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 >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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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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