Why do people consider being a "Group Baby" a bad thing?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:34:57 -0400

I don't get it. I've served in 2 conventional units (Infantry and chemical) and 1 SOF, and reenlisted to be in another SOF unit in FL. I've read it on here, and have heard it from other people's mouths throughout my time in group, people bashing on "Group Babies". Its what they call people who insist in staying in a SOCOM/SOF unit.

Why is this a bad thing? To be honest, SOCOM actually does meaningful work on an active basis. During my time in a chem and infantry unit, I did NOTHING to VERY LITTLE Army stuff, unless you cant do motor pool sweeping and layouts a hooah thing. I'm not trying to be an ass hat when I say this, but its been true for me so far. In SOF, I actually do my job, if not more. Plus I'm ALWAYS at school or TDY or deployed. Do people think SOF just sits on their butt all day? Sure we get more 4 days and relaxed regs, but it's deserved. Is it so bad I wish to actually do bad ass cool Army work?

Plus people say its hard to advance in your career if you stay a "Group Baby", but honestly at the end of the day if I'm doing this cool stuff that most people will never do in their career, and has actual purpose, its good enough for me. Sorry, but being in a conventional unit that does inventories every other day and work until 1900 for no reason just doesn't seem productive to me. Again, I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, I'm just trying to understand the reasoning behind people who hate on this.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Oct 1 at 2018 2:50 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:50:58 -0400

They're just jealous buddy. Stay in Group as long as you can. Just continue to do great things, cause they will get rid of you as quick as they brought you in.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2018 3:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 15:03:53 -0400

I’ve heard this too, although from what I understood a “Group baby” is someone who starts their military career in group or a SOF unit and insists in staying in SOF because it’s all they know and are often afraid of “Big Army” because they’re not as relaxed. I don’t see how being a group baby is a bad thing I’ve been in group my whole career and I actually feel that I’m ahead of my Peer who are in “big army” how ever, it is seen as “bad” when all you have are SOF units on your ERB because you are not showing adaptability which is a key element in being an American Soldier. You need to be adaptable to any environment, and be able to thrive in any unit. So when a “SOF baby” only wants to be in SOF units they can potentially be demonstrating that they are not adaptable or flexible or that they are refusing to be adaptable or flexible in the eyes of the army or HRC or whoever it may be. As far as crusty old dude that talk crap about SOF babies because they spent their career in the conventional army often being treated like crap when they were privates I feel those people have some resentment towards SOF babies. I can see both sides depending on perspective.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2018 3:52 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 15:52:09 -0400

Don't worry about what everyone else thinks. Do what you enjoy and let them be miserable.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Oct 1 at 2018 4:21 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 16:21:21 -0400

Sounds like jealousy to me, Knew several "Bragg" Babies who stayed airborne their entire careers and only ventured off Bragg to go to the Ranger Reg. and to Italy then back to Bragg. They finished out as Brigade and Division level CSMs so didn't hurt them too badly.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2018 4:48 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 16:48:52 -0400

Haters gonna hate CPL Private RallyPoint Member. And, if it ain't broke don't fix it. If being in SOF works for you, then you do you. Your career belongs to you, not those Haters.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 1 at 2018 5:40 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:40:31 -0400

The only thing remotely negative I have experienced is some of the younger SOCOM folks come across as acting superior to the average Joes.

Response by SSG Stephen Gillard made Oct 1 at 2018 5:44 PM

SSG Stephen Gillard — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:44:37 -0400

We always considered “group babies” as ppl who started out in SOF (support) and had never been anywhere else. Yes, most had a lot of schools and most were decent at their jobs but most did not appreciate where they were at. Also, they could not soldier (for the most part). I know a lot were forced into regular Army after putting on a second rocker and were the worst NCOs you could ask for because they had no clue as to how the Army worked. SOF promotes ppl who are good at their jobs and all around badass. Regular Army promotes high PT scores and able to regurgitate board information. Guys leaving SOF as E-7s with 7 Ribbons.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2018 5:54 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:54:46 -0400

Navy has same issue, we have special Mission sets or jobs that take sailors outside of their normal MOS, and some cases they stay with in that world. The big two are NSW (SEAL'S and SWCC) and NECC (Navy Expediatnary Combat Command) Sailors that can go Blue Navy sometimes stay in Green or Brown side, because of NEC's they earn for Green side. They can go from a Sea special unit or Command to a Shore and will stay there for ever. Then you have what we call "Group" and that is DEVGRU or as many people call them SEAL team Six and they almost never come back because of training and money involved with them being with "Group" I stay there

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 1 at 2018 9:33 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 21:33:14 -0400

You just answered your own very question! Pure jealousy

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 1 at 2018 10:02 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 22:02:04 -0400

BullSHit- I was on Jump status for 21+ yrs out of 22.5- spent 15 years in the 325 AIR.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 12:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 00:02:17 -0400

I can explain it very well. People who start their careers in Group lack the chance to develop their Soldiering skills and leadership skills. Compared to a BCT there is a very high NCO to Soldier ratio. You simply won't face the leadership challenges you'll have in a conventional unit. They'll promote quickly because of their technical expertise and lack the experience of knowing how to take care of Soldiers with problems.
To add to that, there is no such thing as a SOF Support MOS. Your value to a group is your ability to integrate the very insular groups into the resources and programs of the conventional Army. Those special schools the groups will send you to in order to do your job, don't make you special. Once you leave they'll send the next guy to school as well too. What makes you special is bringing that conventional knowledge in of Army programs that need to be followed, or resources that allow you to turn in equipment, or acquire new stuff. People don't think those are valuable skill sets until there's an IG inspection and their section is getting chewed up. For instance, you're a chemical guy, here's a situation we faced at my last group. The SOF supply system only allows ordering of SOF specific items when there's that option. The SOF JSLISTS don't have hoods, and neither do the masks. How do you bridge that capability gap? By knowing what the conventional army has and how to access it.
This isn't some personal opinion I made up, this is based on years of observations and friends on all sides of the fence. Unless you're a rigger, you will almost certainly leave group. I have seen time and time again the ones who start in groups and leave as NCOs get chewed up in a BCT. The ones who are successful in a BCT and go to a group, it's cake for them. The ones who try to stay in group forever typically don't get promoted.
As for why people hate Group Babies, well a lot of them run around like wannabe operators or acting like they're special. The only requirements are 100 GT, Secret clearance, and Airborne. Most support personnel in a group are no more qualified than anyone else in an Airborne unit doing the same job.
If you want to be an asset to a group, do some time there, leave for a few years and return later as a senior NCO.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 4:30 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 04:30:45 -0400

If it works for you it works. Don’t buy in to the haters gonna hate nonsense though. They may be jealous they may not be it doesn’t matter. You may excel in Group if SOF units but at some point during your career you have to think about broadening yourself, your skills, knowledge base, and qualifications. Staying in one single type of unit does not afford that opportunity. For some maybe, but not everyone. If the Army is your career for life, think about the bigger picture.
Doing the cool guy shit is great for a minute but eventually think of passing your experience on to the next generation

Response by SFC Seth King made Oct 2 at 2018 7:35 AM

SFC Seth King — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 07:35:59 -0400

I spent 17 years conventional before going SOF support, seems to me the supporters enjoy their job more in SOF and promote quicker. Once reaching SSG, they generally venture to conventional and one back SOF. I honestly think people who bash “SOF babies” are just haters.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2018 1:53 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 01:53:08 -0400

There's nothing wrong with it. I say unless u r trying to make 7. Being in group or any Special operations unit is better than conventional any day. My only draw back is this. I don't support sm coming straight out of ait and getting this as your first assignment. It destroys their discipline... they believe that the rest of the army acts in a similar fashion.
18D/Z

Response by SSG Timothy Stevenson made Oct 21 at 2018 6:01 PM

SSG Timothy Stevenson — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 18:01:11 -0400

Tell them to suck it...they are jealous or they can’t get into one themselves. RLTW

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Aug 13 at 2019 6:24 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 18:24:52 -0400

I commend you for your honest commitment to your job! I think what you’re doing IS important and knowing the people you serve with creates a trust that can be lifelong! Stay true to yourself and ignore the negative comments!