1st Lt. Mackenzie Corcoran followed the progress of three U.S. Army Ranger School graduates – 1st Lt. Erin O’Hara, a college classmate, Captain Sara Febbo and 1st Lt. Rachael Kicklighter, the first female honor graduate. Although she was not present at the ceremonies and was in different units than these graduates, hearing about their accomplishments boosted her confidence.

“If they can do it, I can do it,” said Corcoran of the 29th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, where she was outfitted in the Ranger, Sapper and Jungle triple-decker outfit.

This realization helped her finally break through the barrier of self-doubt that had stood between her and Ranger School. To further boost her confidence, she sought encouragement from five Ranger-certified soldiers who had motivated and supported her throughout her journey.

As she stood in the Brigade Hall of Heroes, the Brigade Command Team – which included the Rangers who had motivated her – took turns shaving her head.

“Having people who truly believe in you,” Corcoran said, “is the biggest step in becoming a Ranger.”

Corcoran joined the Army in May 2021 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Shortly after completing the Officer Leaders Basic Course in June 2021, she was assigned to the 29th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th ID at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Corcoran said she always knew she wanted to attend the Jungle Operations Training Course (JOTC), a 12-day course that teaches participants how to navigate and operate in jungle environments using a variety of tactics, techniques and procedures.

A week after arriving at her unit in January 2022, she was given the opportunity to attend JOTC at the Lightning Academy. She completed the training and received her first badge, a bow worn on U.S. Army uniforms that denotes a special skill.

Completing the JOTC was the first of many accomplishments for Corcoran. She said she believes it is a great starting point for anyone who wants to challenge themselves in an Army course that requires skills such as teamwork, navigation and communication, and is effective in building confidence, as it was for her.

“It showed me that I could make it in the Army, and it inspired me to really pioneer,” Corcoran said.

With the help of her command team, she was able to find time in her schedule from November to December 2022 to attend the Sapper Leader Course without compromising her duties as a platoon leader. The Sapper Leader Course is a demanding 28-day course for combat engineers that focuses on developing leadership skills while strengthening fundamental skills and teaching advanced techniques.

Corcoran had never experienced the physical challenges she faced during the Pioneer Leader Course, and she wasn’t sure how the restricted rations and sleep would affect her body, mind and leadership methods.

“Nobody realizes how far our bodies and minds can actually go until we push them to their limits,” Corcoran said.

Each day, students were given an hour to eat and sleep, known as “sapper time.” On one particularly tough day, the starving and exhausted students ran laps in the pouring rain, cutting their usual hour down to 20 minutes.

After the students were assigned their pioneer time, Corcoran, wet and tired, snuggled under her poncho.

“It was terrible, we were all terrible,” Corcoran said, choosing to eat her field rations instead of sleeping.

Soon, a close friend joined her and confessed that he was thinking about quitting.

Corcoran objected: “There are still three days to go; we are not giving up.”

As she collected each tab, Corcoran faced many challenges, the biggest of which was her lack of confidence.

“Everyone is afraid of failure, but I knew I would hate myself if I didn’t try,” she said.

Corcoran was promoted to first lieutenant in January 2023. She reached another milestone in her quest for a challenge by graduating from Ranger School. Ranger School prepares both Soldiers and officers for their leadership roles while facing the challenges of combat and is considered one of the most demanding and challenging military training programs.

Corcoran said, “Ranger was physically easier than Sapper, but because I had so much time to think, it was more mentally demanding.”

Ranger School consists of three phases: Benning, Mountain and Florida. Soldiers have two attempts to pass each phase. If they fail, they must start the phase again. Corcoran has experienced this first-hand, as he had to repeat the Benning phase once.

Corcoran was the 135th woman to graduate and receive her Ranger Badge, making her the 8th woman to earn the dual badge as both a Ranger and a Sapper.

Corcoran proudly wears the Ranger, Sapper and Jungle badges on her shoulder, as well as the Airborne badge prominently displayed on her chest – each a testament to her growing list of accomplishments.

In the near future, Corcoran plans to attend the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 2, a three-week course that evaluates and selects the best Rangers for the 75th Ranger Regiment. After being promoted to captain and completing the Captains Career Course, she hopes to be transferred to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to be closer to her family and to participate in more airborne operations.

“As long as I serve the Army and the Army serves me, I see no reason to leave,” Corcoran said.

As her career progresses, Corcoran plans to attend Air Assault School and Pathfinder School and earn the Expert Soldier Badge.

“I want to continue to challenge myself by taking as many Army courses as possible,” she said.

Wearing each of her hard-earned and well-earned badges gives Corcoran confidence. She hopes to instill that same confidence in Soldiers across the Army by encouraging all Soldiers who want to take an Army course to do so.

“You will be your greatest advocate,” she said, “and the best time to do it is yesterday.”