The Long Road Ahead
 

Hello all, I'm an 18Xer who just got home on Christmas Exodus from Benning. I found this site through Google and have been amazed at the wealth of knowledge it holds for guys like me. I will be coming here often to find answers to my questions as I train for SFAS in March.

I am currently with Alpha Company, 1/329th INF at Benning. My platoon started with over 40 18xers and we've already lost 15 recruits who've decided they can't make it. Of the 25 of us who are left, 7 are putting in OCS packets and probably 4 or five will take that option if they get it. It's been quite an experience here at Basic, but after doing it, believe the rigors of Basic, AIT, and Airborne back-to-back are getting me mentally and physically in the kind of shape I must be in to complete SFAS.

One question I had concerns getting assigned to an SF group after SFAS (the possibility of NOT being selected is the furthest thing from my mind. . . Cast or Tab!). I lived for a few years in South Korea and along the North Korean in China and speak Korean fluently. I wondered if that plays any role in selection itself for the Q course, or if after being selected, I am predisposed to be with the 1st Group. I want to work with the 1st Group more than anything as most of my college education was focused on East Asian history, languages, and security studies. Since I already will test out of that language, will I skip that portion of training altogether or would I get the option of learning a new language?

Basic, AIT and Airborne are nothing at all like SFAS. They do very little to prepare you, hence the need for SOPC.

IF you are selected for the SFQC and you test out in Korean, you would be highly likely to be assigned to 1st Group, if all other factors, MOS, unit requirements, etc. are equal.

It is possible with the new SFQC layout, that you could be selected to learn another language, though with proficiency in a hard language like Korean, I would not bet on it.

Now why have you not read the rules here and complied with them?

TR

Geez, your dates match exactly with what mine were... I started Basic in Late September of 2004 and finished mid-December (15th). Airborne school started in late Jan after a stint at Airborne Holdover, SOPC early March, SFAS April, SOPC II in May, PLDC mid-June, and Phase II August...

If you take a straight shot through the Q-Course you've got a good setup weather-wise. April is an EXCELLENT time to go through Selection. GL and have fun at Airborne school.

It seems my use of the search engine was far too general last night before posting, but thank you for the quick reply. Our drill sergeant had given me an answer different from my recruiter, whose answer to that question was different from another recruiters. I was glad finally to get an answer I could bank on. The amount of misinformation floating around during Basic has worked a serious mindgame on many of the recruits in my platoon. I just blocked most of the speculation out of my mind and waited until a knowledgeable source could be found. I'll be sure to use the search engine more in the future.

SFDukie

SFDukie;

TR appears to have been in a good mood last night. He gave you a hint and I would comply with my third post if I was you.

Then again it is Sunday and maybe he is still in a good mood. Naaaa.

You need to do as I advised, or your time on this site is coming to a close, young Jedi. Bad SA, and that is something critical for any SF soldier.

On second thought, you need to start over again with a user name which does not include SF until you actually are SF.

If you cannot follow instructions after I answered your question, you do not need to be posting here.

Adios.

TR

A Grand idea....

I don't think you planned on making it. "Dookie" is not a very positive user name.