E067: Rangers or Green Berets

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E067

Rangers vs. Green Berets

Key takeaway: Randy explains the differences between Rangers and Green Berets and along the way shares a wealth of information about the special forces and what they do

Topics covered in this video: 

• Green Beret is the same thing as Special Forces; it refers to the hat typically worn for formal events as part of one’s dress uniform
• Rangers are elite infantry with a different mission: assaults and raids behind enemy lines.
• Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) to weed out applicants, now Ranger Assessment Selection Program
• Ranger School is not affiliated with the Ranger unit; it’s a combat leadership school teaching small-unit tactics. Ranger School gets you a Ranger tab
• Randy discusses whether having a Ranger tab means you are considered a Ranger; being in a Ranger Battalion squad of nine people is a different thing
• A Green Beret team has more senior people: four E6s, five E7s, an E8 (master sergeant), and a captain in charge. People take considerably longer to qualify to become a Green Beret (typically at least two years). The supporting staff are not trained as Green Berets
• In a Ranger unit, by contrast, everyone has been through Ranger assessment. 
• Randy compares the numbers of Rangers and Green Berets, and why those numbers mean Rangers often go on to become Green Berets or join another elite unit
• Delta Force (the elite of the elite)
• Randy’s path through the military 
• The importance of being airborne-qualified; what Jump Masters do
• Randy discusses differences between the mission and capabilities of Rangers and Green Berets
• Training to master the demanding physical challenges: running, upper body strength, etc.