Advice, guidance and clarification on pursuing a SF career path.

Jlangenbach · 08-07-2014, 02:28

Alright I've read all 3 of the Stickys that were posted at the top of the forum and am ready to ask my question and start my thread, I'd first like to thank you all for reviewing my thread. I've recently tried browsing multiple military related sites, and unfortunately even tried asking questions that I should have asked here on yahoo answers. I haven't really been able to find the answer to my question, there was a similar question that is related to my question, but it seems that the asker was trolling more then asking. I am a 20 old male interested in pursuing a career in the Army particularly in Special Forces, I'm almost finished with my BA in Political Science which seems like it has taken for ever. I have managed to get short answers from certain people I've come into contact with a former Special Forces operator who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment I'll hold off on his name because I'm not sure if we are aloud to drop names due to website rules who told me it will help having a conventional war background. I also read a post on another website by a gentleman who's userid was Kojak and he said that serving in the 75th regiment if you're planning on pursuing a SF career was hazardous which leads me to my question, Is it better to build your way up into SF like serving in a conventional unit, go to ranger school to get tabbed then try and move to the SFAS, or is it better and more beneficial to go the 18x route assuming you don't drop out before SFAS. Also are there a lot of former Ranger who eventually transition to SF, the reason I ask is because I've heard unconfirmed information that it's hard to move from the Regiment to SF, I've heard that they'll threaten to remove you from the Regt, or that your transfer paperwork may get lost, if someone could clarify this for me that would be great. Also how do you feel about the 18x option? And my final question is what is your opinion on enlisting with a option 40 contract assuming you can get one from a recruiter and serving in the Regiment as some what of a stepping stone, and I say that with the utmost respect. I apologize for the lengthy question I wanted to leave little room for misunderstandings and I appreciate your time!

Respectfully,

Joey

wishbone · 08-07-2014, 05:10

I'm curious if you even once typed any of your questions into the search bar? There are multiple threads about QP views on the 18X program from every perspective, along with guidance, hints, tips, etc. Additionally there are people who are joining, have joined the program, people who failed, and people who have succeeded, all of whom write about every facet they've experienced.

Maybe I misunderstood, but did you say that being in Ranger BN is hazardous? I think you've wandered onto the wrong site by mistake, because we don't exactly sit around knitting sweaters during the work week or deployed, but with that comment you won't be well received on a Ranger Site either. After only a week here maybe you should have done some more searches instead of starting a thread about this topic.

Based on your poor typing, typos, situational awareness, whatever the thing about Ranger BN being hazardous was, I'm pretty sure you should look at other options besides SF, or anything having to do with special operations.

k-rub · 08-07-2014, 08:27

I'm glad you read all three stickies at the top of this forum. Read the rest of the stickies in the other sub-forums. You will probably get a feel for what SF does.

Reread and edit your messages before posting them. It was difficult to read your post because of the lack of flow and proper grammar.

If you want to be in the Army and eventually SF, join as a 11B, spend some time in the regular Army, and then try out for SF.

It is way too early in the game to start worrying about the logistics of transferring from Ranger Batt to Group. Focus on the 25m goal.

WarriorDiplomat · 08-07-2014, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by wishbone

I'm curious if you even once typed any of your questions into the search bar? There are multiple threads about QP views on the 18X program from every perspective, along with guidance, hints, tips, etc. Additionally there are people who are joining, have joined the program, people who failed, and people who have succeeded, all of whom write about every facet they've experienced.

Maybe I misunderstood, but did you say that being in Ranger BN is hazardous? I think you've wandered onto the wrong site by mistake, because we don't exactly sit around knitting sweaters during the work week or deployed, but with that comment you won't be well received on a Ranger Site either. After only a week here maybe you should have done some more searches instead of starting a thread about this topic.

Based on your poor typing, typos, situational awareness, whatever the thing about Ranger BN being hazardous was, I'm pretty sure you should look at other options besides SF, or anything having to do with special operations.

This is a prime example of our education system being a failure. Colleges do not teach for the sake of intellectual curiosity and the advancement of mankind today they are a business that hands out degrees to obviously unqualified people to feed corporations with somewhat trained people.

Damn kid you are 20 and almost finished with your BA and you think it has felt like forever?!?!?!?!?

blue02hd · 08-07-2014, 15:54

WTF are they teaching in college today? Did you ever once have a research class?

My advice? Save yourself a tremendous amount of time, both yours and SWC's, and join an organization where critical thinking and self motivation are not required.

What school did you go to?

**The Reaper** · 08-07-2014, 18:03

Search and read.

Pay particular attention to "A Message to Garcia."

THAT is what we are looking for.

Best of luck.

TR

Jlangenbach · 08-07-2014, 23:03

I do apologize about my post, I guess I was a little excited at first wanting to ask all the questions that were running through my head at the time which lead to the gibberish of mine above. Also not to mention the thread I started was typed on my phone which may explain my grammer related problems. However, that is no excuse for me. The reason I started this thread was because I wanted to ask your opinion on a claim that was made by a man who claimed to be Special Forces on articles not related to this website. The claims that were said where along the lines that it is uncommen for soldiers who are serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment to attend SFAS and attempt to join Special Forces, and the next claim was when enlisting with a 11b option 40 contract and serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment would be a longer path than enlisting with an option 4 contract, he also went on to say he served with Charles Beckwith and recruited for CAG, however I'm unsure if that piece of information is relevent. And to also clarify, when I meant hazardous I didn't mean it physically hazardous I meant politically hazardous, if that is how it was interpreted im sorry, the claim that the gentlman made was that serving in the Regiment was hazardous to the person who's goal is Special Forces due unconfirmed "rumors". I do apologize I should have Researched more before I started a thread, it won't happen again I was excited and skimmed through certain threads. My question was misunderstood and worded incorrectly. Also Please don't let this ignorant post of mine already paint a picture of who I am.