Posted on Oct 2, 2019
Are you required to spend a certain amount of time at a gaining active duty unit before you are allowed to drop a SOF packet?
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I am currently AGR 68C/68W looking to go to CAAS. On speaking to the Arsoc recruiter it sounds like i will need to come off AGR, into a TPU status then onto active duty proper prior to submitting a packet. My Senior NCO told me that I would be expected to spend at least a year at the gaining unit before being allowed to submit a CA packet. Is this common practice? Do AD commanders make exceptions based on personal goals? A year spent at an AD unit in order to go to CAAS seems unnecessary when i could potentially just pcs straight from my reserve unit to CAAS. Any guidance would be appreciated.
Recruiting
Civil Affairs
AGR
Healthcare Specialist
Special Operations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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You cannot PCS straight to CAAS. It is not a duty assignment, it is a 9 day selection course.
There is no XRAY program for CA.
However, you do not need to wait a year to apply for CAAS. You can do so as soon as you are eligible on Active duty. That said, getting the physical done and getting a CAAS class date reserved will probably be a class 3-6 months after you get to your first unit.
Then, assuming you get selected, you will get a course date that is at least 3 months out, and maybe 6 months out.
You can get an exception to PCS to the course after 9 months on your first duty station, but odds are you wouldn't need it anyway.
There is no XRAY program for CA.
However, you do not need to wait a year to apply for CAAS. You can do so as soon as you are eligible on Active duty. That said, getting the physical done and getting a CAAS class date reserved will probably be a class 3-6 months after you get to your first unit.
Then, assuming you get selected, you will get a course date that is at least 3 months out, and maybe 6 months out.
You can get an exception to PCS to the course after 9 months on your first duty station, but odds are you wouldn't need it anyway.
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Yeah, it's pretty standard (I think army policy) that you spend a year with that unit. You'd be hard pressed to find any commander that will sign a waiver for you on the basis that they just got you, releasing you within a year would be an unnecessary process for them when the slot could've just gone to someone who'd stick around in their unit.
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SOF CA Recruiter here. Let's clear it all up man.
Recent changes have come down to allow Reservists (and any service - active, reserve, or guard, USCG, USMC, you name it) to attend CAAS.
You do not even need your DD 368 Conditional Release until AFTER you finish CAAS and are Selected. - CAAS is a school, just like going to ABN or BLC, 10 days TDY and it counts for drill time, and USAJFKSWCS pays for the whole thing.
Packet - volunteer statement, SERE physical, ERB, DTS screenshot, APFT conducted by and ARSOF member/recruiter, and any necessary waivers. - that's it.
Minimum qualifications for CA 107+ GT, E5 3-6 yr TIS NMT 3 yr TIG, 240+ APFT, SERE physical, US citizen.....that's it.
You may drop your packet as soon as you have it ready, from wherever you are. There are 9 CAAS courses per year, so we can find one to fit your schedule.
What state are you located in?
Recent changes have come down to allow Reservists (and any service - active, reserve, or guard, USCG, USMC, you name it) to attend CAAS.
You do not even need your DD 368 Conditional Release until AFTER you finish CAAS and are Selected. - CAAS is a school, just like going to ABN or BLC, 10 days TDY and it counts for drill time, and USAJFKSWCS pays for the whole thing.
Packet - volunteer statement, SERE physical, ERB, DTS screenshot, APFT conducted by and ARSOF member/recruiter, and any necessary waivers. - that's it.
Minimum qualifications for CA 107+ GT, E5 3-6 yr TIS NMT 3 yr TIG, 240+ APFT, SERE physical, US citizen.....that's it.
You may drop your packet as soon as you have it ready, from wherever you are. There are 9 CAAS courses per year, so we can find one to fit your schedule.
What state are you located in?
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SSG (Join to see)
SFC C,
Thank you for the clarification, that makes the process much simpler. I'm currently stationed in Jacksonville, FL on a naval base. The closest ARSOC recruiters to me are up at Ft. Stewart. I will likely be out on TDY for the rest of the year and picking up E-6 first thing next year. But from there I intend to get the ball rolling on the packet. I meet the line score and security clearance requirements. I just need to get the SERE physical and the APFT scheduled with the recruiters at Ft Stewart.
Thank you for the clarification, that makes the process much simpler. I'm currently stationed in Jacksonville, FL on a naval base. The closest ARSOC recruiters to me are up at Ft. Stewart. I will likely be out on TDY for the rest of the year and picking up E-6 first thing next year. But from there I intend to get the ball rolling on the packet. I meet the line score and security clearance requirements. I just need to get the SERE physical and the APFT scheduled with the recruiters at Ft Stewart.
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CW2 (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) give SFC Tyler at Stewart station a call, you may be able to get it in sooner of you wish. Selection trumps most things
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