If I didn’t want to go in the military as special forces, what would come closest to that than going directly special forces ?

Malik Brown — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 13:19:06 -0500

Which I also have no problem going special forces because that’s what I really want to get into but I just want to kno my options really

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Feb 28 at 2018 1:43 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 13:43:20 -0500

I spent 9 years in the Infantry prior to going into Special Forces. I think that MOS set me up for success as I was very well prepared for the course and to be on a team. I have however, seen guys from all walks of life come and be successful. There is not one MOS that can prepare you to be Special. Either you want it or you don't. Good luck with your decision.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 1:50 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 13:50:03 -0500

Malik Brown Have you considered the Marine Corps? I recommend that you look at all five branches of the military to see what each has to offer. Good luck.

https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-military [login to see]

http://www.militaryspot.com/enlist/understanding-the-five-branches-of-the-military

US Military 101 - Organizational Structure and Roles

Information about the U.S. military: the mission of the five military branches, organizational chain of command, and an overview of military ranks.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Feb 28 at 2018 2:08 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 14:08:30 -0500

Are you asking what Regular Army units are tough? Pick a light infantry Division. The 10th Mountain, 101st Airborne (Air Assault), the 82nd Airborne, 25th Division are all so tough units with a well deserved reputation for tough training and getting the job done. The MOS would be 11B Infantry.

Response by SPC David Willis made Feb 28 at 2018 2:11 PM

SPC David Willis — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 14:11:37 -0500

Infantry in either Army or Marines. Ranger batt or force recon in the USMC will do the best job of getting you ready and is probably the closest thing to it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 2:20 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 14:20:14 -0500

Malik Brown there is a whole bunch of special operations forces that are not Special Forces that might meet your desire. You have Rangers, 160 SOAR, civil affairs, pyops, etc.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 7:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:10:36 -0500

Infantry

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 28 at 2018 7:56 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:56:17 -0500

82nd, 101st

Response by SN Greg Wright made Feb 28 at 2018 8:08 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 20:08:57 -0500

For the Navy, Explosive ordinance disposal (EOD), Special Warfare Combatant Craft crewman (SWCC), Navy Diver, and Rescue Swimmers.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2018 8:12 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 20:12:28 -0500

The French Foreign Legion! God a willing and the river don't rise, Pilgrim!

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Feb 28 at 2018 9:05 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 21:05:58 -0500

What if you aren't physically able or qualified to enlist for Special Forces, Airborne, Ranger, 160th, or other elite jobs? Before you set your sights on the prestigious and elite forms in the army, despite the allure they have with a young man with gung-ho ideas, get a good all-around physical to determine if you might have a heart murmur, foot spurs, poor circulation, or even bad knees that would preclude your attaining the calling you want. You can also get that determination with military examinations at your enlistment.

If that medical examination should prove detrimental to your immediate wishes, consider your special talents and abilities that could give you a path into other fields, such as signal communications, military intelligence, music, medical, ordnance, transportation, engineer, and more.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2018 9:13 AM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 09:13:16 -0500

What are you looking for, there are several jobs or units you can go to that are special, in all branches.
First In Army and Marines if you want Direct close in on enemy, would be any Infantry MOS.
Marines have many units and special mission set jobs.
ANGLICO- Best way to describe them would be like Combat Air Controller, they are SOF capable and work with SOF units.
The other would be F.A.S.T Teams they are also SOF capable.
Then you have MSG's Marine Security Guards, They are Security Forces for all embassies, American consulates, and other Official U.S. assets.

Army has all kinds of special units
101st and 82nd
Rangers 75th They are SOF
Then you have Special Operations that include CA Civil Affairs, Psyops, Intel and many others that fall under Army Special Operations Commands.

Airforce has several.
Besides AFSOC
You have RED HORSE, can and do support SOF operations, They also have a special unit that is Jump Qualified and is Airborne and Air Assault that would be 820th RED HORSE
Many will laugh at this, but AFSF Airforce Security Forces, Yes MP's, but not all duties are Gate Guards. Ever MOS has special assignments and this is one. You can do SWAT Training, Long Distance shooting training, Hostage Negotiation, and many other Force protection special jobs. Then all the law enforcement stuff Like investigation and working with CID.
Then you have Phoenix Ravens Special Security Force that protect Aircraft. They fly on Aircraft and get off in unsecure locations to protect the Birds. Some of the C130's I flew on with JSOTF-A had them on board, and when we landed they got of secured the Aircraft, before us and the bad ass SOF troops with us could get off the bird.

Navy as posted above, but there are many special Mission Sets and units
Yes
EOD
Divers
AIRR Air Rescue Swimmers (not Ship Swimmers different)

Then depending on Rate you can go into NECC units that have special Mission sets and work with Ground Forces and many Foreign Forces.
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command,- Made up of Expeditionary Combat Forces to execute Combat, Combat Support, and Combat Service Support Missions across full spectrum of Naval, Joint and Combined Operations and Special Operations around the glob.
Combined Task Forces, CTF56, CTF68, and CTF75
Units or Mission sets include
CRF Coastal Riverine Forces Combat Capable Have VBSS Teams, and Ravens
EOD Forces Supports all SOF units
NCF (Seabees) Combat Capable.
Not Just Construction, Always Amongst First Forces in and in some cases there before Infantry depending on Mission and Tasking. They were first Troops in Vietnam, before Combat Troops and Major Combat Operations. They supported SF ODA teams long before people new about them. On ground in 1958 until 72. The thing is many do not know the special jobs that you can do as a Seabee. NSW Support CSST/CSSD and they can get Jump Qualified when assigned. Have Jobs in every NECC Unit. Can do special Jobs Like Drive Nuclear Trucks all over, and Embassy Security, Many others that people do not know about.
NEIC- Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Will Expeditionary Maritime, Joint and Combined SOF operations
EXWDC Expeditionary War-Fighting Development Center Developing Special EXW and NSW warfighting capabilities. They work with DEVGRU a lot.
NAVELSG Expeditionary Logistics support all service War fighters. Also have Custom Battalions.
Then you have CT's, They support SEAL's Teams and DEVGRU one even died on Extortion 17, was CT1 (EXW) Michal Strange was one of six DEVGRU Combat Support Guys on that flight. CT are working for NSA, CIA, and any other OGA with Three letters. I had one in My Navy IA (Individual Augmentee) class in 2010 that was going to NSA and had to go through That Combat Course and went to another special tactics and weapons course with FBI.
MA's Master At Arms not just gate Guards any more, they are big in Anti-terror operations and capabilities. They work with NCIS and have several special Mission sets like S.W.A.T. and others.

Then you have Coast Guard
D.O.G. Deployable Operations Group and they are a Tier one unit..

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Mar 1 at 2018 10:01 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 10:01:39 -0500

Sounds like you should also consider Infantry

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2018 1:46 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:46:16 -0500

First off, you're gonna want to join the Navy. I mean, that should be the obvious choice here. SN Greg Wright was spot on with his recommendations.

EOD in the Navy goes everywhere. Navy EOD are directly attached to SOF units and integrate with units of every service, including civilian law enforcement and Secret Service. So while EOD members may not get a choice of where they go, they get to go to a lot of interesting places and do a lot of interesting things.

Really though, it depends on what you want to do. Do you wanna go into hostile places and be in combat? Or are you just sort of saying that you want to go do awesome things, not necessarily combat?

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Mar 1 at 2018 5:17 PM

Capt Tom Brown — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 17:17:22 -0500

Speak with your local recruiters and get their pitch on what's available. You will have to sort out the BS from wheat but you can get some good information from them on what's out there. It mite help you focus in on your goals and determine which branch can best help you achieve your ends. Good Luck.

Response by SPC Rj Wasser made Mar 3 at 2018 4:22 PM

SPC Rj Wasser — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 16:22:07 -0500

Start off in Combat Arms man... if you don't want to do infantry, I recommend being 13F/Fire Support Specialist aka Forward observer aka FISTer. Best job I ever had, hands down and I still got to roll with my infantry brethren.
Either way, learn Call for Fire as soon as you can (infantry, FIST or otherwise).... it's an important skill to dial in. That and good land nav.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2018 9:41 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 21:41:17 -0500

The SFAB would be a fabulous choice it is about on par with special forces.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2018 1:19 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 01:19:31 -0500

Honestly you dont need a special mos to cross over to an 18 series. What you do need is time you get your body and head right for the Q course. I worked with guys that came from food services and admen, and of course rangers and 11Bs etc. I was a medic in a CSH and had time to work out and grow my skinny 120lb ass up to 175lbs and run my butt off. So the job I had did lead me to 18D but thats because I like medican, but the bottom line was I had time to inprove my PT while being a soldier. If you join thats the most inportant dission you will have ever made, the rest will present itself to you. Good luck!

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Mar 4 at 2018 11:54 PM

MSG John Duchesneau — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 23:54:03 -0500

You probably should enlist as an 11B Infantryman and go to jump school. If you want to try it, enlist for Ranger school. That will give you an introduction to the "elite" portions of the Army.