Which MOS in the National Guard will best prepare me for SFAS and the SFQC?

2019-01-09T23:24:48-05:00

Finally after a long time coming I’m enlisting into the military, I’m curious about MOS’s that will help prepare me for SF training in the Nat Guard mainly. I know 11B can set me up and give me what I need to start with, but I’m also am wanting advice on a mos that will help me in the future if something were to happen and I wasn’t still serving. (Injury,family,etc)I have a background in welding and fabrication and have been in leadership roles as foreman’s, project manager for commercial work which is no comparison to SF I’m aware.
Is my best option infantry or could I enlist into 91 series, get Some time in while getting my trade MOS certs, train, and train some more and have a shot at achieveing a lifelong goal to Be part of the SOF family? I’m no American sniper poser, this has been my dream since I watched my grandfather be buried in Arlington in 1997 from a injury in Korean War saving his brothers and a father who was a sailor that lit a fire while a child talking about BUDs teams in his carriers while he served! Thanks for any input and advice, it will be greatly appreciated.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 12:16 AM

2019-01-10T00:16:29-05:00

If I were in your shoes and have the aspirations to be in SF then start out as an Infantryman or Ranger then go Special Forces. I am in the process of going to Selection.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 12:27 AM

2019-01-10T00:27:47-05:00

No MOS is going to prepare you for SFAS, even less so in the Guard. You would go to school for two months and that's it. You can train two months on your own and be prepared, and if you can't do that as a civilian in your current job, then you couldn't maintain the physical readiness to be a green beret while a civilian in the Guard.
You're not likely to get any certifications in the Guard. If you were in the active army you would be able to earn enough experience to test out for technical certificates at your own expense, but they aren't given just for attending training. Most of your drill weekends will be spent focusing on Soldier skills and administrative readiness.
As for preparing for SF selection, it's not a matter of skills or physical preparedness. The course is designed to wear you out and then observe what kind of person you are under stress.
I don't know why you picked SF. It sounds to me like it just sounds special or cool to you. You may want to learn what they actually do. Project manager is actually pretty close since it's tons of planning, resourcing, managing people and projects.
If you want to go to SF just nut up and go join the active duty 18X program. Former Green Berets are all over the business world because SOF teaches resourcefulness. Why focus on a few certifications for welding when you could be running a fabrication company providing a much needed service in an underserved niche area with your skills?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 1:00 AM

2019-01-10T01:00:27-05:00

The National Guard has 19th and 20th Group with individual units located all over the country. You can volunteer to attend SFRE (Special Forces Readiness Evaluation) with any MOS. It's essentially a 2-4 day tryout to see if you have what it takes to become a part of the unit and subsequently be sent to SFAS (Special Forces Assessment and Selection). It's really up to you what you want to do. There are several options you can pursue while serving in the Guard beyond your advanced individual training that will allow you to attain special skills, civilian certifications, and educational degrees. If you are already proficient with welding and fabrication, I don't think becoming a 91B is really going to do anything to "set you up" for life in terms of civilian employment.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 2:52 AM

2019-01-10T02:52:01-05:00

SGM Private RallyPoint Member can answer this question better than most (and definitely better than me).

First off, no particular MOS is required or necessarily better suited to prepare you for SF. Mental & physical fitness is something you can prepare for on your own and much has been written on the topic of preparing for SF/SFAS (its just a google search away).

That being said, for National Guard SF: Certain guard states (not every state) may have different elements of one of the two National Guard Special Forces Groups: 19th and 20th Groups (Guard, but still fall under the Regular Army Special Forces Command and USASOC). In the California National Guard for instance, we have one SF company that falls under our Special Ops Det for state CoC, but also under 5th BN, 19th SFG. They do periodic SFRE's (Special Forces Readiness Evaluation) that I have seen civilians, prior service, other MOS's, etc., attend.

I am not entirely certain how it works these days, but you can contact the unit and I am sure they will let you know. From my point of view, I think it would be easier if you were already in (not sure if they are stilll doing the 18X contract option in the guard, but you might want to ask a recruiter). Infantry is definitely a good route if you choose it (but I am biased). Truth is, green berets seem to come from a variety of backgrounds. In any case, my understanding is that if you pass the SFRE, they can transfer you into the unit pending SFAS, SFQC and other further training that may or may not all be in any specific order depending on slots (SERE, Airborne, etc.).

I don't know if its official, but this website seems to have a pretty good rundown with my *very limited* knowledge of the way it currently works: http://www.nationalguardsf.com

BTW: If you don't make it into SF (which could happen for a variety of reasons out of your control)--and don't beat up on yourself if you don't make it the first time--it doesn't mean you can't still serve in a SOF unit some day. There are more than just green berets and door kickers in SOF. There is a heavy amount of SOF qualified intel and other support personnel as well. Don't get to go to all the SF schools, but still get to do a lot of really interesting/rewarding stuff. I happen to believe most MOS's are what you make them. Just keep that in mind.

Otherwise, there are plenty of SF guys on here that I am sure will provide you with more detailed info if you need it. Good luck.

Guard Special Forces | Locations, Requirements, Training and FAQs

Army National Guard Special Forces | Info, Locations, Requirements, Training, FAQ's and Recruiting

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Jan 10 at 2019 9:45 AM

2019-01-10T09:45:36-05:00

I started out in NG SF, 20th Group, back in 1979. That said, the secection criteria has changed since I went through. It is my understanding that SFAS is MOS immaterial. My advice to you would be go active duty as an infantryman or medic with a Ranger Regiment option, learn to soldier, get a couple of deployments under your belt. Just my dos centavos.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Jan 10 at 2019 1:34 PM

2019-01-10T13:34:47-05:00

First, lets take one thing at a time. You have to go to Basic and AIT. I would choose an MOS that you may actually enjoy. SF is not of importance at this point. Get through that first, then depending on how you do through Basic and AIT then, you should call a Special Operations recruiter. If you are at Basic and barely passing PT test, not being able to climb ropes or do pull ups, your going to be in that MOS until you get mentally prepared or you let go of the dream. If you excel and think you have more to offer the nation than what ever MOS you chose, then regardless of what MOS you are, all you need you to do is show up motivated, eager to learn, with a "no quit" attitude. Leave the rest to us.

Response by SGM Gregory Tarancon IV made Jan 10 at 2019 1:55 PM

2019-01-10T13:55:16-05:00

I agree with your logic that 11B would provide a good foundation of skills for SFAS. However, I would argue that the MOS issue is benign since getting sent to SFAS will be predicated on being accepted into the NQP program at NG SF unit and successfully completing the Non-qual training.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jan 10 at 2019 1:58 PM

2019-01-10T13:58:39-05:00

Don't try to use the Army as a Technical School or as experience for civilian employment, your only going to be disappointed because in most instances your going to need additional civilian education or training to achieve the civilian job your shooting for and since you do not know currently the civilian job your shooting for and it's requirements your just wasting your time here attempt to do a match up. Further the civilians that interview you are not going to have a clue how to translate Army service so most will downgrade whatever it is that you tell them on your resume. Get your training after you leave the service, you have several large college option packages as part of your enlistment options, pick one of those and use it after ETS. Also not sure why you equate Special Forces to sniper. Primary mission of Special Forces is to train indigenous forces. Really your best option here is to pick Army MOS based on what it is you want to do with no regard to civilian employment. Thats what I did when I enlisted and I turned out just fine and have had a successful IT career after the Army. Another item I will mention having been a former small business owner, if you really like welding and fabrication.........start your own business when you get out, why rely on others? Your first post sounds very much like you could run your own business in any area you wanted to. What is holding you back? Start your own business / company and subcontract jobs to start, then build relationships and sell yourself to your own set of clients. It is not as hard as you think. Hell I bought a sub shop restaurant using my 401k funds, then went knocking on doors and businesses for new customers, produced fliers, sent sample trays of the subs out onto the sidewalk in front of the location to draw people in. It really is not as hard as you think to build a business just make sure you start with an income from somewhere vs just relying on savings.......so you have something to fall back on, if the business does not do as well as you think and most of all have an exit strategy ready in case you start losing money you don't go way deep into a financial hole, that you are able to exit fast and pick up and move onto something else or try again later at a small business.

Response by SSG Roland Shelton made Jan 11 at 2019 2:02 AM

2019-01-11T02:02:34-05:00

I agree with those that recommend the Infantry. It will provide you with a starting point that it more oriented toward SF. But it is only a starting point, you'll have to expand on those skills and learn SF skills First, if you're in great shape, motivated and willing to sacrifice go infantry and ranger, serve some time learn the craft.

Response by SPC Josh Little made Jan 29 at 2019 2:05 PM

2019-01-29T14:05:06-05:00

I would strongly disagree with those who told you that no MOS can prepair you for SFAS especially in the NG. If you go into the NG you can absolutely join an SF Unit as whats called a Rep 63 its the NG equivalant of the 18X Program. There are 2 NG SF Groups 19th Group which is mostly Mid West in states like Colorado Utah and Texas or 20th Group that is in Illinois, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Viginia and Massachusets. I was in 2nd BN 20th Special Forces Group in MS. If you want to be an actual Green Beret there are a couple of options and what you choose to do really has allot to do with how old you are and how much in a hurry your in. Wether you join the NG Rep 63 or active duty 18X program you will still go to OSUT Infantry Program that includes Basic Training and Infantry AIT first. When I was there anyone who came to the Unit brand new without an MOS if they were going to be in the Training Det. they went to Infantry school first. The reason is simple. While SF Soldiers have and learn allot of skills some quite technical, They all have a solid Infantry foundation. Much of their job in the FID/ UW mission involves training and leading small units of indigonous personel so that Infantry foundation is a must. In terms of SFAS a great deal of what you do there is Infantry stuff. Long or unknown distance road marches in full battle rattle with a 60lb ruck, very long land navigstion a really crazy O course called The Nasty Nick and a whole week of insane team events to name but a few. So Infantry skills sre definately part of the equation. The advantage to the Guard component is you are placed in a Training Det run by old ass crusty Green Berets who know their shit and you spend every drill doing the same kind of shit you do at SFAS when they think your ready they send you. If your a Rep 63 you go to Basic and Ait then warrior leader Course( everyone in the 18 series is an NCO) then when you are deemed ready could take 6 months to a year but that depends on you they send you to SFAS if you get selected you get a date for Airborne and the QCourse. In my case I had allready been in a LRSD and was allready Airborne Infantry before I got there. Now that is by far the way to go with the least risk because if it does not work out you have a min committment to the guard and you dont wind up bieng somewhere you dont want to be for 4 years. You can also join those same two SF Groups on the Support or HQ company side of the house and they have the same MOS fields you will find in any unit. They have Clerks, Cooks, Mechanics, Medics, Commo, and all kinds of Inteligence jobs. There are quite a few of those that even though your not a Green Beret you could find yourself in the field with an ODA. The young African American soldier that was killed in Niger Africa recently with 3rd Group was a mechanic not a Green Beret. So you can go work in your field or learn a new one and still train for SFAS in youro wn time and still go to SFAS when your ready. I personally think for anyone with another skill or trade and that is still young this is the way to go. It gives one the best of both worlds. If for example you prove yourself a capeable mechanic and become a valueable part of the unit in that capacity then additionally you prove you have what it takes to get selected and graduate the QCourse you will find people go out of their way to help you get ready because having a good mechanic on an ODA can be a lfe saver. One last thing to keep in mind like the other guy said is find out what they do. It might not be what you think. If for example you want to spend your career kicking down doors and all that high high speed commando stuff go get a RASP contract and go to the Ranger Regiment youll be happier. Its not that SF does not do that aswell its just they do allot more than that.