A small unit leaders in the 75th Ranger Regiment spends the majority of their time coaching, training, and mentoring their younger Rangers to take their leadership position inside the organization. 3d Ranger Battalion veteran Myles Grantham is continuing to provide that same leadership to Rangers transitioning from the military.
A former sniper team leader, Grantham joined the 75th Ranger Regiment in 2003 to fulfill his desire to make a direct impact on the Global War on Terror.
"I wanted action, adventure, to be tested mentally and physically, and full fill my obligation to defend my homeland from terrorists," Grantham said.
After five combat deployments, graduation from the U.S. Army Ranger School, and service as a 75th Ranger Regiment noncommissioned officer, Grantham was ready for his next challenge. That mindset would lead Grantham to Columbia University and provide him the platform to give back to his Ranger Regiment.
"Everywhere I go, I want to be around people who are going to challenge me the most and this was a continuation of that philosophy," Grantham said. "Columbia University is not only one of the best colleges in the world, but it is also located in one of the most important cities globally."
Immediately upon enrollment at Columbia, Grantham built a network of fellow 75th Ranger Regiment veterans. The Columbia Ranger network developed a vision to provide transitioning Rangers access to the same benefits that they were reaping from their service. It allowed the veterans to continue to live the Ranger Creed.
"Why give back to Rangers? Why not?," Grantham stated.
"Ranger Regiment has allowed me to full fill a lot of my lifelong ambitions, the least I can do is help fellow Rangers, who have also sacrificed for this great country, transition into a top tier institution. I started helping Rangers transition on my own two years ago through word of mouth. I built relationships with the Warrior Scholar Project and Service to School to help me successfully transition Rangers to Columbia University," Grantham reported.
"Mr. Jim Regan and his wife Mary, Gold Star parents of fellow 3d Ranger Battalion Ranger Sgt. James Regan, created the Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund not-for-profit," Grantham continued. "He allowed for us to venture into a new opportunity to provide increased access to Rangers at the nation's top colleges and universities."
Grantham explained that with the assistance former 2d Ranger Battalion 1st Sgt. Ret. Jesse Yandell the Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund established the Collegiate Access Program (CAP). 75th Ranger Regiment veterans, enlisted and officer, utilize the leadthewayfund.org website to begin the process of registration for Service to School and the Warrior Scholar Project resources that ultimately lead to competitive application packets and preferred admissions at schools such as Columbia. Grantham emphasized that all the organizations he partners with are part of the United States Special Operations Command Care Coalition, one of five Department of Defense warrior care programs.
"Connections are everything, and the ability to have a network to tap into for some of these much needed contacts is significant in being successful in all future endeavors," Grantham said.
For more information on the Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund CAP program visit https://www.leadthewayfund.org/programs/collegiate-access-program-cap/.
Disclaimer: The article is not a Department of Defense or 75th Ranger Regiment endorsement of any non-federal entity in this feature story.
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