US Special Forces ?

[hardqor]

I know this is a basic question but I couldn't find any coherent explaination on any websites.

On www.goarmy.com they have Special Forces as a career option? What unit is this exactly? Green Berets??
Can you enter the Special Forces straight from civilian?

[100_Percent_HOOAH]

hardqor,

Yes, they are talking about the Green Berets. The program the Army has now lets civilians join with a special forces Mos (18x I think). You have to have a certain asvab score to get this in your contract, as well as pass certain physical requirements.

[Phil_EFMB]

Army Special Forces has opened up recruiting to civilian applicants over the last year or two. Previously, SF would only accept enlisted candidates in the rank of E-4 or E-5.

As a civilian, if you meet their prerequisites, you would enlist under the 18x option. When you enlist in the Army, you would go to basic training and AIT as an 11-series Infantryman. Somewhere along the way, you will attend SFAS where Special Forces decide if they want you or not. If you make it through, great, you then begin the SF training pipeline for whatever 18-series MOS you are selected for. If you're not selected, you will be assigned to a regular line Infantry unit as good old 11B ground-pounder to serve out the remainder of your enlistment.

[Bulkowski]

Phil is right. I am actually going to go into the same thing in a few years to be a weapons sergeant. Just talk to the guys in the chat, they are very nice and extremly helpful

[hardqor]

Thanks for the information guys,
If you fail SFAS, can you switch to a Ranger contract? Airborne training and then Ranger school instead of just regular 11B?

[Dmitri]

Probably not, slots in Ranger schools are full way ahead of time, so you would have to wait for a while, and then if your captain lets you, you can try. But you still can go 82nd since you should have airborne school after basic in 18x contract

[warchild1/27scout]

but you'd probably atleast be airborne qualified when you got booted so you would'nt just be plain jane leg grunt and you might go to airborne unit or even maybe go to rip(ranger indoctrination program) and bat if you choose then when you earn your slot at battalion you'd go ranger school. long road to hoe. good luck if you try and remember. never give up! thats the secret. woot

[Dominique]

If you flunk out or drop out of SFAS you will probably end up going to the 82nd (that's where they are currently sending people), or to an airborne unit in Italy (the 173rd ) or Alaska.

Once you get there though, you can apply to go Ranger School, but the unit's leaders are going to pretty much have those slots locked down so it's going to be a while before you can try to get one yourself.

Also, just becuase you fail the first time around does not mean that you can't come back and try again later.

[NcDeuce]

PERSEC

[NcDeuce]

PERSEC

[18C4V]

You fail SFAS as an 18X then it's needs of the army. Not Bragg, Italy, but places like Korea. Just because you're airborne qualfiied does not mean you will be sent to an airborne unit. Then it's either try out for SFAS again from mother army or call the Ranger recruiter for a shot in RIP. If you fail SFAS you can't negotiate for another contract. That's why as an 18X you enlist for 5 years.

Guys,
Unless you've been down the road don't put out information that's incorrect. I'm sure he appreciates the postive feedback, but info that's bad is not good.

18X program is now open to all SF enlisted MOS's....with the exception of 18F.

The pipeline is this:

OSUT
Airborne School (3 wks)
SOPC I (3 wks)
SFAS (24 days)
SOPC II (3 wks)
PLDC/BNCOC (19 days)
Phase II (SUT) (42 days)
Phase III (MOS dependant)
Phase 4 (Robin Sage) 38 days
Phase 5 (language) 18 to 26 weeks
Phase 6 (SERE) 19 days.

Good luck.

[Beowulf]

Saber....do you need a prior 18 series to get the 18F?

[18C4V]

Saber....do you need a prior 18 series to get the 18F?

Yes,
You need an 18 series mos for 18F. It's a coded intel position on the team (1 slot per team). If there's an openeing, it's up to the team sgt to recommend someone to go.

[SABER 2-3]

Beowulf,
The above listed is correct. That slot is often given to team members who have ODA time and or an intell background. Team Leaders recommend to Co. CO and Bn./Grp. S-2 for selection.

[Beowulf]

that's what i thought....I meant to address that question to 18C3V but I wrote Saber by mistake....doh!

18C.. I just went to a commo class at SWC to learn about the prc 150, it was a good class, nothing too advanced but that radio kicks much ass. HF is pretty interesting, and they threw in some antenna theory. Plus I went TDY so I was making that good per diem.... woot
All best
-b

[18C4V]

that's what i thought....I meant to address that question to 18C3V but I wrote Saber by mistake....doh!

18C.. I just went to a commo class at SWC to learn about the prc 150, it was a good class, nothing too advanced but that radio kicks much ass. HF is pretty interesting, and they threw in some antenna theory. Plus I went TDY so I was making that good per diem.... woot
All best
-b

LMAO,
Good for you for the TDY. I'm heading to Bragg on Saturday for ANCOC myself. Talk to you later and you got my email addy if you got questions about SFAS or SFQC.