Thanks so much!
Thank you very much for your very detailed reply.
It is much appreciated. From what you said, 18A doesn't really sound like the MOS I'm looking for. 18B more likely. Thank you again, Nick |
If you won't join unless it is as an officer, then forget 18B (or anything other than 18A as far as SF is concerned). Take TR's recommendations and do your time as a platoon leader and company commander, then come to SF to be an 18A.
If you get over the "I only want to be an officer" thing then you will likely do better. I started as a private E-1, became a 18B weapons sergeant, did that for 7 years, then entered a commissioning program and I did my time in the not-so-special forces as platoon leader, XO, etc. THE BEST OFFICERS WERE ENLISTED AND NCO's FIRST!!! If you have an attitude to the effect that you are too good to be anything but an officer then your first platoon sergeant is going to hand you your ass on a silver platter, and an attitude like that is likely to keep you out of SF. Keep in mind that SF is primarily an NCO organization and has little room for arrogant officers. My suggestion - join up as a private (yes, a private) and earn your stripes. You may or may not go SF as an NCO, but you will at least learn how it is to be one of the troops. After a few years, go to OCS or some other commissioning program. You will make a much better Lieutenant if you have spent some time as a private, specialist/corporal, and sergeant. Once you make Captain you can consider becoming a SF Officer. |
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All commissioning sources commission good and bad Officers. I have seen my fair share of poor Mustangs and of excellent Mustangs. Colonel Rowe was never enlisted. |
For your benefit, I'll go line-by-line in your temper-tantrum post (yeah, that's basically what it was; admit it, start listening instead of pouting and ranting, and learn) to show you how at least one guy who's already done some of what you want to do.
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Words of wisdom from several SF Officers who were kind enough to post very professional replies. Learn from their great advice.
BTW, the average age of my last Team was 34. |
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In my opinion (again) those officers that look down at enlisted soldiers based on their exalted rank have no business being officers. |
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Just my observation. Jack Moroney |
Snipe,
If you have any future questions about the process you would take to become an SF officer you can PM me and we can discuss it there. The process of course up until where I am currently at now. Background on me. I was not prior service enlisted (although I have SF NCO's in my family that I could always turn to for input.) I entered college with the intent of becoming an Army Officer. I was commissioned as an Infantry LT and attended the schools that an infantry LT would need to attend. I did my platoon leader time in the 82nd Airborne and submitted my application to be selected for a chance to become a SF officer. I have recently finished Phase 1 Special Forces Assessment and Selection and was selected to continue my training. I am currently heading to Benning for the Captains Career Course and then return to start the Special Forces Qualification Course. ***Disclaimer*** I am not a Special Forces qualified 18A. I am merely in the process of achieving that goal. I can give you input on the steps you need to take to get to the same point that I am at now. I do not have the experience or the knowledge of the QP's on this board in the matters of SF. So please keep your questions related to the path you need to follow to get where I am at now. That is if you are even still lurking in these parts after such a long time! |
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Snip3r was banned over a year ago, so I doubt it. Note the "Banned User" title under his name. The high-school kid is a known wannabe and poser on several boards, BTW, and has been booted here with at least two different user IDs, usually within his first few posts. He has previously requested info on sniping, probably not a topic most HS kids should be collecting info on, nor are we going to provide him. He is a long way from becoming an 18A, and has some seriously mistaken ideas about what SF is and does. TR |
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To the future 18As: Learn and absorb from IC3 or whatever Captains Career Course you attend. Mounted infantry company tactics...you'll probably see it again....dismounted infantry company tactics...you'll probably see it again. Those courses which you might choose to (or have already chosen to) blow off as "insignifcant" such as IPB or MDMP...I'd be willing to bet a beer or two that you will see it again. That 'boring' lecture on fire support... "Logistics? Who needs to pay attention in that class by the loggie guy...I could be PTing" Keep thinking that... If you search through some of these threads, you will find some references to the pre-Branch days, when an SF officer served as a INF BN staff officer...probably a good reason. Think you only need to pay attention to the Company level planning? What is the role of an 18D besides giving you a bandaid ? What is the role of an 18C besides making things go boom? The second piece of advice I would offer is this. Special Forces means special training in a special form of warfare...not special privilages. Everyone in the military receives special training, how many 18As know how to manually calculate a gunnery firing solutions? How many 18As know how to pilot a helicopter? How many 18As know how many 463-L pallets can be loaded in a C-130? Lastly, sell SF. How can we help the other branches / services to do their job better, easier, faster, simpler? How can we (SF) support them? We may be the "tip of the spear" but without the rest of the spear... Just like D.I.M.E, Military is only one part of the whole. V/R, |
I have read a lot on this site about the SF pipeline for enlisted guys going through the 18x program. I am currently in some ROTC classes and interested in the Army after graduation. I mentioned that SF was my goal to the NCO teaching my class. He recommended the officer corp to a guy with my educational background and thinks I would do quite well in it. He said if SF is my goal I can go for 18A. My question is what is the recommended pipeline for a guy in my situation if 18A is my goal? After getting a commission as an Infantry officer, on average how long is it before you are considered branch qualified and able to attend SFAS?
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"Where you going with the gun in your hand?" - Hendrix...couldn't resist. With your educational background...hope you got a couple of scholarships. 18A is the only option for SF officers. Recommended pipeline is to get you a combat arms branch, but not just combat arms, maneuver...ideally, Infantry. Second choice would be Armor...with Combat Engineer third (their secondary mission is Infantry). Would recommend two years Platoon Leader time minimum. Will give you enough time to understand the basics of the Army before jumping into SF. Key will be staying in touch with the SF Branch Future Readiness Officer (the SF Officer Recruiter), to ensure you submit your SFAS packet as soon as your year group is eligible. Year groups are filling up quickly and he who hesitates is lost...but that's the job of an LT. ;) Best of Luck, JM Oh, and fill out your profile... |
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