Ranger School...

Dear Friends,

This Sunday I report to the school which I have anticipated for the past 5 years of my life. Ranger School is said to be "the hardest thing I will ever do." Only about 30% of its students make it through all 3 phases without recycling at least 1 phase. Overall only about 55% pass the course. The first phase is Benning phase and will be right here at Ft. Benning. If I get through that phase without trouble, then I will get to go to Mountain phase up in northern Georgia. The final stage is Swamp phase down in Florida. Each one of these phases (~20 days each) will bring its own challenges, and it is rumored that every Ranger student wants to quit at least once. With this in mind my goals are as follows: although I would love to make it through without recycling, I realize that I can't go into this school with a time line. Even those who do make it straight through admit that much of it was luck. Therefore, my overall goal is to never give up and to complete the school representing Christ as best as I can. I will have plenty of opportunities to share my faith and serve others considering the stresses and toils during training. Your prayers for my physical health, mental strength, and spiritual testing will be the most helpful thing you can do for me. I no longer approach any school in the Army with fear or timidity. Rather I go into them with faith knowing that God has given me the ability and opportunity to finish everything I encounter...the end state is really just out of my control.

During the middle of the school there is a Winter Exodus Break. It goes from 17 Dec to 03 Jan, and I will be in Chicago from 19 Dec to 01 Jan. I would love to see as many friends and family as possible so keep those dates in mind. Also, I won't really be able to have much contact with the outside world, but I can receive letters. My address is listed below, but it will change during phase changes. Thank you all for your support so far...I have been truly blessed down here at Ft. Benning.

David Fahs
4th Ranger Training Battalion
ATTN: Class 002, Company ?
10850 Schneider Rd.
Fort Benning, GA 31905

Additional Info. about Ranger School and what I'm doing can be found at... https://www.benning.army.mil/rtb/rtbmain.asp