U.s. socom

[Grey Fox 0]

I have always wanted to join the military and I am graduating from High School in a couple weeks. I have always wanted to get into SOCOM. I was wondering should I join the 75th ranger regiment and get a ranger tab or should I join the Special Forces as an 11B (preferably as a light weapons specialist).

[IceFire 0]

Hehe, are you kidding?

Wow, I am about your age and plan to join the military, but NOT THE FRIGGING Specops.

Or not immediately, or I do not plan to at the current time.

I just rather become a soldier in the USMC. I reccomend you do that, I think they get better training than the Army.

I do not think it is a good idea to join the military for the sole reason of becoming Special Ops.

What if you were to become disenchanted. From what I have heard, spec ops life is miserable.

Live in miserable conditions, and have a bad romantic/sex life.

Spend your life in cold water in some lake in some poor country waiting to go plant some bombs.

If you want to do it though, why not just join the regular military, and then if you think you are up to it, then try out for spec ops.

And be really fit.

I think you otta research each spec ops on your own.

Go to www.specwarnet.net. Or some placed like that.

Or the library, they have tons of info on the military.

Talk to alot of military folk, when I told my mom that I wanted to join the USMC, she had me talk to all her ex-Ranger, Seal, USMC friends that worked with her as she and they were a lawyer at the time.

[Tex -USMC- 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Grey Fox @ April 16 2002,00:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I have always wanted to join the military and I am graduating from High School in a couple weeks. I have always wanted to get into SOCOM. I was wondering should I join the 75th ranger regiment and get a ranger tab or should I join the Special Forces as an 11B (preferably as a light weapons specialist).<span id='postcolor'>

Okay Fox, heres the deal. All Special Forces soldiers start off as regular infantry, be it ranger, airborne, leg, whatever. The only exception to this is that apparently the Green Berets are looking to recruit about 400 people straight into the SF training, rather than the normal route. Rangers, although they are considered an elite unit, they are not a special operations unit. The standard route into the SF community is to join the Army, graduate from Ranger School, try out for SF, and if you make it, complete yer training and after 2 years, don yer Green Beret. 11 Bravo is an active Special Forces member, so he will know more about it than anyone.

[IceFire 0]

"The standard route into the SF community is to join the Army".

What about USMC Force Recon, or the Navy SEAL's TEX?

Or even the USAF Combat Weather Teams, Pararescue, Combat controllers?

Are they not Special Operations Units?  I know that Force Recon is not officially classified as a "Special Operations Unit", but this is because of politics.  If the USMC acknowledged Force Recon to be "Spec Op" then the USMC would lose control of Force Recon to US SOCOM.

And the USMC wants to maintain their sovergeinty.

In reality, Force Recon is trained to do everything US Navy SEAL's can, and often work together on missions.

[loopy 0]

Not sure about american special forces in the british you have to be in the army 3 yrs before you can apply to sas or sbs

[USSoldier11B 0]

Route to becoming a Ranger:

1: Join the Army, ask recruiter for guaranteed airborne school and Ranger school. Get it in writing.

2: You will attend infantry OSUT at Ft. Benning, GA (appox 22 weeks).

3: You will go the Baisic Airborne Course on main post @ Ft. Benning. (3 week)

4: You will inprocess into RIPP (Ranger Indoctrination and Preparation Program) @ Fort Benning, Ga. When you pass this you will be assigned to a Ranger battalion.

5: Someday if you are lucky you might get to go to Ranger school. Where you will experience 3 phases 1. Benning phase 4th Bn, 2. mountain phase,. 5th Bn, 3. Water phase 6th Bn.

Reality Check: Having a Ranger tab does not make you a Ranger. It makes you Ranger qualfied. A real Ranger serves with a Ranger battalion. Realize that after you complete RIPP it could be several months or even a year before you get to go to Ranger school. Being an un-tabed private in a Ranger bat. is absolutely the worst place to be. Your life will be hell.

Ranger school is 72 days of being starved and sleep deprived. Also, the RI's will treat you like complete shit. Do you have the guts? Also, if you fail Airborne of Ranger school you will most likely be sent to Korea to hang out will all the legs in the 2nd Inf. Div. (Ever seen what terrain in Korea looks like?)

Route to becoming SF

There are two ways......

A:

1. Join the Army, doesn't matter what job you pick. Infantry will give you the best chance though.

2. You will spend about 2-3 years in the army before you make E-4 and are eligible to go to SFAS.

3. You CO will send you to SFAS @ Camp Mackall, Ft. Bragg, NC

4. SFAS will tear you apart. You will not be praised nor criticized, it is not like Ranger school. You will receive no guidance. It is 24 days of running, rucking, and land naving your ass off. You may withdraw yourself at anytime. IF you are not in top physical condition, you will fail....

5: If and when you make it through SFAS you will next be sent to SUT phase. Which is almost like Ranger school. Here you will learn basic SF tasks.

6: You will next go to your MOS phase where you will learn your SF specialty.

7: You will then go to: Robin Sage, a massive FTX where you will prove that you are ready to be SF. This shorter phase is probably the most difficult.

8: You will attend SEAR school at Ft. Bragg where you will experience what it is like to be a POW. This is a very traumatic course.

9: You will attend language school. (long)

10: You will be assigned to an SF group.

or....

B:

1.Join a national guard SF group through the REP63 program and do all of the above in 1 shot without having to serve in regular army. Fast track promotions. You will serve part time in a NG SF Bn, you can go active SF from Guard also.

Reality check: The atrition rate at SFAS is 70-80%. Only about 15-20% of students ever make it all the way to being tabbed. The operational tempo of an active SF group is unparalleled. You will hump farther, carry heavier loads etc. Expect to be deployed 9 months out of the year. The National Guard route is hard, tactical knowledge comes with experience, which you won't have. But, NG program has much better go rate because guard soldiers are better prepared and generally higher quality. Training to become a green beanie: about 1 1/2 - 2 years total.

Hope this gives you some insight.

[ralphwiggum 6]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (USSoldier11B @ April 16 2002,02:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">(Ever seen what terrain in Korea looks like?)<span id='postcolor'>

what do you mean by terrain in Korea?

[Hasha 2]

WHy is life as spec OP miserable? You won't be sent out for mission everyday don't you? About that SFAS training? WHat is it? Just pure physical stuff like running?

And what is rucking, and land naving ??

[IceFire 0]

cause you get less time with your family. Spend all your time training and stuff like that. Plus I hear most of the experience can be miserable, rain, mud, cold, wet, still for hours.

And lots of other things too. Have you seen what sailors have to get used to at BUD/s??

[Hasha 2]

USSoldier11B:

What do you mean an untab private in ranger battalion is like complete hell? The military stuff is soooo interesting! Please tell us more about the US army, like their training and stuff!!

[ralphwiggum 6]

SF needs to have brains too, not just muscles.

[USSoldier11B 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">SF needs to have brains too, not just muscles.<span id='postcolor'>

Oh yes, I forgot.

You must have a minimum GT (General Technical) score of 110

to become SF. (130 in max posible score)

Mine was 127.

Also have to take 800 question psych evaluation.

You don't have to have brains to be a Ranger, but hey it helps.

[IceFire 0]

That's good. I scored pretty high on the ASVAB test.

Said I scored high on all parts especially the technical section.

Don't remember my complete stats though.

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Hasharajima @ April 16 2002,03:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The military stuff is soooo interesting!<span id='postcolor'>

I hope you are being sarcastic. There is nothing in the world so inflexible, boring and outright stupid as the military. I don't know why people still have these naive thoughts about the military. Naturally, as in everything, there are bright moments, but they are greatly overshadowed by the negative sides.

[USSoldier11B 0]

Also consider what kind of ops you are going to be involved in.

Rangers: Direct Action. Rangers are shock troops, they go in and shot everyone in the face. They provide defensive perimeters to support Delta and SF ops. They also do alot of airfield siezures prior to U.S. invasion of enemy held territory.

SF: Special Forces has been moving back toward thier orignal mission, UW. Unconventional Warfare is a force multiplier. SF primary mission is to go in and build rappore with indiginous guerillas and train them to fight the oppressive regimes of thier nations. SF missions are often very long and and they are without much resupply and support. SF missions tend to be alot more psychology based and involve alot of people skills and guile. SF also does alot of JCET missions in which the train with and advise foriegn spec ops units. In a time of war they will also conduct ops that include sabotage, recovery, and enemy force harassment. SF will also conduct CT missions.

[Grey Fox 0]

I would prefer being on a special forces Alpha team. I'd like to go with the 10th special forces group in Europe command. I know I'd need to learn local languages and other stuff(assuming i can even get pass phase1). If I were to go to the 75th Ranger regiment well... I don't know. There's always a great feeling to be among the best . If anything I want to be an 18B(weapons specialist) or an 18D (Medical NCO). My ultimate goal is Delta Force(not too likely since they supposedly are the best). Hey USSoldier11B what unit are you currently with anyway? You seem to know nearly everything about the U.S. army. Face it to me that Green Beret is too good to pass up without a fight.

[USSoldier11B 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hey USSoldier11B what unit are you currently with anyway?<span id='postcolor'>

5th Bn/ 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

[LauryThorn 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The military stuff is soooo interesting!<span id='postcolor'>

It may look nice to somebody who is sitting in front of

computer. Or watching war films.

Most people, after all, don't want to get this "hard training"

or whatever.

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (LauryThorn @ April 16 2002,08:45)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The military stuff is soooo interesting!<span id='postcolor'>

It may look nice to somebody who is sitting in front of

computer. Or watching war films.

Most people, after all, don't want to get this "hard training"

or whatever.<span id='postcolor'>

Yeah that is the thing, i think.

Myth: Ooh, I get to shoot guns!

Reallity: You shoot for 15 mins and then you spend 4 hours cleaning the weapon.

[LauryThorn 0]

myth: Ooh, I will become a man!

truth: no, you won't..

myth: Ooh, my friends&parents&neighbours will be proud of me!

truth: They will laugh at you when you are not around.

myth: I will be a SF soldier!

truth: You'll find every sharp stone in the practise field before that( you will find them with your knee.. )

Think about other options before joining the army.

[USSoldier11B 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">myth: Ooh, I will become a man!

truth: no, you won't..

myth: Ooh, my friends&parents&neighbours will be proud of me!

truth: They will laugh at you when you are not around.

myth: I will be a SF soldier!

truth: You'll find every sharp stone in the practise field before that( you will find them with your knee.. )

Think about other options before joining the army<span id='postcolor'>

Awww, C'mon be nice. Yes there is alot of B.S. in military. No, you will most likely not end up in a spec ops unit. They are called elite for a reason, they don't have to take everybody. But being a soldier is not that bad.

[LauryThorn 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">But being a soldier is not that bad.<span id='postcolor'>

I don't know much about being "professional" soldier,

like I understand that you are.

But doing military service is 90% crap.

I can easily spend 10 days in forest camp, running and crawling

around with gun.

But I hate that people that are more stupid

than me, give me stupid orders, like "move that tent 0.5 meters to the south" and so on..

[Sheriff 0]

I'd say it's probably best to get an Apprenticeship in the Army and get a trade under your belt first. Such as a builder or a electrician You still go through all the standard training. And there are also more military specific jobs aswell such as a Combat Engineer, Crewmen Jobs and Rifleman .

[USSoldier11B 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">But I hate that people that are more stupid

than me, give me stupid orders, like "move that tent 0.5 meters to the south" and so on..

<span id='postcolor'>

I won't argue with that. This is the nice thing about spec ops. Most people in it are smart.

[scout 0]

correction: most officers tend to listen in SF which IS all the difference!