Posted on Jul 20, 2017
Which would better prepare me for SF or provide for a more enjoyable experience, going Civil Affairs or 160th?
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I will be a 25U soon, and am picking between going 160th or going CA (38B) following AIT. I want to be as ready as possible for SF when I hit my mid/late-20's. Opinions on which would better prepare me, or provide or a more enjoyable experience? I like my job, but I also want to make sure I get quality field experience that will prepare me for SF. Thank you.
Special Operations
Civil Affairs
38B: Civil Affairs Specialist
Communications (S6)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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SGT (Join to see) roger that my friend you can't lose with the 160th the best in the business IMHO! Go for it!
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you sergeant, I appreciate the input! I heard nothing but awesome things about 160th so far.
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For being an actual operator, the CA Course is the better choice.
CA Selection and qualification is similar to the SF Course and run by the same school house (JFKSWTS in Bragg), and the soft skills taught there are very relevant to an aspiring SF Soldier.
I would ask though, why not just apply for SF Selection and cut out the middle man? Acquiring experience is well and good, but I assure you the SF training and units will prepare you just fine.
CA Selection and qualification is similar to the SF Course and run by the same school house (JFKSWTS in Bragg), and the soft skills taught there are very relevant to an aspiring SF Soldier.
I would ask though, why not just apply for SF Selection and cut out the middle man? Acquiring experience is well and good, but I assure you the SF training and units will prepare you just fine.
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1SG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - This is a two-pronged question.
First, are you planning on staying in the Reserve? Your posts indicate that you want to go active duty. If you do stay Reserve, Airborne is not required except in a few units, and those will train you after assignment.
If you are going AC, CA Selection will require you to pass an Airborne Physical, but not necessarily have the course completed when you go through training. The 95th CA BDE will send you to BAC after you complete CAQC, as well as line up any language training they have in store for you.
Quick summary of the training pipeline for AC CA:
1. Get a conditional release (DD 368) from the USAR in order to enlist in the AC as a CA Specialist.
2. Pass Airborne Physical and meet all requirements for PULHES (physical qualifications), ASVAB Scores, and DLAT (Language Aptitude).
3. Attend CA Selection/ CAQC in Ft Bragg
3A. Complete Basic Airborne
4. Complete language training at DLI.
5. Kill people with kindness (j/k... but not really...)
Message me directly if you have additional questions. Chances are I know the answer.
First, are you planning on staying in the Reserve? Your posts indicate that you want to go active duty. If you do stay Reserve, Airborne is not required except in a few units, and those will train you after assignment.
If you are going AC, CA Selection will require you to pass an Airborne Physical, but not necessarily have the course completed when you go through training. The 95th CA BDE will send you to BAC after you complete CAQC, as well as line up any language training they have in store for you.
Quick summary of the training pipeline for AC CA:
1. Get a conditional release (DD 368) from the USAR in order to enlist in the AC as a CA Specialist.
2. Pass Airborne Physical and meet all requirements for PULHES (physical qualifications), ASVAB Scores, and DLAT (Language Aptitude).
3. Attend CA Selection/ CAQC in Ft Bragg
3A. Complete Basic Airborne
4. Complete language training at DLI.
5. Kill people with kindness (j/k... but not really...)
Message me directly if you have additional questions. Chances are I know the answer.
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SN Greg Wright
1SG (Join to see) - I'm confused. How tough is Civil Affairs that it requires SFAS-like training? Isn't CA basically the Army's publicists?
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1SG (Join to see)
SN Greg Wright - No, that would be Public Affairs.
Civil Affairs seeks to assess, know, influence, and leverage the Civil Terrain for military goals and purposes.
Depending on the mission, it can range anywhere from Peace Corps-like activities to identifying and targeting enemies operating within a civil population.
Some of it, like training foreign security forces and capabilities building is very much in the mold of what SF used to do a lot of and still does.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Special_Warfare_Center_and_School
Civil Affairs seeks to assess, know, influence, and leverage the Civil Terrain for military goals and purposes.
Depending on the mission, it can range anywhere from Peace Corps-like activities to identifying and targeting enemies operating within a civil population.
Some of it, like training foreign security forces and capabilities building is very much in the mold of what SF used to do a lot of and still does.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Special_Warfare_Center_and_School
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School - Wikipedia
The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) – known informally as "Swick" – primarily trains and educates United States Army personnel for the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which includes Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations personnel. Its purpose is to recruit, assess, select, train and educate the U.S. Army Civil...
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None of them.. the only thing that can truly prepare you is yourself. PT is important, ability to learn language is important, ability to think outside the box is critical, ability to think on your feet in an intensely stressful environment is important. Ability to work in a small group and not piss of your team is critical, ability to work on your own to a unified end state is critical. Ability to see your 3rd and 4th order effects from your actions is critical. Being in a special missions unit will not give you an edge. SF selection is about you, how you act, how you behave, how you deal in intense no win situations, how you perform with a given task and no expectations.... go run - that way- now.... grab your pack and move out- that way. Land nav long distances. Accomplish what appears to be an impossible task with a small team....
It's all you. The only advice that can help you is to apply and go to selection. Don't QUIT....
It's all you. The only advice that can help you is to apply and go to selection. Don't QUIT....
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SGT (Join to see)
Sergeant First Class Vandeyacht,
I appreciate that thorough assessment that you made. Everything you state is very much true and when you say it, it puts things in perspective. While SFAS is literally an assessment, I never really dwelled too hard on the fact that they are judging my persona and not exactly just my athletic abilities and knowledge base. I recently decided to just go all in and re-enlist as an 18X, that way I can re-learn basic infantry skills and perfect my land navigation skills
I appreciate you words, Sergeant. I do not leave for another year, but if God grants me the strength to ensure my success, I will definitely update this post. Thank you.
I appreciate that thorough assessment that you made. Everything you state is very much true and when you say it, it puts things in perspective. While SFAS is literally an assessment, I never really dwelled too hard on the fact that they are judging my persona and not exactly just my athletic abilities and knowledge base. I recently decided to just go all in and re-enlist as an 18X, that way I can re-learn basic infantry skills and perfect my land navigation skills
I appreciate you words, Sergeant. I do not leave for another year, but if God grants me the strength to ensure my success, I will definitely update this post. Thank you.
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