Posted on Mar 9, 2021
Is it possible to enter ARNG as 18X and then put in OCS packet at station? Or better to enter as OCS candidate aiming for Infantry?
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Hi everyone, I’m Prior service Air Force and about to finish my bachelors degree, and considering a couple possible routes to National Guard SF. I’m wondering if it would be possible to enlist as 18X and then put in OCS packet once on station, and then when I reach 1LT(P) reapply back into SF as an 18A? Or would the best route be to enter ARNG as OCS candidate and try to branch Infantry/Armor and apply for SF when I reach 1LT(P)?
Special Forces
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 4
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18X is an Active Duty recruitment program. If you're looking to be in the NG as an 18A, go to OCS and then try out for SFAS with your local SF unit as a LT
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Sgt Ben Brewer
Thank you for the response. Do you know if it’s possible to try for SFAS before I’m promotable as a 1LT, and what the timeline looks like for reaching 1LT(P)? I’ve tried searching high and low for these answers but can’t seem to get a solid answer. Thank you again.
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SFC (Join to see)
Sgt Ben Brewer officer opportunities in the Army like selections and career changes are usually offered to specific year groups. It takes almost no time at all to become a promotable LT and no selection is going to want to accept you as a candidate before you have a few evaluations under your belt
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Sgt Ben Brewer
Thanks again, another option I considered was doing the ARNG “try one” program, and getting into an 18 series MOS that route. But if I’m correct, if I put in my packet I would have to switch to a non 18 series MOS, is that correct? Also, would it be possible to come back once I make rank, and just do the 18A mos portion, or would I have to attend SFQC all over again. Any ideas?
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SFC (Join to see)
Sgt Ben Brewer you can't try one with a new MOS. SF requires you to go to selection, get selected, then return later for the Q course. You can't go to selection if you don't have an MOS in the NG. You have to join a NG unit, drill with them, contact a NG unit, and ask them to sponsor you to attend selection. If and when they decide to sponsor you is up to the unit. When I tried to go to SFAS through the NG there was a year long waiting list they sent two people a month, and of the 50+ people who were trying to go, they only sent the top two every month. You go when the unit chooses to send you. Then you go to the Q course 1-2 years. If you're trying to be an 18A it's a bid choice to go as an enlisted Soldier because you'll be delayed several years. You'll have to attend SFAS and SFQC again as an officer as well.
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I think it would depend on what you want to do - I mean what you want to get out of it.
So for example, if you want to be an officer, I would say go the OCS route because being prior service you know that once you are enlisted it's can be pretty tough to get that OCS spot and/or it will take quite a long while. In my opinion, it would be a whole lot easier to go OCS first, and then from there you would pick you MOS or get your MOS depending on how well you do in OCS. And then when you get a chance - which I'm sure they will ask everyone, if anyone wants to try out for SFAS.
I say all of this because at the very least, if you don't make it. I mean think if you signed for 18X, and you didn't make it - not saying you wont, I'm sure you will (just dont quit) but there is always the IF. It could be no fault of your desire, or you could get injured - so I just say, don't sign for 18X and then get stuck with crappy options later. At the very least, you go OCS, perhaps land a good MOS. Gain that experience and then try out for SFAS and get that, and you'll have double the experience on multiple MOS -- your AF MOS experience, your OCS MOS experience and then your new venture of SFAS experience.
But in all honest, I would say to contact a SFAS recruiter and ask them directly and they will be able to tell you the true answer, but I just wanted to make that comment to give you something else to think about if you haven't considered that or thought of it already. You will do well, and good luck!
So for example, if you want to be an officer, I would say go the OCS route because being prior service you know that once you are enlisted it's can be pretty tough to get that OCS spot and/or it will take quite a long while. In my opinion, it would be a whole lot easier to go OCS first, and then from there you would pick you MOS or get your MOS depending on how well you do in OCS. And then when you get a chance - which I'm sure they will ask everyone, if anyone wants to try out for SFAS.
I say all of this because at the very least, if you don't make it. I mean think if you signed for 18X, and you didn't make it - not saying you wont, I'm sure you will (just dont quit) but there is always the IF. It could be no fault of your desire, or you could get injured - so I just say, don't sign for 18X and then get stuck with crappy options later. At the very least, you go OCS, perhaps land a good MOS. Gain that experience and then try out for SFAS and get that, and you'll have double the experience on multiple MOS -- your AF MOS experience, your OCS MOS experience and then your new venture of SFAS experience.
But in all honest, I would say to contact a SFAS recruiter and ask them directly and they will be able to tell you the true answer, but I just wanted to make that comment to give you something else to think about if you haven't considered that or thought of it already. You will do well, and good luck!
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Only way to do this properly is to join the Army as an 09S and do OCS at whatever State you are joining’s OCS. Make sure you pick at State that has a 19th or 20th Group BN or Company. After you Branch you can do an SFAS as an 1LT and you don’t have to be INF. You can try to get there right out of OCS as a 2LT as the Chem Officer then so SFAS when you are there.
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