Posted on Feb 16, 2017
I am ARNG, not been to basic yet, I want to be in SF unit, what is my best path to achieve my goal?
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Posted in these groups: 
Special Operations
Special Forces
Special Operations Special Forces
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 15
PV2 (Join to see)
I think there is some confusion on your part..
Airborne Ranger= Is a thing
20th SF= is a thing, but not "Airborne Ranger" which is what you said you wanted.... Though many SM that are long tabbed SF, have already attended Airborne and Ranger school, and more then a few Q course grads in an SF unit go to Ranger school
"but im ARNG"= Has nothing do to with being a Airborne Ranger, other then many fewer opportunities to get a school slot from your unit. ARNG & Airborne Ranger can both happen, if your unit has a slot and / or is willing to pay your way. Id have to guess though, I doubt there are many if any SQI V coded line numbers (assignment slots) for a enlisted non NCO.
Confused more yet????
LOL
Start here...
Is your goal to be in an SF unit?
Tabbed Airborne Ranger, but not in a Ranger unit?
Tabbed Airborne Ranger and in an the Ranger Regiment?
Something else?
I think there is some confusion on your part..
Airborne Ranger= Is a thing
20th SF= is a thing, but not "Airborne Ranger" which is what you said you wanted.... Though many SM that are long tabbed SF, have already attended Airborne and Ranger school, and more then a few Q course grads in an SF unit go to Ranger school
"but im ARNG"= Has nothing do to with being a Airborne Ranger, other then many fewer opportunities to get a school slot from your unit. ARNG & Airborne Ranger can both happen, if your unit has a slot and / or is willing to pay your way. Id have to guess though, I doubt there are many if any SQI V coded line numbers (assignment slots) for a enlisted non NCO.
Confused more yet????
LOL
Start here...
Is your goal to be in an SF unit?
Tabbed Airborne Ranger, but not in a Ranger unit?
Tabbed Airborne Ranger and in an the Ranger Regiment?
Something else?
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PV2 (Join to see)
Haha I'm sorry for all the confusion, but yes I didn't mean to say Airborne Ranger. I was just thinking of being Airborne qualified. My goal has always been being in a Special Forces unit ever since I was about 14. For Rangers, I would want to be in the 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. I'm the type that wants to go out and fight.
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SGM Erik Marquez
PV2 (Join to see) - Ok well,,, you might want to pick a goal and focus on that.
if its 20th Special Forces Group that is the bar.....
That means enlistment, then Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) then selection for Q course, if you pass Q course....you would still need a available slot in the NG 20th SF group.
SF has their own recruiters...get in contact with them..... tell them YOU WILL BE an SF Team member..... you just need the chance to prove it...then ask HOW...
If you are not yet VERY physically fit, you will need to be. That does not mean Body builder size..it means strong with endurance. Talk with the SF recruiter on some fitness goals prior to SFAS.
Prereqs... the day you enter you will meet these, your job is to do your job and never run afoul of these requirements.
All applicants MUST NOT:
Be under suspension of favorable personnel action
Have been convicted by court-martial or have disciplinary action noted in their official military fiche under the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Article 15)
Have received an Article 15 for drug-related offense, Insubordination, etc.
Have convictions for Drunken Driving (DWI, DUI, etc.) or Alcohol Related Offenses
Have voluntarily terminated Airborne school or SF training
Exceed weight standards in accordance with AR 600-9
Be barred to reenlistment
Then after you have completed AIT, and get some time in the Guard (at least 1 year)
You need to meet the following before you can get started..
Enlisted requirements:
Must be in the pay grade of E-4 to E-6 or E-7 with no more than 12 years TIS and 9 month TIG
Successful completion of SFAS is a prerequisite to the SFQC
Must be a high school graduate or have a general educational development certificate
Must have a general technical score (GT) of 110 or higher
Soldiers recently completing an MOS-producing school must serve in that MOS for 1 year
Must not have 30 days or more lost time under Title 10, United States Code, section 972, within current or preceding enlistment
Must not be barred to reenlistment
Have a minimum of 3 years remaining service obligation upon completion of Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC)
if its 20th Special Forces Group that is the bar.....
That means enlistment, then Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) then selection for Q course, if you pass Q course....you would still need a available slot in the NG 20th SF group.
SF has their own recruiters...get in contact with them..... tell them YOU WILL BE an SF Team member..... you just need the chance to prove it...then ask HOW...
If you are not yet VERY physically fit, you will need to be. That does not mean Body builder size..it means strong with endurance. Talk with the SF recruiter on some fitness goals prior to SFAS.
Prereqs... the day you enter you will meet these, your job is to do your job and never run afoul of these requirements.
All applicants MUST NOT:
Be under suspension of favorable personnel action
Have been convicted by court-martial or have disciplinary action noted in their official military fiche under the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Article 15)
Have received an Article 15 for drug-related offense, Insubordination, etc.
Have convictions for Drunken Driving (DWI, DUI, etc.) or Alcohol Related Offenses
Have voluntarily terminated Airborne school or SF training
Exceed weight standards in accordance with AR 600-9
Be barred to reenlistment
Then after you have completed AIT, and get some time in the Guard (at least 1 year)
You need to meet the following before you can get started..
Enlisted requirements:
Must be in the pay grade of E-4 to E-6 or E-7 with no more than 12 years TIS and 9 month TIG
Successful completion of SFAS is a prerequisite to the SFQC
Must be a high school graduate or have a general educational development certificate
Must have a general technical score (GT) of 110 or higher
Soldiers recently completing an MOS-producing school must serve in that MOS for 1 year
Must not have 30 days or more lost time under Title 10, United States Code, section 972, within current or preceding enlistment
Must not be barred to reenlistment
Have a minimum of 3 years remaining service obligation upon completion of Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC)
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If you wanted to be an Airborne Ranger, why didn't you enlist into the Army under Option 40?
PV2 (Join to see) there is a missing detail in your question BUT you may want to make it through IADT before jumping off the deep end and going to a Ranger Battalion?
PV2 (Join to see) there is a missing detail in your question BUT you may want to make it through IADT before jumping off the deep end and going to a Ranger Battalion?
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PV2 (Join to see)
I didn't know about that until awhile after I joined. That's why I was looking for advice to see if I should try and release my contract now before Basic, and just re-enlist as non prior service, or go through my 6 years now and just re-enlist as a prior service member.
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PV2 (Join to see)
I'm just trying to get a lot of advice and tips before I make any type of decision.
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MSG Brad Sand
PV2 (Join to see)
I would need a LOT more details to give you any quality advice but my basic advice is listen to your gut. Not sure how soon you are scheduled to go to training but that is going to factor into what you might be able to do?
I would need a LOT more details to give you any quality advice but my basic advice is listen to your gut. Not sure how soon you are scheduled to go to training but that is going to factor into what you might be able to do?
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Alright, besides me who here read the 1st part of his post "I want to be an Airborne Ranger...", and in your mind continued with "livin' the life of sex and danger" (or some variant thereof)?
As for your situation, getting high-speed school slots is often tough if not already in your contract (18X enlistment option, Airborne school, etc), whether Active Duty or not. My most profound Army regret is not getting Airborne in my contract, because getting a school slot when it wasn't in my contract put me as a mech Infantry guy near the back of the priority list. Even if your get it in your contract, it may take a while to go; a couple guys from my Infantry OSUT platoon had to wait in Airborne hold for months! Slots come at a premium, and I never could snag one.
Good luck.
As for your situation, getting high-speed school slots is often tough if not already in your contract (18X enlistment option, Airborne school, etc), whether Active Duty or not. My most profound Army regret is not getting Airborne in my contract, because getting a school slot when it wasn't in my contract put me as a mech Infantry guy near the back of the priority list. Even if your get it in your contract, it may take a while to go; a couple guys from my Infantry OSUT platoon had to wait in Airborne hold for months! Slots come at a premium, and I never could snag one.
Good luck.
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Well, to start with, if you are under the age of 21, you are ineligible for SFAS. And because you have not yet been to OSUT, as an Infantryman, you could try and gain an 18X contract, which would send you through SFAS immediately after OSUT. So that's an option for you. If you get Selected, you'll go to Airborne School, and then the SFQC. However, those slots are few and far between.
Option two; go through OSUT, get a good, solid understanding of your job, see if you can reenlist under the Active component, spend some time on the Line and determine if it is a lifestyle you would like to do on an upper echelon. Because I can tell you, the ARNG and the AD Infantry are VERY different. And if 20th Group is your goal, my advice to you would be to spend some time on Active Duty prior to trying out for the long tab.
And to conclude, understand that the Special Operations way of life is not an easy one. It requires that you be available with almost no notice, and that you be capable of operating on an elite level, both alone and accompanied. It is one of the hardest walks of life in the world, and is not for the faint of heart. If this is your goal, I wish you all the best of luck and success. I will be shooting for an 18D CMF in the coming years, and I look forward to crossing paths with you under the same headgear.
Option two; go through OSUT, get a good, solid understanding of your job, see if you can reenlist under the Active component, spend some time on the Line and determine if it is a lifestyle you would like to do on an upper echelon. Because I can tell you, the ARNG and the AD Infantry are VERY different. And if 20th Group is your goal, my advice to you would be to spend some time on Active Duty prior to trying out for the long tab.
And to conclude, understand that the Special Operations way of life is not an easy one. It requires that you be available with almost no notice, and that you be capable of operating on an elite level, both alone and accompanied. It is one of the hardest walks of life in the world, and is not for the faint of heart. If this is your goal, I wish you all the best of luck and success. I will be shooting for an 18D CMF in the coming years, and I look forward to crossing paths with you under the same headgear.
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PV2 (Join to see)
So you're saying i should stay in the guard for the next 6 years until i can re-enlist under the AD component? If thats the case i wouldn't mind at all. I have thought about staying in the guard for the next 6 years, and going to college an getting a degree to become an officer before trying out for the 20th SF. I know that after basic my unit is getting deployed a few months later. I have thought about getting deployed first then coming back, and doing college. I'm just trying to look at al my possible options, and do what i think i need to do to get where i need to be. Thank you for all the advice and tips! I really appreciate it, and it really helps out my understandings. I wish you the best of luck as well!
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SPC (Join to see)
Both are options. However, I was referring to applying for a conditional release to the Active Component.
However, if you want to be a SF Officer, then college is best after your deployment so that you have the experience to support your decisions.
However, if you want to be a SF Officer, then college is best after your deployment so that you have the experience to support your decisions.
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Having not been,Airborne,Ranger,or Special Forces qualified maybe my response is simply to take the basic steps of being and trying your best in every phase of training from Basic onward ,you've read responses on this site with much more insight than I can give,but from my own experiences be very careful for what you wish for( something my Dad told me in 1965) Good luck Brother!
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If you can find a Title 10/32 Assignment at Ft. Benning/Army National Guard--Warrior Training Center (WTC) you might get the option/opportunity to start the pipeline to all the fun, but all so grueling "High-Speed-Low-Drag" schools that can eventually be the catalyst to a rewarding SF Training/Career in the ARNG (e.g. Airborne School, Sr. Parachutist/ Jumpmaster Course, Air Assault Course, Pathfinder Course, Pre-Ranger Course--subsequently then to Ranger School, Combative Level 4 Course, Master-Gunner Course, SCUBA-Combat Dive School, and etc.).
This would require an approval by your organic unit (home unit) to sponsor you (approved from NGB) and be put on a year long active duty orders (duration can be extended from year-to-year; up to three years). This could potentially lead to SFAS & SF Unit due to your training.
This would require an approval by your organic unit (home unit) to sponsor you (approved from NGB) and be put on a year long active duty orders (duration can be extended from year-to-year; up to three years). This could potentially lead to SFAS & SF Unit due to your training.
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SSG (Join to see)
I was a 42A20P (AIRBORNE) assigned to the S-1 Shop-Human Resources Sergeant and went to Jump School. Such 'Great' opportunities working there!
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Airborne slots are usually difficult to get in the NG. If you're in a NG Infantry unit your chances are much better but it's still difficult. NG Infantry units also often get seats in Ranger school too. If you're saying you want to go to a Ranger Bat, you'd have to be AD.
1-143 Inf in RI/TX/AK is the only Airborne Infantry that I'm aware of in the Guard. The seats would probably be very easy to get in those units. Getting into 20th Group right off the street can be tricky. I had a friend that managed to get their approval but he is an exceptional physical specimen and also had a 4 year degree. That's not to say it's impossible. If you haven't shipped for BCT yet, your best bet might be to try and get out of your current contract and go for another one for either 18X or that has guarantees for Airborne and Ranger.
1-143 Inf in RI/TX/AK is the only Airborne Infantry that I'm aware of in the Guard. The seats would probably be very easy to get in those units. Getting into 20th Group right off the street can be tricky. I had a friend that managed to get their approval but he is an exceptional physical specimen and also had a 4 year degree. That's not to say it's impossible. If you haven't shipped for BCT yet, your best bet might be to try and get out of your current contract and go for another one for either 18X or that has guarantees for Airborne and Ranger.
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First and outmost, you need to be E-4 promotable with at least 3 years in active duty to be accepted for the Q Course. The very same goes with U.S. Army Rangers not to mention that you also have to qualify at airborne school.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
Are you sure about that? My understanding was that you can contract for Special Forces again. As for Ranger School, I can't find any rank restriction listed either, although it is rare to get sent before you are E-4 in the Army. Airborne is a requirement for the Q Course too.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Yeah the 18X enlistment option gives you the opportunity to go to Selection. If you fail Selection, you go back to 11B.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
TSgt (Join to see) - I looked at the National Guard side and it does allow non prior service to enlist on what they call a REP 63 enlistment, which is apparently their version of the 18X. Same rules, 11B and Airborne School, then the chance to see if you have what it takes to pass assessment.
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Either way, at some point you will have to go to Basic. But, talk with 20th and your Recruiters to see what options are available.
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