Anybody served in SFAB units? What are the pros and cons?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 14:15:00 -0500

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2018 1:23 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:23:38 -0500

SSG, The SFAB units are so new, that a lot of things are still being worked out. I work with and talk to people in the BN's and that's the only real complaint they seem to have. For what I've been told, you would be looking at 9 months on, 12 months off. In my opinion, based on seeing how the people I know feel about it, it would be a good career advancing move, and open the door for a lot of experiences. Being a part of something new would be pretty cool also.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Mar 1 at 2018 2:34 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:34:42 -0500

Pro you get a pretty cool beret.
Con is you get a shitty beret.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 8:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 08:58:51 -0500

I’m in the 1st SFAB. We’ve had lots of mixed messages throughout the whole ordeal. They made a selection process to set it apart, but it’s still fledgling. They gave us the beret, again to try and set the unit apart, but it’s been under fire from lots of angles, both SOF and regular soldiers. The unit’s itself are fast-paced, and yes the plan, near as we can see, is 9 deployed, 12 train, 9 deployed. If you’re SFAB, they’ll want you to rotate back thru, I.e. if you’re a SSG now, they’ll kick you to the force to get your PSG time, then want you back. If you’re thinking of joining, I can tell you it’s a nice break from soldier issues. Everyone here is pretty much an “expert and a professional,” save those they had to randomly pull from the force to plus us up for deployment. Lemme know if you have anymore questions. Oh, and make no mistake: if you become an advisor as a 25U, you’ll be doing all the comms for your team AND advising your counterpart on any and all aspects of their comms. Far as career, yeah, it’s the new hotness right now, $5,000 in your pocket for signing, and heavy emphasis on this assignment for SFC.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2019 8:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 20:12:59 -0500

It depends on your timing. I arrived a month before deployment and I'm being released early due to being promoted to SFC on deployment. I won't be leaving with any of the specialty schools due to being at MATA, my M-SLC date, when I have to clear post, etc. If you show up early you'll get alot of schools. It's the only tactical broadening assignment that you'll be released from when you make SFC/MSG. You'll deploy and have responsibilities that are heavier than your counterparts in a normal unit. Cons would be individuals that are lazy because they believe they're SF. Not everyone was specially selected, they were just KD complete and the Army filled a billet.