commo support team in a NG SF unit

[static]

i am assigned to the 19th SFG in WV and will be reporting soon and was wondering as to the job skills, requirements and options for advanced schools there. just trying to get a feel for the environment and what is expected from me before i show up. please feel free to e-mail me with any info from anyone assigned to the 19th so that i am not showing up uninformed. thanx

[E19]

What military training have you had? How did you get "assigned" to the 19th? One usually joins (volunteers) and knows what to expect.

[static]

E-19,
i was on active duty at bragg for four years with single, and multi-channel experience. i was on jump status since right after ait and spent the rest of my enlistment "chasing." when i got out, i wanted to stay on jump status with the gaurd and my local choices were civil affairs and rigger...( HELL NO! )
so the IST people got me a contact and i spoke with them and got assigned with the NQP for an E slot. basically i wanted to know the difference in an SFG from working regular single channel operations. just for curiosity really. any response will help i'm sure. btw...what group are you with? i see your name posted often. thanx

[E19]

Static,

I was in the 19th SFG many moons ago. Since you will be in the NQP program ...I assume you will be training to go to SFAS and then to SFQC (assuming you are selected. That's a major commitment of both time and energy to earn the 18E. SF definately will be different than any of your previous experiences in the Army. I'm not sure what you ment by commo support team. The structure of SF has changed somewhat since my day. Best of luck.

[static]

E19,
i talked with a few guys that are assigned to the 19th now and was originally requesting to be put on the commo support team as i thought i had to prove myself before getting a slot for SFQC. i wasn't aware that an NQP group existed. any advice that u may have on anything regarding selection or the Q course is greatly appreciated. a few of my friends went through sfas and the q course in 97-98. they were all E's and are stationed with 10th in germany right now. i will get alot of help from them but help for the NG side of the house will help also. really don't know what to expect if any difference at all. thanx again.

[SOTICgrad]

What are everyone's thoughts on NQP in the SF Guard (or former reserve)? Are they team guys or are they support guys, whether they were on a team or not?

On active duty it's not a consideration. It's not like Ranger Bn. where you can get a contract and show up, if you pass a 3 week indoc, albeit a tough one, you're in (might not hack it, but you're there then). Before you show at Group your gonna go through a 3 week selection, IF you're selected, then you're in school for a minimum of 6 months, MOS dependent. Even when you could go to Group off the street, 1980's, you still had to go to the course first.

In the Guard you have guys that show up, NQP's, and train up to go to SFAS. Are they put on teams before they go? Are they put on teams once they pass SFAS, but before SFQC? If they are on teams, but not Q'ed, where do they stand in everyone's eyes? I know back in the reserve days they had guys on teams for YEARS that never went to the course or failed it. Even when they had the heinous "paper" course for a short lived time, guys weren't getting Q'ed. That seems pretty lame to me.

What's everyone think on this?

Matt

[Mike]

E19, were all or most personnel from the 11th and 12th SFG (Army Reserve) transferred to the 19th and 20th SFG (National Guard)?

And to all, what is the total number of personnel in the 19th and 20th?

[E19]

Mike,

I wasn't around when that happened, but I would doubt it for two reasons that come to mind. First the geographic locations of the units, and second an individual would have to enlist in the particular NG unit of his own choice. As I recall you can not be assigned to a unit more than 50 miles from your home. I recall someone saying that the assets of one AR SF Detatchment were turned over to the 20th (in VA, I believe),but the individuals would have had the option to join the NG or transfer to another AR unit (of course it would not have been SF). It's not uncommon for guys to travel great distances to be in an SF unit, but it's their choice.

[E19]

SOTIC,

The NQP is put in a NQP platoon for assessment and training leading to SFAS.
The purpose is to weed out those candidates, that wiil not make it in SFAS. Saves the NG & the Army wasted slots (time & $$!) in SFAS. The NQP is neither a support guy, nor a team guy, he's a candidate for SF. If he's not SF material he could be assigned to a support element or transfered to another Guard unit. I think it is a very good concept. This is my understanding of the program and is not firsthand knowlege, since this did not exsist when I was in.

[SOTICgrad]

E19
NQP sounds like a good plan, but what did they do in the old days (80-90)? How long could someone be "on a team" and not be SGQ'ed? I would think group would get rid of folks that can't or won't cut it as far as the course, but I've heard of guys staying in NG/R groups for awhile and not going or failing the Q. What's the scoop on this folks?

[TANGOisinKOREA]

is there a maximum distance one can live from a NG Unit. I am very interested in the NQP positions but live in AZ. No one here but gun bunnies and MPs. This goes against my 11B moral code. But there are NG SF groups in CO UT and CA. Are they too far from the Armys perspective?

Thanks in advance

[E19]

Sotic,

I can't comment on what went on during "the old days(80-90)"as you put it, since that was a decade after my era ("the stone age"?).

Tango,

Check out this site http://www.rc-sof.com/ and contact one of the units. They should be
able to give you the correct info.

[This message has been edited by E19 (edited 02-16-2000).]

[Snake]

Hmm,
I'm pretty sure you have to be a resident of the state in order to join that state's National Guard, but I could be wrong in that.


Snake
25th ID(L)

[E19]

Snake,

Unless the regulations have changed (since my time) you can join another states NG.

[Snake]

Oh.
OK, just making a guess, based on no prior experience. I guess it helps Guard units fill slots, as a unit could really deplete the local fishing grounds.

Snake
25th ID(L)

[SECON]

Snake,

You may enlist in a NG unit without being a resident. However, depending on the units deployment status you may have to receive permission from the CO if you live more than 50 miles away.

[Snake]

Ahhh, gotcha.
I would oofer the guess that permission is readily available from SF dets? Due to the scarcity of recruits?

Snake
25th ID(L)

[TANGOisinKOREA]

Thanks everyone for the help. I have e-mailed a few POC for more info.

One more stupid question. ARE NQP on Jump status as they await/train for SFAS? If so (part 2 of the one stupid question) is jump pay prorated in the NG or do you get the same amount as active duty?

Thanks again

[static]

Tango,
i am on jump status in the nqp team and our jump pay is prorated for the time that we do. we train for SFAS but otherwise we are just there, almost in a limbo status. we are not support and we are not on teams....we are there strictly for the purpose of preparing for selection. we sometimes get the chance to go train with the other teams but it is usually after you have been selected. i will try to answer other questions if anybody has more.

static, out