Ep 205: Special Reconnaissance Deep Dive Part 3- The Entire Pipeline Explained!

Special Reconnaissance is so hot right now. It always is. All branches of special operations have some sort of reconnaissance, or recon, capability, and the USAF is no different.
Trent and Aaron sit down and walk you through literally every single thing you need to know about SR- from the application process to graduation to your first unit to some of the unique mission sets that Air Force Special Reconnaissance Airmen support and enable.
We know that you're never going to feel like you have all the information, but we are never gonna stop making sure we get the latest and greatest to you. What did we miss? What questions do you have?
Drop them in the comments!
00:00 - Intro and look good, don't suck, find a recruiter
03:30 - Everything SWOE
06:25 - Everything IFT
09:25 - T3i development Program
12:17 - Become a Subject Matter Enthusiast
14:14 - SR Pod Link for a guy with the bare minimums that made it
20:00 - How to build yourself to be successful at A&S
27:07 - 18A Fitness Code
29:03 - Basic Training, SWCC, getting to A&S, and getting selected (or failing)
41:40 - Combat Dive School
43:00 - Airborne
43:50 - SERE
45:25 - MFF
47:24 - Apprentice Course
52:15 - STTS
56:26 - Trench Coffee Ad-read
1:14:00 - Advice
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at [e-mail]
Follow us on Instagram bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support, we truly appreciate it.
#podcast #specialop
Collabs:
Trench Coffee Company - Promo Code: ONESREADY
Eberlestock - Promo Code: OR10
Hoist - Promo Code: ONESREADY
Strike Force Energy - Promo Code: ONESREADY
CardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADY
Out of Regs Pomade - Promo Code: ONESREADY
18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready
ATAC Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
The views and opinions expressed by the OnesReady team and any guests are those of the team and themselves and do not reflect the official policy or position of the DoD. Any content our Podcast guests, bloggers, sponsors, or authors provide is their opinion. It is not intended to malign the DoD, any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone.

[@timothybird2850]

“Dudes and gals being bros and dudes.” Very inclusive Aaron!

[@OnesReady]

😂- A

[@nicholaslukacsina633]

This is the episode that sold me. Thank y’all for being so informative. Keep up the great videos!

[@redeemedforgivenfree349]

Great upload, appreciate y'all 💪🏿👊🏿. God bless

[@nellis042]

Great episode! Thank you! 🤙🏽👊🏽🙏🏽

[@markpekel4517]

The BAD GUYS and weather do exactly what you planned in the mission brief.

[@OnesReady]

Hahaha nice!

[@rinsed9529]

What a blessing to access this information

[@drmarkintexas-400]

Thank you for sharing 🎖️🙏🇺🇲🏆

[@DJLvanillaICE113]

That little anecdote at the end was badass

[@Miguel-ez9qz]

Thank you brothers

[@channinghoyt5296]

Much appreciated

[@Finkle76]

I just found this podcast, and I can't say how glad I am that I did. I'm going to my IFT next week and want to go to SR.

[@schmill2444]

Did you make it through?

[@locked_pup]

Hows it going?

[@Finkle76]

@@schmill2444 I didn't make the IFT in time for my preferred ship date so I ended up choosing aircraft maintenance. It is honestly probably better suited to me though

[@andrewsshafik]

Hey I I noticed you mention surgery being a possible issue to hold a prospect back, can you specify on those requirements? As well the eyesight requirements if possible. 8:48

[@kevinst.george8174]

Dang this video made me reconsider PJ! Does SR have the capability to work any type of humanitarian mission sets?

[@OnesReady]

SR supports larger special tactics mission sets, which include humanitarian response. Short answer, yes, but it's not common.

[@FierceDeity95]

I’d be curious how SR plays a role in Hard Target Defeat. It’s cool to see USASOC shift focus back to hard peer targets and get out of the counter terror whack a mole game.

[@JuanGarcia-dj2tt]

Great episode so far I’m army medic about 18 months out from my ets date I’m looking to make to transition to afsoc hopefully SR but I’ll be happy to be in the community because I know it’s a little harder for prior service to get the afsc of choice, comfortable with my ift even on a bad day but always improving yalls videos have been very helpful in terms of getting the information gonna start reaching out to a recruiter very soon, Also when are y’all gonna drop the kev fishchetto episode

[@jacksonmenjivar4707]

Bro I'm in the exact same shoes, 68w with about 20 months out. I've been using mountain tactical to train, hopefully it pays off!!

[@SeabornProductions]

Why don’t you go to SFAS? Or try out for a SMU?

[@SeabornProductions]

@@jacksonmenjivar4707 why don’t you go to SFAS or try out for a SMU? The army has so many SOF units that you probably don’t know about?

[@JuanGarcia-dj2tt]

@@SeabornProductions for me personally I think the mission set of green berets is cool but not for me personally and I’m familiar with all the SOF units in the army worked with pretty much all of em down range besides any SMU I worked with green berets doing support for them and worked with batt boys but personally same thing I hear them all say is “afsoc has all the toys” basically the funding is better in terms of the equipment and vehicles they have available and they’re able to train more often like jumps and other stuff that’s more expensive for other sof units, but my main reason for getting out and wanting to do afsoc is you get MFF and Combat dive in the pipeline guaranteed where as in the army green berets have to be on certain teams to get the opportunity for those schools and batt boys can’t get those school unless they’re on the ranger smu, and the reason I don’t go for any Smu’s is because I went to a briefing recently for cag and I’m meet most of the qualifications besides the time down range requirements so if I wanted to be able to apply to cag to take the long walk I would probably have to do another contract first to maybe get another deployment because there’s nothing really going on now in terms of units getting deployed so that’s why I’m pretty comfortable with my decision to transition into the airforce and do A&S for afsoc

[@jacksonmenjivar4707]

@AKiddTracks I'm not too interested in being a green beret, I met some really cool ones on deployment. But my end goal is more SPECWAR. I like how the air force runs things vs the army.

[@reject_D1]

Nice podcast but do you know if the Air Force is going to add and officer counterpart

[@OnesReady]

Officer component to SR? Our STOs and CROs (Special Tactics Officers / Combat Rescue Officers) handle the leadership aspect for SR. 🍑

[@ryanswanson3503]

Iowa has pools... Lol mostly lakes and dirty rivers though..

[@martianman7479]

Do you guys think SR will ever get officer equivalents?

[@OnesReady]

Officers don’t want this smoke -T

[@sebastianr2423]

How long is the contract ?

[@ViewtifulBr080]

Why are the older parts? And special recon playlist hidden

[@OnesReady]

Got iit, great idea. Playlists for the career fields, inbound.

[@ViewtifulBr080]

@@OnesReady Does SR being hot right now reduce the chances of someone joining in that career field in the future if that position is potentially over-maned? It's the one I am training for

[@OnesReady]

Absolutely not. We always need more qualified people. -T

[@walker8252]

Could I get the discord so I can get the 20 week training program? Thanks

[@millertimedude]

Is there an example of a mission involving just AFST Broski's? Or are ST mostly attached to other services

[@Robert-vv6qp]

I was under the impression that Air Guard enlistees where guaranteed their career of choice, if they qualify. Oregon has all 4 careers. Kentucky has PJ/CCT/SR. Other states (ie. Indiana) have TACP. If you fail TACP in Indiana you are assigned another career Indiana Air Guard has. Is this correct?

[@ViewtifulBr080]

Were you able to confirm or deny this. With air guard guaranteed spot?

[@Robert-vv6qp]

I spoke to Air Guard TACP recruiters in Indiana and Louisiana. They both said that you are guaranteed a spot in the Schoolhouse, if you can qualify.

[@ViewtifulBr080]

@@Robert-vv6qp ok ok. I like that better

[@hc0031]

So, if you go air guard, you get a specific pipeline contract? Do you also go to swcc right after boot then selection?

[@Robert-vv6qp]

That is what the recruiter told me. Basic, then SW prep, then the Schoolhouse. If you join the Guard as a TACP you are guaranteed a spot. If you go active, it's up to them to assign you a career.

[@tomanderson3197]

Off-the-wall question: What does "Ones ready" mean or refer to?

[@OnesReady]

It’s a question the cadre ask the students in the training pipelines. Ones Ready is called out, the students respond with the number of the repetition they’re on, then the cadre yell GO.

[@OnesReady]

When you’re in pre-dive, you typically count off in groups for iterations of training. 1’s, 2’s, 3’s, 4’s etc etc. the instructors will yell “Ones Ready!”, and the students will sound off with their repetition number (example, the students would say, “Three, Sergeant!” If it was their third rep). And there you have it!

[@somedudeonlinetalking]

How does anyone not think this career field isn’t top of the line baffles me.

[@swiper3170]

What is the operational lifespan ("team time") b4 an SR airmen would be moved to higher admin roles?

[@OnesReady]

Depends on a few factors. Rank, personal preference, and assignment to name a few.

[@KazmCreations]

What is family life/ hometime like? My recruiter doesnt know much about these career fields. I'm training to join with a fiance and 3 yr old :)

[@OnesReady]

We have a whole bunch of episodes on this one, we are also planning on doing a reboot.

[@KazmCreations]

@@OnesReady Please, appreciate your guys' work and service. I'll go back and look, was looking for a breakdown of how long after basic do you get to go home, when are you and your family allowed to move-in together, how often you will see family, can they come with us to certain schools, stuff like that. Also, if possible, deployment schedule (3mo. 6mo.) / day in the life in hostile & non-hostile environments. And day in the life on base, what exactly will we be doing? Going home every day? Sorry I'm new to everything.

[@gemum4219]

@@KazmCreations for an SR individual I know. In his 11th year of SR this was what it was like in the span of a year. Away from home for 2 months straight. And at least 10 times he was away from home for 4-12 days. This happens each month where he has to pick up and go (meaning little is known in the days before he leaves, sometimes it's sudden, sometimes there is some indication they may be leaving, it really varies) One month he was able to stay home for 27 days straight. That was unusual. We never know where he is gone to, we only know he is "gone" with no idea of how long. There was one time we did know where and when because it was a big multi unit exercise. I mean it was one of those publicly known and even in the military newspaper type thing. Day to day, he works about 12-14 hours, but some of that includes his daily fitness workouts. Sounds grueling sometimes but it's his life, his profession, he lives and breathes it and LOVES it.

[@dakotabikes]

I'm 28 years old, am I too old to be considered? looking for a change in my life and have been really digesting the Air Force Special Warfare content trying to make a decision to jump in or not. thank you and love the videos

[@OnesReady]

Definitely not too old

[@ChadaTimaRat]

Are the push-ups pull-ups and sit-ups done in one or two minutes?

[@rent2386]

bruh, 2 minutes of research will answer this question.

[@ChadaTimaRat]

@@rent2386 well there are different sources saying different things care to answer since you cared enough to reply?

[@OnesReady]

Initial Fitness Test in AFSPECWAR- EVERYTHING you NEED To Know!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZvNhGWHpbSrlbs

[@recon0x7f16]

Do they do their own recon missions like marine recon ? How come they don’t have their own mission set ?

[@OnesReady]

Do you think recon isn’t its own mission set? I’m not sure what you mean.

[@recon0x7f16]

@@OnesReady oh lol my bad

[@allisonmusso]

Who is going to carry the goats? 😂🐐

[@miybandz4999]

For the Marines, I don’t believe that is true? Correct me if I’m wrong but Marines are the only ones that do not have to attend any other military basic training.

[@vanguard3269]

30 years, old, looking to change my life and go spec warfare, still in good shape, am I too old for trying..do you or have y’all had any guys in their mid 30s get selected

[@mythoclaust1283]

Older folks usually do really well. Go for it man

[@mrhanky5851]

‘JTACery’ lol

[@michtarragon4665]

What sniper school do AF SR's attend?

[@OnesReady]

Typically army’s course. It can depend on location and course seats.

[@darthsilversith667]

I wish I had joined right out of high school in 2005. I was a solid 5 minute miler and despite being 6’3” and 180-190 in high school, I was able to dead lift 300 in 8th grade with very little strength training. Didn’t really keep up with much strength training in high school but I know I got stronger by my senior year. I struggled to bench 150 in 8th grade but was able to do 190-200 my senior year.

[@TBJPKERS1]

bro nobody asked

[@darthsilversith667]

@@TBJPKERS1 Thats what people say when I tell them how I destroyed your mom’s guts.

[@O8WRx]

What's their PO box? A-A-ron needs a level for hanging that flag. 🤘😎🤘

[@sametzweiler2630]

Could you guys talk about the process of someone who wants to cross train to SR? I’m working on my degree and would also like to commission. Are there officer positions for SR?

[@jayesing123]

it’s called a STO(special tactics officer) it’s for SR&CCT)

[@15ritolaj]

But u can enlist as well

[@sfairborneinfantry.godsmen]

🇺🇸

[@viper7320]

So special reconnaissance is just signt, signals and intelligence?

[@harisomic8712]

Much more different

[@15ritolaj]

Think more scout sniper who gathers info about the enemy and the area (terrain, weather etc), who plans routes, surveys potential landing zones, and flys drones. So basically. Sneaky Sniper who has a bunch of other technical capabilities (also includes combat diving and advanced sky diving capabilities)

[@recon0x7f16]

This seems very appealing but idk , why is taking forever to get their mission set y

[@OnesReady]

What are you talking about. What’s a ‘mission set’, how long is appropriate to get one? Who gives them out? Do you have to apply? How do you know SR doesn’t have a mission set?

[@recon0x7f16]

@@OnesReady I have no idea lol my fault just trying to understand what they really do

[@OnesReady]

@@recon0x7f16 haha ok bro. Just chill, we have like 4 hours on SR. Check those episodes out

[@recon0x7f16]

@@OnesReady ty sir lol

[@pumitriii6160]

8:30 knee surgery disqualifies you from af special warfare???

[@ChristianTaylor3]

1. I went to A&S and I ended up quitting like an absolute dummy, will I be eligible to try again? 2. Will I need to go back to SWCC or will it be straight back to A&S if I am eligible?

[@theastraladepts]

How far did you make it before you quit?

[@ChristianTaylor3]

@@theastraladepts I left day 2. I was dumb. Wrong realm of thinking. Physically I was performing well, mentally just let myself go.

[@rent2386]

@@ChristianTaylor3just wondering, if your physically fit enough to be there, what made you think you weren’t meant to be there at the time?

[@ChristianTaylor3]

@@rent2386 Didn’t feel part of the team in addition to home life matters. It had been going on for some time since SWCC. I didn’t do a lot of things right during that time as well. Mentally just broke and led to quitting.

[@JimboAlexander]

How many guys made it past SWCC and onto A&S ?

[@charleshenderson1423]

FTA

[@fredjames7435]

For married Airman are all the schools TDY from Chapman annex until you go to Pope? Would your family join you at Pope?

[@OnesReady]

All TDY from Chapman including Pope right now. Fam will join you in Hurlburt. -T

[@1.1797]

2a654 recon.....lol

[@caspanovas9953]

Hahaha is the magic meth pipe consider the pipeline