Is being a wrestler a predictor of success in SFQC

[P36]

So I'm sitting around some professors at a business seminar and one comments that a predictor of success in the Q Course is whether the individual had wrestled in high school. I don't know where he obtained that statistic but am curious whether there is any correlation?

[Pete]

I doubt they tract that stat.

But that category could include just about any athlete.

Knew some studs who just didn't like being in the woods by themselves after dark.

[JJ_BPK]

The context of the conversation you overheard might help..

If I were to opine,, It would be a comment from someone that is trying to infer that SFQC candidates are knuckle draggers, with low IQ's and high testosterone levels. AKA: Andre the Giant types.

Trying to associate some sub-set of individuals to a particular sport, like wrestling is meaningless, and a bit pretentious..

Saying successful SFQC candidates are highly competitive, exceptionally fit, and are endowed with above average mental abilities is about as close as you need to get.

And that still leaves "some studs who just didn't like being in the woods by themselves after dark. "

[Trapper John]

"Professors" you say? Business professors too? Opining about who makes it through the Q?

Intellectual idiots IMO! I'd question the source.

10:1 says they're scared of the dark.

[The Reaper]

Validated predictors are APFT scores and ruck march times.

Never saw wrestling evaluated, except in the gig pit.

TR

[Flagg]

The only professor I can think of who has written anything of possible value is Angela Duckworth from Penn who wrote the recent book "GRIT".

Interesting results from a self-scored test by cadets that correlated with first year washout/success at West Point.

First year cadet hazing is a different beast entirely from an SFAS assessment/selection or analog.

But intrigueing nonetheless. Even more so when you're left scratching your head thinking about the self-scoring reference bias.

Anecdotally, and only based on my local cohort, I'm always looking for patterns amongst childhood, family life, and parenting received from those who passed the test.

There's so many books out there about SOF.

I'd love to see a book written by a compelling story teller and a performance psychologist focused on the parenting of high performing SOF soldiers.

I don't think we'd find THE answer, but I think we might find some interesting correlation/causation.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by P36

So I'm sitting around some professors at a business seminar and one comments that a predictor of success in the Q Course is whether the individual had wrestled in high school. I don't know where he obtained that statistic but am curious whether there is any correlation?

A better predictor might be whether the individual hunted, fished, hiked and camped. Some of us are very comfortable in the woods, some, not so much.

(I'll never forget SFQC Phase One "Kill" class. "All of you that have never seen an animal killed move to the front of the bleachers....." I was backing up, knew what was coming and didn't want to be covered in goat blood.)

[P36]

It was out of left field and I didn't hear how they started the discussion but perked when I overheard that. How a long haired business professor even knew what SFQC was remains a mystery. I'm assuming he must have done some work in the community at some point. Or read a book.
If I have the opportunity I will see if I can find out his source for those stats.

[1stindoor]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

A better predictor might be whether the individual hunted, fished, hiked and camped.

Interesting thread, but I think I would agree more with TS on this one. Being comfortable out in the woods is a good predictor. I think the team sport theory is also valid as you learn that it's not always about you...it's about your contribution and how your lack of effort can cause failure.

[WarriorDiplomat]

Originally Posted by P36

So I'm sitting around some professors at a business seminar and one comments that a predictor of success in the Q Course is whether the individual had wrestled in high school. I don't know where he obtained that statistic but am curious whether there is any correlation?

Not so sure about your professor he sounds like he has a fetish with wrestlers and perhaps watched vision quest too many times.....

I agree with others athletic background seems to help through the physical stuff but whats between the ears is just as important.....there are even football players, boxers, MMA, tennis players, baseball, swimmers, judoka, karate, ping pong players in SF but there are also gear heads, farmers, rodeo riders, chess players, video gamers, bookworms, artist, writers, techies and MBA's, MD's, etc...amongst the fellas

[miclo18d]

Originally Posted by WarriorDiplomat

Not so sure about your professor he sounds like he has a fetish with wrestlers and perhaps watched vision quest too many times.....

I agree with others athletic background seems to help through the physical stuff but whats between the ears is just as important.....there are even football players, boxers, MMA, tennis players, baseball, swimmers, judoka, karate, ping pong players in SF but there are also gear heads, farmers, rodeo riders, chess players, video gamers, bookworms, artist, writers, techies and MBA's, MD's, etc...amongst the fellas

To add:
AAA Baseball prayers
Junior PGA players
FBI Agents
College Professors
Construction Workers
Police Officers

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by WarriorDiplomat

Not so sure about your professor he sounds like he has a fetish with wrestlers and perhaps watched vision quest too many times.....

I'm damn glad I was not drinking coffee when I read that........

[Astronomy]

Flagg: I'd love to see a book written by a compelling story teller and a performance psychologist focused on the parenting of high performing SOF soldiers.

This is one I'd recommend as it covers just that sort of analysis:

True Americanism: Green Berets and War Resisters : A Study of Commitment - by David M. Mantell, published 1974

https://www.amazon.com/True-American.../dp/0807724297

Author interviewed Vietnam era SF combat vets and draft resistors who fled to Canada. Trying to figure out what made two opposite ends of the commitment spectrum "tick". One group being triple-volunteers for combat and the other group being "equally" committed to their flavor of moral/political beliefs. The book attempts to identify why polar opposites (in terms of action) were each willing to commit knowingly to difficulty. The interviews analyze a vast spectrum of formative experiences and personality traits. Alpha vs Beta Male, adrenaline junkie behavior, promiscuity, early sexual experience, competitive drive, IQ, socio-economic roots, education, youthful criminal behavior, parenting, personality types, religion, family values, etc.

As I recall, the author ultimately found the SF types more fascinating (less stereotypical and more complicated) than the uber-pacifists. I seem to recall that this was his psychology doctoral thesis grown into a published book. In any event, he included some alcohol fueled SF war stories that made for interesting reading.

In the words of one reviewer:

"This book asks a simple question with rather large implications : does family environment correlate to ideological stance? Dr. Mantell examines the two vanguards of youth reaction to Viet Nam : war resisters active, vocal, and visible in the anti-war movement, and green berets - soldiers essentially volunteering for combat duty. Through rigorous examination of the various family dynamics and history of his subjects, he is able to show very specific commonalities within each group, and huge differences between them."

Much of the SF interviewing conducted at 1-10 Bad Tölz back in the early 70's. The book was common in the Stars & Stripes Bookstores shelves up until the 1980's. I had a copy, but it got passed around team rooms and lost.

Well worth reading.