Introductions V

[Boltlug]

Been reading this site for a few years now, learned a couple things so far. Recently went to SFAS and I'll be starting the SFQC in June. Up to this point I've been a 11B, and I look forward to the challenges that are ahead.

[hungrycat]

I'm a 62-year-old retired guy living in a rural area of the Northwest. I spent 13 years in the US Army, six of which was in the 5th SFG (Eng. Sgt.). I also spent time as a tanker in Germany, and as an EOD Response Team Leader. I ETS-ed intending to go back to school, get married, and reinlist after I graduated. Didn't work out that way. I spent a career in civilian Federal service instead.

Now, I work around our farm, head to the woods whenever possible, and do a bit of consulting work.

I was very pleased to find this forum. I'm looking forward to exchanging ideas, maybe learning some field craft tricks, and catching up on the current nature of the profession.

I would like to thank those guys that are still active. We appreaciate youall being out there.

[SFgrunt]

WARNING: Huge wall of text to follow. This is a pretty long intro about myself. I blame it on part boredom and part missing the military life.

I was born and raised mostly in Utah, spent a few years in different places as a kid like Puerto Rico, Mexico and Argentina. Was a runner in High School and got a scholarship to run in college which was a great way to pay for a degree. Got my teaching credentials and was in my 1st year teaching High School Spanish in Colorado when 9/11 happened. It rocked my world and I knew I had to do something different with my life than try to baby-sit other people's kids and teach them how to say, "Donde esta el baño?" and "Otra cerveza porfavor."

I had always wanted to join the military during college, but figured since school was already paid for I should stick it out and get my degree, and that there would always be time for that sort of thing later. Well, that fateful and tragic morning was my wake up call. I got online and did quite a bit of research into what I was going to do. As I saw the footage on the news of the Rangers waddling up a ramp in all their gear getting ready for a jump into A-stan in October '01, it clicked that I wanted to go Airborne. So I looked up all the different ways to be Airborne. I came across SOCNET.com, registered and was inundated with tons of info from the guys on there. (I'm Stampee on those forums btw).

It didn't take long before I found exactly what I wanted to do, I was going to be an SF Medic, that job had everything I wanted. I contacted the local recruiter for the 5/19th, he hooked me up with a REP-63, I drilled with the REC out at Watkins for several months while still teaching, and then marched off to start the long road to earning my place on the teams.

The next few years were awesome. I made some great friends along the way. Had a blast through every phase of training. My favorite was by far Selection. Guys were dropping like flies, and every time someone would tap out, it was like a big boost of endorphins and adrenaline to me. I would get more excited and motivated knowing that I was going to make it. I had a close call in Phase II during the final day of testing, I broke my ankle when I stepped on a log that gave way while being the RTO and deciding it would be a good idea to throw a downed battle buddy over my heavy ass ruck full of radio equipment and breaking contact. Because I had already passed, they let me move on to the Phase III on crutches since we would be spending most of the time sitting on our posteriors being tortured by power points and rectal exams. I enjoyed that year of medical training, and to this day, think it's the best high speed medical training in all the world. Robin Sage, oh man, good times. In retrospect, the highlight had to be leading patrols and figuring out some unconventional ways to pull off some pretty silly missions and earning the praise of the cadre for thinking outside the box. As a huge fan of cold war era spy stories and Tom Clancy novels, I lucked out and got to learn русский язык during language training. Just too bad I didn't get to use it all that much and now have forgotten 90% of what I learned. SERE...ugh, that was some crazy stuff, but man did those tears pour as Old Glory stood there and the music blared.

Anyway, I was supposed to head back to 5/19th, but had no job prospects that interested me. My biggest grief with the Q-course at that time, was that even with all my cool medical training, I didn't have any civilian credentials except for a worthless EMT-B certification to use. My options were to go back to teaching, or go back to school. But I didn't want to teach. So I chose to work my way into getting into PA school. In order to do so, I needed to move back closer to family, so I went back to Utah and transferred to 1/19th.

The unit had just come back from A-stan I think about a year before I joined them. I got placed on a great team as a new junior medic and we hit it off. Spent some time in Thailand and Bangladesh for some JCET action. Got accepted to the UofU PA program and at the same time found out our unit was getting deployed to the Philippines. Thankfully the program allowed me to put PA school off a year and saved a spot for me in the next year's class. Although the PI deployment was technically considered part of OEF and it was pretty cool, and we did some great work there, I was still hungering for what I had signed up for, taking the fight to those that did us harm. I wanted A-stan. After we got back, I finished PA school and started working full time. That's when things started to wind down. We kept hearing empty promises of us going to A-stan, and I wanted to stay with my team, not strap-hang with other units to get there. One postponement after another and finally they said, if we really wanted to, we could join another unit to go to Iraq as it was winding down. By this time, I have a great full-time job with ever-expanding responsibilities, a wife and 4 kids to support, and I realized I wasn't a kid anymore and wasn't going to be able to go gallivanting off to exotic places to fight bad guys anymore. So after some subtle pressure from the little lady, I ETS'd in '11.

I look back with fond memories of team life, had a blast, did some amazing training, and even had a little bit of action. But there's a little bit of an empty feeling too.

For those of you still on the teams, enjoy your experiences, there is nothing else like it in all the world.

[Blueboy]

SFgrunt----Great post. Thanks for your service.

De Oppresso Liber!

[bobhUSMC]

I am a 26 year old, recently separated Marine who held the MOS of 0321 (Reconnaissance) for the bulk of my 8 year career. I love the Recon community and was fortunate enough to serve with the best men I have ever known. However, serving in a non-SOF asset has its obvious limitations and I am currently looking for ways to enter a SOF asset, with a large priority given to the SF community. I am currently looking at A/5/19 in California along with a look (now or eventual) at active duty options. I thank all the moderators for the content and look forward to learning more and more every day.

[Bob45nm]

I am former SF from Vietnam. I found this site from a web search and am glad the unit is still in good hands. I was privileged to serve with some of the finest men I have ever met and am glad to see the tradition still exists.

[caskine]

Hi, first I would like to say thanks for your courage and great service to our country. My father was James Askine who served in Vietnam in 1967 with the 5th Special Forces Group. Dad never said much about Vietnam. He died in 2003. I am trying to piece together what he did in Vietnam (I am the unofficial family Genealogist). I suspect that he did some great things, but we just don't know. I have begun reading about Project Sigma. I am pretty sure he was the B-33 XO in September 1967 and also a member of B-56 (Sigma). If anyone served with dad, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks
Chuck Askine

[ghp95134]

Chuck,

My father was the B-33 S-1 then RF/PF advisor to Maj. Phong from 09/01/66 to 01/02/67; looks like he left before your father got there.

Your father was XO:

Askine James W CPT 09/03/67 02/04/68 DET XO

SOURCE

Their base was Camp Widder, An Loc/Hon Quan. An Loc was about 75 miles north west of Saigon, and about 15km from the Cambodian border.

--ghp

[JMarye]

Future 18X candidate counting down the days till I graduate with (another) degree. I currently hold an Associates in Criminal Justice, and will shortly have a B.S. in Political Science with my concentration in International Relations in the Middle East/North Africa and Latin America.

[RockyTop]

I am currently an IET soldier nearing the end of the long 35P pipeline. I am a few weeks from graduating the Arabic course at DLI and have orders for 3rd SFG. This is the assignment I was hoping for and am very excited to have the opportunity to work in this community.

[JumpingIowa]

Hey everyone my name is Dave and I am a soon to be college graduate from western NY. There has always been a strong desire inside of me to join the army since I was a little kid. I dont know what it is specifically but I feel that its a lifestyle I want to be a part of and I want to do it at the highest level. Being a Green Beret is something that I have been looking into a lot lately ever since I have thought about what Im going to do after I graduate. I think I have a lot of unique skills that would allow me to be successful in a high intensity, team-oriented organization such as Special Forces. I have always played sports and am a competitor and I understand the dynamics and importance of teamwork.

I have been doing a lot of research into the whole selection process, reading blogs, trying to find former SF operators and current military personnel to talk to and get a real, hands-on account of what military life is like. I have been reading this book "Chosen Soldier" by Dick Couch and I cant put it down. Every step of the SFAS and Q-Course intrigue me so much. I hope that I can get some different perspectives from this blog as I know there are some really knowledgeable people on here (hoping TR doesnt find anything wrong with this introduction). Anyways, I hope to engage in some dialogue with members on this board. If anyone would like to talk I hope you can direct message me from here. Thanks for reading this and I look forward to future posts.

[Staticline]

Thanks for the opportunity to join your family. I served with A Company 1st Battalion 7th Group in the early 70’s as an 11 Bravo. While there, I had the privilege to walk in the shadows of some of the greatest soldiers of our time. What an awe inspiring opportunity for a young Buck Sargent! Several members of the Special Forces Association have spoken highly of this site so I thought I would give it a try. I am hopeful that I will be able to reunite with some long lost friends and perhaps make some new acquaintances in the process.

[swimr235]

Former AD Navy MP, currently in the Navy reserves for now. Currently a US Marshal in Miami, Fl. I have gleaned a huge amount of information just by sitting back and reading through this site and appreciate all the knowledge on here. I don't intend to ask too many questions as, for now, the majority of them have been answered. I have a certain set of goals in mind for the recent future but figure its not my time to ask just yet until things become more concrete. Thanks for this site.


- Nick

[camborambo]

I am currently a student at a Community College in Texas. I am in an EMS program to become EMT and Paramedic certified to be Special Forces and medic qualified like my Uncle. He was a medic in Vietnam and after he got back became a Green Beret.

[spiffymermaid]

Hello. I am a prior service NG soldier who misses the daily grind of military life. I truly believe that I have what it takes to become a Special Forces Soldier now I just have to convince my wife that this decision is the best for our family. I appreciate the readily available information on this forum and all the advice given. Thank you for your service and God Bless