Posted on Dec 17, 2020
What is some advice for preparing for an 18X contract?
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18X: Special Forces Candidate
Special Forces
18D: Special Forces Medical Sergeant
18B: Special Forces Weapons Sergeant
Posted 5 y ago
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Don't. Pick a different MOS. You don't need an 18X contract to try out for Special Forces, you can try out anytime in the army. There is a very strong chance you will not make it through the course, and when you fail the Army will choose a new MOS for you. However, if you join in an MOS you want, you can go to selection at any time and take as long as you need to prepare and even choose when you go. If you get selected you can choose when to go to the course. If you don't get selected you return to your old MOS and you can always try again later.18X is just a marketing ploy for recruiting.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG Brian Whitney based on my peers and friends who did go through the pipeline, previous experience in Ranger Regiment, the attrition rate of students once in the pipeline, my physical fitness level at the time, academic scores in both military and civilian education, it's not a far leap to predict I would have completed the course.
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SSG Brian Whitney
SFC (Join to see) I understand. Nothing is ever guaranteed. Telling others you'd basically be a Green Beret *if though is a leap.
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SSG Brian Whitney
SFC (Join to see) the Cadre for 18X committees knows if the SOPC (18X) are ready fitness wise. That's why SOPC I and SOPC II exist. For the 18X kids to prepare for SFAS.
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Not impossible, but putting all of your eggs in one basket?
Before I retired, all 18X contracts trained as 11 Series. If not selected, then they’d be needs of the Army.
How about going on with a MOS of your choice, then later on give SFAS a shot? More control of your career.
Before I retired, all 18X contracts trained as 11 Series. If not selected, then they’d be needs of the Army.
How about going on with a MOS of your choice, then later on give SFAS a shot? More control of your career.
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1. Don’t take advice from someone who hasn’t done it.
2. Have one goal and accomplish that goal never except failure
3. Ruck and run a ton and when you sign the dotted line I’ll send you a SFAS workout plan .
2. Have one goal and accomplish that goal never except failure
3. Ruck and run a ton and when you sign the dotted line I’ll send you a SFAS workout plan .
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SFC Kenneth P. Bradley
I like the Recruiters' comments a bit. I served 20 years with 15 of them in 10th Gp, 3-7th SFGA and of course Q-Course. I went to 10th Gp as a 75B (Unit Clerk) after ETS'ing the 82nd Abn Div. I started with Sig Co., 10th, then transferred to a line company and then the Army created PAC's (Personnel & Administration Center) and I went to Bn HQ's in the "Line Bn." a I then transferred to 3-7th Gp in Panama in a PAC. All that time I worked harder than hell, spent an ungodly amount of time in the office and field and got to see the greatest professional soldiers in the world in action and "LEARNED" with them and from them. That was the greatest experience in preparing for the SFQC (Special Forces Qualification Course). I got the opportunity to go to the field with the A Teams. If you are a worker the teams know it and they would invite you to train with them. WOW! You got to learn and see the different MOS's in action and figure out what you would like to be. Get with your recruiter and take your ASVAB and see if you qualify for SF Tng and also score high enough on DLAB as that has become integral to SF Tng. Spend a couple or few years in an SF Spt unit. Do the tng whenever you can on a team. Most SF units will general allow you to go to the field with them. When I was in SF had "Beret with Bar" program and I went to the field with the teams under that program. Then I volunteered for the Q Course from Panama. As a support soldier you will do PT the same as the teams so you will build yourself physically and mentally being around SFers. The Q Course will be a bit easier as you will learn the structure of SF and the way they operate. That knowledge of real world SF units will put you miles ahead of SF trainees in the "Robin Sage" what we called Phase III of the Q Course. So along with your recruiter I would recommend you not to go as an 18X. SF Groups has many support soldiers from Cooks to clerks, to parachute riggers, supply and ammunition folks, Military Intelligence MOS's, LOTs of signal types and then transportation and mechanics and medics so maybe the recruiter can look up or contact SOCOM and see what kind of vacancies they have or project to have in several months after your entrance date to the Army. For the most part a heck of a larger portion of those guys from support make it through as they have been participating with the Tabbers. Support works as hard if not harder than the Teams.
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WO1 (Join to see)
This.
Also, not to be a douche, but in this case grammar matters: never ACCEPT failure. Never except failure is the opposite of what you meant.
Also, not to be a douche, but in this case grammar matters: never ACCEPT failure. Never except failure is the opposite of what you meant.
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Roger Smith If you really feel that you are mentally and physically tough enough to make it and you have a never quit attitude, then I say go for it. I’ve met plenty who never made it bc they weren’t informed on what they were signing up for. I’ve also met some of the best SF guys that were 18x. If you want it go for it. If you have questions feel free to ask directly.
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Besides being in the best possible physical shape have a tough mental attitude. The word “quit” should not be in your vocabulary. Do the best you can. When put into a leadership position lead and when not follow.
Hope this helps and good luck.
Hope this helps and good luck.
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If you fail the course or selection- you will be sent God knows where in whatever MOS the Army needs at that moment. You can always request to attend SFAS from your unit.
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Suspended Profile
Best way to prepare for it is to become a basic soldier in another MOS and get a few years under your belt, then go to SFAS. You'll be better prepared for it by then. If you're not willing to get some experience and try in a few years when you would be better suited, you're probably wanting 18X for the wrong reasons anyways. Something of that magnitude should be done with proper prep. Simply going through 11X OSUT is not at all proper prep work.
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If you want to be cool and do cool stuff, don't join as an 18X. Join as an 11B and then go try out for SF later. Because when you fail (and you statistically most likely will fail) you can always go back to being in the Infantry and still do cool shit.
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Suspended Profile
I know this is an old thread but coming as an 18X who became an senior 18D on a MFF team, you’re only getting one side of the story. 18X was the only option for me bc I wasn’t about to have some pimple faced 20 yr old E-4 telling me what to do. All the things these non selects are talking about to scare you are the exact things I used as motivation. This doesn’t just go for the OP, this goes for anyone else with the same question. You’ll make it a lot further in life if you stop listening to the negative opinions of people who don’t matter. If you want to do it, do it. And do it to the best of your ability. And then when you make it, you can turn around and give everyone else the finger.
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