Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Louisiana National Guard Soldier starts career with elite Army training By Staff Sgt. Garrett Dipuma
                Louisiana National Guard
 NEW IBERIA, Louisiana – Spc. Connor McGuffee with the Louisiana National Guard dove headfirst into his military career by completing both the U.S. Army’s Airborne and Ranger schools right after basic training, a feat that took him 13 months to accomplish. The Comeaux High School graduate, now 21, joined the LANG so he could earn a degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before entering the workforce as a full-time Soldier. “I’ve always wanted to be in the Army, but I want to get my degree before I go active,” said McGuffee, 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “The National Guard just looked like a good option since I could go to a physical school full-time and have my tuition covered while still starting my military career.” He said he was particularly excited at the chance to attend an elite military training course right out of the gate. “I jumped at the chance to go to Ranger school when it was offered to me,” said McGuffee. “My dad was a Ranger, and I grew up hearing stories from him about his time in the military.” McGuffee said that going into basic training, he didn’t know he would be able to go to Ranger school so soon. During basic training, he and other top-performing Soldiers were offered the chance to attend the course on the condition they maintain the high standards they exhibited. “My dad was shocked when I wrote home to tell him I was going to Ranger school,” said McGuffee. “I feel really lucky that I was in the right place at the right time to get that opportunity.” McGuffee said the course was as tough as you would expect, if not harder for somebody who was still new to the military. “I had just learned the basic concepts the instructors were trying to teach, so being so new was definitely a challenge,” he said. “The hardest part, though, was just constantly failing at what seemed like everything.” The new Ranger said the course is designed that way. Every situation is set up as nearly impossible to complete without error, and one person can fail because of a shortcoming exhibited by another team member. This builds stress, and eventually, Ranger candidates develop excellent critical thinking and communication skills in situations of high stress and fatigue. “I got recycled once because I let one of my team members fall asleep,” said McGuffee. “But that taught me one of the best lessons I took away from the course; teamwork and discipline are necessary to succeed, and I think that applies in military and civilian life.” As far as preparing for Ranger school, McGuffee has some straightforward advice for would-be candidates: go in with a mantra of knowing you will earn the tab and never give up. He said that although the course was not as physically challenging as he thought it would be, it was extremely difficult even though he was in peak condition from his high school football career and constant workouts leading up to Ranger school. “During basic, pretty much all of my downtime was committed to extra exercise to prepare. I was working out twice a day running, lifting weights and doing bodyweight exercises between basic and Ranger school,” said McGuffee. “It’s a hard course that you definitely need to be mentally and physically ready for before you get there.” Now that he is home, McGuffee enjoys his free time spending time with his family playing Dungeons and Dragons or Mech Warrior. “Basic training and Ranger school were really challenging, but I loved every moment I was there,” said McGuffee. “Those were some of the best times I’ve had in my life, and I can’t see myself wanting to work outside of the military now.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise
 By Airman 1st Class Julia Ahaesy,
  Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies
 By Maj. Robert Taylor,
  New York National Guard Headquarters Staff Marks Memorial Day
 By Eric Durr,
  More
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise Guard News • 3 days ago
 Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies Guard News • 3 days ago
 New York National Guard Headquarters Staff Marks Memorial Day Guard News • 4 days ago
 Tennessee Guard, Local Partners Practice Disaster Response Guard News • 4 days ago
 Air Guard Units Test Readiness at Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • 5 days ago
 2024 (160)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil