Advice, guidance and clarification on pursuing a SF career path.

[Jlangenbach]

Alright I've read all 3 of the Stickys that were posted at the top of the forum and am ready to ask my question and start my thread, I'd first like to thank you all for reviewing my thread. I've recently tried browsing multiple military related sites, and unfortunately even tried asking questions that I should have asked here on yahoo answers. I haven't really been able to find the answer to my question, there was a similar question that is related to my question, but it seems that the asker was trolling more then asking. I am a 20 old male interested in pursuing a career in the Army particularly in Special Forces, I'm almost finished with my BA in Political Science which seems like it has taken for ever. I have managed to get short answers from certain people I've come into contact with a former Special Forces operator who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment I'll hold off on his name because I'm not sure if we are aloud to drop names due to website rules who told me it will help having a conventional war background. I also read a post on another website by a gentleman who's userid was Kojak and he said that serving in the 75th regiment if you're planning on pursuing a SF career was hazardous which leads me to my question, Is it better to build your way up into SF like serving in a conventional unit, go to ranger school to get tabbed then try and move to the SFAS, or is it better and more beneficial to go the 18x route assuming you don't drop out before SFAS. Also are there a lot of former Ranger who eventually transition to SF, the reason I ask is because I've heard unconfirmed information that it's hard to move from the Regiment to SF, I've heard that they'll threaten to remove you from the Regt, or that your transfer paperwork may get lost, if someone could clarify this for me that would be great. Also how do you feel about the 18x option? And my final question is what is your opinion on enlisting with a option 40 contract assuming you can get one from a recruiter and serving in the Regiment as some what of a stepping stone, and I say that with the utmost respect. I apologize for the lengthy question I wanted to leave little room for misunderstandings and I appreciate your time!

Respectfully,

Joey

[wishbone]

I'm curious if you even once typed any of your questions into the search bar? There are multiple threads about QP views on the 18X program from every perspective, along with guidance, hints, tips, etc. Additionally there are people who are joining, have joined the program, people who failed, and people who have succeeded, all of whom write about every facet they've experienced.

Maybe I misunderstood, but did you say that being in Ranger BN is hazardous? I think you've wandered onto the wrong site by mistake, because we don't exactly sit around knitting sweaters during the work week or deployed, but with that comment you won't be well received on a Ranger Site either. After only a week here maybe you should have done some more searches instead of starting a thread about this topic.

Based on your poor typing, typos, situational awareness, whatever the thing about Ranger BN being hazardous was, I'm pretty sure you should look at other options besides SF, or anything having to do with special operations.

[k-rub]

I'm glad you read all three stickies at the top of this forum. Read the rest of the stickies in the other sub-forums. You will probably get a feel for what SF does.

Reread and edit your messages before posting them. It was difficult to read your post because of the lack of flow and proper grammar.

If you want to be in the Army and eventually SF, join as a 11B, spend some time in the regular Army, and then try out for SF.

It is way too early in the game to start worrying about the logistics of transferring from Ranger Batt to Group. Focus on the 25m goal.

[WarriorDiplomat]

I'm curious if you even once typed any of your questions into the search bar? There are multiple threads about QP views on the 18X program from every perspective, along with guidance, hints, tips, etc. Additionally there are people who are joining, have joined the program, people who failed, and people who have succeeded, all of whom write about every facet they've experienced.

Maybe I misunderstood, but did you say that being in Ranger BN is hazardous? I think you've wandered onto the wrong site by mistake, because we don't exactly sit around knitting sweaters during the work week or deployed, but with that comment you won't be well received on a Ranger Site either. After only a week here maybe you should have done some more searches instead of starting a thread about this topic.

Based on your poor typing, typos, situational awareness, whatever the thing about Ranger BN being hazardous was, I'm pretty sure you should look at other options besides SF, or anything having to do with special operations.


This is a prime example of our education system being a failure. Colleges do not teach for the sake of intellectual curiosity and the advancement of mankind today they are a business that hands out degrees to obviously unqualified people to feed corporations with somewhat trained people.

Damn kid you are 20 and almost finished with your BA and you think it has felt like forever?!?!?!?!?

[blue02hd]

WTF are they teaching in college today? Did you ever once have a research class?

My advice? Save yourself a tremendous amount of time, both yours and SWC's, and join an organization where critical thinking and self motivation are not required.

What school did you go to?

[The Reaper]

Search and read.

Pay particular attention to "A Message to Garcia."

THAT is what we are looking for.

Best of luck.

TR

[Jlangenbach]

I do apologize about my post, I guess I was a little excited at first wanting to ask all the questions that were running through my head at the time which lead to the gibberish of mine above. Also not to mention the thread I started was typed on my phone which may explain my grammer related problems. However, that is no excuse for me. The reason I started this thread was because I wanted to ask your opinion on a claim that was made by a man who claimed to be Special Forces on articles not related to this website. The claims that were said where along the lines that it is uncommen for soldiers who are serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment to attend SFAS and attempt to join Special Forces, and the next claim was when enlisting with a 11b option 40 contract and serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment would be a longer path than enlisting with an option 4 contract, he also went on to say he served with Charles Beckwith and recruited for CAG, however I'm unsure if that piece of information is relevent. And to also clarify, when I meant hazardous I didn't mean it physically hazardous I meant politically hazardous, if that is how it was interpreted im sorry, the claim that the gentlman made was that serving in the Regiment was hazardous to the person who's goal is Special Forces due unconfirmed "rumors". I do apologize I should have Researched more before I started a thread, it won't happen again I was excited and skimmed through certain threads. My question was misunderstood and worded incorrectly. Also Please don't let this ignorant post of mine already paint a picture of who I am.

[MR2]

Joey, what part of put down the shovel do you not understand?

[blue02hd]

Well, now that he has blown off guidance and basically asked his line of questions a second time I am sure he will get a response. Well played son, well played!

This one is sneaky. He has middle management written all over him,,,,,

The answers that you are looking for are definitely here on this forum. They have been asked several times before. If it is your intent to have us verify what you "think" you understood from some "guy" we have never met then you are wasting your time. Why would you ever take the word of a stranger you have never met over actually doing your own research? Use that search feature, read more, post less. Once you get a feel for your subject and you still have questions, then ask.

The forum here is a great learning vehicle, but if you are not willing to roll your sleeves up and do basic research then it is not going to benefit you much.

[Snaquebite]

The forum here is a great learning vehicle, but if you are not willing to roll your sleeves up and do basic research then it is not going to benefit you much.

and....you would never make it through selection or the Q course anyway. You may want to research other options...oh wait...you don't do that, you want to be spoon fed.

[WarriorDiplomat]

I do apologize about my post, I guess I was a little excited at first wanting to ask all the questions that were running through my head at the time which lead to the gibberish of mine above. Also not to mention the thread I started was typed on my phone which may explain my grammer related problems. However, that is no excuse for me. The reason I started this thread was because I wanted to ask your opinion on a claim that was made by a man who claimed to be Special Forces on articles not related to this website. The claims that were said where along the lines that it is uncommen for soldiers who are serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment to attend SFAS and attempt to join Special Forces, and the next claim was when enlisting with a 11b option 40 contract and serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment would be a longer path than enlisting with an option 4 contract, he also went on to say he served with Charles Beckwith and recruited for CAG, however I'm unsure if that piece of information is relevent. And to also clarify, when I meant hazardous I didn't mean it physically hazardous I meant politically hazardous, if that is how it was interpreted im sorry, the claim that the gentlman made was that serving in the Regiment was hazardous to the person who's goal is Special Forces due unconfirmed "rumors". I do apologize I should have Researched more before I started a thread, it won't happen again I was excited and skimmed through certain threads. My question was misunderstood and worded incorrectly. Also Please don't let this ignorant post of mine already paint a picture of who I am.


I highlighted your spelling errors in green. Funny that this website has a spell check program but a college kid can't find it.

You are scaring me. You mention Chargin Charlie Beckwith, CAG, and that joining the Ranger regiment is politically hazardous for being SF. Who the hell are you trying to impress?

I only respond because your post is proof positive to me that formal education means little; for example your spelling errors and the endless questions about stuff with the answer right in front of you, available with a few key strokes in the search bar and an investment of some time to read and digest information.

I was a rambunctious sort who grew up poor and started working in the blue collar side of life at the age of 11. I started one of my business ventures into the world of capitalism with an old lawn mower I found in an alley that only ran because I used my dad’s tools to figure out how to fix it and keep it running. I actually had a customer base because I busted my butt. I dumpster dived for aluminum cans and walked a few miles along highways to pick up caches in the ditches to make some money. I learned how to work on cars; when my engine blew doing burnouts and burned up the clutch, I found myself working for a mechanic who helped me fix my car. His payment was the labor I gave him to learn a trade and a life skill as I learned to rebuild my car. Damn I was proud of that car; a 1974 Javelin 360 with a 4 on the floor. I bought the car with the $400 I earned washing out cattle trailers at $5 per trailer during a winter. I had no money to buy a another and none to pay a mechanic. I valued it not because of the money, but because it really meant a lot more than that, principally what it took to buy it and keep it because of the hard work I put into getting it.

I learned a lot of lessons watching older, tougher, and wiser people and listening to the stories of perseverance that always started with initiative. For example my dad expected you to pull your weight and figure things out by doing, not talking. I was raised to get it done and not to be told twice. The first and last time I complained to him was as a young teen feeling my oats. I was 150lbs at the time and before I could react I saw a Green Flash from a backhand as I flew over my bed. I learned to know what I had to do without asking unless I absolutely had to and I am a better man as a result.

I wanted to be a Green Beret after reading the book “From the OSS to the Green Berets” and every book after that I could find about them in the late 70's. I worked hard to be one and got in trouble. Until 15 years ago I thought that dream was gone; however, it presented itself again AFTER I curiously walked into a recruiters office thinking that I could never walk in the shoes of any of the 876 men who made the ultimate sacrifices in the Green Berets’ spiritual birthplace - Vietnam! This is where the Green Berets were set up to fail by the CIA with the MACV SOG program and we came out legends with foundations built on the backs of these great men. The SEALs, MARSOC, Delta, ST6, 75th Ranger Regiment all owe their existence to Green Berets who took over the MACV SOG program and when the war ended we were the rocks that endured. There are a lot of GB stories out there but the MOHs represent those who never came home and the stories you will never hear. Many stories and books stand out but the following story to me is one of the most incredible given his age and the conscious decision he made for people that many today would spit on.

He believed in something greater than self and when he told his indigenous that if you follow me we will protect you and your people. “I promise, follow me and we will make you free”. There was no greater moment of truth than when this 21 year old MAN unhooked himself from the harness and gave his seat up to those he had made promises to and chose to fight to the death. His legacy deserves more than what you have shown us you are willing to do to join an organization that had men like him in its ranks.

Now do your best to read the citation below and do so with reverence.

SPECIAL FORCES MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

* KEDENBURG, JOHN J.

Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces.

Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 13 June 1968.

Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Born: 31 July 1946, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5c. Kedenburg, U.S. Army, Command and Control Detachment North, Forward Operating Base 2, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), distinguished himself while serving as advisor to a long-range reconnaissance team of South Vietnamese irregular troops. The team's mission was to conduct counter-guerrilla operations deep within enemy-held territory. Prior to reaching the day's objective, the team was attacked and encircled by a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force. Sp5c. Kedenburg assumed immediate command of the team which succeeded, after a fierce fight, in breaking out of the encirclement. As the team moved through thick jungle to a position from which it could be extracted by helicopter, Sp5c. Kedenburg conducted a gallant rear guard fight against the pursuing enemy and called for tactical air support and rescue helicopters. His withering fire against the enemy permitted the team to reach a preselected landing zone with the loss of only 1 man, who was unaccounted for. Once in the landing zone, Sp5c. Kedenburg deployed the team into a perimeter defense against the numerically superior enemy force. When tactical air support arrived, he skillfully directed air strikes against the enemy, suppressing their fire so that helicopters could hover over the area and drop slings to be used in the extraction of the team. After half of the team was extracted by helicopter, Sp5c. Kedenburg and the remaining 3 members of the team harnessed themselves to the sling on a second hovering helicopter. Just as the helicopter was to lift them out of the area, the South Vietnamese team member who had been unaccounted for after the initial encounter with the enemy appeared in the landing zone. Sp5c. Kedenburg unhesitatingly gave up his place in the sling to the man and directed the helicopter pilot to leave the area. He then continued to engage the enemy who were swarming into the landing zone, killing 6 enemy soldiers before he was overpowered. Sp5c. Kedenburg's inspiring leadership, consummate courage and willing self-sacrifice permitted his small team to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy and escape almost certain annihilation. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

[conco303]

Give the kid a break, he goes to Arizona State based on his location and they don't really care much about spelling or basic addition as far as I know.

[The Reaper]

Give the kid a break, he goes to Arizona State based on his location and they don't really care much about spelling or basic addition as far as I know.

This will be your last warning.

Don't post your silly-assed comments here.

I don't care to see them and you are not in a position to be telling QPs what to do.

TR