I don't know why I just typed these up and while they are geared towards support an SF battalion, many of these points could apply to any unit or branch. Feel free to add or subtract from my observations as needed. If it helps one person, my job is done.
I haven’t worn a uniform in over a decade, so my advice is hardly up-to-date. However, I would like to pass along some thoughts which I think are valid regardless of the year. Take or leave these, agree or disagree, you’re welcome to your own opinion(s).
- You aren’t “cool.” You aren’t a door kicker. You aren’t the Punisher. You’re a support guy, an enabler, a facilitator. Your job is to support the “cool” guy door-kicker, Frank Castle types. “Support”: to give strength to; maintain; to provide the necessities of life. Your job is important, every job is important, but you aren’t the tip of the spear and you aren’t why the unit exists. I see too many, far too many, support guys forget these basic concepts.
- There are numerous opportunities for support guys to go downrange or be attached to an ODA or ODB. Don’t call them, they will call you, and don’t forget the point above. You will be there to give strength to the ODA, not become the focal point.
- With those in mind, you should ALWAYS strive to be the best soldier possible. Mentally, physically, technically, and tactically proficient. Know your job inside and out but your PT sucks? You stay at the FOB. Great physical conditioning but you aren’t as MOS proficient as other soldiers. You stay at the FOB. You have both of the above but your personality sucks? You stay at the FOB. An ODA is not going to invest time and money to nursemaid you, they will take the best fit for their organization to accomplish the mission. The faster runner isn’t always the best receiver on a football team.
- Your fancy-pants tactical nylon and fear-inducing bloodthirsty patches don’t make you a good soldier and they don’t make you a killer. They make you look like a clown who is trying to be cool by association.
- DO NOT JOIN TO DO “COOL” GUY STUFF. I can’t emphasize this enough. What do you do when you break your leg on a jump? Can’t be promoted? Moved to another unit? You’d better like your MOS, not the Sierra identifier.
- If you want a guaranteed way to do “cool” guy stuff, then you need to spend a few weeks at Camp Mackall demonstrating that you have what it take to start the Special Forces Q Course.
- The team won’t keep you forever, you WILL go back to your “day job” in Support Company. This is a time for you to further excel, not brag and tell war stories. This is your time to pass along your knowledge and experiences to other soldiers, not hoard it away so you’ll always “be the man.” Your fellow soldiers will see through you and conduct a brutal character assassination.
- The team can do their job(s) without you. Period. Don’t forget this. The question is, did they go to the Q Course to repair vehicles or file travel vouchers? Nope. Your job allows them to focus on their job. You aren’t indispensible and you may be a great soldier, but you are replaceable.
- Don’t be afraid to tell an ODA “No” but remember that if push comes to shove, you’ll probably lose the fight. That’s a fact of life. You can be 100% right and still lose the argument. Deal with it, don’t carry a grudge, move forward.
- That SF unit patch does not give you carte blanche to be a douche bag in public. On the contrary, you should strive for a higher standard in dress, appearance, and behavior in public. Represent your unit well and remember point #3 above.
- Don’t hunt for badges or schools, hunt for educational opportunities that allow you to give something back to the unit. Yeah, Pathfinder is sexy and everything, but you’re better off asking for additional training for your MOS. A course to maintain MRAPs or a lab on Cisco routers, maybe learn a database and SQL queries. At the end of the day the only people to care about your Pathfinder or Air Assault badge are little kids and your own inflated ego, but a guy who can help an 18F with biometrics or geospatial analysis has marketable skill sets.
- Prove yourself to your unit and peers first, exceptional opportunities won’t happen without success there.
I haven’t worn a uniform in over a decade, so my advice is hardly up-to-date. However, I would like to pass along some thoughts which I think are valid regardless of the year. Take or leave these, agree or disagree, you’re welcome to your own opinion(s).
- You aren’t “cool.” You aren’t a door kicker. You aren’t the Punisher. You’re a support guy, an enabler, a facilitator. Your job is to support the “cool” guy door-kicker, Frank Castle types. “Support”: to give strength to; maintain; to provide the necessities of life. Your job is important, every job is important, but you aren’t the tip of the spear and you aren’t why the unit exists. I see too many, far too many, support guys forget these basic concepts.
- There are numerous opportunities for support guys to go downrange or be attached to an ODA or ODB. Don’t call them, they will call you, and don’t forget the point above. You will be there to give strength to the ODA, not become the focal point.
- With those in mind, you should ALWAYS strive to be the best soldier possible. Mentally, physically, technically, and tactically proficient. Know your job inside and out but your PT sucks? You stay at the FOB. Great physical conditioning but you aren’t as MOS proficient as other soldiers. You stay at the FOB. You have both of the above but your personality sucks? You stay at the FOB. An ODA is not going to invest time and money to nursemaid you, they will take the best fit for their organization to accomplish the mission. The faster runner isn’t always the best receiver on a football team.
- Your fancy-pants tactical nylon and fear-inducing bloodthirsty patches don’t make you a good soldier and they don’t make you a killer. They make you look like a clown who is trying to be cool by association.
- DO NOT JOIN TO DO “COOL” GUY STUFF. I can’t emphasize this enough. What do you do when you break your leg on a jump? Can’t be promoted? Moved to another unit? You’d better like your MOS, not the Sierra identifier.
- If you want a guaranteed way to do “cool” guy stuff, then you need to spend a few weeks at Camp Mackall demonstrating that you have what it take to start the Special Forces Q Course.
- The team won’t keep you forever, you WILL go back to your “day job” in Support Company. This is a time for you to further excel, not brag and tell war stories. This is your time to pass along your knowledge and experiences to other soldiers, not hoard it away so you’ll always “be the man.” Your fellow soldiers will see through you and conduct a brutal character assassination.
- The team can do their job(s) without you. Period. Don’t forget this. The question is, did they go to the Q Course to repair vehicles or file travel vouchers? Nope. Your job allows them to focus on their job. You aren’t indispensible and you may be a great soldier, but you are replaceable.
- Don’t be afraid to tell an ODA “No” but remember that if push comes to shove, you’ll probably lose the fight. That’s a fact of life. You can be 100% right and still lose the argument. Deal with it, don’t carry a grudge, move forward.
- That SF unit patch does not give you carte blanche to be a douche bag in public. On the contrary, you should strive for a higher standard in dress, appearance, and behavior in public. Represent your unit well and remember point #3 above.
- Don’t hunt for badges or schools, hunt for educational opportunities that allow you to give something back to the unit. Yeah, Pathfinder is sexy and everything, but you’re better off asking for additional training for your MOS. A course to maintain MRAPs or a lab on Cisco routers, maybe learn a database and SQL queries. At the end of the day the only people to care about your Pathfinder or Air Assault badge are little kids and your own inflated ego, but a guy who can help an 18F with biometrics or geospatial analysis has marketable skill sets.
- Prove yourself to your unit and peers first, exceptional opportunities won’t happen without success there.