r/greenberets

Just finished my physical at MEPs and was sadly hit with two waivers. One for my corrective eye surgery and one for rehab for marijuana when I was 15 (I'm 31 now). My recruiter seems to think that the eye surgery won't be an issue but that the rehab will not be approved. Disappointing since that was more than half my life ago and I've maintained a successful civilian career my entire adult life with zero incidents legal or otherwise.

My question for everyone is what experience do you have if any with exception to policies for the 18x contract? How much do they consider specifics of a situation rather than just the black and white of it?

Secondly my recruiter is recommending I just enlist as infantry and then speak with a special forces recruiter at basic assuming I meet the required PT scores (I do). My ASVAB was an 88 with a GT of 125 so that isn't an issue either. ​What's the likelihood if any that I wouldn't even get a shot to pursue Special Forces in basic with enlisting as Infantry?

Appreciate any insight.

Currently training for SFAS and have been mostly focused on grip, rucking, and land nav. Rightfully so, due to their high attrition rate. However, based on what I've read online and in books, including TFVoodoos, the Duffel Bag Lift is a strict go/no-go event that may end a candidate's dream before even getting to weeks 2 and 3. What are the best ways to train for this event, or is this one of those where you simply have to be strong enough to do it?

PS: this got me curious about how many more of these things one may not even be aware of. Rope climbing, nasty nick, lashings? The goal will simply to show up the best shape possible, give it all you've got, and hope for the best

I Have Everything but compassion and extroversion, I Do not have the Navy Seals aura.

Is that a requirement.

i dont fucking know what is the right image that the cadres want so i dont know if i fit there eyes. anyone can work hard and lift but if you are not the right man for the job why fake it!!!

i want to have to talk to a green beret, its money in the bag for you. You can tell me what it means to be sf. and i can tell you what i think of myself.

and we can agree to disagree on whether you want someone like me in your regiment or not.

At first dude was asking me a ton of questions, got me interested, then outta nowhere sends a payment link for $91/month. Since then it’s just been constant daily messages for months. They sound “personal” but it’s pretty obvious it’s copy paste mass messages with hella sales pressure.

Whole thing feels off. Usually if something is actually good it doesn’t need to be pushed this hard. Feels like the main thing selling it is just that the guy is ex sof and it has that “elite” vibe.

Also pricing is all over the place. I’ve seen people say $1400/month and others say like $50 lifetime. Makes zero sense.

And it’s super vague. Says it focuses on mentality but how do you even train that fr. At some point it’s just on you to not be soft.

Anyone actually used it and got real value or is it just marketing? Let me know any good programs out there. 🤙🏻

I’m trying to do some research on Guard SF and I’m seeing that a big tendency with a lot of the guys is that they contract. Can someone in group tell me what sort of contracting exactly it is that you do? Or what that looks like? I’m just curious as I’m trying to navigate what I would want to do on the civilian side, if I were to get selected and be apart of Guard SF.

I know absolutely nothing about that realm of work so if this question sounds ignorant I apologize.

Hello, I am a current UTNG 68W Combat Medic here, my SFRE is roughly 3-4 months from now and I have been training and my goal is to become an 18D.

These are not all my stats but these are pretty relevant ones based on what I know and the most recent too that I thought I'd pull:

6'2'' (74 inches) and 175-180lbs

57 hand release pushups in 2 minutes

72 situps in 2 minutes

15 deadhang pullups in a row + 6 more pullups, total of around 21 pullups generally in quick consecutive action but if not that, I can do 12-15 on any bad day no questions asked.

5+ minute plank on slippery plastic (lol)

I completed a 2 mile run in 11 minutes and 58 seconds with the first mile being done in just 5 minutes and 8 seconds and this is the fastest time I've ever done it recently (literally today) and yes, I break a sweat doing my hardest for this.

I did a 6 mile ruck recently (I've done longer and some with high elevation and steep paths in the Utah mountains, don't worry) at a 4+ mile per hour pace finishing in around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Though honestly I feel I did more than 6 miles that time and it was on uneven terrain to be fair but that's also realistic conditions to my knowledge.

SF personnel, candidates, and Green Berets, please, tell me what can I do to improve?

I see that my ruck time is cutting it close. I know that 4mph pace is dead-locked, it can be done in a speed walk and ocassional little jogs, but I can't do a 12 mile and then be right on 2 hours and 59 minutes and have to say "Well I thought I was going fast enough". Should I just speed walk at 4.1mph and just a little faster OR keep doing what I've been doing now which is 4mph speed ruck and THEN at some points I jog a little at a 5-6mph pace just to break the distance and keep it tight.

Running I can be either legendary at or I start to struggle. See on a good day, I somehow am able to run SUB 12 minute 2 miles but if in an early morning where I got a stomach cramp or something and I'm feeling it down there in the gut (anybody in the military knows what I mean), I am able to run a 14-15 minute 2 mile on a BAD day.

And these are just things I'm noting for myself, I know I am my own man to improve these numbers but it can't hurt to get some feedback.

As for stuff like land nav, weapons handling, etc... I've been pretty good at but land nav can either be really good for me or really bad and I haven't done it at night in a LONG time with my most recent landnav being from a training environment not an "in-field" I won't lie.

I was told that when it comes to that stuff, that I should just study my best and pay close attention to the cadre during post-SFRE and of course, the SFAS because they will tell me everything I need to know down to a T.

Sorry for the wall of text, I know this is not liked so

TLDR: My recent physical stats are at the top, but I have done more that I can elaborate in comments as necessary. I am looking for suggestions to improve before SFRE. Things like overcoming bad days during a run or ruck and what to expect during land nav. And I'd also like to know what to expect for the mental side of things, I know, being a 68W, this job requires brains too lol

This is one of the more general posts in this subreddit. I am just looking for any advice and, of course, any advice is welcome, thank you.

Please be kind due to the emotional state behind this message. I just truly do not know who to ask.

Currently on the track for a miscarriage as doctors have informed me.
Obviously I am mortified as we really wanted this baby. Husbands in the q. I have family here to support me and get me through and I can handle this.
I do not want to notify to derail what he has going on but I do feel that he will be upset that he wasn’t made aware in hindsight at the end of this.

So my question is Red Cross message or wait till he’s home and inform him then? I know this is a niche situation and please be kind as I really do not know who else to ask. I truly wanted another man’s and father’s opinion that can relate to being in the Q. I want to wait till he’s home and not hurt his focus, others are telling me to inform him as he has a right to know but those others aren’t informed with this process. What to do.

Looking to invest in a Heart Rate Monitor. I have an Apple Watch Ultra 3. My understanding is that they are inefficient and that a chest strap monitor is preferred method.

1. Looking at 2 models. Does anyone have any personal experience with these or have another recommendation? Recommended Apple apps that integrate for data retrieval would be appreciated.
   a. Garmin HRM 200 or 600
   b. Polar H10

2. Using the Karvonen Formula. Will this need to be recalculated as cardiovascular health improves? Assuming yes, how often is recommended? My guess is every 4 weeks.

3. TF Voodoo, is the TC 31-15, Aerobic Base Program included in the SUAR? (It's ordered. Need more to read while waiting on Amazon)

4. Thank you.

I know you guys recommended the Fenix 7 for various reasons, but in all seriousness, how often are you using the terrain and solar functions of the Fenix? I have a Forerunner 245 and I already have a tough time sleeping with it on because of its size. I've been considering upgrading because the 245 GPS is pretty bad apparently and mine has scratches all over the face from landing on it being launched from a moving vehicle. Looking at the Forerunner 255/955 vs the Fenix 7/8

Anyone support for one of the Guard groups ? Im looking to talk to someone who is currently in group, and does intel support. My background is intel and cyber, about to make E7 , and would like to know if it’s a viable option to make the transition from the Reserves to one of the state guard SFGs.

According to recruiting website for enlisted someone in its 100 but the recruiter said I’d need a waiver for a 101

Hey, I appreciate this community; much more active and helpful than the seals. I have purchased a few TTM programs & nutrition for the love of the game, when I started running I followed VooDoo's base building post. My question: I am shipping for bootcamp in a couple months and I'm a little insecure about performance running boat. Do you guys think rucking 1-2x a week would help with ability to run boat? The load is different than a ruck's obviously, but its still moving under load and I assume doing fast & short rucks would help with leg turnover, endurance, and durability under boat. Thoughts?

Additional info that may be relevant: The standard boat prep is doing fast and hard weighted stair mill workouts, I do not do these because the steps on the stairs are too small and the inability to actually step with my whole foot and transfer weight from heel to toe raped my shins (I think). Maybe I should do them with no weight and work my way to weight. My run times are decent, 9:15 1.5m and 27:30 4m. I do not do too much strength training since I come from a powerlifting background and had to really focus on endurance. I'm around 30mpw right now. Boot camp is around 2 months, we will get terribly out of shape, then buds prep for another 2 months before actually classing up.

Hello all, I hope all is well.

Long story short, I wanted to generate conversations about the morality of being a solider, specifically for a GB as I am considering going 18x and wanted to connect and see what people’s thoughts on this are whether you are an aspiring GB, a current GB, former GB, non SOF or even civilians. Sorry in advance if this question has already been answered to the extent I am asking for.

Long story:

I value making informed and coherent choices (coherent in the sense they align with my values) and I’ll get back to this as it is relevant but: I am a young person, and am trying to plan out what my life will look like down the road, things all the way from personal careers, what the financial reality of my life will look like, reflection about my childhood and how I want it interacting with my future, what relationships I will keep or discard etc and etc, and a very large and complex area I am reflecting on, amongst those other things, is military service which brings me to being a green beret.

I’ve enjoyed the privileges of being safe from danger my entire life up until this point and owe it to many systems (from the international down to local, having lived on three different continents across my life) and value shouldering the burden of responsibility, which I believe I have, and contributing to this system, as complex as it may be. I don’t have an “itch” for killing and am not going into the military to find a legal way to kill but will say I am not (in theory) opposed to killing, but preface it with the fact that it has to take place under very strict conditions and for “correct” purposes (ex: self defense). America is an incredible country and owe it a debt of gratitude for the opportunities is has given me but I am not gunkho in love with it. It is a complex amalgamation of many people and institutions that conducts very complex actions and that this is not unique to America and so I don’t believe it is “the best in the world” nor “the great satan” and if I enlist, will not be doing it because I am patriotic towards it or any other nations I’ve lived in, although again, I think it is great in many ways.

I have two years before I can enlist on an 18x ray and am already physically training for it using Dr.Walton’s books (great books btw). One of the things I am trying to make sure I am trying to tackle before making the decision to enlist and one thing that consistently is nagging me is that whether this is a moral career field to go down in and to what extent can I even have that answered and is it even a good strategy to make my decision to finally enlist be based on resolving this highly complex question whatever resolving it means?

What are your guys’ thoughts on being a warfighter. What is the morality of being a solider? If the president orders a war how much discretion/ control does the military have to avoid immoral outcomes (ie president says overthrow this leader but the military finds a way to do it in the least destructive way). What if a pointless war is launched but you, as an enlisted man, did the right thing at the level of your responsibilities, should you be proud, ashamed, neutral? I ask this because I am concerned, does the military, with extra emphasis on the leadership like officers and JAG and etc, take actions to ensure that the actions of the military create outcomes that don’t create regret?

What do I know, l'm not in the military but it seems like these questions are very much relevant. Based on what I'm learning, it seems like modern militaries require that you need some ability to reason about these things, especially in SOF where there's very little oversight and where there's discretion. Yea, LOAC and rules of engagement will likely be guiding soldiers' actions regardless of whether they have a natural and personal inclination to consider these questions or not but l think there has to be some level of reasoning, at the very minimum. Is considering these questions a sign of incompatibility? Is the advice that “if you’re going to try to go into SOF and are asking the questions, don’t join” a bad advice or does it have merit? At what point does learning and planning become over planning/learning and I should instead “send it”? I’m spit balling here but do you guys get the idea? Do good intelligent men 1:go into the military and 2:come out as good intelligent men and maintain a strong and healthy self image, of course moral ambiguity might exist but at what point is it too ambiguous crossing into doing the wrong thing?

I don’t need perfect answers, at the very least, a conversation about these things will suffice and hopefully, this will invite people who may be thinking about these things to add their thoughts. Thank you.

I hope other GBs add theirs. I have many, but here is one:

This is a 7th SFG story, but I will leave out specifics like the batallion and the specific team number.

The CONOP at the Beach:

It was around February 2003, and the attacks of September 11, 2001, were fresh in everyone's minds. At around this same time, Operation Eagle Fury (Feb 9 – Feb 28, 2003) was unfolding in Afghanistan. That specific operation included a 43-hour battle in the village of Lejay involving SFODAs from the 7th SFG and Navy SEAL snipers. At the time, this was cited as one of the longest sustained SOF-led battles of the early war.

Unsurprisingly, SOF funding began to go through the roof, and training concept requests were flooding every battalion operations officer's desk in every SF group. These requests ranged from taking part in courses run by elite shooting schools, taught by top-level IPSC champions, to conducting technical mountaineering training in the Rocky Mountains. As long as these requests were well-written and justified, the funds were made available and the SFODAs would be on their way, oftentimes traveling in nondescript GSA vans and additional rental vehicles.

As far back as January of that year, one of the 7th SFG underwater operations/dive teams submitted a training concept packet (we called them "CONOPs") for tactical and dive training based out of a location in the east-central part of Florida.

The concept was sound; it dovetailed nicely with that SFODA's specialty and "mission letter" requirements. The 10-hour road trip was scheduled to start on Sunday, March 2, with the SFODA departing early in the morning. Back then--I do not know if this has changed--each SFODA had a requirement to make a single SATCOM communications "shot" each day, including a standard situation report ("SITREP") back to higher headquarters using the venerable AN/PSC-5 SATCOM radio. This was an 18-Echo task for which the 18-Alpha was ultimately responsible.

The detachment arrived at its lodging location, sent its requisite commo shot, and called it a day. But...

Unbeknownst to the outside world, the SFODA had maneuvered much closer to Daytona Beach. Coincidentally, its arrival aligned perfectly with the peak of Bike Week. Furthermore, some detachment members appeared to have brought along additional "equipment": Harley-Davidson motorcycles hitched to the GSA van as well as to one detachment member's pick-up truck.

Because Bike Week had all the best lodging occupied, the SFODA settled for the type of place that screams crime. You have all likely seen these motels in most horror movies. They parked the GSA van closest to the ground-level motel room door with the rear doors facing the room. They did have one bit of logistical complexity to solve: what to do with the sensitive items (weapons, ammunition, communication equipment, etc.) if they were all to enjoy their "training" at Bike Week? Ultimately, cooler heads prevailed, and it was decided that the most junior member of the SFODA would not get a chance to attend Bike Week (as it turned out, it was the 18-Echo; it usually is the 18-Echo for some reason).

So, in the afternoon, the men who brought along their Harleys changed into the appropriate "biker" attire: leather chaps and biker-appropriate "cuts." It was decided that leaving the sensitive items in the van was not safe. Thus, as any reasonable, seasoned SFODA worth its salt would do, they began to transfer these items from the van into the motel room in broad daylight... while wearing "biker" attire.

As this took place, there was an observant citizen taking note of the black boxes being transferred from this nondescript van into a cheap motel room by these "bikers." Then, to that citizen's horror, she began to see automatic weapons and rifles being moved in.

The detachment, its equipment consolidation now complete, departed for its Bike Week adventure sans its 18-Echo, who was relegated to staying in the rear with the gear in relative tranquility.

That is, of course, until the SWAT team showed up hours later. The rest is 7th SFG lore and legend. Some say that the 18-Echo kept the SWAT team in a four-hour standoff. Others say that he came out, hands up, crying. Others still, claim that his ghost still haunts that very motel room, even though the guy is clearly still alive today.

After this, all SFODAs (including mine) were literally read the "riot act" before going on a CONOP anywhere. Also, we were required to send that commo shot with the inclusion of a photograph taken at our actual location.

So before typing this I wanna say that I have SF is my top priority but still I’m curious about this situation. I have a year left in active duty army and I’m considering going either Reserves civil or Cali NG, but anyways. I have a couple things that I could stack up on my VA disability, injuries from this deployment and the past few years. More specifically an ankle injury, lower back pain ext; The thing is if I apply for disability on those things I’m assuming I will need to waiver them all before heading to SFAS OR EVEN SFRE when I eventually go. So if I do waiver them do I run the risk of getting my disability taken away ??

Reporting to SFAS soon and I’m already at Fort Bragg, trying to make sure I’m squared away. The ATTRS course catalog links for reporting instructions/course info aren’t working on my end. Anyone recently attend and have insights on current reporting instructions, packing list nuances, day-one show-up process for those already local, or anything you wish you knew beforehand? Appreciate any guidance.

I am currently in the national guard. I Just turned 19 yesterday. I am thinking about going to an SFRE but I also want a bachelors degree by 26. Anyways I guess my question is if I pass and get selected will I be able to attend college while in 20th/19th group? Also I know how this sounds Im just young and trying to see what I want in life so sorry if this is a dumb question.

Just came back super recently, feel super proud of myself but I have an issue I’m only 20 years old and haven’t been in the army for too long, 12B Engineer 2 years, not worried about getting my wings but heard a lot about Q course ripping apart new inexperienced guys. If anyone has any advice at all I’d love to hear it. Also if ur wondering, that shit sucked holy fuck but it’s not what I expected it to be where ur getting smoked 24/7, u get cooked a lot but face a lot of mostly mental challenges. Which I noticed before going my mindset was that Selection would be like this 24/7 cook sesh but I did have a decent amount of time just with my thoughts. Thats probably the hardest part about it just having that peaceful moment made me not want to go back to the constant physical suffering but pushed through non the less. Also surprised that I got selected with Substance abuse self referral on my record. I really regret doing that in the army and honestly I purely at some point thought even if I made it to the end I’d not get selected over it. But I guess sometimes you get lucky. Also if ur wondering,

My physical stats: (before ship out)

2 mile run 11:02

5 mile run 31:29

6 mile ruck 00:57:13

12 mile ruck 02:19:??

17 Dead hang pull ups

51 T-Push ups

04:00 Plank (although longest I’ve held before I left was 9 minutes a few weeks earlier)

I’m 6’2 170lbs Lean

So I’m a pretty skinny guy, reason I mention my height and weight is for anyone wondering if they will be good enough even if they aren’t a massive giant who also runs a 12:00 2 mile while at 240lbs. But I honestly was one of the smallest guys to get selected.

One thing I’d recommend is keep pushing through, don’t let ur mind give up on you. And train up cardio and leg strength as much as possible, even some of the leg muscles that u never really train. Thats what helped me a lot.

Also ik I am posting something no one really asked for with my young dumb advice for selection but. Take everything in selection and any type of workout 1 step at a time. Instead of fuck I have to run 5 miles for example. Think of it more like, “I just have to suffer for 40 minutes or less” helps a lot mentally.