I was received a regular Army commission through ROTC in 1965 from the University of Maine.

You have to understand that I did not fit the mold of the typical officer as I considered myself to be a soldier who just happened to be an officer. Officers have several significant roles, but none more significant than using the power of their position to enable their subordinates (and I mean that in rank only) to succeed. That means that your job is to accomplish the mission (which you do not do on your own but by the effort of all the soldiers you focus on the tasks required) and take care of your troops (which means that you provide them with the leadership, training, resources,etc. required to successfully perform those tasks and well as stand for them, with them, and always in front of them).

In order to do the oversimplified explanation provided in the paragraph above you have to be totally committed to the goals and missions/functions for which SF stands. It will task you to go beyond whatever physical and mental limits you think were possible understanding that you are going to pay a price physiologically and personally in the years after you leave the service. This profession is not for the faint of heart or one weak in personal/professional discipline to always to the right thing vice things right. It will require you to professionally develop skill sets that are both general and specific in nature to any of those expected of a solider, an officer and most importantly a leader. It will also require you to develop many unique skill sets specific to being both a special forces soldier and a special forces officer.

Unlike many jobs, this is a profession that requires commitment and unlike all the guidance you hear being given to young folks like yourself today this is not something you can just do if you put your mind to it. Some folks are just not cut out to be a special forces soldier and willing yourself to be one will not make it so. I do not really know you or much about you, but if you have the ability to go to college and the means to do so I would listen to your parents. Education is a good start for any profession and the additional years you will gain in maturing and understanding just who you are can never hurt you and may well point you in the direction that is best for you. The broader your background, capabilities and potential the better off you will be because when life hands you a bad break or two you have the ability to adapt and move on.

Gentlemen:

I would like to thank everyone for the responses that they provided. I think I have gathered all the needed information. Thanks for taking the time to help me out. I will now resume reading, learning and not posting.

-Andrew Hunter

Good luck. Come back and let us know how you did.

Alright Gentlemen, I just got back the results from my research paper and the oral report (based on the research paper). For the research paper I got 190 out of the possible 200 points. The oral presentation was given in front a panel of 3 people and I talked for roughly 15 minutes and recieved 60 out of 60 possible points. Thanks again for helping me out, I appreciate the information that was given to me. Back to read-only mode.

Did you have the highest grade in the class?

What did they ding us 10 points on? WHAT DID YOU DO?

The missing 10 points was the result of a couple of typos I made (I waited until the last minute so I was finishing up around 3am:boohoo ). But I did get the highest grade in the class.:lifter

Well, since we got the highest grade I won't relegate you to "read only" status for the next year. But typos? On a computer? The time is no excuse. If you ever come into our house you will be required to many tasks at 03:00 after being up two or three days.

I want to know how we are going to get our 10 points back.

Tell you what, I'll bust my ass in the half-marathon this weekend and I'll try and break 1:20. Will that suffice? (If its any comfort, I'll be hobbling around for the next week)

Is that fast? Seems kind of slow to me. How much weight in the ruck?
We'll put it to a vote.

I'll vote Si.

It's sub-6:10 pace (I know that sounds slow but to put it in perspective I usually do my 12 miler training runs at 6:25 pace so it will be significantly faster than my training runs). Sub-1:20 is probably fast enough to get me in the top 3 for my age division. Even if the race doesn't kill me, the following week will, I'm looking at doing +65 miles next week.

Ok, accepted.

You know, Doc, you really do have a way with people.

Well done, hermano.

TR

Bedside manner, in spades!;)

Hermano, are you getting more amenable to compromise in your old age? Oh, the horror, Brother Medic, the horror..... You should have offered him a full SF/Flight physical - administered by you. :D

You know, I always wondered if you guys enjoyed doing that to other men, and I guess you just answered that.

Were you the kind of 18D who always volunteered when they asked for medics to go to the TMC on Physical exam day?

Man, I am really worried about you.

TR