Gen. Stanley McChrystal

And the battalion commander answered, who, us?

And the battalion commander answered, who, us?

And the battalion commander answered, who, us?

That's so good. That's, of course, apocryphal. But it became a word first in the Rangers and then across the Army. So everybody started being in some form or fashion like the Rangers. And so the Rangers had this outsized effect.

That's so good. That's, of course, apocryphal. But it became a word first in the Rangers and then across the Army. So everybody started being in some form or fashion like the Rangers. And so the Rangers had this outsized effect.

That's so good. That's, of course, apocryphal. But it became a word first in the Rangers and then across the Army. So everybody started being in some form or fashion like the Rangers. And so the Rangers had this outsized effect.

And then over time, what happened is people who left the Rangers, the officers who had served a tour or more there, went out to other jobs across the Army and again, tried to get their forces. When I was in Afghanistan, I remember a guy came to me and he showed me that of all the division commanders in the Army, the two-star level commanders, like 80% of them had served in the Rangers.

And then over time, what happened is people who left the Rangers, the officers who had served a tour or more there, went out to other jobs across the Army and again, tried to get their forces. When I was in Afghanistan, I remember a guy came to me and he showed me that of all the division commanders in the Army, the two-star level commanders, like 80% of them had served in the Rangers.

And then over time, what happened is people who left the Rangers, the officers who had served a tour or more there, went out to other jobs across the Army and again, tried to get their forces. When I was in Afghanistan, I remember a guy came to me and he showed me that of all the division commanders in the Army, the two-star level commanders, like 80% of them had served in the Rangers.

I mean, it was just this disproportionate representation.

I mean, it was just this disproportionate representation.

I mean, it was just this disproportionate representation.

They were slightly earlier. The SEALs had existed back in World War II as frogmen, and then they had been formed and fought in Vietnam. So they were an elite organization, but they weren't very well-known. When the Army created the Rangers, it was larger. It was two full battalions initially, about 1,200 people. And it started to have a bigger effect because just scale.

They were slightly earlier. The SEALs had existed back in World War II as frogmen, and then they had been formed and fought in Vietnam. So they were an elite organization, but they weren't very well-known. When the Army created the Rangers, it was larger. It was two full battalions initially, about 1,200 people. And it started to have a bigger effect because just scale.

They were slightly earlier. The SEALs had existed back in World War II as frogmen, and then they had been formed and fought in Vietnam. So they were an elite organization, but they weren't very well-known. When the Army created the Rangers, it was larger. It was two full battalions initially, about 1,200 people. And it started to have a bigger effect because just scale.

Rangers, the big difference was this very overt discipline. I mean, you would go to a, you put a Navy SEAL organization here and they got long hair and mustaches and, you know, they're kind of casual. They're great fighters, but they're older. They're probably 10 years older than the average ranger.

Rangers, the big difference was this very overt discipline. I mean, you would go to a, you put a Navy SEAL organization here and they got long hair and mustaches and, you know, they're kind of casual. They're great fighters, but they're older. They're probably 10 years older than the average ranger.

Rangers, the big difference was this very overt discipline. I mean, you would go to a, you put a Navy SEAL organization here and they got long hair and mustaches and, you know, they're kind of casual. They're great fighters, but they're older. They're probably 10 years older than the average ranger.

Meanwhile, the rangers had what we used to call birth control haircuts because they were high and tight. And so the Rangers, you know, have to do everything to this Picayune standard. But what you're doing is you're taking young people and you are shaping them over time into being just extraordinarily disciplined.

Meanwhile, the rangers had what we used to call birth control haircuts because they were high and tight. And so the Rangers, you know, have to do everything to this Picayune standard. But what you're doing is you're taking young people and you are shaping them over time into being just extraordinarily disciplined.