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Subject: Enlisting in National Guard SF
keensetofpeepers    11/23/2005 12:26:57 PM
Hello, I'm new to this board, but it seems like there are some former SF/SOF operators out there. I've recently decided to enlist in a 19th SF Group unit (haven't enlisted yet), and I'm about to meet up with some guys from the unit in a few weeks' time for a "process interview", I'm guessing some kind of mutual feeling-out process to determine if I'm a fit with them. After that, the recruiter said, I will take the ASVAB and be on my way to joining the unit, after which they'll send me through a pipeline of schools culminating in SFAS and the Q course. I guess the biggest concern for outsiders like me with no prior service (i'm 23) and want to become part of the community is: can I make it? I'm training up for a sprint triathlon now, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience/advice that they might be willing to share, preparing mentally/physically or about SF in general.
 
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Yimmy    RE:Enlisting in National Guard SF   11/23/2005 12:31:51 PM
Why do you want to be in "special forces", rather than a more conventional unit, such as Mechanised Infantry? ...if you can easily answer that, and for whatever reason you want to be in badly enough, then no doubt you will succeed. "It can be done", and all that. As long as you are of a good level of fitness, it will be mind over matter stuff.
 
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Horsesoldier    RE:Enlisting in National Guard SF   11/23/2005 12:55:42 PM
>>After that, the recruiter said, I will take the ASVAB and be on my way to joining the unit, after which they'll send me through a pipeline of schools culminating in SFAS and the Q course.<< If you're joining a line company (rather than a battalion/group support company) you'll be carried as Non-Qualified Personnel (NQP) until they get you a date for SOPC 1 and then SFAS (unless 19th Group has stopped sending people to SOPC 1). As an NQP you may get some very good preparatory training or may not -- it depends entirely on the unit you're joining. My experience with NQP programs has been that they are generally very good, though I don't know anything about how 19th Group units do it. >>I guess the biggest concern for outsiders like me with no prior service (i'm 23) and want to become part of the community is: can I make it?<< The training pipeline is not set up to fail out guys off the street, though you will need to get up to speed rapidly on your land navigation and small unit tactics (hopefully both these will be addressed when you are an NQP). Some very good guys come into SF with no prior military experience, so don't think that not having time in service will disqualify you. But do expect that some aspects of the training will require more of you than they do of a guy who has, for instance, spent four or five years in an infantry unit. >>I'm training up for a sprint triathlon now, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience/advice that they might be willing to share, preparing mentally/physically or about SF in general.<< Don't quit. Listen and learn while you are an NQP. Just out of curiousity, which company in 19th Group are you looking at joining?
 
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keensetofpeepers    RE:Enlisting in National Guard SF   11/24/2005 5:13:47 PM
thanks, the unit i'm interested in is Co. C, 2/19th. yeah they mentioned they have a pre-SFAS program that they strongly encourage their guys to attend after Airborne or PLDC, I guess that's SOPC1?
 
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Horsesoldier    RE:Enlisting in National Guard SF   11/24/2005 9:36:58 PM
I've worked with some guys who are in A/1/19th and I think A/5/19th (some 5/19th company in any case) -- don't know anything particular about 2nd Battalion and its sub units and/or guys in it. On SOPC, there are two of them. SOPC 1 is pre-SFAS training, SOPC 2 is pre-Small Unit Tactics. Group itself may or may not have an in house pre-SFAS program also, above and beyond the prep you'll get at weekend drills as an NQP -- I know 20th Group has one or had one in the past. Coming in off the street, both SOPCs will probably be to your benefit -- SOPC 1 has definitely boosted the pass rate for guys in SFAS, as I understand it, and it was initially started for guys like you with no prior military experience who came in on the active duty 18 X-ray program. SOPC 2 will help you get up to speed on SUTs, which is another pretty common fail point -- if you can make it into the Q Course itself your odds of passing, statistically speaking, are not so bad (but it certainly can be done, particularly if you are going after 18D or E). Most of the weeding out comes in SFAS and SUTs.
 
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GOP    RE:Enlisting in National Guard SF   1/1/2006 12:47:51 PM
You can definitely make it, but like Horse Soldier says, the land nav and small unit tactics will definitely be a little tougher for someone who is new to the military. I don't know how long you have until you enlist, so my advice may or may not do you any good, depending on when you want to enlist. As far as fitness goes... Continue to train for your traithlon, you are definitely going to need to be in excellent cardio health/shape. Get used to marching in a heavy ruck (about 60lbs)...both on the road and in the field. I'd suggest taking a hiking trip (and I seriously mean this) with a heavy ruck...you will be a step ahead because you will know what it is like to walk long distances with some weight on your back and you might can even learn some map skills. Do a large amount of chinups, dips, situps, and pushups...and some pushups with your ruck on. You are going to have to have some endurance to get through the pt (you might already being doing some of this, I don't know)...but you also want to do some weight training. So, for weight training, you should do some powerlifting along with your bowdyweight stuff...here is a sample: Monday: Army PFT (take the Army PFT, that is) Tuesday: rest Wednesday: rest Thursday: Powerlifting...research some programs here: Friday: rest Saturday: light bodyweight day Sunday: rest (repeat cycle again on Monday) This will give you a nice balance of strength and endurance (if you give it time...again, I don't know exactly when you plan on enlisting). Remember to eat big, get plenty of sleep, and do you triathlon training. You can definitely get through it, it is all about mental toughness. I would recommend talking to some current or former SF in person and asking their advice, because they can help you tremendously.
 
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