It's Hard to Wait
 

Co Lawman,

I know your anxiety level is running high. I was very emotional when I got the call from our son that he had passed Robin Sage. It's great to hear that your son is continuing toward his goal. Based on what I've heard of him, he will successfully complete Robin Sage. At this point in the training pipeline it seems that the focus is on working to get our young men toward the goal and not so much weeding them out, though that still can and does happen.

My son is two months into his six month Korean Language School and I still have anxiety about that. He seems to be taking it all in stride but only time will tell.

Thinking positively now: when your son completes his training, when will he graduate? Has he already done the language training?

Take care and let us know the outcome.

With respect and admiration,

18 X Dad

Sometimes I wonder if the pipeline has a peripheral goal of preparing us parents for all the times ahead where our sons are going to be off somewhere doing important things and we won't be able to contact them to ask how they are doing.

My thoughts are with you CoLawman. I hope he passes with flying colors. :)
How long until you find out?

--Aric

Robin Sage is scheduled to end on the 26th of this month. He is then starting Arabic. Counting down the days.

My G Chief
 

I was in SFOC 78-1 and had the pleasure to winter in the Carolina wilderness. His G Chief name was Juajolote Gordo (you 7th SFGA guys can translate). Wally was an incredile role player (if he was doing that), he knew all the locals and really gave the students leaders a going over. Thanks, Wally!

It was HOT!!
 

I did robin Sage in August somewhere near Troy. We had heat category 5 every day. We still trained but the G's that were in the base camp were allowed to lay up sorry and eat watermelons from a nearby watermelon patch all day. After about two days, we made sure the missions left the base camp early and all the gs went out! I also learned just how wild the summer thunderstorms can be here in NC. I was in a hammock about 50 feet from a longleaf pine that had the top blown off of it. I learned a new respect for lightning that day!
Your son is getting the best instruction from the best soldiers in the Army so he is in very capable hands. You should be very proud that your son decided to serve this country during a time of war and that he chose Special Forces.
Good Luck Sir!!

And even prouder that Special Forces chose him. You raised him right.

Finally The Call!
 

Got the call this morning! :lifter The son is back from Robin Sage and sounded great. He stated that without a doubt it was the most effective training he had experienced to date. He was extremely impressed with the cadre and the exercises. He has not learned his Group assignment yet, but believes he might learn it before the week is out. Arabic starts next Monday. They get a four day weekend so he has his girlfriend flying in for the R&R.

Congratulations, that is awesome!

Thank you for raising him so well, and thank him from me for serving.

Martin

Congrats
 

So happy to hear that your son passed and is continuing on the journey. Please tell him congrats from 18 X Dad. Look forward to hearing more updates.

Good news, thanks for sharing it CoLawman! Please pass along congrats to your son.

Congrats to your son on completing another step in the journey.

Congrats CoLawman!

--Aric

Colawman,

I have an idea who your son is. Big fellow, reddish blonde hair, from Colorado? (My guess is based on your handle and where the fellow I'm thinking of is from and his prior occupation.) If so, I was in the Echo course with him, and he's a very good guy.

I finished Sage on Monday as well. Great training. I'd do the last two weeks in the field again right now if given the chance just for the extra experience. (Though I'd prefer to skip the 24 hour, 135 lb ruck infil. We definately needed to rethink what we packed in.)

On the downside, manpower shortages meant some teams only had G's for a week. (In my team's case, we got G's on the second week.) On the plus side, some of our G's, when we finally got them, turned out to be rather special, which was intimidating at first but they ended up helping us out considerably and being great teachers. (And they stayed in role, unlike the G's from support units.)

There are some big changes with Sage, including one that's likely not to sit well with folks. I'd prefer not to say here in the open but will answer PMs from the appropriate persons.

Colawman,

Congrats to your son. What's next?