Road to SFAS

[BTDT]

Question just been finnally released from a Reserve Drill sgt. Unit going Active....was wondering what the best road would be to take to go S.F.? I was thinking of going 75th RANGER BAT. for a 2-3 years (it's not a TAB it's a way of life)...then put a 4187 in for SFAS....Would like to know other's thoughts on what route to take or route....-thnaks

[TWKINC]

BTDT,

You need to tell us who you are, age, MOS, jobs while in the military, what have you done, do you want to become a B, C, D or E? Is it just 18 or is 37F something you might want to try? What is your rank? PVT or NCO?

Not trying to get to personal here, just kinda basic shit so we can get an idea where you are coming from.

TRENT

[BTDT]

I'm an E-5 up for my six...been told will lose my stripes when I come in...(not to worried about that though, not in it for the money) will get it back fast I'm sure...Been in the military for 6.5 years...MOSQ's 11B20 and 62F20..Know alot about 55B shit could even run a ASP if need be...SICGARS Instructor also LMTS Instructor... been Mech. Infantry also been in an ORD. Unit....currently just released from 274th BTC Drill Sgt. Unit. Went to Germany during Operation Just Cause..Gone through a JRTC rotation....want to go S.F. down the road after spending some time at the 75th if possible....want to go 75th to gain operational experience before going to SFAS... interested in being a weapons specialist or com. spec. in S.F.......hope this info helps

[TWKINC]

BTDT,

Just my suggestion here and here it goes.

Not sure if you can come in with a different MOS (ie change to another) but you might want to check out 37F (PSYOP). A lot of people have never really thought about PSYOP but it is really a great MOS to get into. Travel the world just like the big boys. Learn small unit tactics like the big boys. And guess what, you train with them too. (The big boys that is)

Not trying to change your mind about the 75th, it’s a great unit with very high standards. But here a couple of things you need to keep in mind. Going into the 75th or going active 37F (9th BN, 4th POG) you will have to go to jump school. No it’s not tough just one of those school where injuries can and do happen in every class. But then look what happens to you.

(Rangers need help checking my info here)

With the 75th you will have to go through Airborne School and then something called ROPE. Not sure how or in what order it all works in but I do believe it works something like this, first RIP (3 weeks of real fun) then Pre-Ranger (more fun there) and then Ranger School.

With 37F all you have to do is pass 37F AIT and then Jump School.

The one thing I have heard over and over again are all of the injuries that happen while at RIP, Pre-Ranger and at Ranger School. Now lets say something bad happens to you while in one of those three “schools”, can you say hello Korea. Now you are stuck in 11B. Nothing wrong with 11B, I used to be one and am very proud of being apart of that brotherhood. But now you are also stuck in the conventional side of the house. Nothing wrong with that, there are a lot of very high speed units out there, LRS and Scouts.

But again you want to be a part of the Special Operations side of the house. The best way in my opinion is by going into 37F. When I went through the course last year we had several guys whom came from 1st SWTG as SF students. All of them planned on going back and giving it another go. To date I know of 2 who have done just that.

Again just my 2 cents and I am sure others have theirs too. Hopefully you will at least check in to it. This site has great info on PSYOP.

One thing to remember, should you choose to go into PSYOP make sure you ask, beg kick and scream for 9th BN. It’s the only BN that is tactical. Also there is now a high speed “Ranger Detachment” with their own assessment phase. Also 4th POG is working on getting Ranger School slots for the members of this “Ranger Detachment”.

I hope this helps or at least opens a few eyes for you and others. Good luck!

TRENT


[This message has been edited by TWKINC (edited 01-16-2001).]

[BrandonD]

Going to a Ranger Battalion is probably the best route to SF, but also the toughest especially since you're prior service. Personally I think the best time to go to a Ranger bat is when you're just starting out. When I say it's the best route it's primarily because I think that will prepare you more for SFAS than a leg unit or even the 82nd. However, keep in mind that if you do a few years in the 75th then you'll probably be discouraged about SF http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/wink.gif

[BTDT]

Was told today that RANGER school is for COMBAT ARMS now....don't think I'd like going into Psyops...I'm more of a Shooter kind of guy....If I can't get the 75th in my contract I'll try for a front line unit such as the 82nd, 101, 10th mountain....and go for LRSC...or RANGER school hopefully to get either a Gulf or Victor identier...then do a 4187 for SFAS....I find out Friday where I'm going at Mepps either going to sign on for 3 0r six depending on the money...might be able to get more money with a 3 year contract so when I reup get another bonus that is if I have a Victor or Gulf by then......

[Scout]

BTDT,

You're already an E-5, almost 6 and have the time in grade. Why not just go for SFAS immediately?

Scout

[adhoc]

Why beat around the bush?

[BTDT]

Why Because I'm coming from the Reserve side of the house and want more cobat experience.. so that I'm a better NCO... Yeah been in for 6.5 but all NGR and Reserve time...I've worked with active duty soldiers alot and alot of my close buddies are in combat arms Navy SEALS Southern Eoroepen Task Force Ect. I want to be more Combat Experienced....Before I go for S.F. there's no dought that I could go and Do SFAS right now but that's not the point.. coming from the Resever's side of the house have to get back in and get more operational experience...When I went to active duty drill Sgt. School I found that out...Some Soldiers look down on Reseve soldier's... and that it take's some time (well in my case not too long ) but they still have a have a crab up there ass sometimes....I don't play Freaking games though It took me frealing 4.5 Years just too get released from the reserve's twp congressman and two senator's because I was in a Tier ! unit......If I could go SFAS right away...that would be fine...I know I could do it...but I feel that to be an all around soldier that I need to get more time in the field....When I first was excepted into the Drill Sgt. unit I could of went through the reserve drill school and I said forget that...why set for second place when you can go through the active Drill school and get the best training you can..I didn't do it all for myself i did it for the PVT.'s why settle for second best,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[stephen]

BTDT,
Someone in your chain screwed you. I was a 54B (understrength MOS) in a tier 1 unit with 2 years left on my reserve contract and got released after about 5 months. I did have to send a nice flowery letter to reserve command before they'd cut me loose. I also had to pay back part of a signing bonus I had gotten. Also, the only way you can switch MOS's is if your current MOS is overstrength (yeah, I tried that to).

Rangers, How difficult is it to come from a regular unit to the 75th. Would I have to re-enlist for ranger or can I request it from my branch manager as part of a PCS?

Stephen

[rgr-jc]

BTDT,
Nothing wrong with wanting to go SF. I just don't really like for people to use the 75th for a stepping stone. I have several friends that went SF while in Batt. but none of them went to Batt. thinking that they would only be there 2-3 years. It is a way of life. The men there need you to be dedicated to the Ranger mission 100% and then some. No offense to you, but some people in the past have came to the 75th because it looks good on paper and to snatch up slots for various schools. Again, no offense to you and I wish you the best of luck in your pursuits.

-jc

[BrandonD]

As far as I know, if you're in a Ranger Bn you can go to Ranger school, regardless of MOS. Outside of that, last I heard they did restrict it to combat arms MOS. Keep in mind though that you aren't going to get 75th Ranger Regt in your contract, no one does. If you're already jump qualified then I think you can get RIP or most likely ROPE in your case in your contract, but you have to pass that evaluation program to actually get an assignment with the Regt.

[rgr-jc]

BrandonD,
you are correct except that it is R.O.P not ROPE. NCO's and O's go through R.O.P. Everyone else is R.I.P. Sorry about all of this being on the SF board.

-jc

[Sharky]

I'll throw this out there even though it may be wrong now since it's been a few years, but, when I went through I believe that ROP was for people who were already tabbed out. Not just O's and NCO's. I had two E-6's and several E-5's in my RIP class. None were tabbed. Everyone that I saw going thru ROP was wearing a Ranger tab. As a side note, only two of those NCO's graduated RIP and both went to 1st Batt. Both of them terminated before their first month was over.

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F.I.D.O.

[rgr-jc]

Sharky,
I believe that regardless if you are tabbed, you will attend R.O.P. if you are an NCO or O. If R.O.P. is passed, you will soon be moving over to Rgt. Pre-Ranger and then over to suck-school. I'm not sure if an officer without a tab can even go to R.O.P. In pre-ranger, there was a supply E-6 with me that had just completed R.O.P. This was in '94.

-jc

[alohanick]

BTDT,

Heres my two cents... YOU have to acknowledge your age, time in service, rank, and your current health. I spent my active time in the 75th and I was a "Ranger Baby". I believe that coming into Ranger Regt. as a "Newborn" is still the ONLY way to go. This is because you are untainted goods, and in the tradition of the Spartans you are pulled away at a young age from all that is comforting and wholesome and placed into an EXTREMELY mean and exacting purgatory. and true to one of the prior threads... "It is a way of life". Considering your rank and where you have been, I really believe that you would not like Ranger Regt. WHY do you ask? Simple. It is a young mans game. As you get older in the Regt you constantly have to find smarter ways of doing things physically and Motrin is a constant companion. This is to say that it is not that it can't be done, its just that there is always a smarter way of doing things. I myself am now in the National Guard SF and have just completed SFAS. COMBAT EXPERIENCE? I think that you need to hang out on the Gaza strip. I think a better term to use is just good ol' fashioned EXPERIENCE. Even the CAG guys and Virginia boys are not lobbing rounds every day. I jumped into Rio Hato during the Panama Invasion. Be careful for wishing for combat experience, because you just might get it! By going into SF as you are, you are not really denying yourself anything. You will get the experience. If you don't act like a shit head, listen to your experienced operators and team daddy, be a tab bearer and not a tab wearer, you will do fine If you think that you've got the huevos encased in Type IV Kevlar chicken skin to pursue a career in the SOCOM community then you should simply get it on. If you feel as though you don't have anything to donate to the cause...DONT.

This is just my two cents. Opinions may vary! Good luck.

Nick

"Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the rest of the show?"

[Ted]

I agree with my Ranger brethren. BTDT, I think that you will have a very difficult time in a Ranger BN, simply because you don't know how things are done there. In my experience, most imports (people coming to BN from other units) didn't last too long. Fer instance, say you come in as an E-5...will you become a rifle team leader? Hell no! You need to have several years of experience in the Rangers before you become an effective team leader. Your squad leader and platoon sgt. aren't going to have the time to teach you, especially when they can put in an E-4 and have him do a better job.

My advice would be:
1. come in as a pvt to the 75th and pretend you don't know anything, let yourself be taught, or

2. go the the 82nd, 101st, et al. or

3. go to a NG SF unit.

I wish you well.

p.s. the 75th is a regiment, not a bn.

[BrandonD]

Yep, I wouldn't even try to go to a Ranger Bn unless I was E-3 and below. E-4s in a Ranger Bn that have been there since their career inception are more squared away and combat/small team oriented than most E-6 11Bs on average (big generalization there but an educated guess). I just think otherwise you'll have a very tough time getting oriented to their very strict and regimented discipline/SOP/way-of-life and will have a very difficult time trying to prove yourself.

Still, if you persist - drive on!

[Sharky]

Originally posted by rgr-jc:
Sharky,
I believe that regardless if you are tabbed, you will attend R.O.P. if you are an NCO or O. If R.O.P. is passed, you will soon be moving over to Rgt. Pre-Ranger and then over to suck-school. I'm not sure if an officer without a tab can even go to R.O.P. In pre-ranger, there was a supply E-6 with me that had just completed R.O.P. This was in '94.

-jc


Yeah, that was just my experience at the time. It may have changed since then but we definitely had NCO's in my RIP class. Feeling old now. But not as old as Hazen and a few more.


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F.I.D.O.

[realpolypro]

NCO's with a Tab=ROP. NCO's w/o a Tab=Ranger School first(Enroute), then ROP. E-4 and below, Tab or not=RIP.


Poly

[BTDT]

Thanks for the advice brother's find out Friday morning at Mepps wear I'm going to go and shit...your advice means alot...one thing that dose bother me is if I go in as a for with a drill sgt. tab...I'm going to get shit any where I go ....and coming from the reserve side it will be tuff i think...I don't play games though I'm very squared away thik it just will take some time....thanks for the post's...I'll let you all know what happens after friday....Hooahhh!!
"Tou wa ichiji no haji,
towanu wa matsudai no haji"
(To ask may be a moment's shame,
but not to ask and remain ignorant is a lifelong shame)
..............-Sgt. Hill -OUT
.............-NOTHING FOLLOWS-..............

[E19]

What do you mean go in with Drill Sgt Tab?
When was that authorized?

[Sharky]

It's the newest tab....where you been? Sniper Tab, Jumpmaster tab, Jungle Expert Tab......

Before you bastards start firing at me, I am only kidding. http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/biggrin.gif

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F.I.D.O.

[This message has been edited by Sharky (edited 01-18-2001).]

[adhoc]

MOUT Tab

[WS-G]

BFD. I have a Heat Tab!

[E19]

Did someone say Hanging Chad!

[LRSC Grunt]

If you want to talk about a joke. What the fuck is this "Ranger Challenge" tab? WTFO????

[BrandonD]

Good one, Salter. I was laughing so loud a bunch of people came over to my workstation to see what was the matter. It's always hard to explain military jokes to folks who never served.

[crazyplf]

Yep, The DS badge is this huge pumkin looking thing that goes on the right pocket. Says, This we'll Defend. Is that what you ment..drill?

[alohanick]

ACTUALLY... It says, "This we'll offend!".

[WS-G]

Originally posted by E19:
Did someone say Hanging Chad!

(vocal impersonation of Butt-Head)

"Put that away, Chad! You know you're not supposed to have your penis out when you're voting!"

[FutureRanger2000]

LOL!

[FutureMustang]

.

[MFFI]

BTDT

Why volunteer to go somewhere you dont want to be? (i.e. 101st, 82d etc.) If you want to be a paratrooper, go to the 82d because you WANT to be a paratrooper. If you want to be a ranger, go to regiment because you WANT to be a ranger. If you want to be an SF guy, go to the Q' course. You are not going to get practice being an SF guy in the 82d, 101st, 75th, 10th etc........ You will get practice being a paratrooper, air assault guy, ranger, mountain dude etc in those units. If you are worth your salt as a drill, you should already be good at teaching BRM, small unit tactics, or common tasks. There is a WHOLE lot more BRM, common tasks, SUT, being taught OCONUS and a whole lot less advanced demo-hostage-rescue-VIP-snatchin'-CQB- cool guy stuff... Be patient with whatever route you pick, and good luck getting there.

[BTDT]

MFFI and other's...well this is what Meps said.. 101st, 25th, Lewis,... by Friday... but will lose stripes... but because I have stripes have to run me through DA for a slot to keep my 5... find out monday If I go in as a 5 who know's where I'll go If I keep my 5....or go to 101, 25th, Lewis,as a 4...so waiting on what happens on monday...........

[Sharky]

Go where you WANT to go and forget about the rank. You'll make the rank back again. An MOS is much more permanent. Remember, They need YOU! Make them give you what you WANT or dont go. If you take this attitude you will get what you want or at least a lot closer to it. Go in under YOUR terms, not theirs.

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F.I.D.O.

[Hotmike]

Bartender! I'll Take a Diet TAB!

Hotmike

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Diplomacy is the Art of saying "Nice Doggie" till you find a huge rock to crush his skull with...

[justagrunt]

Go to Lewis and go over to 2nd Batt and ask them if you can join... Go before you are to ship and see if they will give you a interview (Board) and if they want you they can pull you into their gains roster when your info comes through Post HQ for assignment...

[Ted]

It may be just me, but since when does a Ranger RN offer interviews? Is this now a part of "The Army of One"? Anyhow, if BTDT passes RIP, he will be sent directly to a Ranger BN, he won't be sent to the post.

[Sharky]

RIP, the ultimate job interview.

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F.I.D.O.

[BTDT]

Got 101st Scout's...Air Assault, RANGER in contract with $5,000 seasonal bonus, lost my stripes....NOTHING FOLLOWS

[Sharky]

Congratulations, although I'm not sure how you're gonna be a Ranger at Ft. Campbell.

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F.I.D.O.