75th -> Group
 

Hello all,

Currently a 2LT & getting ready to PCS from Benning. Recently completed Ranger School, and completed CDQC in 2018.

Was hoping to see if any 18As here had experience with doing PL time in the 75th prior to attending SFAS, and how the process went. Is there any way for RR to prevent you from going to SFAS?

Basically I've heard horror stories about dudes going to the 75th and then not being able to go to SFAS when the window opens up for their year group at the 1LT(P) mark. I'm sure the process rarely goes smoothly due to the rivalry between RR & Group, but was hoping that this would just be limited to ass-chewings.

Either way, thank you for your time.

Sir,

My only reply to your base question would be another question:

"What do you want to 'be' when you 'grow-up'?"

Point is, if you want to "Hunt the bad man" and "shoot him in the face", then DA Experience with the 75th is the way to go. You will be more than primed for entry into the upper levels of management and DA-type units that do that for a living.

If you want to "by-with-through" and work at the "we take over countries" level, then getting wrapped up with the 75th will likely hinder you more than it will help.

Both SF and DA-units have their places, but COMPLETELY different mindsets and best traits. Where the DA unit needs stuff / support RIGHT NOW, UW units need to be able to "by-with-through" at whatever pace and standard is available at the time.

No one can answer which path is right for you, but my recommendation is to pick one and stick with it. Crossing the streams will only lead to getting covered in thick goo....

Just the rambelings of an old team-daddy wait'n to retire.....

Thanks Bubba,

Honestly I 100% agree and understand what you are saying. That was always the plan, as Group is definitely the more preferred path in the end. However, once you get orders to somewhere like.... I dunno... Ft. Polk, other routes start sounding a whole lot more appealing.

It also seems that no other place sets you up for success better than the 75th does when it comes to junior Os. This is not to say that the 75th is or should be a 'stepping stone' to SF, however. It's just that the training and assets available at the 75th definitely surpass those of many other light infantry units.

Again, thank you for your advice.

You had me at "covered in thick goo"

Where are you headed currently, and is this PCS to your first duty station following the IBOLC/ABN/Ranger/blah-blah-blah circuit?

This has been done before, though not without some career peril.

You are not the first one to ask this question, and you have been given some sound advice. You may want to do some searching here.

Eventually, it is all about the timing. Officers get one shot at SFAS and if you are not selected, it is unlikely that you career will prosper.

Since SF is a Branch, and the 75th RR has no 18A slots, it is highly improbable that you would see Regiment again after your branch transfer.

Best of luck.

TR

Razor - heading to 3/10MTN at Ft. Polk. And yes, wrapping up with airborne and then PCSing in the near future.

Reaper - thank you. I will continue reading on here and look for more information about those who have done this.

LWTG, I would suggest focusing on being the absolute best PL you can be (a large part of that is learning how to work with/listen to your PSG and SLs, making decisions based on partial information, and balancing the well-being of your men against accomplishing your assigned missions). If you learn how to do that, it really doesn't matter to what unit you're assigned. In fact, not being in a well-funded, high-priority unit means you'll spend your first 4 or so years learning how to get the job done lacking many of the resources you need, and with soldiers that have widely varying degrees of motivation and ability--that sounds an awful lot like what an ODA team leader will have to do when working with a foreign partner unit.

Not to mention, with the extended time you guys now spend at Benning before getting to your first unit (I'm guessing you're Year Group 2019, and you've been at Benning for a year or more now), you'll barely have time to get your PL time in at Polk before your RASP window opens and you get a shot. Going 75th won't leave you much time to serve as a CO XO, or on BN staff, or as a specialty PL, meaning you'll have a good deal of PL experience, but lack some of the broadening experience that may be useful to you on an ODA.

I never served in the 75th, but I had several outstanding peers and friends that did and made great SF officers. At the same time, I know of other great SF officers that started out in Quartermaster, Military Intelligence, Signal, and other soft skill branches, so your previous units aren't nearly as important as your internal motivation and drive to excel.

To reiterate--right now, focus on getting to Polk and doing your best to be the PL your men deserve. If you suck as a PL now, you won't have to worry about trying out for the 75th down the road.

This ^^^ a 1000 times!

(Retired Team Sergeant)

Good luck with your choices. I’m sure it will work out for you.

Razor & OldDogNewTrick,

Thank you. Going to Ft. Polk and (hopefully) taking a platoon is definitely the main focus right now, and I am very much looking forward to the privilege. This post was merely meant to plan for the 50m+ targets as I still have, undoubtedly, a long way to go.

If you haven't seen it yet, you can download "The First 100 Days of Platoon Leadership", No. 18-24, from the Center for Army Lessons Learned website. It's a decent guide of things you should do/consider doing, and topics to coordinate with your PSG.

Razor,

Thank you. I have never heard of that before but I will be sure to read it.