Ranger School: Make it to the Morning

Ranger School: Make it to the Morning

Timely. Necessary. Unforgettable. A Raw, Unflinching Look Inside the U.S. Army Ranger School as it Celebrates 75 Years of Forging the Military's Most Resilient Leaders. When First Lieutenant Chuck Plumley volunteered for Ranger School, one of the military's most grueling and unforgiving courses, the challenge was deeply personal. The course's Mountain Phase sat just twenty-eight miles from his childhood home and twelve miles from his college campus. He believed his familiarity with the North Georgia mountains would give him an edge. He was wrong. This book offers a comprehensive and candid look at the physical, mental, and emotional crucible that creates the Army's elite combat leaders. This isn't a historical narrative. It's a direct window into the mind of a Ranger School student under extreme pressure. - Drawn from a cache of letters sent home to his wife, this is the raw, immediate record of a candidate enduring and succeeding at the most challenging course in the U.S. Army. - Experience the fears, the triumphs, and the exhaustion as they were written in the moment, over three decades ago. Now, the author revisits these letters, providing timeless insights on a course that remains as tough as ever, even as it adapts to meet the needs of the modern U.S. Army. This is the raw, unflinching account of the crucible that broke him down, pushed him past his limits, and left him with one burning mantra: Sixty-Two Days. One Goal. Make it to the morning. Praise for this unique perspective: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Over three decades later, Chuck Plumley recounts brilliantly his experiences getting to and pushing through U.S. Army Ranger School, arguably one of the toughest schools in the military. This book is about more than the school itself. It highlights the personal strength and discipline required to complete the training, as well as the skills needed to be a good leader and a good follower. Chuck provides impressive details and touches upon things that helped him cope and endure. The curriculum has evolved over the years to meet the demands of the operational environment. Ranger School remains a physically and mentally tough school that tests the grit, fitness, and determination of the individual going through it as part of a team. This book is a perfect read for all service members aspiring to earn the coveted Ranger Tab. General Gary M. Brito, U.S. Army (Retired), Ranger School Graduate and former Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Chuck Plumley’s time at Ranger School resonates deep inside as I reflect on my time pursuing the coveted Black and Gold Ranger Tab. Firsthand accounts of his time bring jarring memories of the U.S. Army’s premier leader development course. Hunger and sleep deprivation in a replicated combat, high-stress environment strip protective layers away and expose the true character of every leader who attends. While you learn how to lead others, you also learn your own limitations and understand how your followers view you as a leader - the essential foundations of leadership ... This is a must-read for those who desire to wear the Black and Gold. Perhaps Kathy, to whom those letters are written, will author a companion book! Rangers Lead the Way! Lieutenant General James L. Terry, U.S. Army (Retired), Ranger School Graduate and former Commanding General, Third U.S. Army (Patton's Own) and U.S. Army Central I want to thank my friend and fellow officer, Chuck Plumley, for writing a Ranger School book unlike any other. Many have written about Ranger School, but none quite like this. Chuck took a unique and deeply personal approach, drawing from the notes he kept in a small, rain-soaked spiral notebook and the letters he wrote home to his wife, Kathy. Together, they capture what so many of us wish we could: exactly how it felt, in real time, to be cold, hungry, exhausted, and still pushing forward. Most of us never thought to do that. I certainly didn't. I was too busy trying to survive each day, catching a few minutes of sleep whenever possible, while Chuck was busy writing it all down. Because he did, Make It to the Morning doesn't just tell the story of Ranger School; it lets you feel it. Chuck and I served together at Fort Carson in the 4th Infantry Division, two Transportation officers who somehow managed to land Ranger School slots, which was rare in those days. I had gone ahead of him, and before he left, I offered what little wisdom I could: never quit at night. I had forgotten all about that conversation until Chuck reminded me recently. Reading his book brought it all back, the sleepless nights, the bone-deep fatigue, the hallucinations, and that endless rain. To this day, I still tense up when I step out into a downpour. Chuck captures those moments in this book that every Ranger knows, the times when you're cold, wet, hungry, bone-tired, even hallucinating, an