Veteran's Day

While reflecting on my Ranger training, I realized that a lot of folks might not know exactly what being a Ranger means. For those who don't, I decided to write down some of the distilled lessons that I carry through life as a result of that training. Here goes--

1. No guts, no glory
2. Only the next minute counts
3. Respect your troops, AND your enemy. This is on both a human and a professional level
4. Soldiers must love each other to make it through adversity
5. Rangers never leave their buddies. It may be necessary to abandon a body, but that Ranger will always be with you
6. Never wimp out. Quit if you must, but carry your share of the load at all times. Sometimes you must carry others when they are weak. I've carried, and been carried
7. Evaluate all courses of action, and select the best
8. Always have a fall-back option. Always establish an escape route, and always designate a rally point.
9. Maintain your equipment and yourself, and trust both.
10. The Ranger tab won't stop a bullet
11. Keep it Simple Sir (KISS)
    
12. Learn your own strengths and weaknesses, and that you can push both limits

There is much more, and this is the briefest of overviews. All Rangers from all wars are the same animal. Today's Rangers are the equals of Rogers, Darby and all previous wars.

Happy Veteran's Day.