2026 Ranger School Readiness Evaluation
JOINT BASE CAPE COD – The Massachusetts Army National Guard hosted the Ranger School Readiness Evaluation (RSRE) event May 16-17, 2026. This evaluation is designed to test the physical and mental abilities of soldiers and establish who will get a chance to go to Ranger School, a course that is praised and revered for developing tough, resilient, and sharp tactical leaders.
This year, 33 participants from the Massachusetts Army National Guard arrived at Joint Base Cape Cod with a goal of earning a Ranger School Spot. This school plays a vital role in soldiers’ readiness and provides experience that will flow to units within the Army National Guard.
“The purpose behind an evaluation like this is we want as many Ranger qualified Soldiers in the Massachusetts Army National Guard,” said Spc. Luke McAlpine, a RSRE Cadre. “The Ranger tab, when you come home with it, acts as a force multiplier. You come, and you bring that knowledge that you learned at the school, and you teach your soldiers so that we become a more lethal force when asked to deploy.”
The RSRE brings a few of the tests Soldiers will see at Ranger School closer to Mass. Guardsmen. Joint Base Cape Cod has a fitness center with a track for the Ranger physical fitness test, obstacle course, land navigation sites, and routes to do the 12 mile ruck march for time. This gives the Massachusetts Army National Guard the resources needed to put these soldiers in near-identical conditions, bringing a piece of Ranger School to them and allowing them to see a perspective they have not seen before.
“This weekend is designed to be very informative,” said McAlpine. ” A lot of people don’t know what they are capable of because they have never been tested in as hard of a way as this weekend will test you. It’ll show you what you’re made of.”
This evaluation can introduce new challenges and tests that push soldiers outside their comfort zone, highlighting areas for growth and readiness. Some will fail certain tests, but sometimes failing is the best way to learn. The cadre are there to help guide soldiers to become better versions of themselves, even if that means they have to come back next year. There is no limit to how many times a soldier can participate in the evaluation.
“We have final counselings,” said McAlpine. “We go by individual to tell you what they did right, what they did wrong and what they need to work on, we can help them to be prepared for next year.”
There is no shame in trying something new or challenging. It may be easy to settle and get comfortable after basic training and Advance Individual Training. This weekend evaluation is a good way to break the routine and have something to work towards. Anyone can sign up for this evaluation in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, no matter what unit or job you have.
“A lot of people have not been tested like this before,” said McAlpine. “Even if you are not 100 percent physically there and you get an opportunity to come do something hard for a drill weekend, you should absolutely come and learn something about yourself, about this process and have a goal.”
The purpose of RSRE is to see who is ready for Ranger School and to test soldiers physically and mentally in a short period of time. The Cadre want to see soldiers be successful, because their success is going to further improve the force down the road. Whether that is achieving more Ranger School graduates who go back to their units to share knowledge or this evaluation sets a goal for soldiers to work towards for fitness and basic skills like land navigation.
