Delete the Adjective: A Soldier’s Adventures in Ranger School

by Lisa Jaster

When you delete your adjectives, who are you?

Most people limit themselves to their labels. They embrace barriers based on the box that society puts them in. But your adjectives aren’t your destiny.

In Delete the A Soldier’s Adventures in Ranger School, Lisa Jaster proves your merit should always trump your labels. Lisa didn’t confine herself to the adjectives of “middle-aged” or “female.” Instead, she became one of the first three women to graduate from the United States Army Ranger program. For those six months in the program, her adjectives didn’t matter. What mattered was that she slept on the same forest ground as her peers (typically twenty-three-year-old men on active duty). She ran the same mock missions and battle drills. She demonstrated the fortitude of a Ranger.

Delete the Adjective relives Lisa’s experiences, written in the field notebook every student in Ranger School carries. Throughout the Ranger course, Lisa proved that mettle breaks down any barriers society might place on you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2023

Reviews

[Ally Squires · Rating 5 out of 5]

Change the narrative. “The discussion should be about strength and ability, not gender”

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done, Lisa!

[Brenda K. Kornfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

strong journey

Breaking into a club that rejects you with no good reason is tough duty. Maj. Jasper got it done in spite of the headwinds. Good read n support of never give up

[Kayla Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

MOTIVATING - MEMOIR - MILITARY - FEMALE EMPOWERMENT - FACING ADVERSITY

I did not know the story I signed up to read and had assumed this was the first female ranger (Spolier alert, she is not but she js the third). Gotta say going in blind made the twists and turns of this memoir shake me. The writing isn't amazing (kinda dry military style) but the story is so motivating it's worth the read. I am grateful for the perspective Jaster was able to provide.

Although a story of her just going through and kickin ass woulda been awesome the story of being set back again and again.... the adversity she had to face....the unfairness that is life... really struck a cord with me and makes me not want to quit.

[Fiorella Esafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate LTC Jaster honesty and inspiring message to everyone…. She shares that anyone can make their dreams come true with enough perseverance… in addition once you become one of the first completing this … the importance of continue to inspire future Soldiers.

[Christine Murakami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story!

[GARY · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding

Great read about one officer’s struggle to be tabbed at the Ranger School. The best I have ever read any where!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delete the Adjective is one of the most insightful and powerful story of one soldiers adventures through Ranger School.

That in 2015 women were still being judged on their gender not on ability is mind blowing. That Lisa had deployed to combat zones and lead soldiers but when it came to her and the other women going through Ranger School, they were treated and judged differently from their male counterparts.

Her perseverance to overcome the adversity she faced not only day after day, week after week but month after month was truly inspiring. Most people, male and female would have given up and written it off as an experience that they at least tried. Staying strong in body and spirit sets LtCol Lisa Jaster apart from others including all those who tried to say females don’t belong.

Thank you for leading the way and not giving up and showing those in command and higher that everyone should be judged on their ability, not their gender. Let's hope from 2023 on, the adjective will be deleted. I live in hope, thank you Lisa.

[Geoffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is essentially a dear diary book that chronicles Jaster’s experiences in Ranger school. If you are familiar with the course it’s a little pedantic. The Darby phase is detailed and after that she kind of phones it in. The book highlights a trend of male Ranger Instructors (RI) who are “badge protectors” and go out of their way to ensure Jaster doesn’t pass / make the course harder to prevent women from passing. It paints a disturbing portrait of the community, but the more I read the more I wondered if some of her perceived slights were imagined and a copout for her own poor performance. She does mention that two other women advanced to the finish line before her. The narrative would have been more powerful and compelling if other voices had corroborated her assertions. That being said, she has proven her mettle and shown that she has grit and determination. It’s a quick read, but I don’t know I would read it again.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly a great story about grit and determination. Anyone who can spend that long at Ranger School and keep driving failure after failure is truly inspiring. However, as a ranger school graduate I feel her story is extremely “her sided”. Almost zero accountability for why she thinks she failed just constantly pointing fingers at everyone else (other students, RIs) as to why she wasn’t getting her “Go”. One of the biggest fails of this book is that she doesn’t get across to the reader that all the “unfairness” she receives is just Ranger school. Ranger school is unfair. Everyone knows this coming in and it’s well known throughout the schoolhouse and the community and every Ranger student has to deal with unfairness throughout its entirety. Dirt bags can make it straight through zero recycling and even the most squared away soldier (the author) can recycle every phase.

[Donna McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me reminiscing about my time in the Army.

I miss being around the soldiers and the camaraderie we had. I have never experienced anything like it since.

This book also reminded me of why I also needed to get out, in that it was toxic most days, and I watched the Army ruin so many good people.

Beyond that, Lisa Jaster put me on a roller coaster of emotions. I was cheering her on and feeling her disappointment at not getting through the Ranger course like the men.

This book brought back the realization of how sexist and discriminative the Army can be towards women, especially when they don't believe we should be there.

It makes me proud to know Lisa Jaster didn't give up and managed to graduate from Ranger School.

This book should definitely be on your #tbr for this fall!!!!

[Amy Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delete the Adjectective:
A quick online search will tell you the end of this story. Knowing the happy ending may be the only way you can make it through the rollercoaster of elation and heartbreak portrayed in this story. MAJ. Jaster describes a soldier pushing to the limits of human physical capability and beyond and the internal fortitude required. The detailed descriptions of obstacles, and how they were overcome, tell how MAJ Jaster changed hearts, minds and long held preconceptions. Delete the Adjective is an inspiring story for anyone looking to push harder, do more, BE more.

[Peter Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story of a soldier who refused to quit!!

I was hooked from the first lines. This is a well written, blunt, and honest story of a soldier’s roller coaster ride through multiple cycles at the U. S. Army’s Ranger school. How she refused to quit and remained a complete team player even when all the odds seemed stacked against her. If you want inspiration in the art of the possible, read this book. HOOAH!!!!

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's intersting reading this a few weeks after Goggins's memoir. He goes through ranger school too. In his book, he's constantly emphasising his pushing last physical boundaries, and it's all very testosteroney. Lisa Jaster is clearly not to be fucked with either, otherwise she wouldn't be in ranger school in the first place, but she's older, female, and generally in a very different place from Goggins, so she's emphasising leadership

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I followed Major Jaster as she was in Ranger School. I didn't know the details until I read this book. She did some great work when she had leadership positions. She also did her best to support other soldiers when they were picked as leader for their events. There were great stories of the people in Ranger School with her.

[Amy Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight into the Ranger school curriculum and how standards were actually increased by allowing women to attend. The authors writing was in line with my expectations, not a work of literary brilliance, but the first hand story of a badass 37 year old reservist, mother and finally ranger.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I followed the Ranger School adventures of Lisa Jaster, Kristen Griest, and Share Haver. I even wrote to Lisa and received a wonderfully gracious letter after she graduated. Her story is impressive, although it infuriated me at times. She is a great role model and I thoroughly enjoyed her book.

[Tricia Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story of resilience, strength, and mental toughness. Lisa set out on her goal of becoming an Army Ranger the first class that women were allowed, and she became one of 3 women that graduated the program that year, proving that her labels like age and gender didn’t matter.

[CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read. And highly relatable as a fellow veteran.

[Dolly Outland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really put things into perspective for me. Work hard, don’t question and keep pushing on.