First Post

[Totentanz]

Any Combat Arms branch or MI will probably be your best bet; maybe CA or Psyop - but those are crap shoots, and you may not be able to Branch Transfer from them to SF.

Highly doubtful. Occasionally there are out-of-year-group accessions for SOF branches but that's a long exception, not the norm. There's one ARSOF board each year with a specific year group in mind. Miss it, and your chances are ~0%.

 

[x SF med]

Highly doubtful. Occasionally there are out-of-year-group accessions for SOF branches but that's a long exception, not the norm. There's one ARSOF board each year with a specific year group in mind. Miss it, and your chances are ~0%.

Listen to totentanz, he knows more about the Officer accessions than I do.

 

[FitNerd89]

Highly doubtful. Occasionally there are out-of-year-group accessions for SOF branches but that's a long exception, not the norm. There's one ARSOF board each year with a specific year group in mind. Miss it, and your chances are ~0%.

Tot, PM'd.

 

[x SF med]

Tot, PM'd.

Really? calling a staff member 'Tot'? Check your PM's.

 

[FitNerd89]

Really? calling a staff member 'Tot'? Check your PM's.

Addressed and noted. Will make the corrections.

 

[The Panda Guy]

Evening,
As to answer the question Why I want to be apart of the special operations community and after starring at my computer for a half hour, to be but simply, because I want to gain a fortitude of skills that I could not normally gain. and I truly do want to be the best of the best. Now, obviously, that sounds like a cop out, but let me explain.

I've wanted to join the military since I was 6. My parents have been fully supportive of that, and so they raised me on the simply principle, you do the best you can, and hold nothing back. So sure, I could join the usual, do my time, pick up some skills, but would that be the best I could do, if I was qualified to try out for SOF? No, its not, and that's why I want special operations. because it's the best I can do. End - I'm terrible at answering Why.

Anyways, I'm currently shooting to pick up a contract in 6-8 months, as of right now, for CCT or PJ.

Alright, I'm gonna go back to being my little sponge/lurker self. Thank you everyone for your service, and have a great night.

 

[Furthur]

Good evening gentlemen. I'm here to request entry and access to post in the Pararescue Mentor Group sub-forum.

Fourteen years ago I was standing before an AF recruiter one signature away from going to MEPS under an intelligence contract to be shipped away and learn to speak Farsi. I was talked out of it by my parents and life went on. I'm 34 and on the cusp of not being eligible to correct my hesitation and feel like it's now or never. I've spoken to both an Army and Air Force recruiter and have varying answers about the possibilities of a contract going into basic training because of my age. The AF recruiter was pushing my towards OCS but I'm a year too old for a CRO position and would need to be commissioned before my 35th birthday in August which leaves me next to no time to get myself together and make the move towards a different career path in AF Healthcare Professions which I'm qualified but uninterested in doing.

I've been an endurance athlete all my life between triathlon, collegiate soccer and running/cycling for sport and recreation and the "abuse" of training is something I crave. I was made aware of the Pararescue profession by my former housemate who is currently a reservist in the AF and a former 68W with the Army in IRQ theater. My closest friend in my current location was a twice combat deployed 19D who came back with a few scars both outside and in. The stories they've both told, the hardships they've both endured reminded me that I have more to give than squandering my education and motivations slinging drinks for drunkards and pocket change. It's not about money, it's about saving lives. I want to save lives, I want to be part of a team that wants to save lives. I want to be the person that some stranded or wounded man/woman KNOWS is coming for them and won't let anything get in the way of me making that happen.

I feel I'm in a slightly different circumstance than other stories I'm reading about SOF hopefuls. I'm not married, don't have children and I'm not in this for travel since my passport is already filled and sits expired. In reference to a backup plan? Sure, none of us believe in quitting although someone will, most will. I've plenty of lucrative options that I COULD jump at tomorrow, spend my days surfing, mountain biking and womanizing but I don't want to. I want to save lives.

I'm planning to be ready to enlist in May and am here to read, learn and observe from those who are willing to offer assistance. I'm pragmatic, realistic and unafraid of being given the reality of situation from anyone who is willing to do so.

Thank you!

 

[Eazy_E8417]

I wanna start of by saying I had no idea what a PJ was before June of last year. I didn't know that there was a job like that in the military because I had no knowledge of any careers in the military outside of Infantry.

I never had any military exposure during my life outside the knowledge that my great grandfather was an ass kicking Marine during WWII. I go visit him occasionally but I've never heard him talk about it outside of one story of him and his friends getting monkeys drunk. The idea of joining the military never crossed my mind until I had about six months of highschool left and even then I didn't really know of anything other than infantry to be quite honest. Once the recruiters called me about joining up, and speaking with the Army, I knew I wanted to enlist. I bounced around the decision of whether I wanted to join the Marines or Army for a while but my old JROTC instructor was always telling me to join the Air Force, so I decided to look into it.

After hours of looking through websites and watching videos on YouTube about the Air Force and all the jobs it had, Mike Maroney's channel popped up and I saw a video of this man tryna drown these two dudes in a pool and I was instantly intrigued. Upon binge watching about 20 of his videos, I knew Pararescue is what I wanted to do.

At first I wanted to be a PJ because it looked so badass. I watched videos of them jumping out of helicopters and airplanes and I thought it'd be badass to jump out of planes and parachute to save lives. Once, I got truly serious about wanting to be a PJ, I knew that I didn't want to be a PJ to be badass, I truly wanted to save lives. I want to be able to have the knowledge and skills to rescue people who needed help on a life or death situation. I want to serve my country and I feel like Pararescue is the job for me.

If I don't make it into Pararescue for whatever reason, and I've exhausted all my options in to becoming a PJ, I think I'll look into the Marines to become an Infantryman or go Navy to be a corpsman. Either way whether I become a PJ or follow my backup plan, I'll still serve my country which is what I want to do in the end.

 

[The Panda Guy]

Just out of curiosity, I've noticed people saying that if they don't make it into their desired SOF, they'll go for another branch. How do you plan on doing this?

I'm not asking because I want to know how, but because once you've gone to bootcamp you're comitted, so how do you plan to change? (I know blue to green, but you have to 3 years min service)

 

[SkrewzLoose]

Blue (Navy) to green doesn't exist any more. You serve your contract, you separate, you enlist in another branch.

 

[suckitup]

Hey, this is my first post. For some background I'm a freshman at Duke and a Mid in NROTC. I've known I wanted a special operations since I was a junior in high school and my desires haven't changed since. I'm currently a Marine option, but I'm heavily leaning towards switching to Navy side and pursuing a service selection in SEAL. I'm thinking about the 25 yard line goal right now, so really all thats been on my mind is getting a good PST. My scores are a not where'd I'd like them to be but here they are. For reference, I run a 297 Marine Corps PFT. My last official PST scores are...
500 swim: 9:51
2 min push-ups:97
2 min sit-ups: 93
pull-ups: 17
1.5 mile run: 8:48
Most likely, I think I'm going to end up switching and pursuing SEAL, but I came to this forum to help me make an informed decision. The fact that an officers stint in MARSOC is so short is a bit depressing, whereas a SEAL officer can spend his entire career in special operations. I have four years before I even commission, but I figure getting a head start and joining 1-2 of the mentor groups would be beneficial for me.

 

[SkrewzLoose]

Solid numbers. Keep it up.
Duke is an outstanding and very demanding school, make sure you keep up with the academic side of things as well.

 

[TLDR20]

Hey, this is my first post. For some background I'm a freshman at Duke and a Mid in NROTC. I've known I wanted a special operations since I was a junior in high school and my desires haven't changed since. I'm currently a Marine option, but I'm heavily leaning towards switching to Navy side and pursuing a service selection in SEAL. I'm thinking about the 25 yard line goal right now, so really all thats been on my mind is getting a good PST. My scores are a not where'd I'd like them to be but here they are. For reference, I run a 297 Marine Corps PFT. My last official PST scores are...
500 swim: 9:51
2 min push-ups:97
2 min sit-ups: 93
pull-ups: 17
1.5 mile run: 8:48
Most likely, I think I'm going to end up switching and pursuing SEAL, but I came to this forum to help me make an informed decision. The fact that an officers stint in MARSOC is so short is a bit depressing, whereas a SEAL officer can spend his entire career in special operations. I have four years before I even commission, but I figure getting a head start and joining 1-2 of the mentor groups would be beneficial for me.

My wife is also at Duke. What is your major? We have prolly crossed paths at the gym.

 

[logman]

Good Evening,

I am a 26 year old from Ohio. I am currently in the Air Force Reserves as a medical laboratory technician. A little over a year ago I decided I wanted to change my current military occupation. I am interested in Pararescue. Saving lives is the reason I am attracted to this career field. I have been researching Pararescue heavily for the past few months on this site, specialtactics.com, and certain youtube channels.

I would like to get into an Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard Rescue Squadron or STS. I have contacted recruiters from a few different squadrons around the country. I found out that most of the units hold PAST/Interviews at certain times during the year.

My main goal until the next round of PAST/Interviews at these units is to keep working on my swimming, running, and calisthenics. Thank you for everything you do. This site will help me focus on my goals.

 

[deepkai]

Good evening everyone,

I am writing this post in following the proper procedure in order to ask questions and gain entry into the Marine Recon mentor group.

If there is one thing I have learned in my 22 years on earth (all civilian) it is that happiness is not something to pursue as it can come and go with the wind. However, the more satisfying and enduring feeling of fulfillment can be achieved by utilizing your life to it's fullest potential and maximizing your personal capability. My deepest fear is that on my deathbed I will look back on my life and see that I chose to limit myself for safety and/or spent my time, the most precious thing any of us have, in the pursuit of trivial and fleeting pleasures. In search for this fulfillment I acquired an A.A. from my local college, had many different jobs (including what I thought would be a dream one where I work now), and even traveled to a few countries where ultimately I have found myself feeling empty. One day a lightening bolt of realization hit me so hard I felt like a fool for not having seriously considered it before: enlist in the military. It has now grown into a calling. I need an occupation that does not depend on how much I get paid or how much I can't wait for the weekend. I need an occupation where I can pour my life into it, where the payment is life, and that life is in service to something greater than myself and to those around me. It is a world I see where the pillars of our nation stand with blood shed by brave and competent men without the need for fame or fortune, but do so simply because it is necessary. This is a world I want to be a part of and where those around me hold these same values and will stop at nothing less than mastery of ourselves.

My primary focus at the moment is getting into the Marine Recon community. I know there are many steps to get there and I have done hours of research how to achieve that along with various backup plans. I would still regard myself being in the research phase but in the very near future I will be meeting with the recruiters after I can get insight into a few questions I have. I feel strongly pulled to becoming a SARC but would like to consider other options as well (Recon Corpsman vs Recon Marine career paths). I can research all I want but I can never get the experience until I'm there like all you have been, this is where your insights have been of tremendous value! I was following the BRC fitness preparation routine but realized that I was overshooting the runway and am now doing a program that focuses more on achieving a competitive Navy PRC along with Marine PFT score. I have a very active lifestyle, being born and raised in Hawai'i (where I currently reside) has made me a perpetual waterman where I surf and swim constantly and I work in forestry and wildlife at the moment so I hike five days a week. I incorporate additional work on PRC/PFT events. I'm also a natural endurance athlete and have been a runner and competitive outrigger canoe paddler my whole life. I've also been reading ASVAB study guides and doing additional study in the areas I can improve on.

I've tried to keep this as concise as possible while accurately showing where I'm at in this process. I thank you all for your continued support and patience to wannabes/neophytes like me!

 

[Renholder]

Greetings,

I'm a 20-year-old Poolee prepping for BRC. I had spent two years in college before I had to drop for financial reasons. Initially, I had missed the carefree lifestyle, but I had to figure out what I was going to do with my life. My goal in college was to commission, so enlisting was the next logical step. I talked with a former Recon Marine I had met and I was quickly sold on the few words he had given me. I want to be around people who push themselves physically and mentally to their limits, and then some. It's my dream to push myself until I collapse. It's also my nightmare at the same time.

I called up the recruiting office the very next day and went through MEPS the next week. I scored a 95 AFQT with a 130 GT score, and enlisted with an 03xx contract. I was under the impression that all 03xx's would be asked to volunteer at SOI. I was later told this isn't the case at SOI East anymore from a BRC instructor and recent graduates of SOI East. I'm stuck trying to get my ship date moved to June and get a Recon contract, but my recruiter said he'd have to fill my spot in April first. If anyone has any advice navigating that, I'd be grateful.

Physically, I'm naturally good at rucking/running, but swimming is my weakest area so far. I'm working with swimming coach that trains SEAL/SWCC/PJ candidates for free nearby. We've tried to dig up some information on how to train/thrash me in the pool but it's still pretty hard to say exactly what is going to be required of me. A normal 4-hour practice consists of the following: technique review/warmup, technique drills, egg beater tread with bricks rotating for 20-30 mins, underwater crossovers, 500-600 yards of cammie swimming, water confidence/mental stuff, and some lifting. Eventually we'll move onto finning and possibly some open water swimming. They are some pretty awesome groups that everyone should take advantage of to avoid injuring themselves. I was swimming a few thousand yards a week with horrible technique and luckily found a coach before seriously hurting myself.

During the rest of the week, I'm doing a modified version of the MARSOC Fitness App with less rucking and more swimming. I'll eventually transition to the Military Athlete program. It would help tremendously to have some sort of benchmark for the physical aspect of the course that I can push myself towards. Small things like what stroke I should focus on, how much I should be running/rucking, etc. would be helpful as well.

Thanks

 

[Avenger hammer]

Greetings everyone,

I'm a 28 year old Army sergeant with coming up on 8 years in service. Did 2 deployments to Afghanistan as my first MOS 13D (fire direction center) then left active and went Army National Guard where I have re-classed to 11C. I was a certified personal trainer for 2 years but I have not been re certified because I am not in that career field, but it is still great knowledge to have in your tool box. I'll get the cliche crap out of the way first, yes I have always dreamed of being SOF of some sort ever since I was a kid and yes I want to serve with the best and prove my self.

I want to be your teammate because I want to look out for you and the guys in our team. I want to do our mission, hit the OBJ and come back with everyone. I want to be in a unit where mediocrity is seen as a sin. Where people shooting 23's on the range or people getting a 181 on the PT is seen as sickening. I want to be in a unit where to the left and right of me the guys are pushing them selves just as hard as I push my self. I want my wife to feel better knowing that the guys in my team are at my level or hell better than me. I want to be in a team of go getters, self starters, ass kickers, not in a company of sham shield E-4s and guys who think its just a paycheck and a way to work. It's not just a paycheck to me and you would think after the stupid pointless formations and long hours and rucks and deployments that the motivation would be gone, but it is still there. I'm the kinda guy that will put in the long hours even after work to study on things I didn't quite get during work hours, luckily my wife loves to make flash cards and help. I absolutely will push my self to the limits for my teammates and I wont quit on you.

My goal is to go TACP. I want to use my past skills of working with radios, infantry tactics and even bring my artillery and mortar knowledge to the table while advising, assisting and controlling CAS. I am currently talking to my Active Duty Air Force recruiter and he has told me that prior service can only come into the Airforce if you are picking a SOF job, which obviously is fine by me. Only problem is he tells me that only PJ is open right now and that he wont know when the next TACP slots will open. Plus my Army National Guard contract doesn't end till this summer but at least that gives me time to get in even better shape.

Currently I am doing a self modified blend of the PJ/CCT/SOWT fitness preparation program and the Military Athlete TACP training plan. Both have some very kick ass workouts and great blends of swimming, crossfit, rucking and swimming.

I'm looking forward to my future and I am excited.

Thank you for reading

 

[CDG]

My goal is to go TACP. I want to use my past skills of working with radios, infantry tactics and even bring my artillery and mortar knowledge to the table while advising, assisting and controlling CAS. I am currently talking to my Active Duty Air Force recruiter and he has told me that prior service can only come into the Airforce if you are picking a SOF job, which obviously is fine by me. Only problem is he tells me that only PJ is open right now and that he wont know when the next TACP slots will open. Plus my Army National Guard contract doesn't end till this summer but at least that gives me time to get in even better shape.

A couple things to think about moving forward.

- How we talk on radios is vastly different from the way the Army does it, at least in my experience. Just keep an open mind if you make it to the Schoolhouse. Don't be the guy that's questioning the Instructors or saying, "Well when I was in AFG we did it this way."

- We train extensively on mortar and artillery CFF. Many times the Army thinks all we do is CAS, but we do airdrops, LZ work, and can call in any kinetic or non-kinetic type of fire out there, from any asset in the inventory.

-AD was closed to prior service when I joined as well, so I went Guard. It's an option, and if you make it and prove yourself, the transfer process to Active Duty is ridiculously easy. It's literally writing a letter saying you want to do it that goes up to the CFM at NGB and bam, on AD. If you decide to go Guard first, just be up front with the squadron about where you're coming from and what your intentions are.

 

[Avenger hammer]

Roger that. I appreciate information and response CDG.

 

[DirtyBird89]

Good evening everyone,

I'm a twenty four year old lance corporal, serving as a 5811 Military Policeman in the Marine Reserve. I've been in for nearly three years now, and should be picking up within the next year. I'm specifically shooting for MARSOC, but I'm trying to keep an open mind as to any type of way to serve in America's SOF depending on what may or may not come up in my future since I know that things can change very quickly.

I have several reasons why I want to join MARSOC in particular. First, I believe that MARSOC may not be the only chance, but is probably the best chance for me to become active duty while also remaining in the Marines. To do that while also pursuing the gpal of joining SOF seems to me to be the best thing I could hope for. The Marine Corps has done a lot for me personally in my brief time in its ranks. In turn I'd like to push myself to be the most professional and exceptional individual that I can be. I'd also like to be surrounded by similar individuals. Not that my current command is necessarily lacking. It just seems that there is more apathy than anything amongst my peers. Another problem with the reserves is that I personally don't enjoy civilian life as much as I did my time that I spent in Initial Active Duty Training and the time I spend training at drill. I believe that spending time in the field and slinging lead within a tight knit brother/sisterhood is much more rewarding than working a normal nine to five any day. Lastly I know our nation's SOF will be the first, and sometimes only troops, to serve our nation when things go bad. Sitting in a reserve center suffering from death by power point a few weekends a year is not what I want to say I did to serve my country.

To help myself accomplish my goal I've been in the gym, pool, or on the hardball almost daily. Within the next few weeks I'll be starting the MARSOC fitness app to get my body ready for the A&S and to better my score for an upcoming PFT this spring. I'll be seeking advice from my company's top shooters and instructors to better my rifle and pistol marksmanship. I'll also be reading as much information from this site and other sources as I can in my down time to prepare myself mentally for any challenges I may face. I also plan to complete my required PME for corporal as soon as possible and request the residency Corporal's Course so that I may be PME complete for my grade within the first year of having attained the rank.

Thank you all again for your service and your knowledge.

Semper Fi,
Dirty Bird.