LT E. Andrew Hammitt

12 December 2006
Dear Michael,

Ranger School was a harrowing experience, to say the least. The 9-week course is filled with small unit tactics, endless patrols, seemingly endless nights and a greatly increased calorie need with a reduced calorie intake. Most importantly, Ranger School tests your ability to work as a team and deal with adversity both mental and physical.

Though excellent physical fitness is a personal endeavor, those who are more physically fit are much better able to bolster the team to ensure the team’s success. They are also much better equipped to deal with the adversity that Ranger Instructors create. Your workout plan was instrumental in getting me to the physical fitness standards that allowed me to excel while at Ranger School.

When I first approached you with my needs for a fitness plan, my parameters were a little different than those I’m sure you usually receive. I wanted a plan that would make me stronger, increase my endurance, toughen my muscles and tendons to reduce injury potential and, strangely, I wanted you to make me fat. Because of the trials of the school, it was necessary to put on some extra weight so that I could offset the reduced calorie intake while in the field. While my guideline was different from most you receive from your clients, you developed a dynamic plan that took all my needs into account and, ultimately, led to my success as a Ranger.

Many people are not successful and “fall out” of Ranger School early because they simply are not in the shape necessary to complete the training. This fact is most evident in the first week when Ranger Instructors conduct 5 extremely physically demanding days of running, combatives, obstacle courses, ruck marches, calisthenics, pushups and sit-ups, all while sleep deprived. Those 5 days are difficult for any to survive. However, those who were better prepared for the physical rigors of the school, through hard physical training prior to the school, survived the week and moved on to later phases.

What sets your workouts apart from any I have experienced in numerous sports and Army PT is the dynamism of the workouts. Whether lifting, running and performing high repetition calisthenics on trails in Lewis Morris Park, sprinting on the Madison High School track or simply eating the right foods, I always saw results. Your workouts gave me the necessary physical ability to strive harder and push farther than any other soldier. And the workouts never became boring.

Thank you for all your help in my physical training. You played a large role in helping me to graduate Ranger School “True Blue” and I, my family and especially my fiancée thank you.

Sincerely,

LT E. Andrew Hammitt
United States Army