Posted on Jan 9, 2019
Which MOS in the National Guard will best prepare me for SFAS and the SFQC?
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Finally after a long time coming I’m enlisting into the military, I’m curious about MOS’s that will help prepare me for SF training in the Nat Guard mainly. I know 11B can set me up and give me what I need to start with, but I’m also am wanting advice on a mos that will help me in the future if something were to happen and I wasn’t still serving. (Injury,family,etc)I have a background in welding and fabrication and have been in leadership roles as foreman’s, project manager for commercial work which is no comparison to SF I’m aware.
Is my best option infantry or could I enlist into 91 series, get Some time in while getting my trade MOS certs, train, and train some more and have a shot at achieveing a lifelong goal to Be part of the SOF family? I’m no American sniper poser, this has been my dream since I watched my grandfather be buried in Arlington in 1997 from a injury in Korean War saving his brothers and a father who was a sailor that lit a fire while a child talking about BUDs teams in his carriers while he served! Thanks for any input and advice, it will be greatly appreciated.
Is my best option infantry or could I enlist into 91 series, get Some time in while getting my trade MOS certs, train, and train some more and have a shot at achieveing a lifelong goal to Be part of the SOF family? I’m no American sniper poser, this has been my dream since I watched my grandfather be buried in Arlington in 1997 from a injury in Korean War saving his brothers and a father who was a sailor that lit a fire while a child talking about BUDs teams in his carriers while he served! Thanks for any input and advice, it will be greatly appreciated.
91E: Allied Trades Specialist
11B: Infantryman
Special Forces
Posted 6 y ago
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No MOS is going to prepare you for SFAS, even less so in the Guard. You would go to school for two months and that's it. You can train two months on your own and be prepared, and if you can't do that as a civilian in your current job, then you couldn't maintain the physical readiness to be a green beret while a civilian in the Guard.
You're not likely to get any certifications in the Guard. If you were in the active army you would be able to earn enough experience to test out for technical certificates at your own expense, but they aren't given just for attending training. Most of your drill weekends will be spent focusing on Soldier skills and administrative readiness.
As for preparing for SF selection, it's not a matter of skills or physical preparedness. The course is designed to wear you out and then observe what kind of person you are under stress.
I don't know why you picked SF. It sounds to me like it just sounds special or cool to you. You may want to learn what they actually do. Project manager is actually pretty close since it's tons of planning, resourcing, managing people and projects.
If you want to go to SF just nut up and go join the active duty 18X program. Former Green Berets are all over the business world because SOF teaches resourcefulness. Why focus on a few certifications for welding when you could be running a fabrication company providing a much needed service in an underserved niche area with your skills?
You're not likely to get any certifications in the Guard. If you were in the active army you would be able to earn enough experience to test out for technical certificates at your own expense, but they aren't given just for attending training. Most of your drill weekends will be spent focusing on Soldier skills and administrative readiness.
As for preparing for SF selection, it's not a matter of skills or physical preparedness. The course is designed to wear you out and then observe what kind of person you are under stress.
I don't know why you picked SF. It sounds to me like it just sounds special or cool to you. You may want to learn what they actually do. Project manager is actually pretty close since it's tons of planning, resourcing, managing people and projects.
If you want to go to SF just nut up and go join the active duty 18X program. Former Green Berets are all over the business world because SOF teaches resourcefulness. Why focus on a few certifications for welding when you could be running a fabrication company providing a much needed service in an underserved niche area with your skills?
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SFC (Join to see)
(Join to see) not at all. The people who want to go aren't part of the unit in the national guard. You show up, do some PT and they base it off who's most physically fit. When I was in the Guard, they did a PT test and a road March. Best, consistent times were first. The assumption is that the more fit, the less likely they are to quit.
As for the SF national guard, they are a good program and organization, but it's much easier to go while on active duty and then transfer to a guard unit close to your home when you get out. If you plan on going, I'm pretty sure the max age is 35 to enlist.
Lots of people want to go, which is why it's a good recruiting tool. Around 10% of the 18X contracts will make it into SF, so it allows the Army to fill other jobs they're having trouble filling.
As for the SF national guard, they are a good program and organization, but it's much easier to go while on active duty and then transfer to a guard unit close to your home when you get out. If you plan on going, I'm pretty sure the max age is 35 to enlist.
Lots of people want to go, which is why it's a good recruiting tool. Around 10% of the 18X contracts will make it into SF, so it allows the Army to fill other jobs they're having trouble filling.
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(Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) Very good! thank you for this info. I was told basically the same thing from my buddy that just retired that if washed out in AD I could be at the mercy of the big green to fill any spot they needed. With the exception that if I make it past airborne I would possibly be at Bragg but no guarantees in AD.
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(Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) Yeah 35 is cutoff I’m pretty positive. I have already spoke with two recruiters and go Monday to get some more insight from NG, but I feel like you all have told me what I’m going to hear from him. So now to try and explain it to my ole lady so she’s not in the dark! Thanks again
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CPT Lawrence Cable
(Join to see) - OK, if you are in a state that has a Special Forces unit, you can enlist as a 11X REP63 Contract, which is the equivalent of the Active Army 18X Contract. If you go that route, you go to Infantry One Station Unit Training at Ft Benning, which is now 24 weeks I believe, then to Airborne, also at Benning, then to a pre selection train up and finally the Selection itself. If you make it through selection, you get assigned an 18 series MOS according to aptitude testing and the needs of the service, and then go through all that training, time frame depending on the MOS, then the actual Qualification. I believe now that they send you to Language school right out of qualifications now. My point in this is that all the Guard training is the same as Active Duty and your initial training before you see a unit takes about 2 years, longer if you are a Medic.
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I started out in NG SF, 20th Group, back in 1979. That said, the secection criteria has changed since I went through. It is my understanding that SFAS is MOS immaterial. My advice to you would be go active duty as an infantryman or medic with a Ranger Regiment option, learn to soldier, get a couple of deployments under your belt. Just my dos centavos.
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The National Guard has 19th and 20th Group with individual units located all over the country. You can volunteer to attend SFRE (Special Forces Readiness Evaluation) with any MOS. It's essentially a 2-4 day tryout to see if you have what it takes to become a part of the unit and subsequently be sent to SFAS (Special Forces Assessment and Selection). It's really up to you what you want to do. There are several options you can pursue while serving in the Guard beyond your advanced individual training that will allow you to attain special skills, civilian certifications, and educational degrees. If you are already proficient with welding and fabrication, I don't think becoming a 91B is really going to do anything to "set you up" for life in terms of civilian employment.
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(Join to see)
This is what I’ve been wondering, Ok so I would have to just volunteer for SFRE after BCT,AIT! I somehow must have got mixed info that 91e mos would certify me through AWS which would open doors for civilian work and eventually my own business or possibly welding inspector for DOD or like wise company! I was certified years ago for engine lathe, mill, CNC lathe but haven’t gone back into fabrication type work until last few years I used that schooling for a hobby basically to be familiar with fab work on 4x4 vehicles! Thanks you have def cleared up one question two recruiters haven’t been able to answer!
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CPT (Join to see)
(Join to see) - You can use https://www.cool.army.mil/ to check on which certifications are available to each MOS. I believe you can become a welding inspector as a 91E; however you won't just be given the certification as part of your job training. The eligibility requirements will still be the same as attaining it on the civilian side, though the Guard may be able to help you pay for certain certifications. All the information should be on that website.
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