If I want to pursue a career within special operations in the Army or Navy, which branch offers the best opportunities?

2018-06-19T22:15:16-04:00

I am in army jrotc and planing to enlist this summer in ether the army or the navy, and I want to pursue a career Within special operations In the army or navy. Any suggestions if so why?

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Jun 19 at 2018 10:42 PM

2018-06-19T22:42:47-04:00

Have you taken the ASVAB yet? What are your top three skills? Do you live close to a base that has the jobs you are looking for? What are your grades? Are you athletic? How much time do you spend outdoors in a day? Do you have a serious girlfriend? What are the top three reasons you want to join Special Forces? Suggest taking the leap one step at a time. First recruit training, then advanced selection.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2018 11:52 PM

2018-06-19T23:52:32-04:00

Everyone wants to be "SPEC OPS"
Do you know what you actually want to do? You should consider what type of work you like when you're one of the 95% of people who join the military planning on going to some type of special operations and washing out. That percentage is probably an exaggeration... It's probably higher. My RIP class had 200 people show up. 90 people start. 30 finish. That doesn't even count the multitude either failed Airborne school or quit after.
My point is, you should think about a different job and join as that. When you've trained a while, then try out for a selection. Otherwise, you're going to come in on a special operations contract, most likely fail, and be reclassed to whatever the service you're in needs.

Response by TSgt Terry Hudson made Jun 20 at 2018 2:32 AM

2018-06-20T02:32:12-04:00

Not to down you kid, 98% of JROTC kids plan on joining and going SPECOPS and only about 3% actually fully complete the entire pipeline. In other words I’m telling you have back up plans and make sure you’re being realistic. If you’re not already an athlete you need to be trying to get there on top of that make sure you have the mental strength. Sitting at home on COD ain’t gone get you into jobs like that. Again not to discourage you just giving you hardcore facts and being real with you! If you’re a computer guy get a job in computers. SPECOPS aren’t the only cool guys in the military!

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Jun 20 at 2018 9:17 AM

2018-06-20T09:17:20-04:00

With the Army, you begin your training path with Infantry OSUT (one station unit training), which is basic training and then Infantry training. Followed by Airborne School. If you have a Ranger contract or 18 X (Special Forces), you then enter their respective training pipelines. If you wash out of either of those, you are already a qualified Airborne Infantryman and will be assigned as such. With the Navy, if you washout of any step of the SEAL training pipeline, expect to be reassigned to the "needs of the Navy" and likely spend the rest of your contract as a sailor aboard a ship. Not necessarily a bad thing if that is your cup of tea, but you won't be jumping out of planes in a ground combat arms job.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Jun 20 at 2018 11:06 AM

2018-06-20T11:06:30-04:00

I was in Army for 20 years and I was Lewis with SPEC OPS and Rangers and I want to say they are a different breed. Now if I had my choice I would go be NAVY SEAL or Navy OPS because there are fewer Seals then SPEC OPS COMMAND and I NOT TALKING A ops SUPPORT WHO WEAR the support cap and try to be SPEC OPS/ I know few guys who have gone to the Q Course and made and didn't make it, SO I hear SEAL TRAINING isn't no joke. WELL I would GO NAVY SEAL because they work with SPEC OPS as well and kill people that are BAD MF'ers.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jun 20 at 2018 12:17 PM

2018-06-20T12:17:27-04:00

The first question you need to ask yourself is what do you want to do in Spec Ops? There are many different jobs in the Spec Ops community. Also, I wouldn't limit yourself to just the Army or Navy. All four branches have a Spec Ops component. The Army has the most Spec Ops personnel with roughly 32,500 troops assigned. The Air Force has roughly 15,700 members, the Navy has roughly 9000 and the Marines have 2900. One could argue that the Marines are the most special as there are only a few of them. Some branches have unique Spec Ops capabilities while others do the same job (DEVGRU and Delta pretty much do the same missions). Closely look at each branch and their unique jobs.

The other important question is which branch do you like the best? Spec Ops course are difficult and the failure rate is high (Air Force Combat Controllers go through 2 years of training with a 95% failure rate). If you fail or get injured you will get some other job in the branch. You should look at each branch, the culture, the living conditions, where bases are located, etc before you decide. You may be there for awhile.

Finally, look at the Air Force. Seal Team 6 (DEVGRU) doesn't go anywhere without a AF combat controller. The same with Delta. Plus, we have the best living conditions of all the services. I switched from Army to Air Force partly because of the better living conditions.

You have been given good advice by folks here in RP, good luck in your decision.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2018 2:01 PM

2018-06-20T14:01:10-04:00

Join the Marines, become a Marine Raider, then join the CIA.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Jun 20 at 2018 2:21 PM

2018-06-20T14:21:01-04:00

Why don't you stop saying you want to be in Special Operations and narrow it down to Special Forces or Navy Seals. Say, "I want to be in Special Forces" and find a path to getting there. Half of Fort Bragg is in "Special Operations", but guess what, they are not really special. They are here to support the much smaller group you should want to be part of.

Response by SPC Anthony Kueneman made Jun 20 at 2018 7:22 PM

2018-06-20T19:22:00-04:00

If you want to be sure fire in combat arms, hit the army... if you are dead set on being a seal go for it... but I'm just saying, if you wash out, you could end up a cook on a carrier.

Response by CW2 Louis Melendez made Jun 20 at 2018 7:52 PM

2018-06-20T19:52:19-04:00

I think that the Army will probably give you more flexibility when it comes to having a backup plan. You can enlist as an 18X, 37F, or even 11B with Ranger contract. You will have to go to Airborne School while you are in one of those pipelines and this also narrows a little bit where you go (i.e. Airborne units, Special Ops units). Hell, you can still be assigned to Special Operations units in a Support capacity (Commo, supply, etc.). The fact that you have a 120 of GT will give you flexibility enough to make adjustments in your career.

Response by CPO Mark Robinson made Jun 20 at 2018 10:33 PM

2018-06-20T22:33:29-04:00

You have to think about a back up plan. I'm sure you know the Navy Seals have a high dropout rate. Where do you go from there? The navy you enlist with a MOS school or as a basic seaman, airman or fireman and if you don't make the Seal program then that will be your plan B. Navy does have support billets that get you into the Spec Op family and many of them can be really interesting such as special boat units which get Seals in and out of hot situations.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Feb 28 at 2019 1:55 PM

2019-02-28T13:55:21-05:00

I recommend you look at and consider the following.
- Special forces capability and capacity in the Army versus the Navy.
- Capability. Goes to such things as what they do and what you are interested in. For example, Ranger, Special Forces, Delta for the Army compared to Seals for the Navy. What service supports what you want to do?
- Capacity. Goes to such things as ability to develop/be promoted, ability to do different things once in the service, and ability to do different things once in a special force. What happens if you change your goals in five years?
- Your personal and professional goals over 1, 5, and 10 years.
- Your health, fitness, readiness, and abilities as applied to the services. For example, if you can not swim then becoming a Seal is not a smart move.

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 30 at 2019 1:21 PM

2019-09-30T13:21:13-04:00

Seal of SF is a difficult path however if you're dead set on it I feel the answer will depend on what you want do to. Seals are typically direct action vs SF is supporting/training local forces. There are as well other Spec Op non direct action units that may be of interest. One in particular unit under JSOC is the Mission Support Activity unit. They are tasked with providing actionable intelligence to Delta and DEVGRU. There is as well the 160th Night Stalkers - Spec Op aviation unit. So a lot depends on how up close you would like to be.

Response by CMSgt Alan Yoshida made Sep 16 at 2021 2:43 PM

2021-09-16T14:43:20-04:00

AF Special Warfare is one enlisted force to explore. It is going to be tough to pass but when you do you will get to experience many things and see conditions not seen by others. Plus you will get the best gear to do the job because the element is so small compared to the other services.