Posted on Aug 4, 2021
Waiting for 1 last signature for my 368 to go from NG to Active Army. Looking into 18X, anyone go this route?
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I am told that I won’t have to do the full 11B OSUT since I’m still in the NG and won’t have a break in service. Has anyone gone down this route as an NCO? My recruiter has answered most of my questions but I’m just looking for some personal experiences. TIA.
Posted in these groups: 
18X: Special Forces Candidate
79R: Recruiter
18X: Special Forces Candidate 79R: Recruiter
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
I was in the Guard before and have been Regular Army as enlisted. Just about everyone I know that went 18X from the Guard failed. I would highly discourage it. If you want to go to the Army with the potential of going SF then you should go 11B and be a team leader first. Go to Ranger School and then try your chops at SF. It looks cool but I can tell you that being in the Guard as a support MOS you are not prepared for SF. SF looks cool but getting your Ranger Tab shows your potential as a combat leader and would prepare much better than the SF Baby program.
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Don't do 18X or 37F as an initial term Soldier. If you want to do one of those then pick an MOS you like, train in that, then go to the selection for the job you want.
Statistically, you will fail. The failure rate is even higher for initial entry Soldiers. The 18X program is for initial entry recruitment tool because when 90+% of Soldiers fail to complete the SFAS or the Q Course they become 11Bs, making the 18X program an extremely successful Infantry recruiting program.
If I told you that today when you walk out the front door today you have a 50-90% chance of having a Boulder fall on your head and kill you, you would wear a helmet when you walk out. But somehow people think that when a person is trying out for a selection with a high failure rate, they believe "they" are the ones who will magically make it.
Point is, enter the Army like you'll never be SF. Pick the Career course you want to follow, then try the selection. If you make it, great. If you fail, you go back to the job you already chose
Statistically, you will fail. The failure rate is even higher for initial entry Soldiers. The 18X program is for initial entry recruitment tool because when 90+% of Soldiers fail to complete the SFAS or the Q Course they become 11Bs, making the 18X program an extremely successful Infantry recruiting program.
If I told you that today when you walk out the front door today you have a 50-90% chance of having a Boulder fall on your head and kill you, you would wear a helmet when you walk out. But somehow people think that when a person is trying out for a selection with a high failure rate, they believe "they" are the ones who will magically make it.
Point is, enter the Army like you'll never be SF. Pick the Career course you want to follow, then try the selection. If you make it, great. If you fail, you go back to the job you already chose
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) it's not your first contract but you are still an IET Soldier. Every 18X walks into SFAS and the Q Course as a MOSQ 11B, including yourself. You won't be any different than them. If you fail, you will be an 11B going needs of the Army. If you get hurt you will be reclassed to needs of the Army. If you go to a unit first and then attempt to go, if you fail you just go back to doing what you were doing before
As for 18D, you get what they give you. I was a medic when I passed SFAS. I had outstanding scores on all the aptitude tests, a 139 GT, and some medical experience. I wanted to be an 18D. I got 18E, but the language and location I wanted. If you don't want what they give you, they don't really care. There are over 25,000 Gren Berets in the Army and hundreds of Soldiers attending their selection every month.
If you want to do something medical I would strongly suggest that you go in as a 68W, attend SFAS and if that doesn't work, branch off into something else. You could be a Ranger Medic, Flight medic, Civil Affairs Medic, Independent Duty Medic, or apply to the PA, Nursing, or Medical School programs if you want to take the officer route. Working as a medic is a great way to get the experience and letters of recommendation you'll need to apply.
As for 18D, you get what they give you. I was a medic when I passed SFAS. I had outstanding scores on all the aptitude tests, a 139 GT, and some medical experience. I wanted to be an 18D. I got 18E, but the language and location I wanted. If you don't want what they give you, they don't really care. There are over 25,000 Gren Berets in the Army and hundreds of Soldiers attending their selection every month.
If you want to do something medical I would strongly suggest that you go in as a 68W, attend SFAS and if that doesn't work, branch off into something else. You could be a Ranger Medic, Flight medic, Civil Affairs Medic, Independent Duty Medic, or apply to the PA, Nursing, or Medical School programs if you want to take the officer route. Working as a medic is a great way to get the experience and letters of recommendation you'll need to apply.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
MAJ Byron Oyler - MEPS and Recruiting will always push you toward jobs they need to fill. Walk in with a 130+GT and a 110+EL score and the jobs you will get offered will not be 11B or 12B. Now if a 94S Patriot Missile repairman just doesn't interest you and you let them know that you won't sign that Contract, they usually can come up with other choices rather than let you walk out the door.
My first offer was a Hawk Missile Repairman. When I told the recruiter that I wasn't interested in that at all and volunteered 11B, the look of disappointment was obvious.
My first offer was a Hawk Missile Repairman. When I told the recruiter that I wasn't interested in that at all and volunteered 11B, the look of disappointment was obvious.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
CPT Lawrence Cable - I had a 110 GT and was MOSQ as a medic and they got me into 31R. One of my bigger mistakes in my 20s. Just retired so I overcame it.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
SGT (Join to see) - What are your career goals? If you get 18D, it does not transfer well to the civilian side and depending on op tempo, you may always be in training and not saving real lives. Pig lab is cool and I have both my paramedic and RN however I never really made a difference in other people's lives as an enlisted medic. I am sure some 18D with host nations do and maybe that will satisfy you but a good hard look and discussion what your goals are is warranted. Finding an 18D that will give you the truth without the glory is a good start and I can speak to the non-SF healthcare side. 68W medics like to talk up what they can do in a combat zone but unless your buddies you are assigned to are routinely getting shot and blown up (watching friends cannot be fun) they just do not get to do a whole lot.
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18X is a recruiting tool for initial entry recruits and I would think you will fall under Prior Service rules. I wouldn't sweat that issue, volunteer 11B, which should be easy enough to get a slot, with an Airborne Contract and volunteer when you get to your unit.
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SGT (Join to see)
Yeah that’s my other option if the 18X doesn’t go through. They have something called Prior Sevice Business Rules with 18X as an option for e-5s.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) what he's telling you is don't go to 18X, it's a recruiting tool
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