Should I enlist as an 11X or 68W? Should I join an airborne unit prior to RASP for more job security if I fail out of RASP?

Max Steinhauser — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 07:49:34 -0500

I’m considering enlisting into the army as an 11x option 40. I’m also considering obtaining and airborne contract and enlisting as a 68w. Should I enlist as an 11x or 68w? Should I join an airborne unit prior to Rasp for more job security is I fail out of Rasp?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 8:59 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 08:59:02 -0500

Option 40, they'll send you to airborne before RASP. Don't worry about job security, the army will always have a place for you. That said, If I were in your shoes I would've gone 68W. It's risky but with the right duty station you could be doing an infantryman's job on top of being doc. Do what feels right, if you want more advice, feel free to PM me. I have rally point notifications on.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 9:10 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 09:10:52 -0500

Either MOS can easily get an airborne school slot and either MOS can easily go to rasp. If you fail out of rasp then you will most likely get an airborne assignment. Most people I met that didn’t make it through rasp ended up going to the 82nd anyway. Pick the job that’s right for you. Search thread topics of 68W and 11X. Airborne and rasp is the second priority. You’ll never make it that far until you pick a job you actually wanna do.

Response by SFC James Cameron made Feb 10 at 2020 9:40 AM

SFC James Cameron — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 09:40:53 -0500

There is a lot going on in your post. Unit assignments don’t quite with the way you’re thinking they do Brother. If you receive an airborne option on your enlistment, you will do to Airborne in route to your duty station. If you enlist as an Airborne Ranger Candidate, you will go to 11x OSUT with Airborne, and RASP as follow-on.

Compare the two career fields and pick the one that you are most interested in.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 10:17 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 10:17:12 -0500

I would say that you need to pick the job you feel you will be most passionate about and find the most fulfilling. Either one will give you a great deal of career pathways. If you want to learn more about either MOS and some career options you can always reach out to any number of RP threads or members to get their takes on it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 10:46 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 10:46:28 -0500

68W, hands down, the only other worth while mos is 11B.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 11:09 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 11:09:23 -0500

Do you like the sight of blood? It takes a very specific kind of person to be a doc. You're either the guy who likes stitching or the guy who is getting stitched. The W1 Special Operations Combat Medic Course is extremely demand if you're not someone you would describe as extremely smart or a very gifted studious student, you will fail the SOCM course, which is required to be a Ranger Medic.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2020 4:37 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 16:37:30 -0500

I'm gonna kind of go a different direction along the same lines.

You have to seriously ask yourself this question: do you like blood? Both fields have a lot of it. Are you okay with death? Both fields have direct impact on it. Can you perform well under pressure, keep your mind focused on a million and one things and still accomplish your mission? Both fields require nothing less.

So if you have to choose between the two, and you answered yes to ALL THREE questions above, you've got one more thing to ask yourself. Are you more passionate about operational action and security, dealing death and destruction, while also safeguarding those behind and to the side of you? Or would you rather be the one on the line, as a first line of salvation, and the last man anyone ever Hope's to have to see, because you're the guy doing the thankless job of trying to keep your other guys from getting dead? You answer that, and you'll have your career path. Now, as for RASP and Airborne, you dont get to choose your duty assignment. You can take option 40 (I know many that passed and many that failed), and hope you make the cut. You can request airborne and pray you have your balls screwed on tight enough for the jump. Both are far more demanding than you're gonna know til it's too late.

Or you can take the 11X contract, learn the job, show out, request schools and work your way there. This path is easier and FAR more rewarding (you gain more wisdom, experience and understanding this way). But ultimately, it's your life and your choice. But take it from some of us old grunts, the fast way is very rarely the easiest, let alone the best way.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2020 7:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 19:33:04 -0500

68W will give you plenty of ways to advance your career, especially if you only wish to do one contract. If you want to be hooah hooah, 11x is the way to go, however don’t blame me in 4 years when literally everything hurts and your brain is scattered.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2020 2:37 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 14:37:01 -0500

I have a biased opinion, but 68W all the way. In a line unit, medics have it made.