Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenSalsa
We assign MAVNIs to SOF and rarely have NCOs that recognize, mentor, or mold them in the manner we need. From my experience, a lot of MAAVNIs do require more attention than the average recruit, but that said, they are adjusting to life in America which is significantly different from where they grew up. I am NOT suggesting two standards, but I am suggesting we do pay them a close look and manage them with an eye for the future.
Finally, success isn't necessarily a SFQC graduation. There are plenty of ARSOF units that can use them and if we are really smart, we just might want to keep some of these guys in non threatening MOSs.
I personally know of a MAVNI supply SGT who was used in a very sensitive mission where he was able to monitor three separate conversations while only admitting to speaking two dialects. VERY useful for several people conducting some fairly delicate talking in an awkward location and dismissed him because he was ONLY a supply SGT.
I think there is a lot of gold out there...
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That is an ideal deception. Nothing like hiding in plain sight, drawing the adversaries into complacency, and feeding into their preconceived notions.
You sound very familiar, I wonder if we've met at the Ardennes recruiting station during one of the ARSOF briefing. Not sure if there is a lot, but there are definitely some gold out there.
Having had plenty interaction with the MAVNI's, I've come across different perspectives from them:
- Hard charger, motivated ones who were deployed shortly after arriving in their unit, worked closely with SOF units downrange, were really impressed and won heart-soul-mind by those units. They then went to various selection upon returning from deployment
- Hard charger, motivated ones ready to use their linguistic/cultural skills down range, but get stuck in details weeks after weeks, months after months, and finally years without any NCO or O who "recognize, mentor, or mold them." They grew discouraged, and finally succumbed to complacency, waiting till that ETS date
- The opportunistic POS who came in with engineering, technology, medical degrees but couldn't work in the US due to lack of citizenship. Once citizenship is secured, they try everything to get out....including getting med boarded for shin splints!
- The grateful ones who never take their citizenship for granted, accept their lot, and continue to contribute to the security of the nation both in and out of the army
Met an epidemiologist CPT during EFMB who's just like that. He was a Falun Gong practitioner who was persecuted in China. He gave me a solid illustration of China's big progress in the big cities like clean, sparkling windows. The inside of the house itself is a mess. IF the army is smart, despite his main credential, his linguistic/cultural expertise should be put to "good use" by now.