My son left for Army boot in June, Fort Jackson. He then arrived at Fort Sam Houston for 68W training, as a Combat Medic. I was able to go see him over Thanksgiving, he he was able to come home for Christmas for two weeks. I have family friends in San Antonio, so I asked them if they could drop off and pick up my son at the airport. They went above and beyond. Took my son out to some BBQ places, shooting, seeing the sights. On 12/19, I get a text from my friend at 4:19am, letting me know he had dropped my son off at the airport. We exchanged texts over the next few days. We were both home with our families, life was good. On 12/27 at 7:21am, I get a text from a mutual friend letting me know our friend had passed away unexpectedly. 50y/o, massive heart attack. Left a wife, 5 kids, and a dog. RIP, B…

A few days later, I get a text from his wife. We had stayed in contact, to offer support. Not much we can do from 1400 miles away. But she asked when she needed to pick up our son at the airport. I replied, “You’ve got to be shitting me. Your husband just died, and you are worried about picking up my kid at the airport?!?!” She insisted. Sadly, my son was invited to the funeral, with full Military Honors, but it hasn’t happened yet. And now he’s in Fort Benning.

He was shipped out a month earlier than expected to attend RASP, Ranger Assessment and Selection Process. He started pre-RASP on Monday, basically a conditioning program for RASP. His RASP class picks up on 2/8.

Wish him luck, and prayers. He wants that Tan Beret. Then off to Airborne…

Wow. Sounds like an amazing young man. Best of luck to him on his journey.

Any chance he's going to Camp Merrill? That's the Ranger training/mountaineering school a few miles from me.
They bring new folks through here often.

There is another member here that lives near Camp Merrill.

So sorry to hear about your friend. His wife is Charlie Mike, Continuing the Mission.

Tell your son that as physically challenging as RASP is, the mental aspect is more so. The body can do much more than the mind thinks it can.

When he is exhausted, hasn't slept for a few days, and feels like he is starving, "it ain't nothing but a thing." he can do it.

I had a lot of discussion with my son before he got there for Ranger School, gave him a lot of insight from my experiences.

As Legacy Airborne, I was honored to pin his wings on him at Airborne School Graduation. I pinned a set of my old wings on instead of those they handed me to use.

He is now XO of an Infantry Training Company at Benning.

My son will be there for another few months so if your son needs anything, let me know. Your son will be isolated a lot in pre and rasp but if Jake can help out...

Her widow's attitude floors me. I don't know if it's a respite from having to think about losing her husband or it's her sense of duty. Either way, it's admirable and impressive.

I’m not sure of Camp Merril. He starts RASP on 2/8, hopefully graduate around late April. Then he goes to Airborne. After that, he’ll probably get deployed, and when he comes back, he’ll attend SOCM (Special Operations Combat Medic School), it’s 18 months long. By then his enlistment will be done, but I believe if he gets through RASP, he’ll have to sign on for 2 more years. Rangers are hurting for Combat Medics.

But he’s loving it.

At some point, after he finishes Pre-RASP, he will spend time at Camp Merrill during Ranger School.

Three weeks of Airborne School at Benning...deployment will depend on his duty assignment after that.