Sir,
I don't see it as a shortcut, the time lengths from commissioning to getting a chance at SFAS are similiar to an AD officer. The rumor we heard was the 2LT would be doing a one year deployment as a PL with a Regular Infantry NG Unit and this is only after successfully completing IOBC/Ranger. The timeline would look similiar to this:
IOBC - 3 Months
ABN/Ranger - 2.5 Months
Trainup with Deploying IN NG Unit - 3-6 Months
Deployment - One Year
Promotion to 1LT near end of deployment
Sent to SFAS after APPROX 2.5 Years in Service.
The AD Route according to
https://www.perscomonline.army.mil/opsf/FRONotes.htm
Shows that a YG2001 Officer could attend SFAS at the earliest SEP04, which means at the MOST they only have 4-6 months more TIS than a NGLT following the route I outlined. Although I guess it can be argued that those extra months give an officer more time to develop as a Company level XO, etc.
Also, the NGLT route i'm defining is all contigent on successfully completing the overseas deployment(i.e. not screwing the pooch, getting people unneccessarily killed/wounded, doing something dumb), getting through Ranger school, etc.
And then, of course, even IF selected, the regular Officer SF pipeline is in effect, have to attend ICCC, SFQC, etc. It would be 5 years TIS minimum before getting an opportunity to command an ODA and i'm sure in that time if the NG officer was found lacking, the tough standards of SF would weed him out.
Respectfully,
James