From one of the FOG's..

In 1969, April-November, I was assigned as S4 to C 6th. I spent 8 months at Ft Bragg,, of which 2 months at Scuba in KW & Nov leave prior to Nam.

For the other 5 months (less a 3 wk FTX in Nantahala), I spent as much time as I could down on the flight line trying to bum a jump. I managed to get 27 or 28 jumps.

As a very Jr 2nd LT,, I spent a LOT OF TIME in 82nd lines,, but perseverance pays,, you just need to suck it up...

And Smile... :D:D:D:D Because your having fun..

All this...and a paycheck too.

Absolutely concur.............;););)

Big Teddy :munchin

The point of my post was not to complain. I dont have any need to do that here. I only meant to open a window of information for civilians who know nothing about the military and think it's cool and high speed all the time. There's fiction and there's reality. Everything I stated in my post is based on the realities on the ground as voiced by the majority of candidates (including the prior service guys). Why shouldn't people have that information? If it changes their mind, then clearly SF isn't for them. Am I going to quit? No. Do I think Basic training, airborne school, and sf-hold are poorly run programs that waste huge amounts of time doing nothing that could be spent training? Does the average highschool sports team have a better PT program? Yes. Most people agree. I'm just saying it. Please don't kill the messenger. I think we should want to improve these things. I'm an engineer. It's my nature to want to fix things.

On the other hand, as I said before, sopc and sf were well run (I would say excellent) programs. The cadre were professional and impressive. The training was excellent.

I'm sorry to the military people who took this the wrong way. It's just information. I have received several messages from people thanking me for the alternate perspective (sorry i can't respond to everyone just yet). *I am grateful and happy to be to be in the sf pipeline. *It has been a lifelong dream of mine. I hope SF is an environment where it's acceptable to point out the improves and sustains...

amatlis - Nothing personal, just a few "words of wisdom". You're like most other engineers I've run into over the years. All about identifying the problem without considering the human factors (tact). Right doesn't mean popular. FWIW - you've described situations that've existed pre-Hannibal in every military in the world. Discovering it for yourself and learning to deal with it is one of the rites of passage. I've got an office full of guys who're ALWAYS willing to share their observations about "the Emperor's clothes". Probably why some of them are at HQ and not on teams anymore. Messengers make great targets; just one of the facts of life. blue02hd is a personal friend; he's also a deployed Team Leader. His reply is right up the middle WRT the typical reaction you can expect to get from your post. Guys who are actually in the fight and still having to put up with the local versions of the Charlie Foxtrots (cluster f**k) you're sharing from your training perspective aren't going to be inclined to "share the love". If you learn to fill the wasted time constructively, and put a positive spin on it, you'll be an asset anywhere you wind up. Otherwise, nobody will want you around - it won't matter how good you are. Human nature; nobody likes having their noses rubbed in the s**t. The further up the food chain they are, the less they like it - and the more likely they are to take their dislike out on the messenger. Good luck. And learn a little more about human nature. After all - people are the tools of your new trade. Learn to influence them gently and you'll get a lot further.

I'll keep it short.

Just remember when the rumors and G-2 are flying around, no matter what--if you were given a detailed day-by-day briefing of what you were expected to do at selection--you still have to do it. Its more fun when they keep you guessing anyways.

Also--on a slightly different note...

There is no delicate way to put this, but use those pink slips to the best of your ability. There are a lot of reasons people probably shouldn't be in the program, ranging from the subtle to the horrifyingly obvious. Thus far my experience has shown that there is still a light at the end of the tunnel and the really serious cases will either take care of themselves or be spotted and outed by the cadre (thank god). Anyhow, be fair and be clear why you think someone is unqualified, whether it be they complain about everything, have a bad attitude, act entitled, don't put forth the effort, ride your coattails, or are just that dude you get that baaaad feeling about. Be sure you put it down when you get the opportunity. Articulate yourself as well as you possibly can. And perhaps most importantly, remember, as one individual related to me, "It's called Special Forces, not special friends."

This is just my very humble opinion. Am I the most qualified person to comment on this? Absolutely not. Am I too harsh a judge of the relative value of others? Maybe. But I also believe that by keeping one's standard for themselves at an unattainably high level, they will likely succeed in their endeavors. Be tough, be fair.

So much for keeping it short. I hope those preparing to make the journey find some use here. This is a great thread and another great addition to the website.

Just got home from SFAS class 01-11 SELECETED 11C

Things I learned that I would change if I had to go again, along with some tips..do and dont's.

1. Cannot stress this enough, bring tons of socks. Also you can string some 550 cord from your ruck to to hang wet socks from to dry during the day. Trust me they WILL get wet

2. Any chance you get, change out your socks and powder your feet.

3. Canteen straws can make or break you. Its too hard during a ruck to keep drinking from a 1 qt. I was given one there by an X-Ray. If I had to go again I would bring several so I could give one to someone.

4. Don't cut the ruck weight close to the standard. Go over a few pounds because you will have to weigh in and it looks bad.

5. Don't be the guy sleeping when your not authorized to, especially during team week

6. Eat EVERYTHING from your MRE's

7. Don't show up with long hair! You will just look like an asshole

8. bring alot of tshirts

9. bring several insoles and change them out. Dry socks and dry insoles can turn a bad day around for you

10. Pay attention to all land nav training and try your best on the PE's

11. Learn how to pack a ruck so it will be comfortable to wear for up to 10 hours

12. Massage your legs and feet every night.

13. Spend your fireguard shifts doing deep stretches

14. Train running and rucking in sand or offroad

15. RESPECT both the cadre and peers

Thats all I can think of right now gents.. best of luck

Allow me to add to this valuable comment. Your ability to write well is also noted, along with your demographic, i.e. 19, GED, 18X, etc. When someone reads a poorly written pink slip...or one that clearly shows your lack of experience...it's noted.

Congratulations!

Congratulations on being selected.

From your point above, I realize what a miracle it was that so many of us old timers luckily squeeked through, since we only had canteens with no straws/hoses from which to drink.

Just a few thoughts from a FOG:

It's called Selection, not entitlement. Others have a say, make the impressions the right ones.

If you are not 100% sure you want to be at Selection (or the Q) you probably shouldn't be there and have taken a slot from somebody who really does want to be there.

Be honest with yourself and others, if you screw up, admit it - If others screw up, let them know and if you can guide them to unscrew themselves, do it.

When you are doing individual stuff, excel. when you are doing Team stuff, help everybody excel - one person giving 110% for himself when other members of the Team are only giving 50% is still a Team Failure.

In order to lead, learn how to follow and do not be afraid or unwilling to do whatever is asked, or you will have to ask of others.

Next step:

It's called the Qualification Course, in order to pass you need to be qualified, which is not easy, as the baseline is excellence.

Take all of the advice above to the next level.

SFAS Advice
 

Along with all the other outstatnding information on this thread(and for that matter on this site); be prepared to ruck long distances with VERY WET boots. Those of you who think you will be able to stop during an event and change your socks will be hurting during team week and during the STAR Exam(s) when it is impossible to keep your feet dry. Just my .02 Cents.

I can't remember being in the sticks with dry boots, socks, pants, shirt, etc. It's just the way it is. It's either raining, you're crossing swamps (rhymes with damp), or you're just plain sweating through everything. No big deal. Embrace the moisture! Welcome to SF - if it sucks, you're doing it right. :D

5th Group
 

Thats why I liked 5th Group. When your cloths got really salt stained and your hands really, really dirty you just rubbed them together until the dirt balled up into little rolly balls and then wipe them on your pants. Ve-oooolaaaa your hands are clean enough to dig into that MRE - while you dreamed of orders to 7th Group where they got per diem, lived in hotels and ---- and ---- damn, never did get them orders.

Hey, it's mind over mater. If you don't mind - it don't mater. Think of the bright side - they may beat you and they may kill you but at least they wouldn't eat you - cannibalism is against the law.

Guys, lets have the trip down memory lane elsewhere and stay on topic here, SFAS advice.

Appreciate it.

TR