Welcome aboard L40

Introduction
 

After 24 yrs I retired from the Army Reserves and E8. I spent the last couple years as an instructor and prior to that 1SG of a CSH. Larger operational unit was more fun for me due to the types of missions, funding available to support humanitarian aid missions and the leadership challenges that a large Company brings.
I have had the luck to be at the right place at the right time to be trained in 4 MOS.
- 11B
- 91B (combat medic as a pre-req to 91V)
- 91V Respiratory Therapy
- 91A Biomed (medical equipment repair)
I work as a Biomed now specializing in repair of imaging equipment.
I've been a SCUBA Instructor, Licensed Boat Captain (50 Ton Master, Near Costal), and Instrument Rated Pilot for single engine and VFR pilot for multi-engine planes.
Combat tour in Kuwait and Iraq, ending in dodging mortars and RPGs at Anaconda, 2003-2004. Of the 22 months on orders, 13 were in theater. While there I was at CSHs so no direct contact with anything worse than malaria meds and the DFAC food.

I look forward to being a member of this group.

Good Evening
 

Good Evening QP's,

It's an honor to have the ability to communicate with some of the greatest men this country has to offer. I am humbly and respectfully thankful for your service to the people of this country and foreign nations. My name is Cody, and I am currently a political science major at UF. I hope I can extract the worldly knowledge that you all have to further my understanding of politics. After I graduate from school, I aspire to attend SFAS. I am very excited to absorb the wisdom graciously presented in this forum. Thank you for your time.

Earnestly,
Cody

SF Pete intro
 

SFQC class 1-84. 10th, 7th, SWC & 3rd SFG(A). 18 years on an ODA, 2yrs SWC, 1 year ODB. NO higher HQ time... Career "hiding under a rucksack".

I am a 24 year old civilian med tech thinking about the 18x contract. If I qualify, my ultimate goal is to serve as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant.

This is probably my third introduction. I created this account years ago back in high school. Since then, I've graduated with my B.A., lived abroad twice, and just swore in 18x - shipping first week of August.

It's about time!

Introduction
 

Greetings and Salutations,

I am an upcoming college graduate and a first to pursue the military in my entire family so my background is coming from complete scratch. I have sworn into the 18x program 2 weeks ago and am shipping in the first week of August. Ecstatic for the upcoming challenges ahead on this new journey!

Thank you.

Intro post
 

I set up my profile about 4 years ago when I was a Q course student. Now I've been in group for a few years and figured I'd make my first post.

I liked researching all sorts of questions I had as a student in this forum and now I'm looking to post some questions of my own.

New guy!!!
 

Glad to be here!!!

I want to say thank you to all the members on this site and for all of the amazing information that each and everyone of you put out. I am 30 years old and currently work for the City of Atlanta Fire Dept and 20th SFG. I recently went to SFAS (10-16) and was selected. As of right now I just in-processed into the school house. Prior to this I was in the Ga. National Guard at an airborne infantry unit (3/108 LRS). I am happy to be where I am and looking to get all of this started. I know its going to be a long road but I am again excited about the journey and to eventually complete the "Q".

-Holton

Introduction
 

Hello,

My name is Michael. I am a 30 year golf professional from Baltimore, Maryland and currently living in Reading, Pennsylvania. First, I would like to thank you all for your service and for your dedication to this site. In 2009 I was in the Maryland State Police Academy to become a State Trooper, and with the help of the pushup improvement plan and other fitness threads on the armyranger.com forums and this forum I finished 4th in my class (out of 75) and spent two years as a Trooper before leaving for the golf business after hurting my knee.

I hurt my knee on the job in 2010, and I had no idea but I actually tore my ACL. I recently found out it was torn when it popped a couple years ago and had to have a complete reconstruction in September of 2015. I had some complications, but I was cleared to run, ruck, and swim (along with my full workouts) a couple of months ago.

I joined the forums to continue my fitness improvement, and my family and I are potentially considering a career move to the military. My age puts me in an interesting position, but once we make a decision on the route we would like to go I will fight for it. A career in special operations is something I have always been interested in, and I enjoyed my time in Army ROTC in college. So, that has us considering a military career or going back into law enforcement. I believe there were several members of the Maryland State Police that serve with the 20th SFG in Glen Arm.

Again, thank you all for your service to our country. I may not have served yet in the military, but I do know what it's like to go to work with a gun on your hip not knowing if you will come home. It is a thankless job, but I know everyone that serves enjoys giving their time for our community/country.

PS - I am working on my running, and I plan to self administer an APFT to see where I stand and how much work I have to do. When I do I will post those APFT scores.

Sincerely,
Michael W

Greetings Gents
 

I want to preface my intro with a message of appreciation. Thank you to all who have walked this path before me and are shedding wisdom to make my path that much more enlightened. I am prior service Army National Guardsman (Virginia). I have completed my commitment with the guard, honorably. I went the DoD contractor route and got some pretty awesome exposure. The contractor life isn't conducive to forming family stability, which is very much on my mind. Recently, I signed an 18x contract, its my dream to be a part of the SF Brotherhood. I ship June 7th to Benning, very excited. Thank you again for the opportunity for being able to be a part of this community!

New Guy
 

I want to say thank you to the QPs who took the time to write out the hundreds of posts that I have scoured through over the past few months. I decided to stop lurking and seek out some mentors.

About me: 24 year old non combat arms officer at Fort Carson about six months out from the Selection board. I previously competed in Olympic style weightlifting so I'm coming from a strength based program. I am currently working with a friend of mine who was a recon marine and he is focusing on improving my aerobic capacity and muscular endurance. I have read Get Selected and Horse Soldiers so far, looking to read more QP related books. My goal is to seek out Enlisted and Commissioned mentors who will help me develop into the type of person they would want to be their Team Leader.

Thanks again for what you do, I'll go back to lurking for the most part and soaking up everything I can.

Intro
 

Hello,

Prior Marine officer curious about NG SF pipeline. Great info here. Thank you to those who contribute.

Intro
 

Hello to all:

First off, I want to thank those of you who have served, and are currently serving our Nation. I want to thank those who have created, contributed to, and actively manage this website. It clearly holds a wealth of invaluable information relative to nearly all things US Special Forces.

I discovered this site while researching the prospect of receiving an age waiver for 18x or Rep 63 contract. Although I feel the value I can add will correspond most ideally, it appears my Non-Prior Service status blocks the way. The word “impossible" does not register well with me... There is always a way. Therefore I certainly appreciate ANY assistance, advice and/or creative ideas provided as I continue my efforts.

Lastly: Major congratulations to those who have been Selected! And Good Fortune to all those who are in the process. I certainly hope to encounter the "opportunity" to be assessed for joining you.

Godspeed.

Jeff

Intro
 

I'm 26 and currently in the navy looking forward to going through the B2G program and getting a 18x contract.

Introduction
 

Greetings all,

I am 24 years old, graduated from college with a construction management degree. Currently I am employed as a project manager for a heavy construction company. What I have been doing for the last few months is working out, reading “Get Selected” and absorbing as much as I can on here.

Introduction
 

Hello everyone, I would just like to thank you for allowing me to be apart of this forum. I've almost graduated with a degree in intelligence, an eagle scout, and have a few hobbies that relate to special forces in some way. I have been interested in Special Forces since I was a young boy, but obligations have gotten in my way for sometime. I do say however, I thank these obstacles because they have given me a lot of real world experience and made me more mature than I was at 18. I'm on this forum to do research into the special forces life, get insight on the life of an operator, and to find tips and advice from those who have been there to give me an idea where I fit in the community.

Grombal
 

Hail, and well met.

I'm a 27 year E5 National Guardsmen from Minnesota. I'm not currently with a line unit, and I'm looking for a better career path, one that would give me more of a real experience serving my country, or at least the effect of such on my community and country.

I will not leave the Army without, at least, a Ranger tab. Special Forces is my aim, however, as I feel it would be a more useful application of my intellect and affinity for language.

Hello.

I'm 32, from Nashville. I ship on September 11 to OSUT, Rep 63, 20th Alabama --> 18D. I currently own a small business. I am prior service, but nothing special.

This website has been an amazing resource. I have been able to find answers to just about every question I could come up with. If you can't find the info here, the answer may only be available through non-virtual experience.

I look forward to it, and I am very grateful to be given a shot...

...even though I felt like a crusty old geezer at MEPS when my joints were cracking during the "duck walk" while all the 18 year-olds were gliding right along...

Warrior Healer

INTRODUCTION
 

24 years old

MMA Fighter/ BJJ Competitor

Just want to help protect those that can't protect themselves and hopefully work my way out of a job

Have wanted to join special operations for a long time now and I'm doing everything I can to get my shot.

Too all the been there done that guys on this site thank you for your service. To all the aspiring guys like me, GET SOME! :lifter:mad:

Introduction
 

Hey guys,

Thanks for having me on here, I won't post much, just trying to absorb as much info as I can. This forum is so valuable to prospective SF candidates, thank you QPs for establishing and maintaining it! I'm 23, current Navy E5 contracted for 18X. I start the training pipeline in August, a couple days after I graduate with my MS in Psychology. I have my BA in Intelligence and National Security Studies. I'm looking forward to learning from all of you, and hopefully working with some of you in the future. Also, if anyone lives in the Conway/Myrtle Beach, SC area, I'd love to get together and get some workouts in. Cheers

Jeremy

90s Infantryman
 

Hi there - not SF, but got to brush up against some of you guys in the 90s while spending my 11B career in light infantry and airborne units through the 90s. Every time I got exposed to SF I would learn more in that short period of time than I would in a year of doing regular training. I have a few platoon and company mates that went SF and retired with them. Just plan on reading here and probably not posting too much as I've been out of the game a while. Thanks for having me!

INTRODUCTION
 

Hello, I'm a 21 year old sophomore in college studying biology and was on the pre-med track, but I'm dropping out for now and will finish my education at a later time. I enlisted with an 18X contract about 2 weeks ago and have a ship date to BCT at the end of July. I've wanted to join for a long time and couldn't do so right out of high school for personal reasons, but I've been debating whether to leave school for a while now, so I'm really happy with my decision. Been training a little over a year now and am just giving it everything I got to prepare before I ship out. This website has been a great resource for SFAS prep and general knowledge regarding SF so I'm just trying to soak up as much as possible before I leave.

VN era MACV-SOG 1st Group
 

Joined awhile back, looking for reunion information.
I served from 66-72.
Was MACV-SOG Operations Officer Chuong Thien Province 68-69, then 1stSFG(A) 70-72 out of Okinawa for two years.
I would appreciate info on get togethers for fellow VN era members.

DOL

Introduction
 

My name is Anthony I'm 31 currently married, we have a daughter together.
I am stationed at Ft Rucker, AL my MOS is 88m. I am scheduled to attend SFAS in September. I aspire to become a green beret because I feel that while being in the regular army is rewarding I think I can make a bigger difference else where. I enjoy teaching and I think that currently I need a more challenging career, I figure the life of a quiet professional might be that challenge I need. I feel being over 30 and coming from a support MOS will make getting selected ever more challenging; but I am ready to tackle that challenge and put forth all my dedication and time into it. I look foreword to reading as much as I can from this site and taking in as much knowledge as possible in order to better prepare myself.
"nothing worth having comes easy and nothing easy is worth having"

Back on
 

Hello everyone, it's been a few years since I was on but, I'm back. Looking forward to reading and possibly contributing.
In case it's needed I'm a retired professional chef, so if you've got questions concerning food give me a holler.

Intro
 

My name is Garrett, I have no prior service. I am a 30 year old husband and a father of three. I am a professional land surveyor. I have been interested in the MS National Guard for some time now. Recently, I have been researching the National Guard SF. I received information about the pipeline and I have read "Get Selected". I am still in the researching and preparation phase. Thank you for your service and the abundant information you have provided on this site.

Introduction
 

Hello there,
I'm a college student in Ohio (originally from CT), and I plan on going Infantry in about two years (hopefully option 4 for airborne) to prepare for ranger school in the future. I Have been going grey and reading material that has been very helpful. Thank you for the advice and help, I respect everything you operators do and thank you for your service. I know I'm mentally prepared to attain my goals (also ordered Get Selected, glad to help the cause), it's just a matter of getting physically prepared now. I'll keep going grey to get the material I need, but if I have a question I won't hesitate to ask and correct what to do.

Thank you,

Cave Ginger, Molon Labe

Edit by Team Sergeant, no names. A user name is good enough.

rick here, retired UDT/SEAL ’71-95. Primarily east coast with most deployments in 10th SFG AOR. Deployed to Crete in ’73 and trained with DET A in Jan ‘77. Assigned to Unit 2 in Machrihanish ’89-91. Last four years were with the EUCOM/CENTCOM regional team in J3 at SOCOM 91-95.
Since 2005 have been a historian at SOCOM with three deployments to OEF covering SOF.

One side history project I’ve taken on for SOF enterprise is to compile a list of live pickups by Fulton Skyhook. Skyhook was used 1958-1982 and the two lists that exist have errors. Objective is an accurate list of men picked up as well as crews that flew the mission. Have roughly 150 names thus far including 52 pickups by Army Caribou at Ft Bragg ‘62-66 which was run by the HALO Committee. Still working on the names picked up in PACOM during Vietnam and from ’79-82 in EUCOM. Reason for doing this is anyone who was picked up by that system deserves to be remembered for it, as do the crews that flew it. The reason for doing it now is these events occurred 35-59 years ago and we’re running out of time. Thanks

Intro
 

Hows it going?

Prior intel guy with the 101st, graduated the course just over a year ago. Used to used this site for some info and recommendations, but finally made an account. Currently with 1st SFG, just looking to connect with people and gain some solid info from other dudes that have been in my shoes. Appreciate what you guys have done and are doing, look forward to chatting.

Hello everyone. I have wanted to pursue a career in SF for quite some time and finally took the first step by signing a REP63 contract with the UT ARNG. I am looking forward to the road ahead and am grateful for all the great info on this site. Focusing on running, rucking and making sure everything is squared away. Thank you for your service to our country.

Howdy,

Created this account when I DEP'ed into the Army in 2009 and I don't know If I ever posted and intro. Currently an 11B working on heading to SFAS in FY18. Just here to shut up and learn.

instroduction
 

I am a regular U.S. Army (enlisted) Soldier in my thirties currently stationed in Maryland, U.S. I programmed an app for Garmin GPS watches and wanted to share it with this community, is the main reason I got an account. I hope to do more high speed stuff in my Army career, and I have previously read from this webpage so it seems like a good place for information.

Former ODA member
 

My name is Bill Coffman and I was a member of ODA572, current law enforcement in Southern California. I graduated the Q-Course in the 1980s and was trying to find any pictures of Phase Training in the 80s.

I was recently in N.C. and was allowed to go out to MacKall and it has sure changed. I didn't take many pics back.in my day but I remember others doing so. If anybody does have pictures of the place when it looked like a World War II concentration camp LOL please let me know

Hello all, I'm a 91E/91B instructor out of Dix and have had aspirations of going through the selection process for some time now. As my career progresses on and my window closes, it is down to decision time. I have been a long time lurker on this site and have gotten some great information from it. This page continues to prove to be an outstanding resource and I'm thankful to have been able to use it. Thank you to the creator, and all the contributors of this site.

I think, I remember you. I was on 573, "Howling Nick (Kreel) Fury's Commando's" Started out on Smoke Bomb Hill, then we went to Mott Lake...

Thanks for responding and it's great to hear from someone who even knows Smoke Bomb Hill and Mott Lake. I remember John Anderson having us to a forced March from montlake back to smoke bomb Hill after being out there for about a week and it was raining like crazy

I know this the intro thread, so I hope not to derail, but get involved in other threads. There's a lot of folks, places you may recollect...:lifter

Oh, and yeah, good times??? some, and some not...lolol

Updated Intro
 

Things have changed since my last introduction post so I thought I'd try to keep things current and post a new one.

My name is Quinton Burton and I recently made the leap from a National Guard 15T to an Active Duty 18X. Looking to hit OSUT later this month to begin the pipeline toward the Q and eventually earn the beret and tab.

I frequent the threads on this site and have been sticking with a pretty strict workout regimen outlined in "Get Selected."

There are a lot of great posts and advice forums on this site for any new-comers who have already signed or are thinking about signing as an 18X. Take advantage of them.

Thanks guys!

Introduction
 

First, I would like to thank Maj. Martin and MSG. Dodson for writing Get Selected, and leading me to this awesome forum. Second, I'd like to thank all of the Quiet Professionals (and other military members on this forum) for their service.

I enlisted with the Army Reserve in 2016 as a 92W at 26 years old. I'm a single dad with full custody of my 4 year old son. I am unmarried, thank God, but I am fortunate enough to have a very supportive family helping me raise my son. I am currently pursuing a BA in Cybersecurity and ROTC at my local college.

Prior to enlisting, I had very little idea or interest in Special Operations or Special Forces. Sadly, no one in my immediate family is prior service. I was clueless and, to be honest, I joined the Army Reserve to reap the benefits of a military retirement and because I knew a few guys that did it which made me think "It can't be that bad if HE did it." I'm actually embarrassed to confess that my attitude was pretty terrible. Sure enough, I got what I deserved because there were a few times I was humbled in BCT. I wasn't an athlete in high school and years of soft living really bit me in the ass in BCT.

When I first got to AIT, I couldn't find a whole lot of motivation. I wasn't a PT failure or a problem for the Cadre but goddamn, I hated it. I was 26 with a bunch of 18-20 year olds who seemed to think I was a prick because I didn't join in their shenanigans. So without much social interaction there, I went to the book store and picked up a few books that I thought might be interesting and ended up reading about guys like Gary O'Neal and Col. Nick Rowe. It really sparked my motivation and humbled me at the same time to read about what some of the SF Community has gone through just to do their jobs. Not only that, it completely changed my perspective on what it means to be a soldier in the United States Army. I know that no matter how boring or mundane or stressful things seem to be wherever I'm at, there's a guy in an ODA or in the 75th that's putting his life on the line. And when he's not doing that, he's busting his ass training to do that.

Needless to say, I'm on this forum because old age is creeping up on me and before I die, I want to perform well and I want to contribute to that kind of team. I'm here to find a mentor.