A new recruitment video produced by the 75^th Ranger Regiment’s public affairs department offers a snapshot of life in the unit. Images of the 9/11 attacks appear at the beginning, but then the video goes into the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP).

RASP is a huge improvement over the previous selection program, the Ranger Indoctrination Program. It not only selects but also trains prospective Rangers on the basic tasks they need to be proficient in when they arrive at one of the three Ranger battalions.

Today’s RASP program is broken down into two phases:

Phase 1: Testing

After clearing pre-RASP, Ranger candidates begin the first full phase of selection. During this phase, they must clear a battery of physical and psychological tests. They’re graded not only on their abilities to get through the exams, but also on their strength of character and leadership abilities.

Forced Ruck March and Run
Take 50 pounds of gear, throw it in a big backpack, and march 12 miles at a pace of about 15 minutes per mile. That’s a ruck march. During RASP, Ranger candidates will undertake several of these 6-12-mile ruck marches in full uniform. Candidates must also perform two graded five-mile runs.

Land Navigation (Day and Night)
In teams and individually, candidates are required to find and travel to objectives, most of the time using only a compass and a map.

First Responder Test
Medical response and evacuation is a critical skill for Rangers. Candidates are tested on their abilities to quickly retrieve and stabilize casualties.

Screenings
In addition to physical requirements, Ranger candidates are tested on their knowledge of Ranger history and the Ranger Creed. They must also pass a psychological screening.

Phase 2: Ranger Skills Training

During the second phase of selection, the candidates learn the skills and maneuvers that prepare them for the rigors of life in a Ranger unit. This includes learning the principals of direct action combat, airfield seizure, personnel recovery, and more.

Combat Driver’s Course
Candidates practice convoy maneuvers during various combat environments under both day and night conditions.

Marksmanship and Tactics
Ranger candidates are instructed on the basic principles of direct action combat, which is the cornerstone of the Ranger mission.

Explosives and Breaching
Candidates must learn and demonstrate the proper techniques for entering urban enclosures, which include setting and detonating explosives to breach doors. Candidates are then tested on their abilities to identify the proper breaching method for certain types of doors.

Upon completion of RASP, candidates don the tan beret and are assigned to a Ranger Battalion. The 75^th Ranger Regiment has been continuously deployed throughout the War on Terror.