DISCOVERY CHANNEL - SFAS

[GatorBuck]

I noticed this thread a few days after march 15, so I also emailed Discovery. It airs again on May 14th at 8pm EST. However the only information on purchasing the documentary was that it is not available for purchase. No details on when it might be either.

[civil]

Thanks Joe in Rosell I'm getting my DVR set to record it now!

When I was down at MEPS this last week I was talking with the counselors about it they said it was awesome and any 18x'er should watch.

[dadof18x'er]

Originally Posted by GatorBuck

I noticed this thread a few days after march 15, so I also emailed Discovery. It airs again on May 14th at 8pm EST. However the only information on purchasing the documentary was that it is not available for purchase. No details on when it might be either.

apparently it is for sale...http://store.discovery.com/detail.ph...a=discoveryxml

as for the May 14th showing, I can't find any info on that.

[civil]

It's on tonight at 9pm, 11pm, and 12am on discovery channel
(times in eastern standard)

Also Saturday the 15th at 12am on discovery

[122418b]

I have a little bit different perspective.

I went thru the Q course one and a half times. I enlisted as a teenager in the early 80s until I bit the dust on a written test (81 FDC in the Phase II weapons Course) then went back and graduated, after attending SFOT ( what SFAS was first title in the late 80s.


Let me be clear. Both old prephase and Phase I and SFOT were a suckfest. A different kind of suck, but a suck non the less.

Hats of to my comrades who made it thru the q off the street. For me, however, second time around was much easier after having been a trooper, pushed troops, been to Ranger school, been a FDC chief, etc. Also, it gave me a base of experience to take to a ODA.

I went to SFOT in fall 88. I recently watched the special. One of other posters on this forum advised that he does not remember all that yelling. I agree. I remember very little of the cadre shouting. The course was severe enough that there was a huge drop rate.

My .02 cents

Death is nature's way of telling you you've failed selection.

[Geenie]

It has been brought to my attention that the documentary is now available online. I won't post a link due to the copyrighted nature of the material, but a quick search should get anyone who wishes to see it the desired results.

[Eagle5US]

Originally Posted by 122418b

I have a little bit different perspective.

Let me be clear. Both old prephase and Phase I and SFOT were a suckfest. A different kind of suck, but a suck non the less.


I went to SFOT in fall 88. I recently watched the special. One of other posters on this forum advised that he does not remember all that yelling. I agree. I remember very little of the cadre shouting. The course was severe enough that there was a huge drop rate.

My .02 cents

Death is nature's way of telling you you've failed selection.

I was less than a year behind you, and I agree...no yelling. No swearing, no name calling, no nothing. Very simply..."your task is to (insert task here)" at the end of said task, your next task is to (insert next task). The uniform and time for the next task was put out at the end of the previous task. You either showed up or not, in the correct uniform or not.
People quitting was followed by the statement "Do you wish to voluntarily withdraw from this training?" Simple yes or no was all that was accepted.
I was treated very much as a professional soldier. Though I did not ever know what the standard was, I knew that there was a standard. There was ZERO information provided regarding standards...simply "run down the marked path as fast as you can until you are told to stop". You would round a corner or crest a hill and a cadre member would be standing in the woodline, call your roster number, and you would sit there and watch others run (or walk) on past. This was the Jedi portion of it that caused many to "psych themselves out"...I must have done something wrong, gone too slow, they saw me cut that corner through the woodline, etc.... and as such, these guys would quit.
Even later as an SFAS Cadre, I saw the same type of behavior. It was interesting to be on both sides of that fence.
SFAS has most certainly changed....but I have to defer to those in the know that they are actually doing what is best for USSF in their processes. It used to be that all the schools whooped and hollared at you. Now that "every school out there" is a gentleman's school...perhaps the extra stress of something folks aren't used to is indeed the element of progression to aid in assessment.

PA

[Horned Frog]

The Discovery Channel has a new series titled "Surviving the Cut" which is intended to highlight the training endured by US military elite units. From http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/surviving-the-cut/

"With extraordinary, unprecedented access, Surviving the Cut takes viewers into the intense world of military elite forces training. From divers and snipers to para-rescue men and bomb specialists, the elite and how they earn a place in the coveted units are the focus in this compelling all new series."

The episode guide lists the following:
Army Ranger School, USAF Pararescue, USMC Recon, SF Diver, USN EOD, and the ever popular Marine Sniper.

EDIT:
This information has already been posted in the General Discussion Forum, under a post by the name Surviving the Cut.

[MightMonkey]

If you're on iTunes, you can download the documentary for free from their store.

[SouthernDZ]

Originally Posted by Eagle5US

People quitting was followed by the statement "Do you wish to voluntarily withdraw from this training?" Simple yes or no was all that was accepted.PA

I did my vacation from medlab (90 day TMC-14 rotation) back in 89. The SFAS cadre were authorized two responses to any and all questions posed by candidates:

1. "Do you wish to quit?"

2. "Do you wish to see a medic?"

I don't remember them yelling either of those questions.

[CombatMuffin]

Just finished watching the documentary. It was interesting to see a part of the selection process for the Special Forces, however small that part may have been.

While the physical tests were entertaining and educational to watch, I loved the psychological ones: Testing teamwork, leadership and sheer ingenuity.

Giving the replies in this and other threads and the comment made at the end of the documentary, I am guessing the course gets revamped often to the changing conditions.

Those assessing the candidates performance seemed professional at all times, but I couldn't help but try to imagine what was going through their heads, since they have all been through it and more.

All in all it was fun to watch and get a peek at how the QP's start selection.

[Green Light]

Team 4 was a real study in group dynamics, or lack of it. I'm sure most of us could see the missed opportunities. There are some groups of people who just get "stuck on stupid." I'm sure that every one of those guys can look back and see where they screwed the pooch but they weren't tired and disoriented.

It happens. I saw a field grade officer get brain lock and his company grades and NCOs pulled his cookies out of the fire when it counted. Like on the other teams, the others stepped in and said "Hey - let's try this . . ." I'm glad that they're testing that now. It'll save a bunch dead guys later.

It's interesting to see the young guys going through. When you get down to it, they're a lot like us older guys.

[Dozer523]

Originally Posted by Green Light

It's interesting to see the young guys going through. When you get down to it, they're a lot like us older guys.

Except for the "younger" part. (Strike up Those Were The Days, My Friend)
Initially the idea was to see if a candidate was the "right cut of cloth". If the material was right, no matter what the pattern, the suit would fit.

[tetra]

I just received the DVD today and watched it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were some really good lessons learned.

What I liked most about it, besides a few lines the Cadre said during log PT, was that it also showed/hinted at what not to do AND what to do instead. For instance, Group 4 didn't have anyone jump up and volunteer to take control of their group and instead stayed quiet to the detriment of the group tasks. Instead of having a fail group, it's probably better for someone to take charge and attempt to do something better for the group which no one seemed to do. In addition to no sleeping on ruck's and no walking on roads - I would hate to be road kill.

Also, I'm going to my local national forest and doing night land nav with either my Dad (enlisted -> retired 11B 2 years ago) or my recruiter. It seemed to me, from the documentary, that after the PT a really big focus was on rucking and land nav and land nav seems to me to be one of the areas most easily increased with a bit more focus and studying before attending.

It was also interesting to see the difference between SFAS and the Air Force PJs (Surviving the Cut (which is also a really interesting/informative show to watch)) Extended Training Day that aired this past Wednesday (8/25).

All in all, It has made me more hungry for attending SFAS and really affirmed that I made a good choice in choosing 18X. I'm glad SF/Army - whoever - allowed this documentary to be shot. For now, however, the 25m target.

Paul

[Wiseman]

An individual has uploaded the Discovery documentary about SFAS on youtube in 9 parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTVLK...eature=related

You can see the subsequent parts on the right side.