Question about SF pipeline in late 1970s
 

There is great information here and elsewhere about the current Army SF training pipeline. However I am having trouble finding information about a specific historical period.

I am interested in the time from 1977 to 1980.

What were the options for a high school graduate in 1977 who wanted to enlist and to join army sf?

Was there something like the 18x enlistment option in this period?

I joined in '78 on a Ranger option that routed me through BCT to 11B AIT to Jump School to RIP, but I broke an ankle during AIT and got sent to the 101st.
I think you could do the same thing for SF at that time (VOLAR).

There have always been "SF babies" to some level.

Thanks for the quick reply gentlemen.

A follow-up question for clarification: A 1977 high school graduate could have enlisted in 1977, separated from the service in 1980 and earned the right to wear the green beret in between?

Thanks again for taking the time.

Around, yes. Allowed to come straight in, no. From about 1985 until Dec 2001, you had to be at least an E-5 in the Regular Army, though they would waiver that to an E-4 (P) for Medics and Commo guys. In Dec 2001, they opened it up to 18Xs

http://www.training.sfahq.com/qualifications.htm

Exactly my point.

Yep. Why the question? :confused:

Richard :munchin

1n September of 1977 I enlisted in the Regular Army and went straight from Basic to Ait to Airborne and right into SF training. Two days after arriving at selection my group was sent straight to Phase I. From there on it was pretty much back to back Phase II and Phase III.

At the end of the graduation ceremony someone stood up in the back of the auditorium and asked who wanted to go to DLI for language school. Those of us who volunteered were sent to DLI to study various languages, mine happened to be Spanish and 7 months later I was assigned to 5th GP where as a PFC I held the E7 Heavy Weapons slot which was in March of 1979.

Definitely not the way to do it but at least I learned from the best (quite a few Vietnam Vets in that time frame).

So the answer to your question is "YES".

I was one of those SF Babies. I was drafted in July of 1970, Enlisted after talking to an SF recruiter while waiting for Basic Training to start. Went through Basic and AIT at Fort Ord July- December '71, went to Jump School in January 71, Phase I at CMK, Phase II(Commo)and Phase III, graduating in May 1971. Assigned to 5thSFG(A) at Fort Bragg.

Yes. Where does everybody think the term SF Baby originated? It's not new.

My experience in 78 included a number of classmates who were "SF Babies"; straight off the street. A few of them went on to become storied CSMs; others did their duty, quietly rising to positions of trust/responsibility. Some did their time and left after one tour and some were spectacular failures - whether they left early or late. They measured up just like the current generation will 20+ years from now when somebody looks back to "see how it went".

I thought it was because they whined about how much harder it was during their time.:D

Seriously though they were still around when I went through in '89...they were just called Rep 63s.

Rep 63 was a NG thing.

Roger, and as soon as the guy graduated and went from the NG to active duty...you had the exact same thing.

Exactly. Information this specific would be interesting to someone trying to sniff out a poser, or perhaps beef up a poser's resume.

You caught a whiff of something, too, huh? ;)

Richard

Ret SF MG was PFC in 68
 

That was fact. He was on the same orders to the 5th and C&C as an SSG I know. Obviuosly he was a fine trooper.

I figured he was sniffing out a poser. I didn't think of beefing up the resume.:confused: CRS

There were a lot of guys coming in in the late 70's off the street. Lots of em stayed in SF and worked there way up the ladder. But needed to make the ladder steps shorter for the "Twin Towers"..Paul Gann and Swoop Sweeney..:D

I don't think that he is beefing up his resume as he is only 40 (at least that is what his profile says).

Exactly,and I was one of them!...... When I originally enlisted for four years in 1954,it was for the Airborne............. After I graduated from jump school I attempted to re-up for Special Forces,and I was told I wasn't qualified because I had to have at least 3 years of infantry training and re-up for 6 years.......... Then one day during the spring of 1955 a request came down stating any qualified paratrooper with an infantry MOS can apply for the SF....... More specific details are located somewhere in this forum....... The reason this exception was made by Colonel Aaron Bank because the men serving at the time were extremely qualified combat veterans(Darbys Rangers,Carlsons Raiders,Merrials Marauders,Lodge's Volunteers,and many others)and he felt that experience must not go to waste........So about 100 of us guys reenlisted,we were given what they called a short discharge and away we went to smoke bomb hill..... Anyone interested in more details look up 77th Group deactivated groups in the forum or PM me......... We were called "Bank's Babies" .....;)

Big Teddy :munchin

I graduated class 3-80, of the 120 or so that started in Phase One (2-80) I would say 50-75% of us were Privates and about 15-20 of us were Guard or Reserve. The student NCO's had their hands full at times and at times were also great teachers, especially the VN Vets.

Currently reading Five Years to Freedom and it's got me wondering what the pipeline was like for officers in the '60s. Rowe mentions joining SF as a 2nd LT, but that it was not typical. What was typical for an ROTC grad or OCS grad in the early 60s? Was there such thing as a Baby SF Officer?

v/r
Susan

If you're attempting to verify someone we need more info to go on. Send me the data/info and I can/will have a look into it.

JD@Professionalsoldiers.com

Susan:

You need to do some research.

The SF Det Cdr and XO/Assistant Det Cdr slots were not always what they are now.

TR

There were 5 PVT E-2s who graduated in Special Forces Class # 2-53 ( 31MAR53).