Polypro Socks / GET SELECTED UPDATE

[Warrior-Mentor]

Because I've gotten a number of questions (PMs & e-mails) ref polypro socks, wanted to post an interim update to GET SELECTED here. (pages 7-1 and 7-5).

Polypro socks work well at wicking the moisture away from your skin and thus help prevent blisters.

Problem is, as of today, they're STILL not authorized at SFAS. (See SFAS Packing List in GET SELECTED on Page E-7. Verified polypro socks not authorized at SFAS with the 18X Coordinator at the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion on 10AUG05).

Here's the deal...

Because you can't use them while AT SFAS, you shouldn't use them while training FOR SFAS. Train as you fight. Ruck until you get hot spots, then fix your feet.

After SFAS, you can use them. I still swear by them.

Hope this clarifies what you need to know to be successful.

Cast or Tab,
JM

[CSB]

This topic, whether or not the author intended it to so become, points out a key feature of SFAS selection ... and OCS selection .... and Ranger selection .... and ... LIFE.

Don't count on a technology, a gimmick, a current situation/defination/standard to be your sole benchmark of qualification or ability.

Whether it's polypropylene socks, vs. plain old army issue wool; or GPS vs. map and compass; M16A2 vs. M4 vs. FN/FAL; or any other situation or status to define your ability and qualifications as a soldier, get right with the basics and IF the situation allows you to use a more forgiving strategy, change in the future.

I feel like the high school teacher I used to hate: learn long division, you may not have a calculator; learn to take a pulse and measure a temperature ... the skill was important 100 (or 1,000) years ago and will be important 100 (or 1,000) years from now. If you are helpless because you are without your poly socks, or creatine supplement, or because you have never had to get out and perform in Heat Category IV, you need to look somewhere other than Special Forces as a career choice.

End of rant.

CB

[Peregrino]

This topic, whether or not the author intended it to so become, points out a key feature of SFAS selection ... and OCS selection .... and Ranger selection .... and ... LIFE.

Don't count on a technology, a gimmick, a current situation/defination/standard to be your sole benchmark of qualification or ability.

Whether it's polypropylene socks, vs. plain old army issue wool; or GPS vs. map and compass; M16A2 vs. M4 vs. FN/FAL; or any other situation or status to define your ability and qualifications as a soldier, get right with the basics and IF the situation allows you to use a more forgiving strategy, change in the future.

I feel like the high school teacher I used to hate: learn long division, you may not have a calculator; learn to take a pulse and measure a temperature ... the skill was important 100 (or 1,000) years ago and will be important 100 (or 1,000) years from now. If you are helpless because you are without your poly socks, or creatine supplement, or because you have never had to get out and perform in Heat Category IV, you need to look somewhere other than Special Forces as a career choice.

End of rant.

CB

Amazing how many ways there are to say this and people still don't want to get the point! :rolleyes: Peregrino

[Jgood]

Actually I asked the question not to find a easy way of getting over ,but to clear up a point in a book who's target group was those trying to get selected. I believe in training as you fight and I know that the packing list that was posted in
USAREC Pam 601-25 is some what out dated(ie sweat bottoms/sweat top for PT gear).

I was trying to find a new packing list to see if maybe it had changed, In the Book it suggested polypro as a way to protect your feet from blister so I searched and was in still in the process of searching when I asked another question of the Major which lead to this post.

I had no intention of "getting Over" Others and myself included read the post by the BTDTs as the gospel.

Sorry that my question was misunderstood not my intention.

as the Major put it.

Cast or Tab

JG

[Warrior-Mentor]

No need for you to take heat...you weren't the only one to ask...and

It's a good point. Something I need to update in GET SELECTED.

Thanks for asking.

JM

[Abu Jack]

I'm curious what the reasoning is behind not allowing polypro socks at SFAS. When I went through we were not allowed to wear spandex shorts, which by the way are great for preventing chafing in the crotch area. The reasoning behind that was that the shorts caused ones core body tempature to go higher than without. Don't know if I really buy that, but those were the rules at the time. Back to the poly pro socks. My road march formula is a light coat of vaseline on the feet, light weight poly pro socks and wool socks worn inside out. That combination was advocated in the prep for SFAS literature at the time (91). I tried it out while I was training for SFAS and it served me well the rest of my career. If any one knows the reason for poly p socks being prohibited please enlighten all of us.
Thanks
Abu Jack Out

[The Reaper]

I'm curious what the reasoning is behind not allowing polypro socks at SFAS. When I went through we were not allowed to wear spandex shorts, which by the way are great for preventing chafing in the crotch area. The reasoning behind that was that the shorts caused ones core body tempature to go higher than without. Don't know if I really buy that, but those were the rules at the time. Back to the poly pro socks. My road march formula is a light coat of vaseline on the feet, light weight poly pro socks and wool socks worn inside out. That combination was advocated in the prep for SFAS literature at the time (91). I tried it out while I was training for SFAS and it served me well the rest of my career. If any one knows the reason for poly p socks being prohibited please enlighten all of us.
Thanks
Abu Jack Out

1. To level the playing field between guys with money and those without. An advantage should not be gained by those who can afford cool toys.

2. To see if you can follow simple instructions.

TR