Well a few of you may know that for a long time I have been debating if I should go to SFAS, Special forces assesment and selection, to see if I can get selected. Technically from a raw statistical point of view I have a 95% change of making the cut ( just based off of physical ability and my test scores). The thing is doing this takes an enormous amount of time, after SFAS I'd have to attend airborne school and then the SF school for whichever MOS I was given(Weapons sergeant, Commo, Engineer,medic, etc.) Around One year of training as a minimum. Not to mention I'd have to go to SEARs school ( lots of fun).
The thing is as much as I enjoy kicking down doors etc, I'm also more than a bit in love and would like to have a family one day. I'm not sure if the best enivornment is in a military unit that is deployed at least 6 months out of the year, no matter how much extra money they get paid. Now SF does have an insane re-up bonus ( around 70K now or something like that) Not to mention civilian marketability. Plus I'll be honest, its always been a dream of mine, not to mention its something I feel driven for. Just talking about it all gives me the shivers and shakes, Most men I've met from group have impressed me with their proffesionalism and coolness under pressure. I figure I should at least attend SFAS to see if I get selected, I can always deny selection once it occurs.
Posted by mimsies (Member # 7418) on :
I agree, at least attend. Limit your options when limiting makes sense.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Do it. Your fiancee is still very young, and you are not getting married tomorrow, so follow your dream - you can always re-evaluate later when it is time to start the family.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
Yes, definitely attend. As to what you should do should you as seems likely be accepted, well there's not much advice anyone can offer on THAT score-it's a tug-of-war between your dream and your love.
Posted by Black Fox (Member # 1986) on :
Plus they have a major shortage of good personell at the moment. That and there are a bunch of exciting new units getting started up in the SF community.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I read SF and immediately thought, 'Science Fiction?'
Good luck with whatever you decide, Black Fox.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Certainly do the screening. If you get accepted, you have to make a choice.
If you don't, then you won't have to make that choice. The disappointment of not making the cut will be real, but easier to bear than a lifetime of "Could I have made it?."
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
It doesn't hurt to take the test, Foxy. Then you can choose what you want.
Ni!
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
If it is something that you have wanted to do...then you should go for it. Otherwise, you will look back on this chance with regret years down the road.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
So how many extra years do you have to sign up for in order to get into their training program?
Posted by Black Fox (Member # 1986) on :
Generally you spend at least 4-5 years in a team once you pass training, so I'd have to end up being in for 4 more years past my current info. I really want to.. lol. I just have to admit that I do love one thing more than the other, and the one I love has red hair.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Your kids will always win the "So what you YOUR parents do?" contest.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I would NOT go and do this, and this decision is based on my friends who did it. That unit had one of the worse divorce rates in the Army, and that is saying a lot.
I would get out once you have served your initial enlistment, providing they let you go by then. Get the 4 years inactive out of the way, and move on with your life.
BTW, it is noce to see you are still posting, and are ok.
I got married almost 2 years ago, and it was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Don't let anyone else worry you about it, married life is great.
At least it has been for me.
Kwea
Posted by calaban (Member # 2516) on :
If you want it, do it. We need all the 18 series we can get. Most sog groups are undermanned. As far as whether or not you can cut it, let them decide for you, that's thier job. SERE happens after you're pretty much there anyway (last school before you're tabbed) so good luck. I'm envious that you have the opportunity.
Posted by Fishtail (Member # 3900) on :
I wouldn't recommend Spec Ops for somebody really set on having a successful go at a family. Normal military marriages have enough strain, but being gone as often as the SOF guys are really isn't conducive to a happy marriage.
Posted by Black Fox (Member # 1986) on :
Well its either this or Ranger school. That and from what I've heard and read Ranger Battalion actually has an amazingly low divorce rate, much lower than the regular active army. I know that the divorce rate in the army rose something like 78% from last year ( and it was already amazingly high then). Anyhow in my personal opinion the divorce rate in the military isn't so high because of the stress put on family etc, but simply on the choice of wives most soldiers pick. Not to mention most soldiers end up marrying rather young, but more importantly with people that they don't know very well. I've rarely heard of soldiers dating a woman over a year before taking the plunge.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I have, but trust me...any marriage feels the strain of being seperated for long peroids of time, even without the added strain of combat.
Not that you don't havew a point, but there are a lot of families that break up because of the strain.
Also, IIRC, the Ranger battalions are high risk as well, overall.
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
What does your girlfriend think?
I was thinking last night the Rangers might be a compromise, how much deployment would you get with them vs the 6 months plus per year you mentioned for special forces?
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)