View Full Version : Any "Old Guys" like me prepping for SFAS?
Gruntastic11
09-05-2017, 13:37
I know 30 ain't that old, but just curious if anyone around my age is prepping to do this.
I'm a prior service guy and my only regret was not doing this earlier on.
Right now, I'm just doing fitness prep for a WPS contract. I've gotten in the mode that I want to attempt to go through SFAS in a year or two before I lose my chance.
Granted, I'll have to be sent back through basic because of the gap between getting out and now.
I've got no aches and pains and still in pretty good health.
Side Note: I would love to hear the experiences of SFAS as an older gentleman going through with young guns.
Old Dog New Trick
09-05-2017, 14:11
You'll be called Grandpa so laugh with them. You will probably have wisdom and experience needed to gain the strength they may offer when needed most.
I was 25 at the time and can honestly say I was in better shape (physical and mentally) at 30-35 than I was before.
Age is only a mindset not a limitation. Good luck to you.
Gruntastic11
09-05-2017, 14:14
Much appreciated on the insight. I've gotten to the point where my family is saying that I'm not going to like it because of the stupidity of the newer generations.
I really have two options, either whine and cry about the whining and crying or do the right thing and be a mentor and set an example.
Warrior Healer
09-05-2017, 14:21
Hey Gruntastic,
I'm "old" for a candidate. I leave soon for basic with an 18D contract through 20th. I am also prior service.
I had to spend a lot of time under a ruck and working on PT in general compared to the younger guys. At our SFRE almost everyone was in the 24-28 year range, but of the two dozen or so who showed up, the two of us who got contracts were 29 and 33.
The QPs who have been there done that have listed a lot of good info on this site for "older" guys making an attempt. There may be more aches and pains after 30, but it's all about your will. Good luck!
WH
Gruntastic11
09-05-2017, 14:29
Warrior Healer, your age is roughly when I'll be trying. As I will be doing some WPS for those years, I'll have nothing but time to train.
Running has always been my strong suit and at 201 pounds, smoking a pack a day, I ran 5 miles in about 55 minutes. Not too shabby for a smoker(still working on that quitting portions. Day 2....)
Best of luck to you brother. Hopefully we'll hear you got selected and moving on!
I went to SFAS earlier this year. The oldest guy in our class was in his 40's. He was selected.
Good luck!
In the "for what it's worth" category - I was an SF baby. I was probably unprepared and too immature to really appreciate and comprehend all the training I underwent.
I'm with ODNT: In my 30's I was in much better long-term shape and much wiser to be able to handle the stresses of training. What little I lost in terms of being young and resilient I more than made up for in not being such a dumb-ass and being able to appreciate and understand the training I was undergoing.
I will also say, that it wasn't until about 40 or early 40's that I started to notice that I had a hard time smoking the young guys, and that there were some youngsters that I couldn't smoke anymore. However, I could still operate at a high level and had the privilege of running through an assessment course out in the desert of the southwest when I was 48 years old. I was the oldest uniformed guy out there. Did fine.
Age is a mental thing - if you're mental, it ain't a problem. ;)
Gruntastic11
09-06-2017, 10:18
All the info is much appreciated. I plan on ordering the "Get Selected" book as research on here points to it as a bible to assist in preparation with the course.
Thank you for the info, I will put it to good use and stay focused on that 5 and 25 meter target.
spottedmedic111
09-06-2017, 10:34
I was 27 and did fine. It's not like boxing where you have accumulated damage. That comes later!
Gruntastic11
09-06-2017, 10:45
I was 27 and did fine. It's not like boxing where you have accumulated damage. That comes later!
I like that analogy.
Did you decide to go at an older age or was it an epiphany one day that you had to do it?
spottedmedic111
09-06-2017, 11:48
I was prior service and the only option during the Clinton drawdown was for Special Forces, probably because 3rd Group was being built and the Army needed more applicants. Trained for 5 weeks, went to Benning for Airborne, then Bragg for selection.
CDRODA396
09-06-2017, 15:15
Running has always been my strong suit and at 201 pounds, smoking a pack a day, I ran 5 miles in about 55 minutes. Not too shabby for a smoker(still working on that quitting portions. Day 2....)
Not to be a dick, really, but that 5 mile time is horrible! The standard is 5 miles in under 40 minutes. I'm 54, been retired since 2005, and run 5 in 46+/- right now at 207 lbs and was always a middle of the pack runner. When I hit selection, also at 33, also having smoked since I was 14, with roughly 10 years of jumping with the 82nd on my knees, ran 5 in about 36:30, again, nothing blistering.
You are going to need to drastically improve that run time...55 minutes for 5 miles is 11 minute miles, that average won't pass the 5 mile run, or the PT Test 2 mile run, not sure what the current minimum for 33 is, but it was under 18 minutes last time I checked. You are closer to what I would say is how fast you should be able to walk a mile in under a heavy ruck, which is 15 min/miles.
You have time, but don't fool yourself into thinking that it'll come around by itself, it's going to take work, hard work.
Good Luck.
Gruntastic11
09-06-2017, 15:20
Roger that. I've been working on the run and picked up the SORB Thor 3 prep to work.
Selection is a 300m target right now. But, I want to give myself plenty of time to build up mentally and physically.
I'm a smoker as well and cutting the smoking back increments at a time and right now a pack lasts me about a week.
Question though, is the standard still measured by the 17-21 bracket? Or is that just the base line to be at for SFRE and SOPC?
Not to be a dick, really, but that 5 mile time is horrible! The standard is 5 miles in under 40 minutes. I'm 54, been retired since 2005, and run 5 in 46+/- right now at 207 lbs and was always a middle of the pack runner. When I hit selection, also at 33, also having smoked since I was 14, with roughly 10 years of jumping with the 82nd on my knees, ran 5 in about 36:30, again, nothing blistering.
You are going to need to drastically improve that run time...55 minutes for 5 miles is 11 minute miles, that average won't pass the 5 mile run, or the PT Test 2 mile run, not sure what the current minimum for 33 is, but it was under 18 minutes last time I checked. You are closer to what I would say is how fast you should be able to walk a mile in under a heavy ruck, which is 15 min/miles.
You have time, but don't fool yourself into thinking that it'll come around by itself, it's going to take work, hard work.
Good Luck.
Team Sergeant
09-07-2017, 08:40
I was an E-7 at 27 if I recall correctly, E-8 at 33 or 34. (I retired at 39) Starting at the bottom at age 35-40 has zero appeal to me. Special Forces has "old" guys, but 99.5% of them started young.
And I was an animal. 100+ pushups, 100+ sit-ups and could run a sub 5 minute mile when I joined Special Forces. Every PT test until I was 35 was 300+.
Active duty groups will send you packing the first time you cannot keep up with the A-Teams. Then again women are trying out, standards are being lowered to accommodate them, you might survive. And no, I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass and say it's a good idea.
Remember those kids on the playground that were picked last for dodgeball............ if you're over 30 and not an animal, that's going to be you.
Thirty five, forty years old and zero experience......... good luck.
TS
Gruntastic11
09-07-2017, 08:53
Thank you for the insight, Team Sergeant.
If I'm not an animal by that time, I won't waste anyone's time with something that ends up turning into a pipe dream.
I was an E-7 at 27 if I recall correctly, E-8 at 33 or 34. (I retired at 39) Starting at the bottom at age 35-40 has zero appeal to me. Special Forces has "old" guys, but 99.5% of them started young.
And I was an animal. 100+ pushups, 100+ sit-ups and could run a sub 5 minute mile when I joined Special Forces. Every PT test until I was 35 was 300+.
Active duty groups will send you packing the first time you cannot keep up with the A-Teams. Then again women are trying out, standards are being lowered to accommodate them, you might survive. And no, I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass and say it's a good idea.
Remember those kids on the playground that were picked last for dodgeball............ if you're over 30 and not an animal, that's going to be you.
Thirty five, forty years old and zero experience......... good luck.
TS
"And I was an animal. 100+ pushups, 100+ sit-ups and could run a sub 5 minute"
Pssshhhh....I did this......once.....(in my dreams).
The bars, run-dodge-and jump and the inverted crawl.
Miss those events.
Don't miss the 2 mile run in boots though.
Gruntastic11
09-07-2017, 14:15
I have ran a sub 5 minute mile when I was on Active Duty.
I almost died....but that's not the point...
Go Devil
09-07-2017, 16:21
There was a grandpa in my selection class. He was selected but was bounced from the Q because he chose to obstinately counter doctrine too often with the cadre.
He was AR Infantry in a LRRS platoon in AK.
Gruntastic11
09-07-2017, 16:26
There was a grandpa in my selection class. He was selected but was bounced from the Q because he chose to obstinately counter doctrine too often with the cadre.
He was AR Infantry in a LRRS platoon in AK.
I couldn't imagine to disregard doctrine. That's a no go....
The bars, run-dodge-and jump and the inverted crawl.
Miss those events.
Don't miss the 2 mile run in boots though.
Do people actually run in boots anymore. I thought that stopped in the 80s.
mojaveman
09-07-2017, 21:41
At 20 years of age Pre-Phase and the SFQC were pretty challenging but not impossible. I do remember a few older (over 30) guys and it seemed like they either excelled and did ok or washed out pretty quickly. At 55 if I tried any of that physical stuff again it would probably kill me.
Do people actually run in boots anymore.
No! Nowadays, the Bad Guys give you enough warning so that you can put on your running shoes before they shoot. ;)
Pat
Gruntastic11
09-08-2017, 13:07
PSM, that or they end up prematurely blow themselves up.
I wonder if the suicide bombers are just the dumb guys they convince it's for Allah, but in reality they just can't do anything else productive for the cause.
WarriorDiplomat
09-15-2017, 16:46
You'll be called Grandpa so laugh with them. You will probably have wisdom and experience needed to gain the strength they may offer when needed most.
I was 25 at the time and can honestly say I was in better shape (physical and mentally) at 30-35 than I was before.
Age is only a mindset not a limitation. Good luck to you.
I agree I was 31 when I went through
This age their are guys older than 30 going
Ret10Echo
09-15-2017, 17:19
PSM, that or they end up prematurely blow themselves up.
I wonder if the suicide bombers are just the dumb guys they convince it's for Allah, but in reality they just can't do anything else productive for the cause.
And to that I say....
This media may contain sensitive material. Your media settings are configured to warn you when media may be sensitive.
tom kelly
09-19-2017, 14:17
I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME BELIEVING WHY THE REGIMENT WOULD CONSIDER A CANDIDATE FOR A SPECIAL FORCES A TEAM THAT IS 35 TO 40 + A SMOKER AND CAN RUN 5MILES IN 55 MINUTES, EVEN IF YOU WERE ABLE TO GRADUATE THE Q COURSE (RARE EVENTS, COINCIDENCES, AND MIRACLES) DO OCCUR; BUT WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MARGINAL UTILIYY OF SERVICE TO THE MISSION?
GOOD LUCK & NEVER QUIT.
REGARDS, TOM KELLY
1stindoor
09-20-2017, 05:50
I went through in '89, well prior to the 18X program. Most of us in SFOT (predecessor of SFAS) were in our mid to late 20's-early 30's. Because 99% of us came from the regular Army and were already E5s and E6s...and a few E7s. Age is relative...being in optimal shape, being able to push yourself beyond your limits, and never quitting is what's going to carry you through the 21 days of selection. But rest assured, as others have already indicated, you are always being evaluated. When you can't carry your weight on an A team, you'll be shown the door.
WarriorDiplomat
09-22-2017, 08:08
No! Nowadays, the Bad Guys give you enough warning so that you can put on your running shoes before they shoot. ;)
Pat
LOL yeah the profane brutality and viciousness of war has been finally reigned in and finally the rules of armed conflict has been made to be more gentlemanly......its about time I can't wait for the refs to start enforcing rules for crying out loud this free for all everything goes crap has got to go....I already adapted because I never wanted to get caught off guard by those cheaters so I just put better insoles in my boots and stayed in shape