06-28-2016, 02:09
|
#1
|
|
Asset
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 20
|
What if I'm your teammate?
Greetings,
I'm an international student from China and is going to join the Army and than volunteer for SF at some point(since I'm not going to be eligible for 18X)
My question is, what would you think about me, if I become the guy next to you?
I'm actually kinda afraid of asking this question but I have to face it if I'm ever going to join the military, and if I'm someone who would be afraid of facing an answer, SF is not going to take me.
I love this country just like someone who is born here. However I assume that probably 99% of people in the SF are born in the States and I just don't know what to expect if I can make the cut through SFAS and Q course.
I do understand that I need to focus on 25M targets and there are tons of other issues I need to face at this moment, I just can't put this question away.
|
|
spaike97 is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 03:35
|
#2
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 128
|
I am friends with a team guy who was born in China. As with many things, if you're a good teammate, no one will care.
You will have to get used to the '间谍' jokes though.
|
|
Dive08 is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 05:00
|
#3
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Occupied Northlandia
Posts: 1,697
|
In the beginning, SF was made up with many Eastern European immigrants that escaped the Iron Curtain. As long as you want to be a free American and help others to achieve that same freedom, then you would be an excellent fit in SF.
My question is are you on a student visa or an immigrant visa?
__________________
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles." — Jeff Cooper
|
|
miclo18d is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 06:36
|
#4
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Just above the flood plain in Southern Texas
Posts: 3,608
|
A third of my Team was either from Southeast Asia or the South Pacific. In fact the whole Company was that way. Foreign immigrants from Asia, South/Central America, Europe both East and West and Africa make up (made up in my time) a true International culture in Special Forces.
English is often a second language to many who proudly serve as an American Green Beret.
In 1st Group "First in Asia" you'd fit right in.
Good luck with your decision, it's an important one.
__________________
You only live once; live well. Have no regrets when the end happens!
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” (Sir Edmund Burke)
|
|
Old Dog New Trick is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 06:50
|
#5
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: D.C./ Northern Virginia
Posts: 82
|
Not to burst anyone's bubble, but an SF candidate must be a U.S. Citizen before starting the process. Since you mentioned that you're an international student, I'm assuming that is not the case. Please correct my shot group if I'm off base here.
__________________
"I do not know what is true. I do not know the meaning of the universe. But in the midst of doubt, in the collapse of creeds, there is one thing I do not doubt...and that is that the faith is true and adorable which leads a soldier to throw away his life in obedience to a blindly accepted duty, in a cause he little understands, in a plan of campaign of which he has little notion, under tactics of which he does not see the use."
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
|
|
Blueboy is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 06:54
|
#6
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Tampa
Posts: 2,578
|
He acknowledged that he is not elgible for 18X, but wants to come into the Army then when he c an go SF.
spaike97 if you make it through the pipeline and more than pull more than your own weight on a team where everyone pulls more than their own weight you will fit in fine.
|
|
Joker is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 09:37
|
#7
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 20,929
|
You will not be the only foreign born individual on an A-Team (if you make it). As has been said we are very culturally diverse, probably the most culturally diverse unit in the military.
Good luck, you'll need it.
__________________
"The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy, but where they are."
|
|
Team Sergeant is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 12:27
|
#8
|
|
Asset
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 20
|
Thank you guys
I'm definitely going to need good luck. The program I'm looking at is called MAVNI. It basically allows those with certain cultural background and certain visas(I'm on student visa and it is accepted) to enlist in military if they have been living in US for at least two years and pass SSBI test. Once I'm in I'll just be treated like everyone else.
It is not a permanent program so it could be canceled at any second. However it is being expended this year so I guess it's not going to be terminated anyway soon. And it's out of my hands anyway so I'll just work on the things I can control(fitness, school work) at this moment.
Thank you guys for the replies, they really help.
Last edited by spaike97; 06-28-2016 at 12:30.
|
|
spaike97 is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 12:50
|
#9
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,222
|
As the guys have said it is no issue whatsoever and in many ways a plus once you become a citizen.
Your native language skills will def. be appreciated if you are successful.
|
|
PRB is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 12:55
|
#10
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,780
|
All I want to know is can you do your job, and where do your loyalties lie?
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
|
|
The Reaper is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 14:32
|
#11
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 492
|
It's all about you as value added to the United States Army Special Forces... not your national origin, ethnicity, or race. SF has always been a place where a very wide variety of cultural types found a home and a calling. Chinese? No big deal; you wouldn't be the first.
The MAVNI program is designed specifically to recruit needed language/cultural backgrounds. In that respect, it's a somewhat updated version of the 1950 Lodge Act, once used to mainly recruit native eastern Europeans for Cold War language & cultural skills.
If you were on my team, I and every man on it would welcome you with open arms... as long as you proved to be a dedicated SF Soldier. One who believed in and would defend America to the death.
Over the years, I served in Army SF alongside men native born in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, the Pacific, & South/Central America. Even had folks on my ODAs from Alabama. 
Naturally, the path to security clearance and US citizenship is one that has to be navigated. But others have done so for decades.
You aren't going to run into institutionalized racism on an ODA because you're ethnic Chinese. Quite the opposite. Especially if you wind up in 1st Group, where your language & cultural background would be highly valued. But if you wound up with 10th Group in Germany... it would still be the same. You'd get treated and accepted like any other brand new cherry joining his first team. But you could expect a certain amount of ribbing about your background. Because Team guys deliberately push buttons on new folks to see what they're made of and how they handle themselves. To find out how thick or thin your skin is. Where your pressure points are. It's a psychological assessment of you as an individual. Give back as good as you get, but remember that a sense of humor about such things goes a long way.
A path for you exists to accession into Army Special Forces. Whether you choose to take it is up to you. After that, you stand or fall on your own merits and personal reputation.
If you're sure you want to be an SF Soldier and an American Citizen... and are willing to pledge your allegiance and flesh to that concept... Go For It. But the part about being American is critical. Pride in cultural/ethnic background? Expected. Questions about loyalty to Team and Country or expressing Dual Allegiance? That's the one thing not tolerated on an ODA. It's a 100% commitment. So think about it long and hard before you choose that road.
If you showed up at my team room door with a freshly minted SFQC diploma... I'd welcome you and then put your Chinese ass to work. Just as I would any other newly arrived NCO.
If you're serious about it and can make the cut, Good Luck. Somebody could certainly use you on their ODA.
Last edited by Astronomy; 06-28-2016 at 15:42.
|
|
Astronomy is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 15:07
|
#12
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Pauls, NC
Posts: 2,668
|
On a team you bleed read just like everyone else. No one will care what nationality you are.
|
|
alelks is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 16:59
|
#13
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Occupied Northlandia
Posts: 1,697
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Astronomy
Even had folks on my ODAs from Alabama.
|
Whoa whoa whoa, there partner! How did someone from Alabami make it into SF? That's unacceptable!
__________________
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles." — Jeff Cooper
|
|
miclo18d is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 17:15
|
#14
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 20,929
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by miclo18d
Whoa whoa whoa, there partner! How did someone from Alabami make it into SF? That's unacceptable!
|
Yeah, agree, I've never heard of anyone from Alabama on an A-Team!
__________________
"The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy, but where they are."
|
|
Team Sergeant is offline
|
|
|
06-28-2016, 23:16
|
#15
|
|
Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Tampa
Posts: 2,578
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Team Sergeant
Yeah, agree, I've never heard of anyone from Alabama on an A-Team!
|
He meant to say, he had a girl from Alabama in the team room, at night, with mega beers, and no one else around. Without pictures, it did not happen. 
|
|
Joker is offline
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 16:23.
|
|
|
Linear Mode
