My SFAS Failure

[Synsei]

I'm glad that I was able to contribute by sharing my experience. The process of writing and sharing it with you guys was actually mutually beneficial. It forced me to be honest with myself.

On a side note, I hit my 25m target this afternoon by enlisting in the TXNG. I chose to reclass to 11B as its the logical choice in terms of acquiring more skill sets for the path I've chosen. Plus, how many people can say that they're the King AND Queen of Battle?- I also have an artillery MOS.

New 25m target: Passing SFAD at 19th Group.

[funnyman]

Originally Posted by Synsei

I'm glad that I was able to contribute by sharing my experience. The process of writing and sharing it with you guys was actually mutually beneficial. It forced me to be honest with myself.

On a side note, I hit my 25m target this afternoon by enlisting in the TXNG. I chose to reclass to 11B as its the logical choice in terms of acquiring more skill sets for the path I've chosen. Plus, how many people can say that they're the King AND Queen of Battle?- I also have an artillery MOS.

New 25m target: Passing SFAD at 19th Group.

If I read the thread correctly, you're 38 years old now? Do the NG groups have no age limit for entering the pipeline? Best of luck to you!

[Scimitar]

IIRC you have to have enlisted before your 35th and can DEP no longer than a year. So basically hit Basic before 36 yo

But the OP has existing TIS that can be added to that ceiling. Hence his ability to REenlist at a greater age.

S

[funnyman]

Originally Posted by Scimitar

IIRC you have to have enlisted before your 35th and can DEP no longer than a year. So basically hit Basic before 36 yo

But the OP has existing TIS that can be added to that ceiling. Hence his ability to REenlist at a greater age.

S

I had 14 years TIS before I ETS'd. So that means I can be 14 + 36 = 50 years old and still reenlist and hit the pipeline? Interesting..
Doing Crossfit for the last 9 months has gotten me in great shape.
Plus, with all the extra courses I've been taking (VTAC, ECQC, etc), I'm a better tactical shooter than ever. Maybe third time is a charm.

Just kidding guys, I know I'm too old. I'll just stick around in case a war starts here.

[HardRoad]

My senior weapons sergeant from a few years ago, now a team sergeant, went through selection at 42 and the Q course at 43, and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The Guard really is a little bit different animal.

I'll admit I probably couldn't have done it, and you're more likely to find yourself sidelined by an injury than a younger man, but it's not impossible.

[Synsei]

Originally Posted by Scimitar

IIRC you have to have enlisted before your 35th and can DEP no longer than a year. So basically hit Basic before 36 yo

But the OP has existing TIS that can be added to that ceiling. Hence his ability to REenlist at a greater age.

S

Correct.

In terms of my age (38), I've made it a point to not think about it. Ever. All I think about is training hard, training smart, eating clean, getting selected, and what it'd feel like to have my wife and daughters attend my graduation from the Q. Outside of that, nothing else matters.

[Hacksaw]

Interesting read. I used a much simpler process going through selection, one foot in front of the other. I never put too much thought into it and I believe it worked for me. My foot and wrist were broken day one of team week in 1990, I think if I had concentrated on the bigger picture I would not have ever finished that shitshow.
Good luck in selection, a guy in my class was 46 and made it, however, I was in the first easy class....we were the first to have a chow hall.

[spottedmedic111]

Terrific account, thanks for sharing. Using good judgement under stress is hard but necessary, i.e. letting someone else dictate your pace. Unfortunately, I showed up with shin splints that didn't clear up until team week. But, like others have said, focusing on how you can support your teammates helps take your attention off your own misery.

[The Reaper]

I was corresponding with a Marine officer who was preparing to attend SFAS. This was back when SFAS was more than three weeks long, and had full-up team week.

Three days before he reported for selection, he did a water survival practice swim, and then rucked twelve miles in combat boots. The same boots and socks that he had swum in, without drying them.

He sent me pics, most of the skin on the soles of his feet were blistered and falling off. There was more damaged skin than intact.

I told him that there was no way he should attempt SFAS with his feet in that condition. He told me that he had burned his bridges with the Marine Corps by applying for SFAS and agreeing to branch transfer should he be selected. There was no looking back, the Rubicon had been crossed.

I saw him a couple of times during SFAS, limping badly, and I figured he was a goner.

Come my usual visit on Board and Selection day, I asked a cadre if he was still there. He pulled up a roster and shouted for the roster number.

This kid came shuffling over, and I was shocked. I asked to see his feet to verify it was the same guy. His feet actually looked a little better than they had when he started the course, but they were still largely hamburger. Obviously, this Marine REALLY wanted to be SF.

He went off to do some task, and I asked the cadre if he was selected, and he smiled and said, "Roger that."

His teammates from Team Week said that he had the heart of a lion. I cannot conceive of the amount of pain this Marine officer endured during those three weeks. There isn't a lot of time in SFAS off your feet.


I guess there are a few lessons from this long story.

1. Don't ruck in wet socks and boots.

2. If you start feeling a hot spot, stop and treat it.

3. Burning all of your bridges behind you can be a powerful motivator.

4. People who tell you not to go may, or may not know what you are capable of.

5. Never quit or assess yourself out of the program. While a small percentage of people who do poorly are actually selected, we have a 100% non-select rate for Voluntary Withdrawals.

6. What is in your heart and mind is vastly more important to your success than your physical condition. I am not saying that you don't need to be fit and able to execute the tasks given you, but all of the physical fitness in the world is useless if you are not completely dedicated to the cause and are worrying about other matters. Physically strong people without dedication fail at a much higher rate than those physically lesser men who refuse to quit. And when it is just a couple of you left on that mountaintop, and you are stacking magazines, straightening grenade pins, and counting targets, who do you really want standing there with you? I'll take that Marine officer over the biggest PT stud I know.

TR

[WarriorDiplomat]

I second that amen TR

[Mike792]

TR That was an excellent post. Thanks for sharing.

[Joker]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

...however, I was in the first easy class....we were the first to have a chow hall.

Ha! We had a "chow hall" too when I went through in '82. You filed by, got your C-rat, and at it at the pic-a-nic table in whatever weather was around at the time. Also they (very reluctantly I may add) cattle-cared us back to the COSCOM area for Thanksgiving breakfast, lunch, and diner then back to MacKall for our regularly scheduled smoke break (and still extremely pissed-off cadre I may add).

[Last hard class]

Originally Posted by Joker

Ha! We had a "chow hall" too when I went through in '82. You filed by, got your C-rat, and at it at the pic-a-nic table in whatever weather was around at the time. Also they (very reluctantly I may add) cattle-cared us back to the COSCOM area for Thanksgiving breakfast, lunch, and diner then back to MacKall for our regularly scheduled smoke break (and still extremely pissed-off cadre I may add).

Don't worry. They fixed that. I was there for Thanksgiving the following year. Everyone got the turkey loaf C-Rat.

LHC

[Hacksaw]

Probably a dick answer but it really depends on how bad you want to be an SF guy. I didn't have a broken back or cracked skull, bones heal, blood clots, the human body is tough. Shit, I cut my own cast off so I could sign into the weapons course on my time line, foots fine, wrist is ok, at 47 I still patrol with ODA's and the infantry (although, everything hurts like a bitch). I'm not alone, far from it, lots of guys go through tremendous pain to have the privilege to be on an ODA and perform that mission. The tab says Special Forces, not Regular Forces, there is a price to pay to be in this club, the price some have paid has been permanent injury and no tab, that's life.

[x SF med]

I think it still should be as quiet as when LHC, TS, TR and a few others went through.... Here's the packing list, here's your report date, be on time in the right uniform and you'll find out everything else when you do it. Can't anticipate what you don't know.

And then get Bob Howard greeting you at CMK, ready to ruck.