Ranger School: Discipline, Direction, Determination

by Jimmy Blackmon

From Jimmy Blackmon, author of Pale Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division and Cowboys Over Leadership from the Saddle , comes a blow by blow account of his journey through the most challenging leadership and small tactics course in the world—U.S. Army Ranger School.

Through colorful dialogue and vivid storytelling for which Jimmy Blackmon has been praised, the reader will take a journey through Ranger School.

From the nervous anticipation leading up to the course, to the extreme pain and suffering Ranger School demands, Jimmy shares the feelings and emotions that accompany extreme sleep and food deprivation. Furthermore, he shares what he learned about himself along the way. Before you can lead others, you must first learn to lead yourself.

Ranger School is designed to replicate the extreme nature of combat in a multitude of environments. The attrition rate is over 50 percent. Every ranger student experiences a low moment where they want to quit and walk away. Jimmy openly shares how he dealt with extreme hunger, exhaustion, below freezing temperatures, and ultimately, a desire to quit and end the suffering.

The reader will be fascinated, not only with what one must go through to attain the coveted Ranger tab, but at how ranger students deal with such harsh environments—many times in very humorous ways.

Despite all the aforementioned challenges, Ranger students must lead one another on complex missions in harsh terrain in order to succeed. How to motivate, inspire, and lead in such an extreme environment is powerful and will appeal to leaders of all types and in all industries.

Genres: Military Fiction, War

240 pages, Hardcover

Published August 10, 2021

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

First review! I really enjoy Jimmy’s story telling and since I love hearing about rangers, this was right up my alley. I really liked this one! What an accomplishment ranger school sounds like. Really entertaining.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the raw story and details of the authors experience in RS. I read this to gain information because a loved one will experience this first hand. This book is a recollection of memories from almost 30 years ago. I appreciate the explanation of RS vs. RASP which is so often confused. An addendum or preface of today’s RS would be a nice addition to the story. I know several things have changed. Overall I appreciated this well written view into an extremely difficult and challenging passage. It gave me a few nightmares but I wanted the raw truth and this delivered. Thank you to all our servicemen and women who voluntarily endure this type of training to protect the citizens of the United States.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book after feeling curious about military training and what all is involved in ranger school. I learned a lot since I didn’t know much about ranger school. I saw previous reviews that the writing could have been more professional and the book was too wordy. I assume the author had little writing training. However I liked the amount of details the writer put into the book. I certainly applauded the author’s strengths as he faced struggles and frustrations throughout the program. I appreciated his mental and physical determination to make it. I liked the details of how there were a number of people that started in the program but through various phases they didn’t make it. I liked how he went into details of the various phases becoming more and more challenging. I learned things about ranger school like how hallucinations were common and how it can take up to a year to recover physically from the ranger school demands. I thought it was interesting how easy it was to fail at ranger school and that there was a zero tolerance for mistakes. I thought the one part was interesting when the soldiers attended a class in Florida on snakes and other reptiles that they could encounter. I was a little surprised and disappointed about the way graduation was so short and simple. I think after attending ranger school that the service should have been longer with more prestige. However the military may have chosen the service to be short for simplicity and modesty. I liked the way the families were allowed to be involved and I enjoyed reading how the author’s wife was so supportive and proud. I also liked the way finishing ranger school made soldiers feel so accomplished and gave them something to feel rewarded and proud of.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. I would love to give it four stars just because how interesting it was; however the author was extremely wordy and very detailed.

While it did not take away from the story, it just made it slower to read.

This story is basically a day-to-day account of his Army Ranger School.

Very fascinating very interesting and very educational.

It's worth reading just don't expect it to be a quick read.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this book. The author really shows you some behind the scenes aspects of ranger school. I learned a lot about the military and some of the slang that Army Rangers use. This is a fun and easy read. The way the book is written is entertaining and gives you a lot to think about when it comes to being a better leader.

[Linda Yeatts]

My husband and I listened to this wonderful audiobook on our way back and forth to doctor visits. Such an engaging listen-funny, poignant, touching, inspiring. It was a no holds barred account of J. Blackmon's Ranger School experience. I love stories like this anyway and this one is just top notch. I learned about a world I knew nothing about. Always love that.

[Stephen Amaguin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors in depth reflection during his time in Ranger School was enjoyable. Really felt his experiences as recollected his time at the school house.

Really recommend this book for any service member that plans to go to the school. Very immersive book.

[Joester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ranger school

Good information on what ranger school is like. I could not imagine how difficult it is. Truly amazing the scrafice

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. Rangers are a different breed !!

[Garth]

A great book to read if you have someone who is in Ranger school or if you were planning to go to Ray for school. it gives a lot of insight and is a very good story. I strongly recommend.