Ranger School is the premier leadership development program in the US Army for tactical level leaders. It’s also the most grueling physical, mental and emotional challenge a Soldier can face. Many will try; but only a few will earn the coveted Ranger tab…a designation that for decades could only be sought after by male soldiers.

In this episode, Fran Racioppi brings back fellow Ranger LTC Lisa Jaster; the third female to ever graduate from US Army Ranger School. Lisa is now the author of Delete The Adjective, A Soldier's Adventures In Ranger School. 

Lisa shares her journey as she failed each phase multiple times, only to request to try again. They talk about the importance of setting standards based on the requirements of the job instead of what we think a gender is capable of achieving. Fran defines the importance of a never quit attitude while Lisa shares her quit criteria. 

Adjectives live all around us, but only when we choose to use them to describe us instead of define us, is when we truly are ready to lead no matter the challenge. 

Special thanks to Longtab Brewing Company for hosting this conversation from San Antonio. 

Learn more about Lisa Jaster and pick up your copy of Delete The Adjective today!

Check out The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version on YouTube.

Highlights:

0:00 Delete The Adjective from Long Tab Brewing Company

3:28 Adjectives describe you; they don’t define you

4:15 Why go to Ranger School as the first woman

8:46 The importance of the single standard

12:51 The red tape of gender integration at Ranger School

17:25 Life lessons from Ranger School

23:30 Training leaders through following 

Quotes:

• “By deleting the adjective I’m not trying to be an ‘it’.” (3:33)
• “I didn’t want to prove something, I just wanted to say ‘hey listen, we’ve been serving next to you.” (5:40)
• “The military isn’t looking for the fastest. They’re looking for a standard. One standard based on the job that needs to be done.” (11:03)
• “Would I want to share a foxhole with this person? Yes or no?” (14:53)
• “Those little pieces of adversity give you the tools you need to deal with the big pieces of adversity down the line.” (21:36)
• “At Ranger School I wrote out my quit criteria.” (26:33)
• “If you quit; even if you never quit anything again; you’re still a quitter.” (27:49)

This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, Compass Workforce Solutions, GORUCK and Rhone.