Been debating if I should start off with the Rangers to build some experience and good training before going to SFAS. I have heard mixed opinions, and good arguements for going either way. Looking for some more insight and views on hear. Thank's for your time!
18x vs. Option 40
- Thread starter That_Dude
- Start date
JWGen3
Unverified
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2018
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- 16
I once asked this question to a guy I know who served 10 years in 75th. First thing he told me: "Regiment isn't a damn stepping stone into SF. So get that shit outta your head." While a handful of guys do go from Ranger to SF, RASP on its own has a washout rate comparable to BUDS and SFAS. It's a prestigious SOF unit that very few make it into. My point in saying this is that you need to pick 18x or opt 40 and stay laser focused on that. If you view one simply as a stepping stone to the other, you're shooting yourself in the dick. That's the advice I was given. Good luck!
Based on your experience?
That's actually pretty solid advice. I wasn't seeing Rangers as a stepping stone by any means, but it does make sense. I guess how I was looking at the Rangers the best way to learn a lot on basic soldiering, SUT, rucking, etc. I had listened to a podcast from a guy that said being a Ranger first helped him tremendously through the Q course, and his prior experience helped him when he got to his first ODA. If my ultimate goal is SF though, then I should keep my focus there. I might have some extra learning to do, but it could be better being that learning things from scratch, compared to learning new ways to do things that were already instilled in me, is usually easier. Thank you for the input!
I get that. I know what I want to be, which is an SF soldier, but I want to take advantage of the advice of thise who have "been there, done that." I can see how it can clog thoughts, and creat doubts if someone relies heavily on other people's input though.
Plenty of 18X's off the street have done "okay" in the GWOT. The notion that the Q Course doesn't produce great soldiers without those soldiers possessing prior military experience is laughable.
You want to be SF, go SF. You want to be a Ranger, get an Opt. 40. You want experience prior to going SF, why take an Opt. 40 contract when you don't really want it? You want to learn how to be a soldier, there are plenty of infantry units in the Army.
You want to be SF, go SF. You want to be a Ranger, get an Opt. 40. You want experience prior to going SF, why take an Opt. 40 contract when you don't really want it? You want to learn how to be a soldier, there are plenty of infantry units in the Army.
Better unit, better training. Not saying other units don't train hard, or aren't good at what they do, but Ranger's are elite infantry and therefore I feel would give me better training. It isn't necessarily that I don't want to be a Ranger, rather I just want to take the route that will make me the best, and most well rounded, SF soldier that I can be- even if that means getting my feet wet elsewhere first. I think that an 18x contract is going to be my best route. I might be a few steps behind some, but they have the 18x program for a reason. I just need to make sure and learn everything I possibly can in the Q course, and learn from the guys who have been in the infantry or Rangers for some time.
You are going to be tagged as your username (NOT a good thing) as soon as you hit BCT, your attitude and your penchant for arguing everything will make sure of that. Hope you like needs of the Army, attitude is a killer in SFAS and the Q. Just sayin.
I don't want to step on the troll's toes here, but I'm pretty doesn't mean you specifically will be known for your username, just that you'll be "that dude".
"That dude" is a someone present in every military school, unit, etc. He/she is the person with the chip on their shoulder, who argues about everything without having the knowledge necessary, and acts like their shit doesn't stink. That dude is the kind of person people roll their eyes at when they start talking.
Knowing you come off as "that dude" makes it possible to adjust and not become one for real.
Got it! I firgot I changed my name to that, so i was confused- it makes sense now. Thank's for the clarity. I definitely know people at my command like that, and that is not the kind of "That Dude" I want to be. I probably need to reword how I say some thing's, especially when trying to explain something to the opposite of what another person may have stated, like I did about not wanting to be a Ranger. Again, being argumentative was not at all my intention and sorry for coming off that way. This post was to get opinion's and insight on something I have no experience with and my goal with it is to learn.
TDub
Unverified
Not that I've got a whole lot of say, when I was choosing between contracts and I took my time to think about it I ended up coming to the conclusion of. Why, if I want to end up SF, would I not give absolutely everything that I've got to acheiving that. They've got the option to do it, and people succeed. I had in my head I may be looked at in some sort of 18x guy off the street I don't belong here. I got over that by telling myself, if I belong somewhere and I give everything I've got to give and am selected, there is a reason I made it. Having come from anywhere, if you're not right for it, you won't fit.
I chose 18x because that's where I wanted to end up. That and I also realized that the Regiment isn't some stepping stone, and that going and working just with the mindset of "I can't wait to get out of here" milk them for all their techniques and bail on my guys. That wasn't for me. From what I've been told, you'll learn SUT, you'll learn your nav, you'll learn everything you need to learn. That's what the Q course is for anyway, learn it from the guys you'll be working with.
At the end of the day it's your decision, but when I said my 18x contract I haven't given it a second thought and I can't wait to begin the process, I'm sitting in meps right now waiting to ship to Benning tomorrow and get everything started.
Take your time and think about it. Your answer shouldn't be something you heard on a podcast, because what works for someone doesn't always work for someone else.
Good luck in your process.
I chose 18x because that's where I wanted to end up. That and I also realized that the Regiment isn't some stepping stone, and that going and working just with the mindset of "I can't wait to get out of here" milk them for all their techniques and bail on my guys. That wasn't for me. From what I've been told, you'll learn SUT, you'll learn your nav, you'll learn everything you need to learn. That's what the Q course is for anyway, learn it from the guys you'll be working with.
At the end of the day it's your decision, but when I said my 18x contract I haven't given it a second thought and I can't wait to begin the process, I'm sitting in meps right now waiting to ship to Benning tomorrow and get everything started.
Take your time and think about it. Your answer shouldn't be something you heard on a podcast, because what works for someone doesn't always work for someone else.
Good luck in your process.
Thank's for the input. I've decided on 18x for basically all of the reasons you put. I didn't even think about me leaving my guy's behind at the Ranger Regiment. That wouldn't have sat well with me. Like you said, the have 18X for a reason. I will give it my all, and try to learn everything I can to be successful. Good luck to you as well!
