Need some advice please

[dc7rr1]

My nephew is starting the process of joining Uncle Sam's Army. He wants to get into one of the special forces type units.

Should he just enlist as infantry and try to get into jump school and all that after basic or is there a better route.

I posted a pic of all the jobs he qualified for.

I was in the reserves twenty years ago and remember several guys getting screwed as far as the jobs they thought they were getting. That's why I am asking here.

Thanks.




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[1CavScout]

It's been a while, but when I was in it was better to get jump school in your contract then to try and get in later. I turned down an Airborne contract thinking I could get in later, and that did not work out. Schools were very hard to get into (Airborne, Air Assault etc...). Maybe some others that were in more recently can chime in, but I would get as much up front as possible.

[tnlrat37]

There's a couple recruiters on here that can help I'm sure. Main thing I can offer is get everything you can in writing and remember that most people wash out of Special Forces testing so be sure his original mos contract is something he wants to do if he doesn't make it. Just being realistic.

[230infantry]

Tell him to pick a job he can use on the outside. The infantry pretty much qualifies you to be a janitor and if he goes sf and washes out its needs of the army.

[msternin]

I'm not sure if it's just an oversight, but ask the recruiter if he qualifies for an 18X contract. He may need to retake the ASVAB to score higher. He also needs to be old enough. 18X is a program pathway to Special Forces. It's NOT a guarantee to SF, but put him on the path. With an 18X, he would still go to Ft. Benning to attend OSUT (One station unit training), a combo of basic training and advanced individual training for Infantryman. When he completes it, he will have earned his blue cord and the MOS of 11B (Enlisted Infantryman). When done, he'd go to jump school to earn his jump wings and then follow along into the Pre-SF training program. At some point he'll be sent to Special Forces Selection (Selection) and if selected, he'd then be sent to the SF Qualification Course (Q Course). If he makes if it all the way through, he will then earn something within the 18 series (Special Forces) MOS B, C, D, E (You can look up the specifics for each designation).

Other than that you can ask his recruiter if he can get an "Option 40" contract will will put him on the pathway (with NO guarantee) towards going to the Ranger Regiment. Same basic path, OSUT at Ft. Benning, Jump School then onto RASP 1 (Ranger Assessment and Selection Program) Phase 1 and 2. If he makes it, he'll stay 11B but will wear the earned and honored tan baret. The at some point he'll be sent to Ranger School. Generally, if he fails Ranger School, he'll be removed from the Regiment and sent elsewhere in the Infantry world.

If he doesn't make it through the 18X or Option 40 program, he will still be an Infantryman and be sent to a unit based on the needs of the Army. After that he can always drop a packet and try again for SF or try again for RASP.

As another member mentioned, make sure it's contracted. If it's not in writing, it wont happen. Remember, recruiters are under tremendous pressure to get him to sign. The recruiter doesn't really care about what MOS he picks, as long as it's less paperwork for the recruiter and he can easily slide in. Don't settle. Ask TONS of questions and ALWAYS double verify everything the recruiter tells you, and read everything they give you sign 2, 3 or even 4 times over.

-Best

[ElvenSoul]

Chaplin Assistant!

Go get a degree online in Religion and go Officer

They are so short handed.

[oktavist]

18 series all starts at sergeant rank as far as I know, but I could be wrong... Probably can't go straight into it from basic. Definitely ask the recruiter about it though.

Also, the list of available jobs will be smaller than the "qualified" list. There's only a certain number of openings. If something he wants isn't currently available, he can wait 'till it opens up.

[ChuckDizzle]

Go 11X with Airborne and 82nd Airborne in the contract as first duty station.

There is no better place to be for the ambitious young soldier than as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg. You name a school, and the unit has slots for it. You keep your nose clean, promotions come fast. I hit E5 before my 21st birthday.

And selection is just down the street.

[mike415stone]

Crypto, plenty of good paying jobs with Uncle Sam later when he gets out

[rero360]

It's been a while, but when I was in it was better to get jump school in your contract then to try and get in later. I turned down an Airborne contract thinking I could get in later, and that did not work out. Schools were very hard to get into (Airborne, Air Assault etc...). Maybe some others that were in more recently can chime in, but I would get as much up front as possible.

Same here, I turned down airborne on my contract and 15 years later I still haven't gone.

Tell him to pick a job he can use on the outside. The infantry pretty much qualifies you to be a janitor and if he goes sf and washes out its needs of the army.

Pretty much, I have 11B, 31B, and 13F under my belt, none really help me on the civilian side.

Go 11X with Airborne and 82nd Airborne in the contract as first duty station.

There is no better place to be for the ambitious young soldier than as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg. You name a school, and the unit has slots for it. You keep your nose clean, promotions come fast. I hit E5 before my 21st birthday.

And selection is just down the street.

Or have him go 13F, which is what I am currently, I don't know about active but the guard is super under manned in this field and promotions come as soon as possible. I was stuck at E4 at an 11B because we didn't have the slots and nobody wanted to leave the unit to get promoted, then once we moved to 31B pretty much everyone moved up a rank and then the same thing happened, got stuck as an E5 for a couple of years. Moved to CA and changed to 13F and picked up my E6 immediately, then E7 as soon as I hit time in grade. I can almost guarantee that I'll pick up my E8 the same way. I have one squad leader who is an E6, the other 3 are E5s, and while we just promoted a bunch of guys to E5, there are still some open slots, and once those guys in the squad leader positions get their butts to school I can move them up and open more E5 slots. Plus I only have 6 lower enlisted in my platoon, if I don't get more guys pretty soon I'll have a platoon of just NCOs and LTs

[Snoopy47]

Chaplin Assistant!

Go get a degree online in Religion and go Officer

They are so short handed.

That is soooo true. Three of us direct commissioned from my Intel Unit. One stayed Intel, I went Logistics, and one went Chaplin. The Intel officer and myself are 2LT's and we commissioned from SGT (E5).

The Chaplin was a Specialist (E4), but had a degree and did seminary school. So he Commissioned as a 1LT directly, and after a few months of Army Chaplin school became a CPT (O3). POOF Captain inside of 6 months.

[dc7rr1]

Thanks for all the great info. I'll send this to my nephew.


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[1CavScout]

That is soooo true. Three of us direct commissioned from my Intel Unit. One stayed Intel, I went Logistics, and one went Chaplin. The Intel officer and myself are 2LT's and we commissioned from SGT (E5).

The Chaplin was a Specialist (E4), but had a degree and did seminary school. So he Commissioned as a 1LT directly, and after a few months of Army Chaplin school became a CPT (O3). POOF Captain inside of 6 months.

I just reconnected this past summer with some guys I served with. One was an E-4 when I got out, now he is an 0-5 and a Chaplain. It has definitely been a good career path for him. He is close to retirement now.

[11bangbang]

Agree, and with all the 18x/OPT40 wash outs that end up at Bragg he can learn a good bit about SFAS and/or RASP if he keeps his ears open.

Go 11X with Airborne and 82nd Airborne in the contract as first duty station.

There is no better place to be for the ambitious young soldier than as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg. You name a school, and the unit has slots for it. You keep your nose clean, promotions come fast. I hit E5 before my 21st birthday.

And selection is just down the street.

[BarrettM99]

Tell him Rangers lead the way! He can always try for SF or "The Unit" as a Ranger.

Also a medic option would be good once he's out. Ranger docs are some of the most respected medics out there.

RLTW!!