Air Force Special Recon: The Pipeline

The field of Special Reconnaissance is constantly in demand and highly regarded in all branches of special operations, including the USAF.
Trent and Aaron provide a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about SR, from applying to graduating and joining your first unit, to the unique missions supported by Air Force Special Reconnaissance Airmen.
We understand that you may still have questions and we are committed to keeping you up-to-date with the latest information. Is there anything we missed or any questions you may have?
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[@abdulsharif6541]

The USAF SR is the best kept secret in the US Military (Excellent)

[@Rece_RR]

The way you guys describe this program is by far the most enticing. Thanks for the information!

[@karenrhoads1598]

Lol listening to you guys talk about things that can go wrong reminds me of the 2 words I grew up with & are still in my vocabulary 😅 SNAFU & FUBAR...I hope you guys recognize them ...my person laughed his a** off that I knew these

[@OnesReady]

ha of course!

[@spelllingg]

Would love an episode on sere instructor pipeline

[@maskcollector6949]

They've covered SERE in the past for sure.

[@OnesReady]

Great input and you're right, we should do a refresh. Thank you!

[@spelllingg]

@@OnesReady thank you! I’ll be there when it drops

[@quintincalhoun3423]

Excellent Show‼️

[@nellis042]

Awesome! Thank you! 🤙🏽👊🏽🙏🏽

[@wingandhog]

I was USAF TAC Recon during the Cold War. Nothing special, no pipeline to speak of in those days, just major intel analysis, but proud of my training and work. This would be considered a Space Force capability nowadays.

[@johcaone]

Food for thought about Team leader quals being a 7-level requirement. Is it only Knowledge, Skills, abilities and experience driven or is there a bit of requirement of holding noncommissioned officer rank? It's actually a complicated question as Air Force has connected skill level to rank and specifically E-5 is the lowest NCO rank in the Air Force's enlisted force structure. BTW, JTAC qual, established 2010, is a bit KSA higher driven than existed prior to 1996. (I got to stick up for Peaches as he wasn't participating to respond).

[@wingandhog]

Unless something has changed since I was active duty, E-4 (SGT) is the lowest NCO rank in the USAF. The 3-9 levels are skill set levels. You have to reach and test out on different skill set qualifications in your AFSC in order to be eligible for promotion to different NCO levels. It can be difficult if you’re not on top of your game.

[@johcaone]

@@wingandhog The E-4 rank and paygrade hasn't been an NCO rank since effective 2 May 1991 when the SrA-Sgt split was eliminated. Within the Air Force's and Space Force's enlisted Force structure the E-5 rank and paygrade is the entry NCO rank. Since 1991 the Air Force has more strongly connected enlisted occupational skill levels to leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities but not necessarily tactical leadership of leading small teams within the operational environment. The Air Force enlisted career occupation framework establishes two enlisted grades per 7- and 5-skill levels (i.e., 7- level = E6 and E7, 5- level = E4 and E5), one grade for 9-level (E8) and 3-level (E3), and one grade for 0-level (Chief Enlisted Manager). With leadership performance thresholds being integrated into acquiring 5-level, 7 level, 9-level and 0-level and NCO ranks these performance thresholds became connected to required completion of EPME and JEPME applicable to the enlisted grade corresponding skill level, but the EPME and required leadership training, education, and development for promotion and award of skill level do not require acquiring, attaining, and sustaining mission ready team leader qualification and certification. This Team Leader utilization that isn't embedded in the mandatory career development core skill requirements of the majority of the Air Force's and Space Command's enlisted occupation specialties. As I stated in my original comment it's complicated, but NCOs in the Pararescue Specialty being delegated command authority to lead small teams to accomplish a mission has been embedded as a requirement since 1947 and that it has always been accompanied with the expectation that in an emergency any member of the team is expected to assume command is a contributing factor and cause for the enlisted pararescue specialty having the longest continuous existing formal assessment and selection program in the Air Force. This Team Leader factor and other factors contribute to why the Air Force's Special Warfare (1Z) career field, Air Force Special Warfare Assessment and Selection course, and the 9T500 enlistment identifiers were established. Without getting too detailed, this contributes to why one can meet all the requirements and not be selected.

[@wingandhog]

@@johcaone … I stand corrected. I discharged in 82. I know a lot has changed since I was active duty. Good answer

[@CarlosVerdinOfficial]

I like to imagine that if the Air Force had its own “infantry” MOS, it’s just called SR and they are just that much more badass than a regular infantryman in the Army.

[@drmarkintexas-400]

🎖️🏆🤗🙏🇺🇲 Thank you for sharing

[@Ozarkian_Guerrilla]

Can you do Special Reconnaissance in the Air National Guard?

[@OnesReady]

Yes.

[@Gih-q7j]

That’s a lot of training. I’m curious on does your contract start after you finish the pipeline or does that 2 year+ period of training your first 2+ years on your contract?

[@OnesReady]

@@Gih-q7j the latter. You enter into your given contract length, and that contract starts from the day you enter service (basic training). Good question. - A

[@TheHaleeDee]

I would really like to ask some questions about pararescue. I am joining and that is one of the jobs that I'm interested in.

[@tog_on]

do you guys still have a public Discord?

[@OnesReady]

discord.gg/hFKHvV3B

[@collincarroll9362]

I'm new to the channel so I don't know if It has been covered but I'm interested in joining the air force and trying for SR and was curious what kind of training I should do beforehand to prepare myself.

[@Jhedden]

Is there anything you’ve learned? I am interested in SR as well

[@gabe_diaz]

Do you need to be active duty first to join into the guard or can you join to be in the guard, and would you need to move to a state that has a special recon guard (I live in Pennsylvania). Also does the guard special recon get deployed at lot ?

[@OnesReady]

No, you can go right into the guard. You can live wherever you want, however, living closer to the state you work in (either Kentucky or Oregon) would make your life easier but lots of people live out of state. And your deployment tempo is unit based and based off of some other factors as well, so no clean answer there.

[@gabe_diaz]

@@OnesReady thank you! One more question, does the guard SR do 2-3 days a month and 2 weeks a year like the traditional guard or do they do way more training.

[@gabe_diaz]

@@OnesReady and also if you don’t get selected do you get to choose what job you want or does the Air Force have a set job for you if you don’t get selected or do you get put in a job for the needs of the Air Force

[@markpekel4517]

make sense AF SR recon training from Army Recon. AF is Army's little brother just ask the Army .

[@mkarns2354]

Can you do this as a reservist?

[@OnesReady]

Guard yes. Reserves no. -T

[@youbtube-n8s]

I’ve been talking to a recruiter and they said my admittance would be very iffy. wondering what your input is. I have lots of prior drug use (Marijuana, psychedelics and some pills) I’ve been arrested for felony eluding(~4 years ago and charges were dismissed), and I’ve been to a mental hospital ~(15years ago for 72 hours on a mandatory hold). I’ve been clean of all drugs and alcohol for 1 month. I can just about pass the IFT requirements, just need to practice my swim. My recruiter mentioned I’ll need quite a bit of waivers and even then it’s an IF. Since I’ve found out about this course I’m really determined to make it. I’m 25 currently I have been clean of all drugs and alcohol for a month now with no desire to go back to that lifestyle. I want real changes in my life Please 🙏 hoping if anybody can give any advice or tips.

[@OnesReady]

Your recruiter knows better than us.

[@youbtube-n8s]

@@OnesReady gotchya, I guess a better question is Did you know any guys in the special warfare pipeline who were “bad boys” in their prior military life? Into Drugs, crime and decided to make a change?

[@ke3285]

Fuck i want to be SR badly, it just im not from US 😂

[@heyvon8012]

Awesome first here

[@Fyiaa95]

Didn’t they remove dive school?

[@MathCartel709]

Taylor*MathCartels CodeKane SnowOn Beach~Bre*ezeQ⁷Su_KFORQ¹ K□SpaceForceRattleNanoWorm²⁵SatÖ*Ciara