What does it mean to be a 13F, is it a good choice. Is Ranger school a possibility?

Johnny Marroquin — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 22:54:54 -0500

I sign my contract soon and I feel I scored fairly well (69 on the asvab and line scores were about 100 all the way around.) I do want to go combat but would that make being a forward observer a good call for me. I'm also interested in ranger school if you can give me any information on that. Thanks.

Response by CW3 Jeff Held made Feb 24 at 2018 11:52 PM

CW3 Jeff Held — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 23:52:48 -0500

Look. Cooks can be in contact with the enemy. Truck drivers can get in the mix. In the Army everyone is a soldier 1st and their specialty is next.

No matter what branch of the military you join or whatever MOS you select expect to be in combat; that’s the whole reason the military exists.

Don’t let that scare you. We’ve all been there. Perhaps you can study up and get better scores which would lead to better MOS choices?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2018 10:30 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 22:30:41 -0500

Have you looked at 19D Cav Scout?

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Feb 26 at 2018 8:20 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 08:20:48 -0500

Unless something as changed recently, there is no MOS restriction on volunteering for Ranger School. Practically, the class size is usually somewhere around 290 students, 200 will be from the Infantry Basic Leadership Course (2LT's), E-3/E-4's from the Ranger Battalions, and the various other Officer BLC and ALC courses, and those slots assigned to other Military organizations, including Foreign ones. That means everyone else gets what's left and getting it as a 13F E-2 won't be easy. If you are really interested in the Rangers, I would talk to the recruiter about Option 40, which is a contract to get the chance to go to the Ranger Regiment. I've on only seen it on an 11B Infantry contract, but there are other MOS's in the Regiment.
Just to be clear, on Option 40 gets you a try for the Regiment, not the School. Enlisted Rangers go through Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, which I believe is also 8 weeks long. The Enlisted Rangers are then sent to the regular Ranger School somewhere around E-3/E4.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2018 2:01 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 02:01:13 -0500

Pretty much Special Forces.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 9:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 21:23:14 -0500

I don't see why you couldn't be a Ranger, when I was a FO for 81mm mortars, I seen the Ranger patch on others out in the field, my MOS was 11Bravo.
But with that said, I feel that every combat unit needs a good FO out there for fire support.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2018 4:19 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 04:19:34 -0500

Being a 13F has its ups and its downs, honestly unless you go to ranger regiment or end up SF the chances of seeing combat these days is pretty slim, not impossible, just pretty slim. It's a great job, and if you want to do well you have to care, and study in your off time to put yourself ahead of your peers, and it pays off. Going to ranger school is most definitely an option, and as a 13F with a ranger tab outside of regiment, you could get just about whatever you want. However, just like infantry (because we work so closely with them) the amount of time you spend in the field, in the suck can take it out of some people, but if you live for that sh**, i say go for it. I've been doing it for almost 9 years, and i wouldn't change a thing if i could go back.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2018 10:22 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 22:22:00 -0500

I'm currently a 13Fox best job in the Army personally, and yeah you can get a shot at ranger school at AIT they ask people for volunteers and you just take a pt test for it, it's really easy. 13foxs are needed. And you'll be embedded in front line units such as Cav, or Infatry

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2018 10:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 10:04:06 -0500

As a forward observer, yes, you will go to combat; yes, you qualify for ranger school; yes, you work closely with and as an advisor to senior officers at each echelon of command - so your written and verbal communication skills must be on point. You also learn to speak various military languages like Field Artillery (because that's who you are), Infantry (because that's where you work), military intelligence (they let you know where the bad guys are), Special Forces (because they always need a good FO), Air Force, and Navy because you will employ their assets to become the greatest casualty producing weapon on the battlefield. But that's just my point of view. Good luck

Response by SPC Joe Lail made Mar 8 at 2018 6:07 PM

SPC Joe Lail — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:07:59 -0500

For me , it was a great MOS. However , MOS's are like everything else in life , it really depends on your personality and what you put into it.
For me , they were a great group of guys , a handful of shenanigans ( putting it lightly) , but able to solve complex equations on the fly. If you've got a thick skin , a healthy sense of humor , quiet confidence and actual skill , you'll fit right in. If you're into rank advancement , and comfortable conditions , it may not be for you. However , as I said earlier , it's really about you , your attitude , what you like and your desire to be good at the job.
Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Response by SSG Dominick Ozzella made Mar 29 at 2018 9:00 AM

SSG Dominick Ozzella — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 09:00:06 -0400

I was a 13f for 6 years! I truly believe it’s one of the best jobs in the military! You get to run with the best of the military depending on the path you take! As a 13f ur the go to guy for intelligent, the guys they send behide enemy lines and the guys who get to fuck the most shit up at one time! You create more havoc then anyone one else in the military! I wouldn’t go ranger if I was you I would do a couple years in the regular army and get to know ur job in and out! Then head straight to SFAS school! If u get chances to take other schools like JTAC take it if you can go to sniper school take it any school they offer take it it will help big in ur career!
FIST all the way

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2018 5:55 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 May 2018 17:55:39 -0400

Whatever you do avoid echelons higher than battalion. Divisons and Brigades are where fisters' careers and morale dies! We thrive to be in the suck but in Division we act like a 13D and just coffee. Not to mention constantly have to listen to O4s and above run their mouths. Every combat MOS I see here hates their life and if you look hard enough, you can see it in their eyes. To be fair, there are some very important skills you can learn as a senior NCO in Divison but when you are lower enlisted, you should be on the hill not in the office. Just my 2 cents

Response by SPC D.j. Dumas made May 20 at 2018 12:22 AM

SPC D.j. Dumas — Sun, 20 May 2018 00:22:06 -0400

Yes it's a good choice you will see combat and you can go ranger

Response by SPC Preston Russell made Jan 24 at 2020 6:43 PM

SPC Preston Russell — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:43:00 -0500

Yeah your definitely going into the thick of it. Fisters are a special breed of soldier hated and unwanted but highly respected across the entire armed forces. We are the eyes of death. We can destroy entire city's at the push of a button and provide unparalled security by controlling everything from birds to paladins. Our teams are small and are notoriously tight knit and fiercely loyal.

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made Jun 3 at 2020 5:35 PM

SGT Justin Brothen — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 17:35:05 -0400

Become a expert in your field, and your options are limitless. I loved being FIST. Only downside we get loaned out, never really have a home.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2020 9:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:57:31 -0400

As a Forward Observer I was in combat, calling for fire and putting rounds down range everyday during the fighting season. If you want to avoid combat we have no use for you. If you want combat the opportunity is there but no promises.

Response by SGT Matt Browell made Jul 17 at 2020 9:49 AM

SGT Matt Browell — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 09:49:34 -0400

I joined the day after the attacks on 9/11. I was over weight ( 245) when I joined at 20yrs old. Signed with airborne after ait. I lost 55 lbs by the end of ait and 12 more after airborne. Being a fister not only kept me in shape physically, but mentally also . Because of the mentality of a fister I pushed hard than ever . Went from E-1 to E-5 in 2 1/2 years. Not sure how it is now but being tabbed and not in Regiment put me ahead of most in my platoon. I would recommend to anybody that wants the fun , combat , respect of Infantry but not having to deal with Infantry bullshit. " F'ing fisters always doing what they want " was a common phrase i had yelled at me.