I am attempting to transition from the Reserves to Active Duty SF. My local recruiter isn't very responsive since I'm PS. Any suggestions?

2016-07-03T12:27:17-04:00

Now that my Reserves contract is about to transition to it's IRR portion, I plan on requesting release from HRC and going Active, ideally 18 series. I am currently 31B TDY at Camp Zama, Japan. The SM here said the best career counselor is Rally Point, so thank you in advance for your help. I am ready to start this process with the proper guidance.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2016 12:42 PM

2016-07-03T12:42:49-04:00

are you qualified as 18 series, are you willing to go else where, spec ops

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jul 3 at 2016 1:26 PM

2016-07-03T13:26:17-04:00

You should contact an SF recruiter from a SORB (Special Operations Recruiting Battalion). They will have latest on availability of slots available to reservists (if any). It's their job to talk to prospective SF candidates, so don't be shy in calling them.

If you are in Japan, the closest one to you is probably at JB Lewis. Their phone number is: [login to see] / 3901/ 3902. Full contact information is available here:
http://www.sorbrecruiting.com/Contact.htm

Katterbach Kaserne BLDG 5817C RM 325 Katterbach, GE 09177 COM: 09802-83-2119/2779 DSN: 314-467-2119/2779 FAX: 09802-83-3817

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2016 1:28 PM

2016-07-03T13:28:15-04:00

You must speak to a Special Forces Recruiter. Normal Army recruiters cannot help you at all. You must go through SFAS as well, then the 18 month long Q-Course IF you are selected. Since you want to join as Prior Service you must go through the 18X program. That consists of 11X OSUT, Airborne School, then SF Conditioning Course followed by Special Forces Assessment and Selection. Then I believe since you will be 18X you will wait there for the next Q-Course to commence. If you were Active Duty you would be sent back to your home station unit until a course slot opens IF you get selected. Start conditioning yourself physically and mentally now. Push yourself physically every chance you get. Do cycles of minimum sleep training as well to condition your mind on the rigors of special forces. A lot of people go through selection because they are fit and think that is all it takes. Then they are surprised when they make it through everything and are a non-select. During team week if you are a team leader you must perform as a natural leader. Use the strength of others in your group to benefit the mission, but do not let them take control. When you are not the leader make sure to pull your weight and provide input without forcing the mission to fail because you want to outshine the assigned leader. Once you are selected and waiting for Q-course make sure you continue training, but allow your muscles and bones to heal 100%. A lot of people do not make it through Q-course because they get injured. The rest just get complacent because they think they have made it and are not being assessed. They are very wrong. The same people who train you may end up on your same ODA. They do not want someone that would put the mission or lives at risk on an objective.

Response by SFC Glen S. made Jul 3 at 2016 1:38 PM

2016-07-03T13:38:22-04:00

You mentioned that you are 100% qualified. Does that mean you are 18 series qualified? Is your recruiter an SF Recruiter? Did you transition from AD to USAR, in your current position? Or are you on an entirely USAR contract? When is your statutory obligation contract up? Did your recruiter request a conditional release for processing from your current commander? Let me know these and I will try to help.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jul 3 at 2016 2:28 PM

2016-07-03T14:28:48-04:00

All right, you want to go from reserves to regular amry; a NPS Recruiter is who you need to talk to. So my sugestion for you is to go by your nearest recruiting station and talk to a recruiter there. Not only they have the most up to date information with regards to Prior Service accession but ate the only one that can help you!

Response by CSM Kevin Nolan made Jul 5 at 2016 9:49 AM

2016-07-05T09:49:22-04:00

Call down to 1-1 SF down in Okinawa, they have a recruiter from Korea that travels throughout the AOR

Response by SFC John Trujillo made Jan 23 at 2020 2:15 PM

2020-01-23T14:15:47-05:00

31B is not 18 Series. Check out the Reserve SF Units.