Looking for advice

[Ottman02]

Apologies for the long read. So January 8 2018 i was in college playing college football I weighed 342 pounds and was not happy with school and football and I had always wanted to serve in the military. So I drop out of college and walk into a recruiters office the next week tell them I want to enlist and I know that I need to drop the weight. They blow me of not thinking I would lose the weight and I would not be worth their time. Some months go by and it’s about the time I right my introduction on the forms I’m in the 260-270s. I go in talk to the recruiters again and they are more interested in talking with me now I had lost the weight. I was interested in sf and the rangers and they pushed me more for just taking a 11x contract.

This is where my question comes in last Tuesday’s January 22 2019 I go see my recruiter that I had talked with the last two times I currently weigh 229 and I need to get to 208 or drop 1% body fat to tape in. So I talk with the recruiter and tell him I want to start my enlistment in March or April and I just want a 11b contract. Now he’s super hardcore pushing that I should try and go for an opt 40 or 18x route. I was wondering if I could get some feedback from y’all. I know that at the end of the day I make or break myself but I’m just wondering why all of a sudden he really pushing me to go the opt 40 18x instead of just taking the 11b.

 

[DELCO]

Don't worry about what they are pushing you to do. What is it that you want? Do you want to go 18X or op40? If not then stay 11x if that's what you're sure about. Don't ever sign up for anything your heart is not in. Military or civilian. But especially in the military because there is "needs of the army" and there is no quitting. You finish your contract then you can get out.

 

[EightEightFive]

If you go 11x you will still have the opportunity to sign option 40 or 18x If you meet the requirements.

Edit: You will have the opportunity in Infantry OSUT.

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

Do you want to be a Ranger or SF? nothing wrong with the Infantry, but if I got a chance to do over, I would have did an option 40.

Keep in mind, the only guys who are seeing any combat these days are SOF...

 

[LibraryLady]

Remember a recruiter has quotas to fill. This can influence his actions towards recruits. If you don't like your recruiter's attitude toward you, change recruiters.

LL

 

[Cannon850]

As said before, do what you feel is right. I enlisted as a 68W, when I knew I wanted to be an 11B. I did 68W to appease other people, not myself. I was not happy and always wished I would've done what I wanted to. It ended up working out as I went to SFAS shortly after getting to my unit, but that's not the point. Plus with option 40/18x if for some reason you washout you'll wind up as an 11B somewhere anyways. At the end of the day, are you ok with settling? If so then the SOF route isn't for you anyway....

 

[Ottman02]

I do greatly appreciate the responses of everyone that has taken the time to reply. I have read and thought over them all. Do correct me if I’m wrong in my thinking. I plan on taking a 18x and pushing myself as hard as I can to make it. I feel that I would rather give 110% and fail knowing I did everything I could to pass then setteling for just an 11x and look back and hating myself for never trying.

 

[Slayer 412]

I feel that I would rather give 110% and fail knowing I did everything I could to pass then setteling for just an 11x and look back and hating myself for never trying.

This is an excellent mindset to have, go for it and leave it all out there!

 

[“The Old Man”]

Go with what you want to do man. I had an SF option H4 when I enlisted long ago. Ended up doing things I could only imagine. Oh yeah, I opted out of SFAS to be in a unit that performed CSAR in environmentally denied areas. Turned out to be more of what I wanted to do. Than if I had finished becoming an SF Aidman.

 

[Devildoc]

You do you.