defence forces life first!!!!

harmoniums

Yixian wrote: »

Hey guys,

I'm a doctor, interested at some point in the next few years joining the defence forces medical corps but primarily as a means to apply for the Ranger Wing. I understand the Ranger Wing is highly competitive and the recruitment process difficult, and I have to admit that I am not looking for a future career based exclusively in the IDF, however I am very interested in doing it for a number of years and getting that experience and training. Might as well be honest!

Based on that would it be unreasonable for me to aim for the ARW in the future?

Also, I would not say I am unfit, I train Muay Thai and hit the gym regularly, but I am sure that your typical Ranger would make me look like a slob in comparison. I am wondering what level of fitness is required to have any hope of passing the selection process?

I read that something like 85% of applicants are not accepted, I want to know what I can do to avoid being in that 85%..

Finally, how regular are overseas deployments and are the usually with the Peacekeepers?

DISCLAIMER: Please forgive any ignorance!

As a doctor, you should know this by now.
85% of the population are retarded.
You had the discipline to get into med school and get through it.
You're already to the far right of the abilities bell curve.

Owryan

As was said before work on getting in first, its a long road to the point where you can even apply for selection.

Just curious as a doctor are you looking to do apply for a position in the medical corps as a direct entry officer or work your way up from recruit/cadet as they are very different means of getting in ?

Jaafa

OP you say your interested in joining the ARW for the training and experience but something you have to consider is the fact that they are usually the first to be sent in warzones when peacekeeping missions come up (and I'm sure other missions we probably don't hear about). You will likely have to serve abroad for some time.

marketty

I'm not certain on this but I think if you joined as a direct entry medical officer you would not be eligible to apply for selection as you would not have the tactical training that someone of equivalent rank from the cadet school would have. But I can't say that for definite. I do know that officers who have completed a cadetship can go for and pass selection, however they will not always make it onto the skills course and into the unit, as there are limited officer vacancies in the ARW. Therefore chances of actually becoming a fully fledged Ranger are best for a very fit, determined and tactically skilled enlisted man (private/NCO). Now whether you wish to give up a hard earned and potentially lucrative position in the career of medicine to become an enlisted man (on pretty poor pay at the moment despite what the papers say about public servants) who MIGHT eventually get into the ARW after a lot of hardship...well that's your own call. If you want it bad enough to do that, fair play and best of luck with it, your intelligence and determination will get you far

Kat1170

The ARW, as with all Special Forces have specialists attached to them that have not needed to go the direct route via selection course.

Yixian

Thanks for the great replies guys!

In response, I would hope to join as an officer in the medical corps and apply that route.

As I understood it, anyone enployed by the IDF is eligible to turn up for selection?

In response to being right of the abilities curve, yes I'm used to achieving what I put my mind to and I am hoping this will apply to the ARW also.

I am fine with the idea of being deployed for a couple of years but less keen on hanging around back home when I could be off with MSF etc. otherwise.

discus

This is ridiculous. Yixian, you've posted on this forum before about the same tosh.

Being a ranger isn't about turning up and running a few marathons. It's soldiering. You can't expect to turn up and do a few weeks basic training to be a medical officer, and then expect to rock onto Ranger selection with the physical and mental robustness or the infantry skills needed to survive day 1.

cruasder777

discus wrote: »

This is ridiculous. Yixian, you've posted on this forum before about the same tosh.

Being a ranger isn't about turning up and running a few marathons. It's soldiering. You can't expect to turn up and do a few weeks basic training to be a medical officer, and then expect to rock onto Ranger selection with the physical and mental robustness or the infantry skills needed to survive day 1.

Why not ? Civilian Dr's and male nurses have joined both 21 and 23 TA SAS units in the UK and gone on to serve in Afghianistan as SAS combat medics. The training and selection takes about a yr. In fact one was KIA a couple of yrs ago

If civilians can do with UK special forces, whos selection and training and operations are far more demanding, why should they not be able to do so with the ARW?

discus

cruasder777 wrote: »

Why not ? Civilian Dr's and male nurses have joined both 21 and 23 SAS units in the UK and gone on to serve in Afghianistan as SAS combat medics. The training and selection takes about a yr. In fact one was KIA a couple of yrs ago

If civilians can do with UK special forces, whos selection and training and operations are far more demanding, why should they not be able to do so with the ARW?

Sorry mate, but you can't compare the ARW to the 21/23 SAS. The UK special forces have huge investment in their medical and support infrastructure. The Irish Army (to their chagrin, thank you Government) don't have that for the regular army, let alone for small specialised units.

cruasder777

discus wrote: »

Sorry mate, but you can't compare the ARW to the 21/23 SAS. The UK special forces have huge investment in their medical and support infrastructure. The Irish Army (to their chagrin, thank you Government) don't have that for the regular army, let alone for small specialised units.

What Im saying is there maybe should be an opening for Dr's, nurses etc to do selection and to serve part time in the ARW as combat medics, especially on overseas tours.

Thats their speciality, I dont know how much investment it would take.

discus

I'm not denying that. It's just Yixians whole approach to things that baffles me.

Wants to be a doctor on a UN peacekeeping mission. Thought that that'd be best achieved joining the RDF. Only wanted a year originally, but wanted to see what life is like in some of the corps and in logistics. Will serve peacekeeping but won't go everywhere that the Army try to send him, will only go if he agrees with the mission. Now expects to come in, do a basic "welcome to the army" course and become a Ranger. He imagines that he'd rather be deployed for a couple of years than be sat back home - does he even know what Doctors do day-to-day in any army? I'd love to know what army deploys individuals in units of years. Also, mentioned MSF - which sees far more frontline work than an army doctor.

Someone mentioned that they think that this guy is ahead of the bell curve. My ****ing arse he is. He's been watching too much M*A*S*H and Discovery Channel

Yixian

cruasder777 wrote: »

discus wrote: »

Sorry mate, but you can't compare the ARW to the 21/23 SAS. The UK special forces have huge investment in their medical and support infrastructure. The Irish Army (to their chagrin, thank you Government) don't have that for the regular army, let alone for small specialised units.

What Im saying is there maybe should be an opening for Dr's, nurses etc to do selection and to serve part time in the ARW as combat medics, especially on overseas tours.

Thats their speciality, I dont know how much investment it would take.

Because that wouldn't allow him to be condescending.

At no point in my post did I underestimate the difficulty of training, in fact I made it quite clear of the opposite. His posts are just pointless white noise.

discus

Good manouevre... Avoid and ignore everything I've said. If people wish to placate you further after reading my posts, then so be it. This isn't yet but will soon become a thread for Walter Mitty.

Sid_Justice

i heard nasa are recruiting would you like to be astronaut instead?

Poccington

Just as a note, I'm trying to answer your questions but I've never served in the ARW and have yet to attempt Selection. So I certainly don't have all the answers.

Yixian wrote: »

Hey guys,

I'm a doctor, interested at some point in the next few years joining the defence forces medical corps but primarily as a means to apply for the Ranger Wing. I understand the Ranger Wing is highly competitive and the recruitment process difficult, and I have to admit that I am not looking for a future career based exclusively in the IDF, however I am very interested in doing it for a number of years and getting that experience and training. Might as well be honest!

As I've said below, Direct Entry Officers aren't eligible from what I know.

Also, I would not say I am unfit, I train Muay Thai and hit the gym regularly, but I am sure that your typical Ranger would make me look like a slob in comparison. I am wondering what level of fitness is required to have any hope of passing the selection process?

I read that something like 85% of applicants are not accepted, I want to know what I can do to avoid being in that 85%..

You've to be quite fit. Especially when it comes to pack work. In terms of training, you'd be able to focus on specifics once you're in the DF and training specifically for Selection.

Finally, how regular are overseas deployments and are the usually with the Peacekeepers?

Depends completely on the mission.

As I understood it, anyone enployed by the IDF is eligible to turn up for selection?

AFAIK, Direct Entry Officers, which Doctors in the DF are, aren't eligible. After all, they only do a "Saluting" course before being commissioned.

I am fine with the idea of being deployed for a couple of years but less keen on hanging around back home when I could be off with MSF etc. otherwise.

You would be busy whether at home or overseas.

ChunkyLover_53

Hmm...

There was a Direct Entry Officer from Engineers in the East who went for selection a couple of years ago, he trained like mad for it but I'm not sure of the outcome,

AFAIK anyone is encouraged by the ARW to attempt selection, however wheter or not they have the room to accept your rank or skill set if you're successful is another story.

The Master of Disaster

Surely if you joined the Defence Forces as a doctor they'd be keen on utilising the skill set they've just recruited rather than letting you go off and play elite soldier?

If that's what you want to do then join as a soldier or officer, undergo the relevant training and then attempt selection.

cruasder777

Yixian wrote: »

Thanks for the great replies guys!

In response, I would hope to join as an officer in the medical corps and apply that route.

As I understood it, anyone enployed by the IDF is eligible to turn up for selection?

In response to being right of the abilities curve, yes I'm used to achieving what I put my mind to and I am hoping this will apply to the ARW also.

I am fine with the idea of being deployed for a couple of years but less keen on hanging around back home when I could be off with MSF etc. otherwise.

I recon the only realistic route would be move to England, get a job as a doctor or in the medical field and apply to join 21 or 23 SAS TA.



I cant see any other realistic option if you want to serve in a SOF unit and work as a Dr.

There are quite a few soldiers in both those units who work in the medical field.

Lemming

Not sure how realistic the option but on note of moving to the UK & attempting entry into 21 or 23 SAS, there is also the RAF MERT teams, although it would involve the OP in a medical capacity rather than any degree of soldiering (leaving that to the couple of soldiers tasked with protection in the Chinook if need be). From what I'm led to believe, the MERT teams do not do quiet, sedate helicopter trips.

On foot of mentioning the option of moving to the UK, if the OP can sort a green-card & emigrate to the US, there is also the USAF Para-Rescue (or PJs) who have a strong emphasis on medical abilities alongside soldiering.

twinytwo

cruasder777 wrote: »

Why not ? Civilian Dr's and male nurses have joined both 21 and 23 TA SAS units in the UK and gone on to serve in Afghianistan as SAS combat medics. The training and selection takes about a yr. In fact one was KIA a couple of yrs ago

If civilians can do with UK special forces, whos selection and training and operations are far more demanding, why should they not be able to do so with the ARW?

And you know all this from your vast experience of being a member of both i take it :rolleyes:

Yitzhak Rabin

Poccington wrote: »

As I've said below, Direct Entry Officers aren't eligible from what I know.


AFAIK, Direct Entry Officers, which Doctors in the DF are, aren't eligible. After all, they only do a "Saluting" course before being commissioned.

Just on this point. I'm pretty certain that DE's are eligible to apply for selection. The chances of them passing are very unlikely, and the chances of being accepted in the wing even if they passed selection are pretty much zero given they would lack the relevant skills and knowledge.

cruasder777

twinytwo wrote: »

And you know all this from your vast experience of being a member of both i take it :rolleyes:

I know people with connections to both units.

There was a male nurse KIA serving with 23 SAS a couple of years ago.

Whats your problem ?

twinytwo

cruasder777 wrote: »

I know people with connections to both units.

There was a male nurse KIA serving with 23 SAS a couple of years ago.

Whats your problem ?

Armchair general much???

cruasder777

twinytwo wrote: »

Armchair general much???

A mate of Paddy Doyles actually,but I doubt youve heard of him.

Poccington

yekahS wrote: »

Just on this point. I'm pretty certain that DE's are eligible to apply for selection. The chances of them passing are very unlikely, and the chances of being accepted in the wing even if they passed selection are pretty much zero given they would lack the relevant skills and knowledge.

Really? Genuinely didn't know that.

I was basing it on pretty much what you posted, they only do a "Saluting" course they'd be pissing in the wind really going down.

Yitzhak Rabin

Poccington wrote: »

Really? Genuinely didn't know that.

I was basing it on pretty much what you posted, they only do a "Saluting" course they'd be pissing in the wind really going down.

Yeah all they do is a basic shoot and salute course. 3 weeks. But the rules say it's still open to all DF members. Including air corps seahags and even DEs.

There was an engineer, some Walter Mitty type, that went for it a few years ago. Apparently it was one of the funniest 3 hrs ever.

twinytwo

cruasder777 wrote: »

A mate of Paddy Doyles actually,but I doubt youve heard of him.

Yawn..
Sure i play cards with Obama and Putin on a weekly basis:rolleyes:

Kat1170

yekahS wrote: »

There was an engineer, some Walter Mitty type, that went for it a few years ago. Apparently it was one of the funniest 3 hrs ever.

I've heard of lads lasting a lot less than 3 hrs

Michael O Toole

There was, in 2003, a doctor who worked with the ARW. I met him in Liberia in December of that year. I am struggling to remember the details, but from memory he was in the RDF and got involved in that way. But I think he was more attached to, rather than part of.