CPT Ross, second from right, at the Ranger Class 06-21 graduation ceremony.
On 25 June 2021, a newly Ranger-tabbed “dual professional” finally put several arduous months behind him and set a course back to Fort Bragg.
CPT Eli Ross, former Brigade Judge Advocate for the 20th Engineer Brigade, survived the U.S. Army Ranger School—one of the world’s most physically, emotionally, and spiritually demanding leadership courses—and has thereby exemplified the Army JAG Corps motto “Soldier First, Lawyer Always.”
His successful completion of Ranger School is no less impressive than the manner by which he secured his opportunity. The JAGWAR caught up with CPT Ross to get a sense of how others could benefit from his inspiration and capitalize on his experience.
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Thanks so much for speaking with us today. Before we discuss your most recent feat, tell us about your background as a lawyer and decision to join the Army. When, how, why did you commission?
I direct commissioned in January 2016 right out of law school. I taught high school before attending law school in an underprivileged community through the Teach For America program. That experience instilled a deep interest in public service and I pursued a law degree to advance that interest. During law school, I wasn’t very familiar with the particulars of the JAG Corps until I went to an informational meeting my 2L year. After hearing what JAGs do and the versatility of their practice, I was hooked. I interned with the Army the following summer and, well, here I am seven years later.
What have been your most rewarding JAG Corps assignments?
Hands-down Trial Defense at Fort Bragg. Initially, I was quite apprehensive about being a defense attorney. I even considered asking my SJA to reconsider the position when he offered it to me. But it was an amazing experience. It refined my litigation skills and gave me a well-rounded exposure to the nuances and processes of military justice.
When did you decide to undertake Ranger School? What informed that decision?
I don’t know if there was one particular moment that I really wanted to go to Ranger school. When I initially joined the military, I had a close friend who served with the 75th Ranger Regiment prior to his tenure in the JAG Corps. I was impressed by his experience and with those who had attended and completed the school. As I continued in the Corps, [Ranger School] was always something I wanted to try, but I never knew if I would actually take the jump. A lot of time as a JAG is spent in the so-called “ivory tower” advising commanders. I was eager to experience the Army from a different perspective. Ranger School afforded me that perspective, and I absolutely believe that negotiating the course has equipped me to be a better legal practitioner and command advisor. I now have such a better frame of reference for the legal questions I’m asked or the issues I’m charged with spotting.
How did you train for Ranger School? Would you have trained differently if you could?
After five grueling months, CPT Ross finally receives his Ranger Tab at Fort Benning on 25 June 2021.
From a physical aspect, I was in the best shape of my life before I left. I maintained a high intensity CrossFit-style workout regimen and conducted long runs with my weight vest in the months preceding my departure. That helped me prepare for the strength and endurance necessary to manage the heavy loads you carry during school. I also mixed in 8 to 12 mile rucks about twice per week in the months before I left. Everyone prepares for Ranger School differently, but that’s what worked for me.
For skills, I attended the 82nd Airborne Division’s “Pre-Ranger Course” [now known as “Small Unit Ranger Tactics” or just “SURT”] a few months before I left, and then I worked with my Brigade’s Sapper and Ranger training program immediately before leaving.
Because of my job as BJA, I couldn’t immediately attend school following the pre-ranger course. Looking back, that would have been a better option.
Politically or strategically, how did you facilitate permission and support to attend Ranger School?
Honestly, I got lucky with great leadership. It isn’t easy to go as a JAG given the time necessary to complete the school and being away from my job. But prior to assuming my role as BJA, my Regional Defense Counsel, COL Stich, offered to send me to SURT following my TDS tenure. It worked with my schedule since I was winding down my caseload, and I elected to go in lieu of taking PCS leave. She got the ball rolling for me. As I said, I wasn’t able to go to Ranger School immediately afterwards as I was assuming a role as a BJA and needed to be in that position for a bit to work with and build a relationship with my brigade commander. But once my new brigade commander discovered I previously attended SURT, he was all about sending me [to Ranger School]. He strongly advocated for my attendance, and so I worked out a situation with the Fort Bragg OSJA to accommodate coverage. MAJ Christopher Goren, chief of federal litigation for XVIII Airborne Corps, was an all-star; he covered for me while I was gone.
JAG Corps paralegals and judge advocates often express concern that their interest in Ranger School could alienate colleagues or supervisors. After all, it’s a course that could take one away from his or her primary duties for a minimum of two months, to say nothing of the time necessary to train for and recover from the experience. What obstacles did you encounter in your bid to attend Ranger School? Any negative career consequences you’d be willing to share?
You know this is a tough question. As you suggest, the biggest obstacle was simply the nature of being a JAG in conjunction with the amount of time it can take to get through the school. The legal work doesn’t stop when you leave, and being absent for potentially six months means someone will have to fill your shoes. Simply stated, the work [lawyers and paralegals] do is not conducive to disappearing and living in the woods for an undetermined period of time. That’s why I was unsure I’d actually get the opportunity.
It’s a balancing act, for sure. You don’t want to be that JAG right out the gate who hasn’t done anything legal-related before you’re asking to attend every military school out there. In my case, I never completed a traditional military school (Air Assault, Airborne, etc.). Instead, I put all my eggs in one basket and pushed hard for Ranger School at the appropriate time. I’m grateful that my leadership was receptive to my request.
My advice is this: If going to Ranger School is important to you, first prove yourself as an exemplary legal practitioner, whether you’re a lawyer or a paralegal, and then demonstrate how seriously you take soldiering. That means getting after it every morning at PT, on ruck marches or the ACFT, and looking into those Army-oriented challenges like the Bataan Death March to show your peers and leadership that your interest is sincere and you have the drive to be successful. If you can prove that you’re worth taking a risk on, you’ll likely find support for your request.
CPT Eli Ross poses with his friend and fellow Ranger graduate CPT Preston Bradley, a Green Beret assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) who has been a longtime supporter of the Order of the JAGWAR.
When did you attend Ranger School?
I left at 2 a.m. on the morning of 31 January 2021. My Brigade Commander driver drove me down because of COVID protocols. I got home early in the evening of 25 June 2021; I was gone for about five months.
What are the aspects or experiences in Ranger School that you just can’t forget?
The time I spent wet and freezing in the Mountain phase in the middle of winter. It was miserable. I went straight through Darby (1st phase) and Florida (3rd phase), but I had to go through Mountains three times in order to pass. In total, I spent 107 days in the mountains of Dahlonega, Georgia. Of course there was hunger and constant discomfort, but the Mountains phase of Ranger School will hold a special place in my heart given the time I spent there.
What advice would you give to attorneys and paralegals who want to follow in your footsteps?
Try and get a slot the right way. Get some legal experience under your belt and when the right time comes, ask to go by explaining to your leadership how Ranger School can benefit the JAG Corps. I genuinely believe in its value proposition. At the end of the day, it’s a leadership school. If we’re going to competently advise commanders, work with Soldiers, and lead other JAGs, having the requisite leadership traits is an important part of the job.
And once you get the opportunity, just take the step, don’t go on a timeline, and DO NOT quit. Ranger School is not an enjoyable experience. It’s rewarding at the end, but not enjoyable. It will be both mentally and physically challenging. And there’s no saying how long you may spend in the course. There will be times when you’re uncomfortable, miserable, cold, wet, hot, whatever. It’ll be really easy to just quit. Trust me, on several occasions I almost did quit, especially after recycling Mountains twice. You’ll question your decision to attend in those moments and yearn for the comforts and joys of life. But remember that those comforts will come back eventually. Don’t give up, keep pushing yourself, and just make it to the next meal—even if it’s 22 hours away. If you do so, you’ll more than likely get through.
Thank you so much for speaking with us today, CPT Ross. You’re an inspiration to the Corps.
I wouldn’t go that far. But I would say I’m a better lawyer than I was before, a better Soldier than I was before, and my uniform is slightly cooler than it was before. Thanks for giving me a chance to talk about the experience.
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To watch a video of CPT Ross’s 25 June 2021 Ranger School graduation ceremony, click below:
https://www.facebook.com/FortBenningMCoE/videos/839456996977563/
And, for more pictures from the Ranger Class 06-21 graduation, visit the link below:
https://fortbenning.smugmug.com/Infantry-School/Airborne-Ranger-Training-Briga/Ranger-School/US-Army-Ranger-School/Graduations/2021-06-25-Ranger-Graduation-06-21/