Introduction

[NoiseOnMars]

My name is Travis and I found ShadowSpear while Google searching for Special Forces Mentors. I wanted to find a resource that provided me with insight and experience from people have already blazed the trail. From what I have read over the past few weeks, this forum has individuals who are genuinely interested in helping people like me succeed, and that is something I couldn't find in my current location being a civilian and not near any military bases.

I am 22 years old and I will be graduating in the Spring of 13' with double majors (Political Science and National Security and Intelligence) from Fairmont State University (medium sized college in West Virginia). I have no prior military experience, but I was born and lived at Fort Benning for a few years and both my parents served in the Army so I am familiar enough with the military lifestyle.

I have determined that I want to enlist in the Army after college, specifically in Special Forces. I chose to wait until after I complete college because it's being paid for by my father service in the military and I know that it will open up more options to me. I haven't determined what path I want to take to get there but I know I have to start somewhere.

Thanks!

 

[policemedic]

Welcome aboard.

 

[8654Maine]

Welcome. Good luck. Smart to get educated. Use it well.

 

[ProPatria]

Welcome.

 

[Muppet]

Welcome.

F.M.

 

[Red Flag 1]

Welcome to SS. Good intro.

RF 1

 

[RackMaster]

Welcome. I agree, that was a good intro. Good luck with your goals.

 

[CDG]

Welcome to the site.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Excellent way to start!

All heed this intro.

Any new member that wants to walk in our boots would do well to follow this young studs SA.

2c

 

[Cyberchp]

Welcome!

 

[Marauder06]

It appears you have decided on enlisting, have you considered Officer Candidate School?

 

[NoiseOnMars]

It appears you have decided on enlisting, have you considered Officer Candidate School?

I'm honestly at a crossroads between OCS and the 18X enlistment option. I haven't talked to a recruiter yet to find out more about either but I have plenty of questions. All my peers have told me to pursue an officer commission and I would given the opportunity, however, I am afraid I wouldn't be able to go through Special Forces training until a couple years down the road. I've been looking through the forums to see if anyone else has tried these routes and what were the pros and cons.

If you don't mind me asking, where did you find that definition for 'Intelligence' Marauder06?

 

[LibraryLady]

Welcome

LL

 

[SkrewzLoose]

Nice intro. Welcome and good luck.

 

[Marauder06]

I'm honestly at a crossroads between OCS and the 18X enlistment option. I haven't talked to a recruiter yet to find out more about either but I have plenty of questions. All my peers have told me to pursue an officer commission and I would given the opportunity, however, I am afraid I wouldn't be able to go through Special Forces training until a couple years down the road. I've been looking through the forums to see if anyone else has tried these routes and what were the pros and cons.

You can enlist for Special Forces, but SF is not an accession branch for officers, meaning you'd have to pay your dues in another branch first before you're given the ability to compete for a slot about the rank of first lieutenant (promotable) --> 1LT(P). I'm not a Special Forces officer so that is about the extent of my knowledge on the subject, although there are several SF men here on the site who will probably be willing to provide more specific information.

If you don't mind me asking, where did you find that definition for 'Intelligence' Marauder06?

I made it up, based in large part on input I received from fellow members here on the site. There's probably still a thread about it in the "Intelligence and Support Operations" forum.

I used it in one of my masters theses and it has appeared in a couple of articles I wrote.

 

[NoiseOnMars]

Original Post

I don't want to start asking questions until I've read through the forums enough to see if they've already been posed but you've contributed to expanding my knowledge of how Officers are able to join Special Forces. I didn't know there are "slots" to compete for, but it makes sense now that I think about it. Thank you.

And I asked about the word because I have seen so many variations in academia and yours seemed unique, but also accurate.

 

[ÉIREGOBRÁCH1922]

Welcome, polite Sir!

 

[HALO99]

Welcome to Shadowspear.