Why go SF?

[Irishsquid]

I used to want to join because my dad was one. Somehow, I got talked into joining the Navy instead...over the last 4 years, I'd like to think I've grown a bit, and I know for a fact I've experienced a bit. I guess my main reason now is that I've worked a bit with some SF types, and they were by far the most professional and mature soldiers I've ever seen. They also had a sort of "brotherhood" I've never experienced anywhere else in the military. I was honored to work with them, even if only briefly, and I can't wait to go back.

[VAKEMP]

I am currently finishing up my paperwork to go "Blue to Green", 18X. If all goes well, I will be in the Army in a couple of months.

My reason for wanting to go SF is much the same as many others have already posted. I want to be surrounded by the best.

[ArandTallwite]

I want to be sf because I was told I wouldn't make it through selection. Not the best reason to want to do something, but now I want to finish the Q course because the instructors are just amazing. It's like a second family. I assume it will only get better once we get to a team. So that's my reason now.

[relentless]

My reason for wanting the tab: back in high school I was on a relay team with three other guys. Every time we competed, we knew why we were there, and what we wanted to do. we understood each other without having to speak. we didn't want to win, we wanted to break the record. we knew what each other was thinking without even saying a word. We would look at the competition and they would look at us. they knew we were business. Just like regular army units look at anyone who dawns the tab....My high school days are are over, and I need something to fill the longing, the wanting to be on a team like that again. we were three one hundredths off a state record. I need to give something my ALL again. I need to give my teammates all I have and then some.

[alright4u]

Im the early 60's SF was doing the work in SE Asia and had been for some time.

In 62 or 63 I read a national geographic mag about the montagnard uprising and the SF men who put it down. My father was an officer who warned me that SF was a dead end career for officers at the time.

The sad thing was we could go through OCS after basic and AIT, then to airborne and to the SFOC without knowing jack about about a US Infantry Division or what the division HHC was. I am not joking,

I went through the SFOC in 67 and was in in country in June 68, I volunteered for C&C and ended up at C5 then Omega and CCS. I was around the sharpest NCO;s this country has, and; that is what you get in SF. What you do not get in SF is the PVT and the leg infantry NCO who has spent years on Army pistol or rifle teams away from troops.

After the IOAC, I saw the leg infantry types in 73-74 for the first time in my life.
That was the 2nd ID in Korea. What a downer. My conclusion is I would have fared better having a tour with an airborne unit like the 82nd or the old 101st or the 173rd first before going to SF. Things change but; you get used to the best NCO's in the Army in SF, and ; you will not find them in leg units. All SF NCO's I served with could have easily gone through OCS. You will not find that outside of SF.

My advice is be the best Infantry man first, then go to SF. Commanding a company of yards with SF NCO's as platoon leaders is easier then a leg US rifle company. Learning how to deal with the ticket punchers and those LT's playing politics with the BN CO is better learned outside of SF as no one did that crap in SF. Please stay away from any officer looking for silver stars. He will get men killed.

You will never forget your SF friends, You will have a hard time recalling the pros in a leg unit.

That is just my two cents.

[SF_BHT]

Originally Posted by relentless

My reason for wanting the tab: back in high school I was on a relay team with three other guys. Every time we competed, we knew why we were there, and what we wanted to do. we understood each other without having to speak. we didn't want to win, we wanted to break the record. we knew what each other was thinking without even saying a word. We would look at the competition and they would look at us. they knew we were business. Just like regular army units look at anyone who dawns the tab....My high school days are are over, and I need something to fill the longing, the wanting to be on a team like that again. we were three one hundredths off a state record. I need to give something my ALL again. I need to give my teammates all I have and then some.

Well in SF you have to think, sometimes you will be alone and other times you will be with your team mates.

Your first test was a Failure.. Do not post again until you read your welcome e-mail and Post your intro as directed. Following instructions is a very important part of life and SF. Read, Search and Read more and follow instructions.

[RT AXE 10]

[QUOTE=SF_BHT;230815]Well in SF you have to think, sometimes you will be alone and other times you will be with your team mates.


Just to support the above statement: In SF you're a force multiplier, meaning, as an individual and or team member you must be a highly profficient soldier, able to teach, develop, create, and advise a Platoon, Company, Battalion, up to and possibly a Division. Now what type of a soldier is needed to do this task? What knowledge and skills should you posses? Can you work alone?, closely with a team?, In an area foreign to your likes?, Work under high pressure and in a hostile environment? Not see your family for extended periods of time?. Do all that it takes and still maintain your self and your team... As mentioned before, SF is not for those who cannot think on their own, adapt to tough situations, have no ingenuity and not a self starter...

Axe
If your short of everything except enemy, You're in combat...(Murphy's Law)

[Scimitar]

Why SF?

Number one reason...'Empty Boots' Fatigue...

This past 6 years I have been spending my 50+ hours per week in the business world.

My frustration with the Empty Boots syndrome that I would see around about me every day pushed me to start looking elsewhere for the real deal.

I found it in SF.

I have noticed something about the world around me. There seems to be four reasons why people undertake something.
1) Ego
2) Greed
3) Life Style - Seeking Comfort
4) Passion

For me, life really just comes down to one thing...winning.

I want to win. I want to be surrounded by lads who want to win. Every SF soldier I have met (and many conventional soldiers for that mater) has been mission focused, they want to win, and from my experience that is a rare quality.

Looking good is not more important then winning
Have status is not more important then winning
Being wealthy is not more important then winning
Being comfortable is not more important then winning

It seems to me that the majority of SF soldiers are all about passion, a passion for excellence, a passion to complete mission, a passion to win.

So yes, I took a shot at SF back in 06, An injury stopped me that time, but I just couldn't let SF go, tried giving it up…

…Twice…

Just couldn't shake it. So the knee's been given the go ahead and I'm taking another crack at it early next year. ARNG side of the house this time, (I'm told I'm too old to be running around with you young lads in the 18X program) .

Frankly, being able to bury my head in this website as well as many of the books out there has kept me motivated. Not to mention the odd help from the likes of TS, Cric, and Books, to mention a few. Thank you gentlemen for giving me the kick up the forth point or the odd encouragement where needed and thanks TS for the website, my wife calls it my girlfriend I'm on it enough.

In 25 weeks (and counting) I will be back on US soil and annoying the hell out of a certain Sgt Elliot. Actually I’m pretty sure I’m annoying the hell out of him already.

Special Forces - Take 2 - here's to being surrounded by 'full boots'

Scimitar

[hdgb]

Great thread and a bunch of great answers.
For me when i was in high scool the military appealed to me because my parents had no money for college and i was athletic but not scholarship material. I had seen the movie and read the book and i did the math.
Lets see if i deploy with an A team thats 1 in 12 , if i'm in the 82nd thats maybe 1 in 10,000. I reasoned if the commanders actually thought about the reason for deploying 12 just as hard as the 10,000.
Well i wanted to be 1 in 12. Any way that was my thought process and it worked out w/ hundreds of deployment with just me and my 11 other brothers. Once in i was hooked and only looked forward to more training oportunities, Ranger , recondo, JM, Scuba, Halo , Man the Q-course was only the beginning. I stayed for 24yrs and loved every minute of it. Becoming a TM sergeant was the culmination and the best days of my life.

[21BravoInDaSand]

For me it comes down to a few things which I cannot compromise; killing bad guys who want to kill us, helping people who need our help & overall excellence (training, teammates & mentality).

[BlackRob82]

After 6 years in the Army job satisfaction is at an all time low, the need for something new, challenging, and more fullfilling is at an all time high, I wouldn't say its been calling me and at first i wouldnt have given it a thought but throughout my time in the army something to do with SOF has always piqued my interest or caught my attention, the missions, the men involved in it, the mentality, the attitude, the confidence hell, even the little things like the cool guy gear, the mustaches, long hair and even the tab and neat beret has caught my eye and over time the call and desire for something more has grown, after 3 tours in Iraq and a long discussion with the wife and kid and looking at my options I have decided that now is the time to make that leap and go for it.
Time to start training

[Utah Bob]

Well it seemed to me, back in 67, that SF were the best trained and most professional. I was right.

[Richard]

Yep - bottom line...we go there because it is there!

Richard's $.02

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by Richard

Yep - bottom line...we go there because it is there!

Richard's $.02

Amen Richard,It is what it is.....................................

GB TFS

[Doctor Porkchop]

For me it is a matter of pride and service; I grew up in a small country in CA, one of my uncles got to work with a few QP's down there and he could not stop talking about their proficiency and professionalism(pretty sure there are a few of them on this site), that inspired him to never quit; years after that I moved to a large city on the east coast, had no money for college, so I joined the Army to get funds for my education, during my first year as PVT I realized that serving our country was one of the best decisions I'd ever made, so I started reading books, taking college classes, and studying my MOS soon after I found myself leading a squad of combat engineers, they made me proud, but wanted to serve, I'd attended SFAS a few years before but was not mature enough to understand the kind of commitment it takes; after returning from Iraq and being assigned to a training post I found the perfect time to prepare myself and family, and made it, right now I'm eager to learn and to be challenged, there is nothing else on my mind than to serve our country with the best and become the best.