Tons of versions of this, no BS, and here's just one. Honor Grad at 7th ID (Light) "Combat Leader's Course." That's Pre-Ranger. Smoked it. I had to stand in front of the formation of those of us that made it through, and the Division CSM, George D. Mock, presented all the awards and grad certs. I got Honor Grad and Land Nav Award. I tied with some infantry fucking ROCK STUD MOTHERFUCKER on the overall PT test, and they gave it to that dude - told me "I got enough out of this course..." Whatever...
SO, my feathers are ruffled, I'm in front of formation, CSM Mock is right there, and he asks me before the grad ceremony starts, ... "Anything you want from me, Ranger?"
Alright, here it comes. Little Tommy is gonna come out... "CSM, I didn't earm Honor Grad here, I just led - everyone else won that award, and it just happened to be when I was in a leadership position. That's Fate. However, I smoked the FUK out of that Land Nav course, and I did that of my own sheer will. I beat that big fuckin' infantry dude on the PT test, but you'll give him the PT Award, and I'm ok with that..."
CSM Mock: "So, you kicked ass here - can I do anything for you?"
Little Tommy: "CSM, I want the very next slot to Ranger School that the Division gets..."
CSM Mock: "Done deal, Ranger..."
2 weeks later, I was at Fort Benning, getting ready to get my ass kicked all over again.
If you don't ask - you'll never know.