Looking for warriors: The 75th Ranger Regiment’s newest recruiting initiative

The 75^th Ranger Regiment has begun a new initiative in order to boost the success rates of new recruits who attempt the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP). In conjunction with the Fort Benning cadre of the infantry one-station unit training (OSUT), the 75^th Ranger Regiment has been sending Ranger instructors to participate in various physical fitness and soldiering events alongside new recruits.

Their goal is twofold: first, to provide mentors for the aspiring soldiers and help them benefit from their combat experience, and second, to scout for potential recruits for the 75th Ranger Regiment. Although there is the Option 40 contract, which ensures that a recruit would have the opportunity to try RASP, there is a limited number of these highly sought-after contracts. If the Ranger instructors determine that a recruit undergoing OSUT training has the physical and mental aptitude to be a spec ops Ranger, even if he doesn’t have an Option 40 contract, they will offer him the opportunity to join the next RASP class.

“We believe a lot of soldiers are hesitant to volunteer for RASP because they are misinformed about what RASP is and what the Ranger Regiment does,” said Sergeant 1st Class Lukas Colclough, non-commissioned officer in charge, 75th Ranger Regiment Recruiting Detachment, in an interview with DVIDS. “We are constantly being confused for Ranger School and we take every chance we can get to push the word out that we are not Ranger School.”