Why is that some soldiers go from a Special operations assignment to another SOF assignment? And in some cases their whole career?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 23:44:04 -0400

I’ve been curious about this for awhile and it even made me upset a few times in the past. I wanna know if there’s a certain reason behind this, or if they’re just getting lucky. In my case I started in the 82nd, went to SOF, and then was pulled out and brought back to 82nd. At the same time, there was other soldiers I knew of the same MOS who went directly to another SOF assignment. I always wondered to myself, “why did they pull me and not this guy? Especially since they’ve never been to conventional army before.” I was told that this based on TOS, first reenlistments, etc. Will those soldiers eventually go to conventional Army or could they end up in SOF for the rest of their careers? If someone can clarify, I would very much appreciate it. While I am proud to have served in the 82nd twice, I am still salty that I was pulled out of SOF and some others weren’t.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 14 at 2020 12:05 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 00:05:07 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member Were you classified as an ‘operator’ or a ‘long tabber’? Those personnel are much more likely to have continuity of service in SOF units. Support personnel are more like pawns on the SF Community’s chess board.

Response by GySgt Gary Cordeiro made Oct 14 at 2020 12:16 AM

GySgt Gary Cordeiro — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 00:16:46 -0400

I concur, being “attached” to Recon, does not make you Recon.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2020 3:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 03:39:20 -0400

Almost nobody stays in SOF their entire career. There is no such thing as "SOF Support MOS". The things that make you a valuable asset to the SOF community are the skills and resources you develop in the conventional Army.

Let's be very clear, they are not "SOF" support, they are 1st SF Command support. You won't find any of this support "Enabler" nonsense in the 160th or the 75th, both units that are considered SOF. 1st SF Command is just another Airborne assignment for lower enlisted Paratroopers.

The handful of people who do stay long term just reenlisted at the right time and there was an opening for them. MI are more likely to stay because USSOCOM has a deep thirst for MI assets and they are always short. This is why you'll see NAP MI personnel in SFC but rarely an NAP mechanic. For Senior NCOs and officers there is an annual slating board you have to apply to. Even when you are assigned to USASOC you have to reapply every year.

For people who stay too long it will negatively impact their career. They may pick up E5 and E6 quickly, but they will lag behind their peers at the higher ranks. The Army values diversity in your career. It doesn't matter if you can do well at one particular unit, they want to see that you can be dropped into any assignment (Drill, Recruiter, PSG, Ops, Instructor, EO Advisor etc) and be successful in it. If SOF is the only thing an NCO is good at, then they're just a one-trick pony.

Unfortunately, this catches up to Soldiers who spend their life in USASOC who are support personnel. Two fatal flaws I've seen from NCOs who have spent too long in USASOC. The first is they start to believe they're special. They are not special, they had a 100GT (waiverable to 9) Secret Clearance and were Airborne qualified. Most support in the 82nd meet those prerequisites. They get salty when they have to leave. They believe they have special schools and training that will hurt the unit when they leave, but the truth is they'll send the very next SPC who shows up to the unit to the same schools and training. This also leads them to believe the SOF way is the best way and the Regular Army way is stupid. Truth is each way is best for its operating environment. USASOC is NCO heavy and can operate different than the 82nd which is SPC heavy.

The second issue I've seen for Soldiers who have spent their career in USASOC is that they get promoted through the lower ranks quickly because of their technical ability but lack any leadership experience. You end up with an E6 with four years in the Army who can tell you the NSN for a 9MM silencer but doesn't know how to handle a Soldier who's failing their PT test or where to get help for their Soldier whose family can't afford food.

It might sound like I'm exaggerating but I've seen more NCOs relieved in the Army after they left long term USASOC assignments than I've seen for any other reason except DUIs. I've seen the 82d chew up and spit out so many Soldiers and NCOs who thought they were awesome but couldn't hack it in the Regular Army.

The best way to approach USASOC is like a broadening assignment. You develop your skill set and leadership experience in the RA. Then you bring that experience and discipline to USASOC. In USASOC you develop your technical experience and hopefully get some operational experience and you bring that to the RA. When you do return to USASOC at a later date, and you almost certainly will, you'll quickly see the most competent NCOs are the ones who are frsh transplants from thge RA and the ones who've been there too long are often the ones who are the least competent. So, develop your skill set. Build your resume. Head back there after you complete your broadening assignment time so you can apply as a SFC.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2020 8:07 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 08:07:05 -0400

It all falls under manning. Branch manager has to look at people and move them around. Some get to stay in SOF - they may have a high rank backing them up, they may not. I was a 38B - a SOF MOS and I still got sent out to USAREC for a stint while plenty of others got to stay in the 95th, made me salty AF. What did I do? I capitalized on the situation, finished 2 degrees and now I'm a Warrant. Like SFC Private RallyPoint Member said - those who stay supporting SOF for a while usually miss out on key NCO development because its all mission focus, and when they finally do return to conventional - they're that NCO that has troubles dealing with Soldiers.

Did you get your "S" SQI? That can play into assignments (that's why we have SQIs - for assignments).

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 14 at 2020 8:59 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 08:59:23 -0400

Then be happy you had someone who cared for your career and pulled you back to the conventional force. Don’t get me wrong, SOF experience is good to have since is part of the whole Soldier concept (tactical / technical proficiency thing?), but truth be told, your core leadership skills (remember the backbone of the Army thing?) would not fully at work; a nice break at least for a short stint in most cases. But not serious professional development. For a junior enlisted? A different ball game, and still when the go to a conventional unit, lost in the sauce with all kinds of bad habits.

Case in point: very good friend of mine during my younger years. Both of us Parachute Riggers. 43E back then, that’s how long ago. All we special schools and lots of swag. He gets to follows the path of SMUs. Ok, all cool! Me on the other hand, a regular Joe. Time goes, I’m like, dude, when are you going back to the conventions force? You have been inside the fence way too long, away from troops with no real NCO experience... at all! The lower unit member at the organization was an E5; at the time. Of course his reply was, like SFC Private RallyPoint Member stated, too much training and school that the world will come to an end, etc... Because the MOS and 9/11, he managed to retired at 20, not a single day over! Any other time? He would be RIFd!

Did he had fun?
Cool, training, experiences? Yes

But in the great scheme of things, career suicide!

Then again, be blessed someone looked after you and pulled you back to the conventional force. Now, go and look for that Sr Supply SGT at BN or better yet, put a packet and become a Drill SGT!

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 14 at 2020 12:05 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 12:05:01 -0400

All of the people I know who have spent extended time in SOF billets/units were critical skills operators. I have not seen support MOS's given that same ability to stay at unit like you described. But my experience has been purely observational from a distance. The same can be said for what I have seen in the Navy and Marine Corps. Operators can stay but support MOS's rotate as normal. If that is the lifestyle you want I would recommend crossing over to that job field

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 14 at 2020 6:09 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:09:27 -0400

You do realize that many of the SF MOs's are branch MOS's- while an 18B can be worked as an 11B, it is really a waste of resources.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 9:18 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 09:18:29 -0400

Someone was probably looking out for your best interests. Within the SOF community, a lot of people are retained by way of slating boards that keep them moving SOF to SOF. Good leaders will sometimes force individuals out of SOF for the betterment of their development. If no senior leaders say anything, and the Soldier is doing well, that Soldier probably won't go anywhere else.

Response by SSG Shawn Mcfadden made Nov 14 at 2020 7:00 AM

SSG Shawn Mcfadden — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 07:00:09 -0500

Never herd of anything like that. Although, I was never in SOF, two of my fellow instructors while I was stationed at Fort Lee, VA, were previously in the 160th SOAR. Don't think they went back.

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Jan 23 at 2021 10:54 PM

SSG Harry Herres — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 22:54:06 -0500

Well 2 things come to mind. #1 did you kick ass in your job #2 did you think because you were?