Some 18X Questions...

Shock · 03-01-2010, 15:09

Edited: I am smarter than this.

**The Reaper** · 03-01-2010, 15:54

Shock:

Almost everything you asked has already been discussed here at length.

Ranger vs. SF, check.

Length of training vs. team time, check.

SF Officer-NCO relationships, check, though it is starting to sound like you want to be in the Air Force now.

Drug use issues, we have discussed that one here as well.

You did miss the issue of whether a former Israeli soldier can get a security clearance to get into SF.

You might use some more time reading and using the Search button. We discourage people from asking for personal assistance till they have done so.

TR

03-01-2010, 17:21

WD

Shock · 03-01-2010, 23:48

I will continue to search. Although on security clearance I have several close friends who have already received secret clearance for government jobs 2 years out of the IDF. I have no information on top secret clearance.

And just for the record, I wasn't asking whether rangers was for me. I was saying I'm not interested, but wanted to know why they have a reputation for being "more badass" than SF when the level of difficulty to get past the Q course far exceeds RIP.

I'm not asking about the amount of training time vs team time. I'm asking if in your opinions would it be worth it for the army to have me on for only five years.

other than that my mouse is already on the search button, I have some reading to do.

Surgicalcric · 03-02-2010, 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shock

I will continue to search. Although on security clearance I have several close friends who have already received secret clearance for government jobs 2 years out of the IDF.

...wanted to know why they have a reputation for being "more badass" than SF when the level of difficulty to get past the Q course far exceeds RIP...

I'm not asking about the amount of training time vs team time. I'm asking if in your opinions would it be worth it for the army to have me on for only five years.

other than that my mouse is already on the search button, I have some reading to do.

Clearances are granted by different agencies DOD, DOE, DOS, etc for different reasons and within different sets of parameters. This means a person in theory could have a secret DOD clearance but not qualify for the same clearance from the DOS or DOE.

Not all Rangers think they are more "badass." It is an opinion, nothing more or less. Its no different than listening to kids on the playground talk about who's father is more badass.

Books · 03-08-2010, 15:08

Having been the clearance monkey for work as of late, I can give a quick comment regarding the clearances. First, YOU MUST BE A US CITIZEN. Second, most sins are forgivable provided they are far enough in the past. Thirdly, while a few agencies conduct their own background checks (State, CIA, etc), the bulk of USG clearances - to include the military - are conducted by the Office of Personnel Management. There are two components of the clearance: the investigation and the adjudication. OPM investigates you (7 years back for a SECRET and 10 years back for a TS/SCI) and then sends the investigation to the requesting agency's clearance clearing facility and they determine if you're a douche bag or not. Once you have one clearance awarded, you can transport that clearance to another agency (this was put into law to limit duplication of efforts some years ago). It must be a final clearance however. . . All investigations are not equal as well. Having gone through both OPM and State, I can say that while the OPM is thorough, the State department is EXTREMELY thorough. I can't imagine what some of the other OGAs do. . . Hope this helps.

As for the Ranger vs SF. . . we all know that ninjas and robots are the coolest, so I'm not even sure why we're talking about it. I'm going to be a ninja when I grow up. Or a fireman.

Stay safe,

Books

salvo · 03-21-2010, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shock

Second, it seems like most of the people here who have gone through it have dedicated their lives to being in SF, the basic contract I would have to sign is 5 years but from doing some research here it doesn't seem like I would even be a part of a real team until I was several years in... past my contract date! I have considered becoming a part of the military for possibly the next 10 years, but I don't know if I want to make a 20 year commitment while I'm sitting in MEPS... would it be worth it to sign up if I'm only considering 5-10 years worth of service?

I'm a little confused by this question, and did some searching around the forum without a satisfactory answer. I actually cannot find any threads discussing what he's asking about. I too would like something more definitive; searching for 'time, team, team time detachment, bn vs. team' and all variations therein yielded no results; I'm prepared to endure the belittlement of the forum and ask again if I can't get a clear response, so hopefully someone can answer it here and save me a grilling.

My understanding is that training can be anywhere from about 70 weeks to two years - which leaves three years to work with a team... Is there some issue with admin or support time wherein 18x'ers aren't getting out to a team within their five year contract? Is this your concern?

brokenvan · 03-21-2010, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by salvo

I'm a little confused by this question, and did some searching around the forum without a satisfactory answer. I actually cannot find any threads discussing what he's asking about. I too would like something more definitive; searching for 'time, team, team time detachment, bn vs. team' and all variations therein yielded no results; I'm prepared to endure the belittlement of the forum and ask again if I can't get a clear response, so hopefully someone can answer it here and save me a grilling.

My understanding is that training can be anywhere from about 70 weeks to two years - which leaves three years to work with a team... Is there some issue with admin or support time wherein 18x'ers aren't getting out to a team within their five year contract? Is this your concern?

Your time in the SFQC will vary. From the day I signed my contract to the day I got my beret was a little under two years. I had no holdovers and injuries didn't hold me out of training. However, the medic on my team spent about 4 years in the course, due to the medic course, injuries and the way that the course changed during that time. Best case scenario, if you get a short MOS, it will be about 2 years, and if you get tagged to be a medic, about 3 years. Add time for injuries.

Assuming you get selected, of course.

And don't worry about not getting out to a team within your contract. You will spend at least 36 months on a team no matter what. You will extend your contract and re-enlist if necessary to complete that obligation.

Work on your search-fu. It is weak.

BV

salvo · 03-21-2010, 23:55

Brokenvan,

I was under the impression he was asking a more specific question, about additional delays to a detachment, but evidently there is no such thing beyond what you could (as you mention) expect with injuries or recycling.

Thanks for your clarification, I hope that answers his question, as mine is evidently sandblasting a soup cracker. Thanks.

Dozer523 · 03-22-2010, 07:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shock

First, I have several friends in the US armed forces and just the other day while discussing my options with a friend of mine who recently completed 6 years in an airborne unit he mentioned the following to me: "Yeah you can go special forces if you really want to, but rangers are bad a**, I mean those guys are tough." Now, I don't necessarily want to go in with a Ranger contract, but why would people think that Rangers (which is much easier to become a part of than SF) would be tougher than people who have made it through the Q course? This one I'm just interested in.

I've never heard anyone say "SF, Smart like rock".

Shock · 03-22-2010, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokenvan

Your time in the SFQC will vary. From the day I signed my contract to the day I got my beret was a little under two years. I had no holdovers and injuries didn't hold me out of training. However, the medic on my team spent about 4 years in the course, due to the medic course, injuries and the way that the course changed during that time. Best case scenario, if you get a short MOS, it will be about 2 years, and if you get tagged to be a medic, about 3 years. Add time for injuries.

Assuming you get selected, of course.

And don't worry about not getting out to a team within your contract. You will spend at least 36 months on a team no matter what. You will extend your contract and re-enlist if necessary to complete that obligation.
Work on your search-fu. It is weak.

BV

Thanks, I found what I was looking for.

greenberetTFS · 03-22-2010, 11:21

As for the Ranger vs SF. . . we all know that ninjas and robots are the coolest, so I'm not even sure why we're talking about it. I'm going to be a ninja when I grow up. Or a fireman./Quote/Books

This reminds of the reason Wyatt Earp never drew down on Doc Holiday,they both knew that they were fast,but respected each other enough that they didn't have to prove it......

Big Teddy

Koa18B · 03-22-2010, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenberetTFS

As for the Ranger vs SF. . . we all know that ninjas and robots are the coolest, so I'm not even sure why we're talking about it. I'm going to be a ninja when I grow up. Or a fireman./Quote/Books

This reminds of the reason Wyatt Earp never drew down on Doc Holiday,they both knew that they were fast,but respected each other enough that they didn't have to prove it......

Big Teddy

Or to put it another way. We don't really feel like we need to have a D!cK measuring contest. If you want to know who is "better" in terms of the way most civilians look at it. remember the SF tab is above the Ranger Tab. Keep that in mind. Work your way from the bottom sign 11x and go from there.