What's his take on the Language Training intermingled with the other SF specific training?

Is it working, or just a mish-mash of topics thrown at him?

He says that it is good in the sense that he is getting some familiarization with it and he is able to use the Rosetta Stone software to work on pronunciation and recognition. The downside is that it is hard to spend much time outside of the language class working on it due to the workload of the 18C classes. At the end of the current two week language burst they will take the DLPT. I suspect that it is being done as an assessment of how well the new system is working. He certainly doesn't expect to pass it after only 25 or so days of instruction.

Another nice thing that happened about the time he started the 18C course was that he was promoted to E-4.

Here I am with another update. My son completed the 18C course a couple of weeks ago. He has been waiting to hear how they are going to handle the scheduling of the rest of his training. You may remember that he was in the first group to undergo the new pipeline. Well, due to scheduling constraints they are essentially shifting him back to the old pipeline. He has about a three month hold before he goes to the last Robin Sage session of the year. After he successfully completes that they are going to PCS him to Ft. Lewis for six months of language training. I assume, but don't know for sure, that they will then send him back to Ft. Bragg for a few days for graduation. If this schedule holds up it will have taken him approximately two years and nine months since he entered the Army to complete his training. The biggest holdup was getting recycled in SOPC. Normally that wouldn't have been such a big holdup but his class was the last one before they shut down SOPC for the summer so he had to wait until the end of the summer to do it again. So far all is good. He will get there eventually. :)

deployment and communication
 

I'm not sure if this topic has been covered previously, but are there restrictions as far as communicating with folks who are deployed? Can you set up a skype account or does all communication have to go through channels provided by Army? Has anyone had any luck using webcams and something like msn messaging? Any technology that doesn't require oil, is stretching my limitations.

Eldest left recently, youngest leaving in near future. I would like to get a head start on obtaining a system that works effectively, if that's possible.

Thanks.

Leave it to the Army to keep me on my toes. My son is not going to Robin Sage this year. He and a dozen other guys are being moved to Ft. Lewis to attend language school. The movers picked up his belongings today and he and his wife leave tomorrow to drive to Ft. Lewis. He does not have a start date for language school. He is being assigned to HHC, 1st SFG (Abn) and has to report there later this month. I have no idea when he will be sent back to go to Robin Sage.

Wow thats pretty interesting. Thats the first time I've heard that happening but I guess it falls inline with Robin Sage being the final phase of Q-Course now. He'll be arriving when the overcast drizzly days begin. Excellent :)

He implied that it is a very new situation. I think it just happened to be one of those details that they hadn't quite figured out. He and his wife are both pretty excited to be heading out that way. It would be nice if he had some idea when he would start his class but it really doesn't matter. He will be there until he finishes whether it starts in a couple of weeks or in a couple of months. He may be setting a record for longest pipeline for a non-18D, though. He is about to hit the two year mark for TIS and he clearly has at least seven or eight months to go. :)

How is life treating you out there, gtcrispy?

Life is good. I've been able to spend time seeing friends and family because of the downtime. It also didn't rain for about 3months so I defintely took advantage of the nice weather which I missed for 2years.

Ahem...I believe that the fridge is on the ground floor, to your right as you enter your team room door...:D, unless they have moved it to the second floor since I left. I recommend Henry Weinhart.

Haha good call. You are correct. :D

LOLOLOLOL damn how'd I miss that!

Welcome to Washington
 

I can't recommend an area for your son and wife to live during their time in Washington as I've never lived in that part of Western Washington. That being said, if it were me, I would probably look south of Fort Lewis - perhaps the Lacey or Olympia area. I don't think I would look in Tacoma. My son lives in University Place and it seems to be a pretty decent area. Be prepared for high rental rates compared to many areas of the U.S. On the plus side it's a beautiful state with many outdoor activities and some of the most diverse geography in the U.S. Everything from Pacific Ocean coastline, rain forest of the Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains, the desert of the Tri-Cities, orchards and other crops of Central Washington and pine forests of Eastern Washington. You're also real close to British Columbia and that's a nice weekend trip. Let me know if you make it over here for a visit. We'll figure out a way to get together.

18C Dad

Thanks for the info. They aren't too set on any one place just yet. Of course, they are getting some conflicting information but that always happens when you ask a lot of people where the best place to live is. They are both looking forward to being there. He will hopefully find out when he can get into a class shortly after he gets settled and checks in.

Doubtful............Very Doubtful!!!!!!!!


Oh I'll take a Henry's, I miss the Hell Outta Lewis!!!!!!!!!!


:D :D :D

Now I am curious. Does anyone here know what the longest stay in the pipeline has been? I guess I should amend my earlier statement to point out that I was including the 18X pre-pipeline portion as well so calling it the pipeline was incorrect.

Before TR, TS, NDD or any of the other guys chime in, it isnt me. lol

I recall a story, from a meeting at the GB club a few months back, of a guy who had been in the SFQC something like 9 years. I dont so much think he was trying to graduate as he was trying to sham.

Other than that I know of one guy whose a Delta who it took nearly 4 years and he wasnt an 18X.

Maybe one of the QP's know of someone else...

On another note, best of luck to your son. I know of a Delta who is headed out to Ft Lewis in a few weeks for the same thing, then he will be back for Sage.

Crip

Jeez- 9 yrs? even 4 yrs? Back when the earth was young, even as a Delta a long stay was 2 yrs - average, I think was 6-9 months. There must have been a lot added to the course. QRQ, may I borrow your avatar, I feel very Pleioscene at the moment, get me my cane, or a walker....

Gentlemen,

FWIW, I think that he / they would be able to adjust to almost any place out there. South to North - Olympia, Lacey, DuPont, Yelm, Stillicum, Tacoma (certain sections), Puyallup, and even Federal Way are all good places from what I remember / last saw in Jun '06. The only place I would NOT recommend is Tillicum, while it is cheap and convenient to post (and the hospital)...it is not...the safest place to live. Really IMHO, it comes down to what they enjoy - "city" life, "suburban" life, or "country" life and the respective amenities / hassles associated with each. I know of people who even live further out ( ~ 45 min) in the Orting / Graham / Kapowsin area. Olympia / Lacey / Tacoma are more of the "city" life. DuPont, Stillicum, Fed Way are more "suburban". Puyallup seems to cross the two. Yelm, Orting, KPOW, and Graham are more "rural" but even they have at least one Starbucks shop :D (not to mention the plethora of coffee shops in that region).

I am assuming that he is PCSing there, make sure that he gets his 10-days Permissive TDY, so he can find a good place. While they are fairly lenient WRT breaking leases, you need to have orders in hand reassigning you to a new post / conventional deployment. It would be a shame for him to get into a 1-year lease in a dump.

Hope some of this helped.

V/R,

That should help some. He definitely plans to take his Permissive TDY time so they can find a place. Thanks.

Thanks, everyone, for the information. I don't know to what extent any of it was weighed when decision time came, but it was nice for them to have some info. My son and his wife are safely landed in Olympia. Their HHG arrived yesterday. My son has completed his in-processing for Ft. Lewis, 1st Group, and language school. He has a few light days and then starts language school next week. He is also already scheduled for a jump. They both love the area. Thanks again for the help.

I'm back for another update. My son has a couple of months left of language school which is going well. He went before the E-5 board in early December and just found out he made the March list which I believe means that in a couple of weeks he will be an E-5. There were four of the guys in his language class that went for it and made it. We are quite happy for him.

Congrats to your son!

:cool:
Congrats on your son making Sergeant.

Congrats
 

Congrats to your son! Have you told him that it doesn't really count till he makes E-5 the second time? lol.

Not speaking from personal experience but with 16 years in Big Army I daresay that SF and Ranger Bat are the last true bastions of the NCO Corp in the Army. Everywhere else it has become quite watered down.

My hat's off to him and here's to a long and illustrious career

My son took the DLPT on Friday and passed it with a 2/2+. He gets on a plane tomorrow to go to Ft. Bragg for Robin Sage. Inching ever closer. :)

Yet another update. My son called this afternoon to let me know that he has successfully navigated the Q. He just came out of Robin Sage and will graduate next Thursday/Friday. He was Team Sergeant for his ODA. He said all of his counseling sessions were very positive and he was ranked first on his team in his peer reviews. He doesn't know any specifics about his assignment yet. He said he probably won't find out anything until he gets back to Ft. Lewis.

I will be in Fayetteville from Wednesday through Saturday night. I would be honored to buy any of you a drink should the opportunity present itself. My only specific plans are to attend the First Formation and the graduation ceremony, take my son and some of his friends to dinner at least once, and trips to both museums. My wife has already given me instructions for what to get her from the SF Museum gift shop. :)

Once again, I want to thank all of you for your help and insight into what my son was, and will be, going through. It has already been quite a trip and in a very real sense it is only just beginning.

"A drink?" ROTFLMAO!

I didn't say I would limit the size of the drink. :)

Please amend my earlier offer to be "drinks". Sorry if I offended anyone but I am glad that I was able to amuse NDD.

Congrats to your son, 3dfxMM!

Please pass my congratulations along to your son. You and your wife have every reason to be very proud.




RC201

Congratulations to your son. He will have fun out at the 1st, I know I did.

Please pass to your son, 祝贺绿色贝雷帽。现在是时间赢得它

V/R,

Congratulations !
Enjoy that drink!!!;)

Thanks for the kind words and thanks for rubbing it in. :)

Please tell him "Well done" for me.

You are rightfully proud. You did well raising him.

Congratulations!

An 18X journey begins...
 

I'm a father of five with three kids in the army - one has just become a candidate for Special Forces training and is at CLT now.

I’d be interested in interacting with other parents via this forum on our sons’ activities and progress.

I’d like to give you all a thumbnail on my son, Jon, who chose to become an 18 X-Ray last September. This is his story - However, I'd be interested in getting the play-by-play from some of you other parents and family members on your own sons experience through the pipeline, the Q-course, and onto their team. I don't know much, but I've read perhaps a dozen books on SF and have trolled long and hard on the net for the best information on the SF journey. To help you - this site is the quintessential source for learning about and understanding the SF community - including the journey your sons have just begun.

If there are any parents out there that want to reach out to another parent with a son on the same journey feel free to private message me.

Here's a Cliff Notes version on one SF candidate's story...

My kids grew-up in a very conservative home. We are evangelical Christians - we did home-school, home-church, and for years we never had a television in the home – Jon was born in Costa Rica in 1985 while my wife and I were self-supported missionaries down there. We were from a Plymouth Brethren background, and until 2003 I was a pacifist. We have Veterans in the family, but we were not in anyway military. Others have noted, however, we have a kind of warrior ethos in our home – I’m Irish-American, was a fighter as a kid, and was captain of my high school’s wrestling team - And, as a Dad I ran "a tight ship." We are a competitive family - all of us make commitments with our whole heart…My wife and I are centered on the principal of what matters is what we do – I think that has somehow translated to the kids. Nevertheless, I really had nothing overt to do with getting my sons to go Army.

My first son in the military was Ben two years ago - he’s 24 now. My third son, Mike, was the second to join and he did so right after he turned 17 (He was just deployed to Iraq as a combat medic). Jon was the last and is really the most unique guy among all my kids. He’s scary smart – ASVAB 99, GT 142, DLAB 135, 167 IQ and VERY independent - totally alpha male. He rubs a lot of people wrong, is easily misunderstood, and by all accounts until I saw him after selection has always been a smart-ass…As you will hear later, he has changed a lot. Prior to joining-up Jon did a couple years in College, had a couple short-lived girl-friends, and started working – He felt like his world was without any challenge, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, he was wandering in circles and admitted his life seemed without purpose – from 18 years-old to right before he joined-up Jon became grouchier and grouchier – He was like a caged lion looking for something to devour. The suburban life can be tough on boys who are yearning to be a knight for our times and slay dragons. I’m reminded of a quote I saw here at PS a week or so back…

"It has been my experience that superior people are attracted only by challenge. By setting our standards low and making our life soft, we have, quite automatically, and unconsciously, assured ourselves of mediocre people." - from The Ugly American .

Jon had little respect for what he saw going on with himself and his peers – As he told me he felt himself going soft, like his life was in a rut – He said, he saw himself and his peers “as punks.” Meanwhile, my other two sons were encouraging him to check out the Army. Both boys had done well on their entrance tests, and they told the recruiter that he hadn’t even met their "smart brother." The recruiter was a bit incredulous, and told my sons he didn’t believe they had a smarter brother – certainly not a better rounded brother. Jon’s very competitive - His brothers related the recruiter’s doubts about him. Somewhat on a dare, Jon went in and took the ASVAB – When the results came back the recruiter said Jon’s scores were “off the charts” and among the highest he had seen in a long while. At the urging of his brothers, Jon sat down with the recruiter to explore possibilities. He asked Jon what he wanted to do - The recruiter said with his scores he could do whatever he wanted. Jon inquired, “What does the Army need and who are the best?” The recruiter said “The best are the Army’s Special Forces - The Green Beret.” The recruiter said they were “the tip of the spear on the war on terror.” He cautioned Jon that intelligence wasn’t enough, however – The recruiter related how he himself had endeavored to make SF and had voluntarily withdrawn. He said, “Special Forces is called 'special' because it is for special men only" – He said, "You can’t test in." You have to earn it – and even then you can fail" – he added for emphasis - "And, most fail.” The recruiter said he could give him any job except the Special Forces job, but he did say he could get Jon a shot at getting selected for Special Forces with an 18x contract.

Well, that was the challenge Jon needed. He didn’t want to be a part of a club that would take just anyone. And, he wanted to go where he was needed - where he could be the best with the best - where he could be the tip of the spear.

Part II - OSUT/Airborne/SOPC/SFAS ...From suburban punk to changed man.


Three Soldier Dad...Chuck

Congratulations to your son and your entire family 3D!

Thanks. I will finally no longer have to wonder what you and others were feeling when your sons graduated. It has been a whirlwind few weeks for our family. Our daughter graduated from college a couple of weeks ago and we were only back from that about a week when we got the "official" word from our son. Unfortunately, the timing sucked since he couldn't go to her graduation and she just started her job so she can't get away to attend his. I will just have to take plenty of photos. :)

Well, it's official. Both ceremonies were awesome and I am very glad I did not miss them. He reports back to Ft. Lewis on Monday where he hopes to find out to which Battalion he is assigned. He made the Commandant's list but I am not clear what that means other than only the top 20% of graduates are eligible and he had an asterisk next to his name in the program. :)

I did manage to put a couple of dinners and more than a couple of beers into his buddies who had no family attending. After hearing you guys, I am pretty sure that I got off light with just a few beers for his buddies.

Congratulations 3d! Post some photos if you can!
Blustr18b