First Post

Hey everyone,
Last time I posted was almost 2 years ago (intro post). A lot has happened since then, so here is a quick recap. I served in the Army on active duty as an infantryman in C co. 2-14,
10th Mountain Division and in A co 161, 81st infantry out of Kent WA. After I exited the service I thought I was completely done with service. Shortly after leaving somehow I got bit by a bug of sorts. That bug bite grew into an itch which festered into an obsession. I do not know where or how it started but I could not, and still cannot stop thinking about Army Special Forces. I started training in 2011 and eventually attended an SFRE in WV in sept, 2012 after having moved to VA for all the wrong reasons. I did not make it, no excuses, plain and simple. Fast forward to spring of 2013 I moved back to PA and continued going to school for my under grad in biology. While going to school I continued to train for the next SFRE, focusing and improving on my weaknesses from the previous SFRE. After contacting the nearest SF detachment I went to an SFRE in sept, 2013 and performed well enough to be invited onto the training detachment pending my enlistment back into the service. After waiting 8 months to enlist I finally was able to enlist back into the service today at 1300, and I even got to keep my rank. The reason for the lengthy process was the wait time for my waiver to be approved for surgery that was performed in 2005 while on active duty. It has been a long process just getting my foot in the door, now the journey can finally begin.
 
Greetings gentlemen,

I'm a 21 year old student currently attending the local community college.

I've been interested in all things military for about as long as I can remember. It wasn't until senior year in high school that I seriously thought about joining. Since then I would think about it off and on all the while going through community college taking a credit here or there but not doing much, and not knowing where my life was going.

Finally this past April I signed an 18x contract. I want to be SF because I want to push myself. I want to be part of a close knit group of guys where everyone strives to be better at their job everyday. I want to receive the best training in the military and feel confident that the guys on my team and myself, can deal with a variety of situations and bring every man home. I want to make a difference in a local population teaching everything I know to them and watch them grow into a formidable fighting force that can take care of of their own country and fight whatever oppressive regime they might be facing. I want to have the camaraderie of having a new family of 11 other guys who will risk their life for each other because they know every man would do the same for them. I want to become and live with the best men the military has to offer.
 
Greetings to whom it may concern,

My name is Weston Hites, I am currently a 21 year old Airman First Class, stationed in Misawa, Japan.

I was dead set on the military as a Senior in 2011, and thanks to an ASVAB score of 97, I was given a pass for being underweight for my height during my initial DEP visit. I was 130 lbs at 6'0", and met the bare minimum of 133 lbs in the two weeks before leaving for Basic Training on February 14, 2012. By the end of Basic two months later, I weighed in at 168 lbs, had reduced my run time to a 10:31 mile and a half, 56 PU, 65 SU. I have been striving to improve my fitness, scoring a 95.1 on my first PT test, and a 95.4 on my most recent one in April, currently at a weight of 178 lbs, still far under what I would prefer.

Now, though, on to my partial rant, and my convictions for wanting to join this board.

My AFSC as of right now is 2W051, Munitions Systems Specialist, specifically, a precision guided munitions/flight line delivery crew chief for the past two years. While thankful for being able to serve in any capacity, I have spent my time with a feeling that I am not doing nearly enough. Put simply, I know that as I sit here working a 9 to 5 job, regardless of the perceived level of focus it takes, there are young men and women, younger than me, and often of a lower rank, earning less for their service, fighting for their lives and the lives of others. Every time I've been thanked for my service, or had favors done for me on account of a uniform, all I could think of were the true warriors that didn't get this free food I'm receiving, because they're out doing the real mission right now. I am sick and tired of seeing every new batch of junior enlisted airmen that come here with a silver spoon up their ass, expecting to be treated with respect that they have not earned, and to be given special treatment for simply having not screwed up in training. I was posed a question this very week by another member of my shop, when I called his co workers out for having done a terrible job during an inspection, strip, and repainting of a missile.

"Why do you have to be such a perfectionist?"

That question made me realize exactly why I am striving to become a TACP, and future JTAC this coming fiscal year. It infuriates me to be asked, mockingly, why I am daring to do my job properly. I want nothing more than to be a member of a community that prides itself on attention to detail, rewards members for hard work, and constantly pushes each other to be better. I hope that one day, through gallons of sweat and blood, I might let even one young man or woman go home safely, because I, and the men I hope to work with, did our jobs to perfection.
 
Hello everyone,

First, a little about my career as of this far. I have deployed to OEF 3 times for a total of 27 months with combat arms as a line medic. On my second deployment I got hurt in an IED blast, shortly thereafter I had the great joy of seeing the local SF teams use our base as a jump-off point for some missions. My PFC self was in utter awe of the confidence and love for each other these man had for both the brother hood, and their jobs.

Enough sappy shit, on to my reasoning. I have wanted to go SF ever since I joined the army, up until recently though, I was under the impression that I was unable to due to being red green color deficient. Come to find out that is waiverable, second, there was a third test that I easily passed. Now knowing that I can go to SFAS I am doing everything I can to increase both my chances of selection, as well as getting the MOS I want, 18D. I have always felt a calling to the brotherhood and love of the Special Forces Community, I really want to be with a group of people that not only volunteered, but had to prove they truly wanted to be there. Those are the people I want in the foxhole to my left and right.
 
Per TLDR20's instructions, mini bio and why I want to be SOF:

I'm 27, civilian. Freelance cameraman by trade, which has enabled me to put some extra stamps in the passport. I speak fluent English, Spanish, and Catalan, some French and Italian, and I'm trying to decide between Russian and Mandarin next. Then again, it might wind up being Pashto.

I want to join SF because I want to be tested, honed, and set loose with freedom of tack entrusted only to a very, very select few. I want the trust of the eleven guys around me. I want the responsibility. I want to use the skills in creating relationships across cultures that I've developed traveling all my life. I want to understand the people I'm putting my life on the line to help, and I want them to work with me to extinguish the threat to our collective livelihood. I want to sit on a ridge in a very strange place and feel right at home, knowing that any obstacle is within the capability of the unit to traverse. I want to look back on a life well lived and know that I did my best standing next to the best.

Hope that's not too theatrical, but shit - that's how I feel. I've never felt at home at home.
 
I'm a Junior in High School and aged 16. For as long I can remember, I've wanted to be in the military. At first, when I was 6, it was for the reason that I thought that it looked cool. Those reasons have obviously matured over the years and now I want to join because I'm a patriotic person, the sense of brotherhood that the military has and I want to be apart of something bigger than myself. As for why I want to be a PJ specifically, it mainly has to do with their mission. The idea of saving lives instead of taking them, but not being afraid to take a few in order to save the right people has taken its hold on me, I guess you could say. I've also read that it's the people that you don't save that you remember and I would prefer to be able to save as many as I can. I feel that being a PJ is the best way to do that and after reading None Braver, my determination to become one has only increased.
 
Hello,

My original intro is here: https://shadowspear.com/vb/threads/introduction.21745/#post-360613
but here's a little background on me: I'm a 22 year old college grad with a BS in biology. I took the MCAT last year, but ultimately decided that I need to pursue my dreams, not the dreams that others have for me. I've been interested in medicine (emt-b cert) and special operations for a long time now. I think my interest in serving mainly stems from playing competitive sports growing up. I had a few coaches that instilled a serious work ethic in me and taught me to hold myself to a higher standard. I miss the teams, the blood, sweat, and tears of training, the push to be better, and to do better. Another thing I really miss is mentoring the younger guys, and teaching them what my coaches taught me. I read the Warrior Ethos and Gates of Fire after graduation, and I really identified with it. I want to be put through the crucible. I've always kept myself in good shape by training, running, and swimming, for no real reason other than in the back of my mind I think I always wanted to serve. I just finished reading The Mission, The Men and Me, and I'm about half way through Get Selected for Special Forces. I've made up my mind that I want to be an 18D, and now I'm soaking up as much knowledge about the Special Forces as I can. I went and talked to a recruiter last week, and I found it really helpful to talk face to face. I was hoping one of the recruiters would have experience in Special Ops so that they could possibly mentor me, but no luck.

I live fairly close to Fort Bragg and was hoping I could possibly meet up with current or former SF soldiers. If anyone would be willing to talk about their experience in SF, I'll gladly buy the beers or bourbon.

As far as training goes, my week typically goes like this (830-530 I'm at work):
Monday: AM Swim PM Cals, weighted cals, or upper body
Tuesday: AM Run (3-5 miles 6.5-7 min mile pace) PM Deadlifts and lower body work
Wednesday: Active Recovery Day AM Swim PM Yoga (major improvements in flexibility)
Thursday: AM Run (3-5 miles) PM Cals
Friday: Run/Ruck or Rest day
Saturday: Cals and Swim
Sunday: Light core work and stretching. (I try to stretch after most workouts and foam roll a few times a week.)

My best 1.5 mile time is 8:50, 3.1 mile time is 19:30, 5 mile is 35:xx.
Pushups are typically in the 55-60 range for two minutes. (I'm working on this, and its been a while since I've tested them)
Pullups are 14.
Situps are ~70.
4 mile ruck is 56 mins (45#) (Hiked like 12 miles in the mountains of NC (linville gorge) last weekend with a 50# pack over the course 3 days, really opened my eyes to taking care of my feet)
500 yd swim is sub 10 mins
(My focus had been on the PAST until the last month)

I appreciate the time if you made it down here, its definitely been cathartic to put all of this down in writing. If any others are from the Wilmington area and want to meet up for some training, PM me.

Thank You,
V
 
Hello,

My original intro is here: https://shadowspear.com/vb/threads/introduction.21745/#post-360613
but here's a little background on me: I'm a 22 year old college grad with a BS in biology. I took the MCAT last year, but ultimately decided that I need to pursue my dreams, not the dreams that others have for me. I've been interested in medicine (emt-b cert) and special operations for a long time now. I think my interest in serving mainly stems from playing competitive sports growing up. I had a few coaches that instilled a serious work ethic in me and taught me to hold myself to a higher standard. I miss the teams, the blood, sweat, and tears of training, the push to be better, and to do better. Another thing I really miss is mentoring the younger guys, and teaching them what my coaches taught me. I read the Warrior Ethos and Gates of Fire after graduation, and I really identified with it. I want to be put through the crucible. I've always kept myself in good shape by training, running, and swimming, for no real reason other than in the back of my mind I think I always wanted to serve. I just finished reading The Mission, The Men and Me, and I'm about half way through Get Selected for Special Forces. I've made up my mind that I want to be an 18D, and now I'm soaking up as much knowledge about the Special Forces as I can. I went and talked to a recruiter last week, and I found it really helpful to talk face to face. I was hoping one of the recruiters would have experience in Special Ops so that they could possibly mentor me, but no luck.

I live fairly close to Fort Bragg and was hoping I could possibly meet up with current or former SF soldiers. If anyone would be willing to talk about their experience in SF, I'll gladly buy the beers or bourbon.

As far as training goes, my week typically goes like this (830-530 I'm at work):
Monday: AM Swim PM Cals, weighted cals, or upper body
Tuesday: AM Run (3-5 miles 6.5-7 min mile pace) PM Deadlifts and lower body work
Wednesday: Active Recovery Day AM Swim PM Yoga (major improvements in flexibility)
Thursday: AM Run (3-5 miles) PM Cals
Friday: Run/Ruck or Rest day
Saturday: Cals and Swim
Sunday: Light core work and stretching. (I try to stretch after most workouts and foam roll a few times a week.)

My best 1.5 mile time is 8:50, 3.1 mile time is 19:30, 5 mile is 35:xx.
Pushups are typically in the 55-60 range for two minutes. (I'm working on this, and its been a while since I've tested them)
Pullups are 14.
Situps are ~70.
4 mile ruck is 56 mins (45#) (Hiked like 12 miles in the mountains of NC (linville gorge) last weekend with a 50# pack over the course 3 days, really opened my eyes to taking care of my feet)
500 yd swim is sub 10 mins
(My focus had been on the PAST until the last month)

I appreciate the time if you made it down here, its definitely been cathartic to put all of this down in writing. If any others are from the Wilmington area and want to meet up for some training, PM me.

Thank You,
V

First off, I'm not SOF so take this with a grain of salt. Your mile and a half time isn't relavent in the Army. Focus on your APFT, taking the ASVAB and DLAB. Since you're a reader I doubt the DLAB will give you problems as long as you understand sentence structure, conjugations, nouns, pronouns, adjectives etc. Your APFT needs to be all over a 300 or better. So push-ups should be in the 80+ range. Your 2 mile should be 13 minutes or less. With your 1-1/2 mile around 9 min then you're right on par. Keep up the good work. Your 4 mile is to the "standard" as sub 1 hour. But you have to hold that pace for 8 more miles. Time your 12-mile and post up.

Ruck a lot, run a lot, do a ton of calisthenics and do high intensity training/crossfit style workouts. Ideally, follow military athlete Monday through Friday. Stack a ruck improvement program on top of that and mix in calisthenics. Your regimen isn't bad, but get used to a heavy ruck on your back all day every day. So rucking needs to be 2/3 days a week.

If you don't want to pay for mil athlete ($30/month) then follow "get selected" to the letter and go knock out basic. Don't forget to enjoy life prior to boot bro. Training is hella important but don't forget to live life.
 
Hi. I'm Thomas, 19 years old, and like most teenagers are working through a whole lot of confusion.
I have a lot of familial things I'm working out, as well as some other things. But I do know one thing, 100%; my desire to save people and defend others. That has been my dream for as far back as I can remember. Reading stories of various SOF personnel, and seeing the brotherhood that is put into place, is something no one can truly understand unless you're a part of it. I have been through my fair share of athletic teams and have made friendships that I hope will never die, and seeing and reading about the memories and lasting bonds men have made in those coveted units drives me to be a part of it. In my younger years, I wanted to join the Army. Then the Marines. Then the Air Force. Then the Navy. Then finally back to the Army, where I made my final decision that I would become a member of the coveted 75th Ranger Regiment. I, like TLDR20, researched many different jobs. In every single branch I picked jobs that I felt I could best do(Air Force PJs, Navy Rescue Swimmers, Army combat medic, Navy Corpsman). What do all of those have in common? I was always looking for jobs that held both my desire to save people, and my desire to kick ass. After a long and dreadful process with MEPS, which resulted in my disqualification, 3 different recruiters, and 2 years on research, I finally looked into the 75th Ranger Regiment. As soon as I saw that 68W was an acceptable MOS, my eyes light up. Here was something I had a shot at, and where I felt a could make a contribution to something bigger than myself. I was torn, however, between 11b and 68W. It was in my heart to save people, but it was also in my heart to shoot bad guys in the face. My parents might not feel the same way I do, but that is something I must get through personally. I cannot secure an Option 40 on my initial contract, due to a medical waiver, but having to fight for it during AIT only fuels my desire to be the best and put in 110% to reach my goal.

I was told by my 5th grade teacher, "Success is earned, never given. Always work above what is needed and you will do great things." That burned into my mind and will always be a part of my ethos.

Thank you for all that are reading.
 
There are many reasons someone joins the military. Some join for college. Some join because they have no where else to go. Some join to serve. To the people that join to serve their country are the most respected in my aspect of view. Then there are the people that will dedicate everything they have to become the best at something. They will give up sleep to train.
My story is that I have wanted to join the Marine Corps since I was a kid. I realized at around 8th grade that being the best is what I wanted to become very good at. I excelled in sports and freshmen year I stumbled across Marine Corps Recon. I researched it for about a week or 2 and thats all I need to know this is what I want to dedicate my life to. After that I started the intense grind everyday to help prepare for it. But this post isnt about the work the person is putting it to get what they want its the why. None of my family was really military expect for my Grandpa who was in the navy. I have no footsteps to follow so why not make your own? If you have the mentality and the personality to want to become the best of the best then Special Forces will treat you right. A Green Beret I spoke to one time told me something very simple. You get what you put in. That is branded into my head ever since. So now I look to find information on SOF and help to prepare me before I leave. I am a senior in Highscool(contracted for Recon) Been in DEP for 6 months.
 
I have this in my about me section. I am pasting it just because I feel that it captures me pretty well. So you might see it like 3 more times around the forum. I added a little for originality ;-). Sorry for the long post. I like to write.

Brought up in the Chicago land area, my parents were a bit to protective. No quarrels just different experience is all. It ended up slowing me down in the essence of growing up. What I mean is, there were a lot of chances that I did not get to make my own choices, instead they were made up for me by my parents. Looking out for me of course but their visions were not mine. In my early age, I was not what some would come to say as "normal." Anti-social is what I would call it. Not the personality disorder! hah. I was afraid of failure. In ALL aspects of life. So I isolated myself up until senior year of high school. I'm all good now though. Well at least I think so. What brings me to his site is a goal or dream, whatever you wanna call it; of a military career in SOF as special operation combat medic. I love science and the human body. The human anatomy something I'm good at. What started the military idea was my buddy, who I almost joined the Marines with (thankfully not... no disrespect. Just no medical field is all :) ). It eventually transformed into wanting SOF because of the human desire, and my own of not being at the bottom. I hated it down there. And because of Navy SEAL books and watching to many movies... I can't lie. A turning point was when I was entrusted with a jobs and let the people down. The combined weight of not being able to accomplish a task at hand got to a breaking point. On top of all the other added weight in life. I hated that feeling. So. Much. Around Jr. year I trained myself mentally and later on after high school physically. Now I want challenges and the rewards that arise from striving higher then what I was the day before. I want all the rewards that come with achievement. Not material gains necessarily, its more of a metaphor. I'm here to break barriers and overcome obstacles while all at the same time helping people in all aspects. Medically, emotionally, physically, does not matter. I wanna be there on your worst day. Ill usher your suffering or we can get through it together. Ill do whatever it takes. Always. I don't like seeing people in pain. Bothers me so much. I could throw out a lot more cheesy quotes but i won't... So here I am. 22 years old and (almost) ready to enlist. The question is, "As what?" My issue at the moment is with contracts. End game is Army SF. I have certain pathways planed out in my about me section so I wont re post em. Take a look if you have time and let me know what you (the reader) think.

Thanks for picking up the sword!
Ky B
 
Hi everyone, I've been a ghost on here for a while and I finally decided it's about time to express why it is that I not only want to go into the military after college but also join the ranks of special operations. When I first joined this site in high school, my sights were set upon being Navy SEAL. I was convinced that being a SEAL was all I wanted to do and didn't really give any other branch any research. This however changed when amlove21 made his post about thinking about a backup plan. I was so set on being a SEAL I tried to keep the washout rate in the back of my mind and never really thought about not making it. This is when I made the realization if I didn't make it which lets be real is a statistical odd, there wasn't one job in the Navy that would suit my interests. Nothing but respect for the Navy but there just was no interest for me outside the SEALs. It was a very all or nothing path and as I matured I accepted shit happens in selection whether it be injuries or not making the cut, not just dor. It was at this time I expanded my research to other branches. It was around this time I found out my great uncle fought as a Ranger at Point Du Hoc in WWll. I decided to give the Rangers some research and was surprised how much their rich history, and capabilities appealed to me. Dick Couch's book Sua Sponte did an outstanding job of not just giving the reader a view of what RASP is like but also the Ranger's amazing history. I now have my sights set on service with the 75th Ranger Regiment. My aspiration not only motivates me to get through college and all the work that goes with it but also through all the pain in the ass that comes with being a college football player. When we had morning lifts I had to get up at 5:00 am five days a week for 8 weeks to go get my ass kicked at our workouts. It was nothing compared to what I will face at selection but it definitely helped me understand that stuff is only as bad as you make it. Going there tired as hell and laughing with my teammates as we got our asses kicked really changed my mindset on adversity and keeping your goals at 25m. I didn't look at it as 8 weeks of hell but I took it week by week and managed to make it to all but one lift because I was sick and made the dumb mistake of forgetting to set my alarm. I did not say this to impress anyone because all you current or former service members would laugh at that in comparison to selection let alone basic. I just wanted to express how much of an impact my ambitions have already had on my life and that I take everything from a 15 page paper to morning lifts as obstacles to help prepare me for the time I go on to selection. I hope three years from now I can don that coveted tan beret and join the elite ranks of those I currently aspire to be. Lastly, I want to thank all you people who donate so much of your time to help us wannabes whether that help is advice or whipping our asses into shape when we're out of line.
 
TL, NEP (Not Enough Punctuation);DR, but welcome to the boards.

Excuse me?
TLDR20 is an Admin on this site, the creator of this thread, and an 18D. Who the hell are you, and what makes you special enough to think you can do anything but post an intro about where you want to go in an SOF unit?

Check yourself, your attitude and your penchant for correcting non-existent issues at the door.

Next time, a formal warning with points will be your reward.
 
TL;DR is common parlance for too long, didn't read. Wasn't intending to invoke a member's name, was in reference to Pajco's post that was devoid of line breaks, and his first post, hence the "Welcome to the boards." I know who TLDR20 is and respect his posts. If you don't want me to post anything else in here, I won't.
 
TL;DR is common parlance for too long, didn't read. Wasn't intending to invoke a member's name, was in reference to Pajco's post that was devoid of line breaks, and his first post, hence the "Welcome to the boards." I know who TLDR20 is and respect his posts. If you don't want me to post anything else in here, I won't.

How fucking stupid do you think I am that I (as a former SF Soldier) do not know what TL; DR means? Your post did not reference anything but TL(not enough punctuation)DR you did not use @user, nor quote the post and snip it down.

This was not the OPs (Pajco) first post, just his first post in this subforum, or is attention to detail beyond you? Look at a profile if you are unsure.

And why would you welcome somebody in the Mentor area, save it for the Introduction area, or can you not differentiate between the two? It's not like they have different sub-forums with which they are associated or anything.

Are you in an SOF pipeline? Are you posting an intro here in order to get accepted into the mentor program (note - I am one of the mentors, a mod in the mentor area, and a mod on the site) or are you going to join the military?

I refreshed myself with your profile, intro and other posts, prior to responding to both of these posts. You stated 6 months ago that you were going to join the military in an SOF capacity in 12 months - it's half gone - so, nut the fuck up or shut the fuck up Mr. Cameraman, Volunteer and Traveler.

If you are not in the mentor program, and have no intention of joining the mentor program; are not current nor former SOF and have no guidance to give due to no experience, you should not have posted here in the first place.

I do not care how butt hurt and outraged you get reading this, I've pissed off better people than you more than once.
 
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TL, NEP (Not Enough Punctuation);DR, but welcome to the boards.

What does this bring to the discussion and why did you feel compelled to post?

Also, for anyone reading this, wannabes correcting wannabes... Might as well have the leader of Best Korea calling out the Taliban for violating human rights. In other words, don't be "that guy."
 
Gentlemen,

I am 21 years old with a little over 2 years left until I graduate from college. After that, I will be enlisting with an 18x contract and the ultimate goal of making it to Army Special Forces.

The story: I was very sheltered until I graduated high school. Not necessarily sheltered from the real world, but rather the opportunities that are out there. Because of that I was eventually led into a path that made sense for most people. I couldn't find any fault with it so I ran with it. I took advantage of a great opportunity and went to college. I made pretty decent grades, but never truly excelled because my heart just wasn't in it. I was content that I was gonna get a job and work for the rest of my life while hopefully doing something cool, making good money, and having some fun along the way. Nothing wrong with that, but I found that it's not for me.

Then, while in college, I met a guy that received a contract to try and make it as a SEAL. Since I was a kid, I have always been enamored with the military in movies and everything. Blowing shit up is cool, but my favorite parts were the scenes where you could tell who the true professional was. That guy had confidence, honor, integrity, and most of all, a sense of purpose. However, growing up, I never met a soul that had ever served in the military, or I if I did, it was a brief mention about how a friend knew someone serving because their 3rd cousin's friend's boyfriend was serving or some shit like that, nothing concrete. It just wasn't something that even seemed like an opportunity. This guy was actually going to do it which lent some credibility to it. The military finally materialized into a concrete possibility. After that, I did A LOT of researching and narrowing down of what I wanted to do. Then, I found it. I discovered Army Special Forces and the SF mission, and something just clicked. I will definitely serve in the military in some capacity because I truly believe that I have found my calling, that deep desire inside that draws you in regardless of the hardship it entails, but come hell or high water, I will be doing everything possible to make it in SF.

The mission: For now, I'm channeling that desire to excel in finishing up my degree and training the mind and the body in as many ways as I can find to prepare me for what lies ahead.
Thank you
 
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