Posted on Aug 6, 2020
Travis Leutbecher
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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Here's the truth: you're not high speed. It will take time to prove that you are and separate yourself from everyone else who feels they are. If you aren't a Collegiate level athlete then you probably won't pass any "high speed" selection process. If you aren't a high school athlete then you almost definitely won't pass a selection.

If you fancy yourself tough and "high speed" join the Infantry with an Airborne contract and volunteer for the 75th Ranger Regiment while in Airborne school. All Special Operations require Airborne so it's a good start.

Around 90% of people who join the Army on an Option 40 Ranger or 18X Special Forces contract will fail to complete the training. You will most likely fail to meet the training. Start by aiming smaller. Aim small, miss small.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Ronnie Reams
4 y
10% select is better than 3% back in RVN days. I believe that the figure the late SSG Sadler had is the ballad.
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SPC John Tacetta
SPC John Tacetta
4 y
SGT Robert Pryor - Spoken like a true man of honor. You humble me.
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SPC John Tacetta
SPC John Tacetta
4 y
SFC Jason Muncy - SFC Jason Muncy, you talk as if the Rangers were made up of Field Grade Officers and Senior NCOs with no junior enlisted whatsoever. You are correct, at least, in saying that you need the proper frame of mind rather than strict brawn to make it through. All the more reason to disagree with SFC (Join to see) in this regard. Of course the selection process is rigorous and of course the rejection rate is high, but that just goes with the territory and I'm sure that anyone entering the program is fully aware of that fact. However, it's no reason not to try, and some do indeed pass through. The worst that can happen is that you end up in a "regular" line unit. Who knows, Travis Leutbecher may be well on his way by now.

I've certainly gotten a bit of resistance from my stance in this thread, but I've also seen many of the comments supporting my position. Have no doubt, I think SFC (Join to see) is an outstanding service member whose broad and deep knowledge is an asset to this community, his unit and the Army: he always manages to impress me. However, this seems to be a rare instance in which I think he has missed the mark and there's no shame in missing so from time to time.
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CPL Douglas Chrysler
CPL Douglas Chrysler
4 y
Other than having a physical accident that puts you out, with enough desire and heart you will succeed.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
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The Army is High Speed. What you should do in the Army will be based on your scores and what is available, that simple. Once you enter the Army you will need to work hard in all areas to prove that you have what it takes for one of the more challenging units. So, if you want to serve, serve for Duty, Hojor, Country. Work hard, study your craft and be a Team player, then at some point you will know what it is you want to do. If you are worthy the Army will see your potential and allow you to compete. The Army is High Speed.
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SGM Operations Sergeant Major
SGM (Join to see)
4 y
Amazing comment, CSM! With the way the U.S. is today, it is an honor to work at any branch or any MOS. You serve your country and serve it proudly. On the other hand, I think the basis of your question was missed in some comments. If you want to get out there on your feet and do high-speed missions, yes, infantry is the way to go. (comes with air assault, airborne, sniper, sapper, pathfinder exc....) But there is no MOS like 19D. If you do get on your feet, its only for a distance to your OP, which is at the most ½ distance of your crew serve weapon system. (that was my attempt to be funny) I have been a scout for 22 years now, and nothing but rewards has come from it. Bottom line you make your MOS high speed no matter what the MOS is. The rest of the soldiers will follow your lead, or you will see that promote above your peers commit more often.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
CSM Darieus ZaGara
4 y
I believe we have a similar philosophy. I attacked everything I did in the Army with the same vigor and coached my Soldiers to do the same. It is a life that I believe to be unmatched in society. The reason is because it is a way of life and not a job. Keep up that energy and desire. Hoooah!SGM (Join to see)
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CSM Frank Supinski
CSM Frank Supinski
4 y
Spot on comment CSM Za Gara. Every Job in the US Army needs to be performed with the same zeel and vigor no matter what. As some wise NCO taught me long ago, "amateurs talk about tactics, professionals talk logistics."
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CSM Jim Corrin
CSM Jim Corrin
4 y
HOOAH, CSM ZaGara !!!!! I encouraged my soldiers to do each task as if it was the only thing they had to do that day, whether it was a facing movement or some more complex task. If they can do this they will be high speed...
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LTC Jason Mackay
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Edited 4 y ago
There are a number of supporting MOSs in elite formations such as the Ranger Regiment, SF Groups (like the GSB), 160th SOAR (the Regiment has sustainers), Airborne Units have conventional logistics support with jump status BSBs. They just did away with Division Pathfinder Comoanies. They were pretty high speed.

SFABs candidates go through a selection process.

The Asymmetric Warfare Group also have a selection process.

Technical Escort - Mix of EOD and CBRNE troops

LRSCLRSD unfortunately no longer around.

Not a formal thing, more of how Commander's approach the mission: many BSBs task organize a standing security Platoon. Ours took soldiers from all comoanies and trained them on convoy defense, fighting mounted, communications, every weapon in the element and anything in the BN. Hell, I saw one that was able to cross train a 60mm mortar crew to hipshoot when they got in contact. The security Platoon was four elements with four MRAPs, one PLS with trailer, and a M984E1 wrecker that was task organized to be the patrol leadership (combat logistics patrol - CLP). Armed to the teeth. Had dedicated medics. Mix of M2s and Mk19s. they had live AT4s, frags, etc The convoy was formed around one or two of these elements based on size. They could call for fire. They could and did call in CAS. They often had to clear their own routes as route clearance was unavailable. They worked with Afghan police and other Afghan security forces to secure key terrain that overwatched routes. Not your Daddy's convoy. Everything ran as the combat operation that it was. We coordinated ISR coverage, fire support, attack aviation, and battlespace deconfliction.

Units often put together a Personal Security Detachment PSD to move the Command Group around the battlefield. The CSM usually hand picks people to perform this mission and they part of the HHC.

Perhaps, don't be concerned with the pedigree of the formation or the High speed MOSs and be the highest speed <insert MOS here> and be proficient in your warrior tasks and drills. Another key is to be reliable.
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SPC John Tacetta
SPC John Tacetta
4 y
SSG Jeremy Howard - Always did want to wiggle those sticks.
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SPC William Szkromiuk
SPC William Szkromiuk
4 y
US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps fighter pilot prayer: “God, please give me the eyes of a hawk, the wings of an eagle, the agility of the cheetah, and the balls of an Army helicopter pilot!”

Ask any grunt from Vietnam. He knows.

God Bless you all.
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LCDR Michael Pumilia
LCDR Michael Pumilia
>1 y
There is no limit when flying high. You're there to defend the grunt on the ground. Always! Because if sh*t happens, you grunts become our best friends when you've saved our sorry asses from the shroud lines after our pile of tin is no longer flying correctly, with AA holes everywhere. High speed to me is how proficient you become in your current task, what ever that might be. By '74 I was back on a carrier but back in the good old USA. Then onto a naval weapons station where we had a large Marine detachment, Army helos, and Coast Guard boats - all to defend everything that went BOOM !!! How's that for high specialty and high speed ! Oh yes, we had a lot of EOD types around from each service.
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CPL Richard Hughes
CPL Richard Hughes
>1 y
Sadly the Asymmetric Warfare Group is being de-commissioned. It’s assets being re-dispersed throughout the service to be force multipliers and trainers.
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