How can I prepare myself for an assignment with 5th SFG?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:46:20 -0400

I am a 35P, SSG on assignment to 5th Group. I have been in for 10 years and only have strategic MI experience. I will go to airborne enroute. Also PCSing with wife and young children so ensuring they are set up before I get after it is a top.priority of mine as well as I've been told the optempo will be high.

I am coming from a strategic background so any recommendations on actions I can take prior and what to expect when I get there is what im after.

I'm not sure what to expect for a leadership role either but I want to be a good NCO as well.

Will I be able to get there and learn or will alot be expected of me right off the bat? When it comes to tactical stuff, I'm not so strong.

How's ft campbell? Recommendations on schools? Communities to live?

Thanks for reading and appreciate any feedback and open to mentorship.

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Mar 27 at 2020 1:25 AM

SGT Robert Pryor — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 01:25:17 -0400

Expect to learn a lot, but also be open to sharing your knowledge. Special Forces is about exploiting all assets -- in a positive way. Be one such asset.

As for where to live, schools. etc., start your research with the free website:
https://www.areavibes.com/

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Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Mar 27 at 2020 1:39 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 01:39:48 -0400

I am not sure the website is still active but it used to be a good SF resource about 15 years ago, have you tried professionalsoldiers dot com?

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2020 9:03 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 09:03:52 -0400

SOF expects Soldiers to be experts at their MOS. So go in there and bring what you learned in the strategic world with you. SOF operates at tactical, operational, and strategic levels, so your experience will help greatly - especially if you hop on a SOT-A or go forward to the TSOC.
You will be expected to be competent in your MOS and to share it with your Soldiers, to make them better at their job. Keep them motivated as working for SOF as support is very different from conventional - you may likely see action on your intelligence. An ODA is 12 people, so good support is vital.

I love Campbell - was there twice. Air Assault is good for a pretty badge, but utilize the Group for the other schools that you can't normally get - Touchstone, Brighton, etc...

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Mar 27 at 2020 10:01 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 10:01:27 -0400

Make sure you know you stuff from the getgo. if not the learning curve will be exponentially steep.

Response by SPC Russ Bolton made Mar 27 at 2020 4:05 PM

SPC Russ Bolton — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:05:32 -0400

Unfortunately I am not going to be able to help you with this subject. I was assigned to the post support unit. I wish you good luck and keep your eyes open. Be blessed brother

Response by SPC Russ Bolton made Mar 27 at 2020 7:49 PM

SPC Russ Bolton — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 19:49:21 -0400

Well I can say this. You will basically have no choice but to go through airsult school. I fought with my 1sgt about it. I was on a p-3 profile. I still preformed my duties. However I didn't see any sense into damaging my body anymore then I had already done.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2020 9:16 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 21:16:26 -0400

Exits 8 & 11 are popular places with new construction. The market is great for buying especially if you’ll be here for a while. The farther you go down I-24 towards Nashville the better. The area immediately off of Fort Campbell is not great.

Response by SPC James Rafferty made Mar 29 at 2020 10:06 AM

SPC James Rafferty — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 10:06:52 -0400

I spent 6.5 years at Campbell, I love it here. There is plenty of off-post housing, good amd not-so good. Right now I believe the post is on a stay-at-home order so your family will get to know post quite well. Air assault school and Pathfinder school are the best schools Fort Campbell has to offer. They have to be done in that order though, you cant go to Pathfinder school without Air Assault school. Wish you the best and if you have any questions, I still live in Clarksville.

Response by SGT Jeremy Cribb made Mar 29 at 2020 8:28 PM

SGT Jeremy Cribb — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 20:28:10 -0400

I was stationed there twice and loved it. I wasn’t your skill level, so I cannot comment about the secret squirrel stuff. I lived off and on post, both have their pros and cons. I had no issues with schools on or off post. I left medically in 2013, so I’m not all sure what has changed since then.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 12:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 00:55:47 -0400

Not sure if it's been said, but from my experience at 7th, but you will have a lot expected from you. Being at a Group is different than being in a regular unit, as even the low man shoulders a hefty load. Go in humble, learn from everybody, know what you don't know, don't be scared to say you don't know something, and know you will be tested and pushed hard.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2020 1:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 13:56:11 -0400

Group stuff is group stuff- you’ll learn that jazz when you get there. But your job will be virtually nothing like a strategic assignment- if you have the time, I highly suggest working independently on your HAM licenses (if you are proficient enough, go all the way through Amateur Extra). This training will be absolutely vital to you.