"If you know of an AC component willing to unlock the door for a similar situation, set it up sir!!" As a matter of fact I do, the recruiting office nearest your home. We are currently short "Green Beret" applicants and, since we all know that you will qualify for it, there's a $40K enlistment bonus for you! You don't strike me as a part-timer who would settle for second best, you're not scared you won't qualify are you??! After all, we changed the requirement to allow you to do this, you aren't going to back out now are you?!!

"If you know of an AC component willing to unlock the door for a similar situation, set it up sir!!" As a matter of fact I do, the recruiting office nearest your home. We are currently short "Green Beret" applicants and, since we all know that you will qualify for it, there's a $40K enlistment bonus for you! You let Tiger Woods have a 'meet and greet' at Fort Bragg. I'm willing to put my life on the line once again for my country. It is not out of line to ask for a similar gesture of respect. I am a honorably discharged veteran of two military branches. Depending on what type of contract I agree to concerning my work in strategic though policy papers, I can easily command more than 40k. I am a perfectionist that has endured and encountered what would have permanently destroyed most men. Money does not motivate me. Its the work and the sacrifes that I am willing to make to be the best. I am open to enlist in the AC or ARNG. You don't strike me as a part-timer who would settle for second best, you're not scared you won't qualify are you??! After all, we changed the requirement to allow you to do this, you aren't going to back out now are you?!! I won't qualify? I have taken SOCOM further than some SOF leaders have ever dreamed concerning strategic thought. The fact that I have not asked for a direct commission is indicative of the humbleness I struggle to maintain. I am not the part timer type. However, I feel that I must show some loyalty to the military branch that accepted me when I was at my lowest point. I am not backing out. I may have to enlist in the active component. A Vietnam pilot saw one of my essays and contacted me. He basically let me know that I have the gift of making people reassess their long held beliefs concerning strategy and tactics. He felt as if I was playing with his mind, trying to rewrite history. Politicians fear that. I have political adversaries in the guard. They fear what I can accomplish upon my 'rise and commission.' They feel like I will write them out of the loop. I am keeping my options open. Believe it or not I am not that popular, yet, I never blame the institution. The ARNG is a moving train as well. To deny that by calling them second best is to cut your own throat theoretically when significant alliances are being formed against us all over the world. How dare you call an institution that has served America longer than you second best?

I do not know any of the particulars about applying for/joining/ etc. the special forces. Braddock, please correct me if I've misunderstood anything in the following: You will join a national guard SF unit, but only if the special forces let you join at Ft. Bragg? Is that typical or even occasionally done, especially for the NG unit in question? Displacedjim

"I am 42 and in great physical shape but my body does not recover from injuries as well as it did in my teen and twenties.I am wise enough to know my limitations.How many 40 year olds do you think can make it?I know I could more then max the PT at a 17Yr olds standard what I know I could not do today is Drive on thru injuries." -lrsrng I am 39 and I'm in pretty good shape for 39. I could run and do calisthenics at a younger soldier's standard. I might even be able to keep up on the obstacle course. There's no way I could hump a ruck. Not with any great distance, speed , or weight involved. And when I break something these days it just stays broke for a while. To volunteer for SFAS would be irresponsible for me, when someone else could be in that slot.

>>I do not know any of the particulars about applying for/joining/ etc. the special forces. Braddock, please correct me if I've misunderstood anything in the following: You will join a national guard SF unit, but only if the special forces let you join at Ft. Bragg? Is that typical or even occasionally done, especially for the NG unit in question?<< There are two routes to get into the two National Guard Special Forces Groups. Route A -- a guy who is 18-series on active duty, leaves the Regular Army, and decides he wants to get into the Guard for whatever reason. I'd guess this is loosely as common for 18 series MOS's as it is for other specialties coming off active duty in general, but more popular in the last few years since one can be in the Guard and work as a contractor for Blackwater, etc. Route B -- Guy off the street, or guy with other MOS already in the Guard decides he wants to join 19th or 20th Group and go get his tab. He enlists as a member of a line company in 19th/20th Group, or transfers into the same. The unit sends him to get his physical, any pen and paper testing required (DLAB come to mind), and then sends him on to SFAS (or SOPC I) when they can get him a slot and feel that he is ready (provided he's a go on any prerequisite stuff, and during that time they don't decide he's not worth the trouble). If he makes it, he's already slotted or forecast as a member of that unit, in a specific MOS, which will determine the Q course he goes to (or at least starts out in -- lots of 18B/Cs active and reserve start as 18D/Es . . .). The basic difference from going to selection on active duty is that the reserve component guys basically have a sponsoring unit who sends them up to Bragg to try and fill a vacancy in their MTOE. But, if the guy can't pass selection up at Bragg, he'll either have to find a home elsewhere in 19th/20th Group in a non-18 series MOS, or find some other unit. What Braddock is talking about (taking Braddock and his ascertainment skills out of the picture for the moment) is not that unusual, in other words.

hahaha, old Grunt, nice old school sarcasm and contempt, bte Braddock, I know a former 20th group Team Daddy, you do know what that is right super soldier?, now in the 7th, maybe he'd like to meet you for a chat too

In 1988 as soon as I left active duty I had an interview with a Major and a Captain of the 11th SFG at Ft dix Nj,there were 5 A teams based there at the time.They Looked over my records asked a lot of Questions about my skiing abilitys.They told me I would have to come in as a Sf Medic I had the scores for it and that was what they needed and that I would have to cross train in commo.The Captain said it would require a 100% commitment to complete the schools as they were available and plan anything personal around it.He said that the Q course could be done through correspondence with some 3 week segments at Bragg.Just seperating from the Active duty and wanting to start college I told them I could not commit.Anyone thinking about joining NG SF needs to realise you have to make a full time commitment for a part time job.

"I'm willing to put my life on the line once again for my country." Great, here's your chance. "Its the work and the sacrifes that I am willing to make to be the best." Again, here's your chance to be the best. "I am open to enlist in the AC or ARNG." Super, the AC has more credibility with the senior Army leadership so that would shorten the time before you would be in a position to officially and substantially affect the way we train and utilize or Special Operations Forces. It also has more operational and training opportunities as well as better pay and promotion rates. "I am not the part timer type. However, I feel that I must show some loyalty to the military branch that accepted me when I was at my lowest point." I don't understand your position on this, surely your ARNG peers and superiors must understand the perspective that you would bring with you into the Active Force. I think it would be an incredible display of loyalty to position yourself so that you could directly influence the AC decision makers on behalf of the ARNG. I'm getting a little worried here, it's starting to sound a little as if your "If I could only get the chance" statement was not entirely true. Please reassure me that this is not the case and allay my fears!

But I am glad to see you're still firing on all 4 cylinders Brad'...(that's 2 short of a 6 pack in case you were wondering). I haven't grinned this much since my son was born. mmm,(thinking) no, on examination that's a fair statement. Keep it up... and if you are feeling low and need some sort of motivation during your training, just remember the enjoyment you provide people like myself. I'm sure that will egg you on to new and greater heights. Works for me, I was told I wouldn't walk again, so I do it to irritate the doctor. Cheers W

Braddock, your 39 years old. You could be in great physical condition, but let's face it, the Q course is one of the hardest courses in the world. We are not talking about a desk job and writing essays, we are talking about rucking 20 miles at a 13 minute pace...most people couldn't ruck 3 miles at a 13 minute pace. The Q course is about working as a team, but it is also about competing and proving your mettle to the instructors (your reputation starts at SFAS and the Q course)...you think you can compete with 25 year olds? Don't feel pressured to do something you cannot do by guys on the internet. Talk it over with your family, friends, and ARNG officers, and make a realistic and wise choice FOR YOU. You don't have to prove your manhood to us. That would be irresponsible, a waste of time, and a waste of Uncle Sam's training dollars. Good luck