Best path?

[slopmaster]

Hey everyone,

Right now, I'm kind of torn between 2 potential options. Simply put, the 1st option would be to try and get a SEAL Challenge Contract and then continue on with the rest of the process. The 2nd option would involve getting an 11X Option 40 Contract (or 18X).

Now, this maybe a stupid assumption but I feel as if I'd have a better shot at making it through BUD/S than I would say RASP or SFAS because of my competitive swimming background. However, if I were to wash out of BUD/S, I don't believe that I would have the same opportunities presented to me compared to if I were to wash out of one of the Army's SOF selection courses (assuming that I'd have high ASVAB/APFT scores). For example, I'd much rather be infantry in the big Army than I would a nuke or mechanic on a CVN in the Navy. Now, I get that whole mentality of "if you're already thinking about quitting you've already quit" but considering that I have no experience with the military and the fact that there have been some extremely motivated individuals that sometimes didn't make the cut for events that were out of their own control, I want to consider all of the possible scenarios before I enlist. Another benefit about joining the Army rather than the Navy is that I wouldn't need to get PRK which would avoid potential complications at MEPs. I'm kind of lost, I want to be a SEAL and I believe that BUD/S for me personally would be easier than RASP/SFAS (still extremely extremely hard I understand, harder than anything I've ever done) but I also feel as if the Army overall is the safer choice that will offer me with more opportunities. Thank you. I'd appreciate any input greatly.

Best Regards, SM

 

[slopmaster]

To clarify, when I said "easier", I meant "better chance of passing". Sorry for the poor choice of words.

 

[AWP]

To clarify, when I said "easier", I meant "better chance of passing". Sorry for the poor choice of words.

It is still a poor choice of words because you don't know what you don't know. You think your odds are better based upon your swimming abilities? A lot of dudes are "haze grey and underway" because they thought the same thing. Which leads me to....

..."you pays your money and you takes your chances." You have to roll the dice on this one and make the most of your decisions. We can't make those for you. Give you pros and cons, tell you what we'd do, but at the end of the day, it is all on you.

What's more important to you? Passing or failing? If the latter, what would you rather do? If the former, is that your preferred job? You go to MEPS, the doctor finds something and you can't go to BUD/S...now what?

Good luck.

 

[Red Flag 1]

T

 

[BloodStripe]

Why no mention of recon? It seems like you enjoy swimming but your back up plan is infantry. Recon bubbas get a lot of the same training as a SEAL. Yes, they don't have shinny badges or pretty berets, but they are well trained and tremendous battalion assets.

 

[slopmaster]

It is still a poor choice of words because you don't know what you don't know. You think your odds are better based upon your swimming abilities? A lot of dudes are "haze grey and underway" because they thought the same thing. Which leads me to....

..."you pays your money and you takes your chances." You have to roll the dice on this one and make the most of your decisions. We can't make those for you. Give you pros and cons, tell you what we'd do, but at the end of the day, it is all on you.

What's more important to you? Passing or failing? If the latter, what would you rather do? If the former, is that your preferred job? You go to MEPS, the doctor finds something and you can't go to BUD/S...now what?

Good luck.

Thank you for the response sir. I understand the point you're making entirely. This is my decision in the end and I alone have to figure out the best possible choice because it's on me, just like it will be in the military.

 

[slopmaster]

That sinks your nursing idea too.

If you want to enter a profession that you have a good chance of making it, stick with the BSN. Finish that up and you can enter any service as an officer, probably with a bonus too. Like @AWP points out, "you pays your money and you takes your chances".

Thank you for the response. My idea involved getting my BSN after the military. Working towards an associates degree is really just something to keep me busy while I physically prepare for a selection course. I also don't want to be an officer, I was on the path of getting an NROTC scholarship and am in the Naval Science class here at my university but I decided that being an officer isn't for me and that I'd rather be enlisted (which is part of the reason that I'm transferring because I can't afford college without an ROTC scholarship).

 

[slopmaster]

Why no mention of recon? It seems like you enjoy swimming but your back up plan is infantry. Recon bubbas get a lot of the same training as a SEAL. Yes, they don't have shinny badges or pretty berets, but they are well trained and tremendous battalion assets.

Thank you for the response. I have thought about Navy SARC as a backup. I'll definitely look more into Recon and the Marines. I have heard somewhere however, that Recon is underfunded and isn't the same as it was because of MARSOC coming along?

 

[BloodStripe]

I have no clue about funding for those units. What I do know is operating under a CRA for a decade will greatly diminish our militaries capabilities to fund themselves.

 

[amlove21]

I am in no way recruiting here cause I have no idea who you are or what your goals are- but have you looked at Pararescue or Combat Rescue Officer? Your skills/likes/background seem to align pretty well with our archtypical applicant.

 

[slopmaster]

I am in no way recruiting here cause I have no idea who you are or what your goals are- but have you looked at Pararescue or Combat Rescue Officer? Your skills/likes/background seem to align pretty well with our archtypical applicant.

Thank you for the response. Yes, the PJ's focus on medicine and the emphasis on training in the pool does appeal to me. However, with CSAR being the main focus makes the job less appealing to me personally. I feel as if my heart would need to be fully committed to the PJ mission for me to have a chance at passing selection because I believe its one of the hardest jobs out of all SOF groups.

 

[slopmaster]

I have a lot to think about... As of now, I'll just focus on getting into shape. The rest will come later.

 

[supercoz]

Former Navy here, if you wash out of BUD/s there's a really good chance you wouldn't even be offered nuke or something like that even with your ASVAB score. Most of the time it's straight to the fleet, undes seaman chipping paint and hating life. Dont know how Army does it but I believe you would end up infantry (not my area so I'll stay in my lane). But if been on the big grey floaty thingys and if you got SOF on your heart it's a bad place to be.

 

[CDG]

Former Navy here, if you wash out of BUD/s there's a really good chance you wouldn't even be offered nuke or something like that even with your ASVAB score. Most of the time it's straight to the fleet, undes seaman chipping paint and hating life. Dont know how Army does it but I believe you would end up infantry (not my area so I'll stay in my lane). But if been on the big grey floaty thingys and if you got SOF on your heart it's a bad place to be.

When were you in? Almost all of the guys I know that failed BUD/S were initially offered EOD or Diver. If they turned that down, they were offered a list of NECs that needed bodies. It was pretty rare for a guy to be forced into undesignated seaman, if it happened at all.

 

[supercoz]

When were you in? Almost all of the guys I know that failed BUD/S were initially offered EOD or Diver. If they turned that down, they were offered a list of NECs that needed bodies. It was pretty rare for a guy to be forced into undesignated seaman, if it happened at all.

2012-2016. I must have just known all the unlucky ones then. They were all saying they didn't do that anymore too much because of manning issues. But that was most likely hearsay. Maybe I'm wrong but I knew lots of "BUD/s duds" who weren't given an option.

 

[CDG]

2012-2016. I must have just known all the unlucky ones then. They were all saying they didn't do that anymore too much because of manning issues. But that was most likely hearsay. Maybe I'm wrong but I knew lots of "BUD/s duds" who weren't given an option.

Gotcha. I was in 2004-2008, so your info is more current. Good to go.

 

[Braz]

I would reach to say that probably 30-45% of the people i work with are BUD/S drops, from my knowledge from talking to them its needs of the navy. Paint chipping majority of the time and fighting for an actual rate. When Cyber opened up they flooded it with "BUD/S duds", again that was needs of the navy at the time.

 

[slopmaster]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Thought about this everyday for about a month and decided on attempting to get into the 75th Regiment on either an 11X or 68W Opt.40 contract. Figure that this way, I will be able to fall back on infantry if something were to go wrong at RASP. After a few years in infantry (and gaining some maturity), I'd still have the opportunity to try out for SF (whereas in the Navy, the chances of you getting another shot at BUD/S is extremely unlikely). Going to play my cards safely here.

 

[Deleted member 10816]

How did the various members on this forum reach the conclusion that their respective paths were the right ones for them? Did y’all experience “paralysis from analysis” when deciding your branch, unit, speciality?

 

[AWP]

How did the various members on this forum reach the conclusion that their respective paths were the right ones for them? Did y’all experience “paralysis from analysis” when deciding your branch, unit, speciality?

Old guys like me didn't have the internet and limited information makes the decision process easier.

With that said, people need to embrace “paralysis from analysis” becuase you will see it for the rest of your lives. Buy a house, car, job, computer, gun, whatever....you better learn how to deal.