Professional Soldiers ® - Advice on an Officer MOS?

Professional Soldiers ® (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/index.php)

- 18A (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=77)

- - Advice on an Officer MOS? (http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1908)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lksteve

by the way, TR...a long time ago, in a land far away, i knew an MSC branched SF qualified officer...CRS, but i believe he was an SF medic gone astray...he had the group medical platoon at Devens around 77-78...?

That is different. He was SF before he took a commission.

I seriously doubt that MSC would let one of their guys go SF, Medical Branch only does it to let them get the Tab, not to be Detachment Commanders.

Then there is SGT Woods.

TR

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

That is different. He was SF before he took a commission.

true...although i understand that now it is not as straightforward for a prior service SF guy to branch SF after OCS and a tour in an accession branch...glad i did what i could when i did...

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Then there is SGT Woods.

TR

Sir,
Are you speaking of the MAJ turned SGT from 3/20?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorDoom

I'm being told that the only way any department in MC would allow an O3 doctor go to SFAS and the SFQC is if it did not interfere with their residency training, in other words during the GMO year. Since AMEDD is doing away with GMO years in the Army, the word I've gotten was "it ain't gonna happen so don't even ask." Given the high requirements for general surgeons right now, and for all doctors in the Army, combined with the need for slots for candidates that will actually serve on ODA's, it makes sense. The Army doesn't spend all this time and money training us so we can get hurt, waste training slots, or otherwise gum up the works.

I was also told by my Department Chief that the FAST teams are the way doctors work with SF, and there's no reason to have SF qualified doctors except in certain specific positions in USASOC. He said that it makes much more sense for 18D's to fill the surgeon slots at USASOC and SOCOM, rather than expect enough bookworm types like us to apply and then actually make it through the Q course.

Could just be their way of telling me me nicely...

BS.

If you want to go as a Doctor, and meet the requirements, follow my instructions. Call the USASOC Surgeon.

AFAIK, physicians going to assigmments in Group are occasionally permitted to attend the 18A Track SFQC, if you pass SERE and SFAS first.

TR

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

3. No idea. Why not go as a cadet?
TR

Just to chime in on the Ranger School issue and cadets....

Currently, Cadets from USMA, ROTC etc cannot attend Ranger School. The only time that the 60+ day course would fit into is the summer. Because we cannot recycle (that would cut into the academic school year, and lord knows we can't sacrfice math for military training....), we cannot attend....

But we sure can go to SFAS as a cadet!

Molon Labe
Never Quit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molon Labe

But we sure can go to SFAS as a cadet!

Molon Labe
Never Quit

Which is as complete and utter a waste of time as I have ever seen.

TR

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommoGeek

Sir,
Are you speaking of the MAJ turned SGT from 3/20?

Yes.

TR

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Which is as complete and utter a waste of time as I have ever seen.

what is the point in SFAS prior to commissioning...? is the intent to branch-detail officers at accession, then put them in the pipeline after 3-4 years?

Quote:

Originally Posted by lksteve

what is the point in SFAS prior to commissioning...? is the intent to branch-detail officers at accession, then put them in the pipeline after 3-4 years?

Negative.

This is a drug deal between GOs to let cadets play soldier for a few weeks.

Cadets are not evaluated by commanders in multiple OERs prior to attending, selected by a board, or held to the same standards as officers attending SFAS.

Nevertheless, they are permitted to attend, while ROTC cadets and OCS candidates are not.

IMHO, it is a waste of slots.

TR

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Cadets are not evaluated by commanders in multiple OERs prior to attending, selected by a board, or held to the same standards as officers attending SFAS.

so, if a cadet completes SFAS while a cadet at USMA, would still be required to attend for the record, as it were, after commissioning...? i agree...a waste of time and assets...what ever happened to Camp Buckner...? couldn't a detachment or three go up to WP and conduct some valuable training that would be of long term benefit...

Quote:

Originally Posted by lksteve

My old battalion - 1/11 SFG(A) - was headquartered at Newburgh, NY, maybe 20 miles from USMA. We used to conduct training for the cadets and IIRC even ran an air assault school for them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lksteve

so, if a cadet completes SFAS while a cadet at USMA, would still be required to attend for the record, as it were, after commissioning...?

It used to be that way when it started. No credit but the knowledge that you had made it.

Then a new SWCS CG decided that they should get credit for having completed SFAS.

No idea what the current deal is.

TR

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Yes.

TR

Thank you. His case and career path were "different" as I recall from the normal surgeon.

Blue Skies, SGT Wood.