Cotton served in the 101st Airborne which has been featured in many documentaries, e.g, Band of Brothers. These attackers are nattering nabobs.
I looked up a Ranger association and they say that if you went to Ranger school, graduated and got the “tab”, they consider you a Ranger and you can join them as a full member.
So, I suppose THEY accept someone who passed and got the “tab” a Ranger.