What is SFAB like for 35F? What are the day to day and training opportunities like?

2020-04-25T15:51:25-04:00

What is SFAB like for 35F? What is the day to day, training opportunities? Specifically , I’d like to know about intelligence cross training , language, and foreign weapons training opportunities.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Apr 25 at 2020 4:19 PM

2020-04-25T16:19:10-04:00

Here's link:
https://www.benning.army.mil/MCoE/CDID/TCM-SFAB/Volunteer.html?30NOV2017

Volunteer.html

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2020 5:52 PM

2020-04-25T17:52:17-04:00

The foreign weapons course is 5 days playing with the Kalashnikov based stuff and DSHK, not getting crazy with Type 88s or Arisakas or anything. The weapons course is for the 11Bs and 19Ds who will be advising the foreign security forces who use those weapons - not just anyone with a brown beret. The language training also isn't the 6 month SOLT course and for sure isn't the 12-24 month DLI course. It's a crash course in the target language taught by the SWEG language teachers.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2020 7:33 PM

2020-04-25T19:33:03-04:00

I'm in the National Guard SFAB, so obviously there are going to be some differences in slots and funding. My honest assessment is that they dangle the schools as a recruiting tool, but they rarely come to fruition. Like 1 out of 800 gets a Pathfinder slot, and they advertise how Pathfinder is available if you transfer to the SFAB. We have one warrant officer going to the foreign weapons course at Bragg, otherwise we have only had money/quotas for MOSQ, PME, MFT, and combat advisor training course (CATC). CATC was designed so that it puts all the components necessary to qualify an advisor to do the job without any additional courses. Basically, the whole pipeline is in one course - culture, fires, TCCC, SERE, etc. As a 35F, I doubt you will see many schools outside of CATC, unless you get tapped for a deployment that requires something additional.