Ep 224: Reality of Change in AFSPECWAR- UPDATES

Changes in Air Force Special Warfare are coming fast and furious. Just recently, we had a podcast with Jarred Taylor where we dove deep into where we thought TACP was going, what fight would be next- and honestly, there wasn't a lot of agreement across the board.
So, naturally, we wanted to peel back the layers of everything we are doing and explain it all to you so you have the absolute ground truth.
We cover a lot of ground here and talk about every change from the first time you talk to a recruiter until you put on a beret. What did we miss? Leave it in the comments!
00:00 - The reason for this episode
04:40 - Basic Training, building blocks, and how we train for the future fight
17:20 - Confirmation Bias
21:07 - 18A Fitness use code 1READY
22:24 - ATAC Fitness - buy direct from Onesready.com
23:31 - SWCC Changes
29:15 - New Efficiencies in the Pipeline and non-SPECWAR leaders in high positions
42:10 - What’s Important - Where are things going?
43:00 - Future of Pararescue - CSAR is always min force
50:34 - Future of Special Reconnaissance
53:15 - Future of CCT/TACP
58:50 - Do we need that E5 TACP/PJ/SR/CCT in the Future?
1:03:35 - Closing, and funny stories about quitting
Collabs:
18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready
ATAC Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
CardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADY
Eberlestock - Promo Code: OR10
Grey Man Group- Promo Code: ONES READY
Hoist - Promo Code: ONESREADY
Strike Force Energy - Promo Code: ONESREADY
Trench Coffee Company - Promo Code: ONESREADY
The views and opinions expressed by the OnesReady team and all guests are those of the team and themselves, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the DoD. Any content provided by our Podcast guests, bloggers, sponsors, or authors is their opinion and is not intended to malign the DoD, any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone.

[@Flowmada]

Amazing how well you all understand capability and resources compared to the majority of military leaders I come across on a daily basis. Great to hear AFSOC/SOCOM understand the future conflict and are taking action in that direction. Always evolving. Always growing. This kind of mentality always wins.

[@alexisvazquez8139]

Huge quality difference 😂 Looks great 🤌🏽

[@notbrycewilliams]

I cried laughing at "pick it up with your wrists, dummy" lmao

[@gen3kali877]

Aaron with that butter smooth voice. Been waiting for the J.T. disclaimer video.

[@OnesReady]

Haha! No disclaimer and shout out to JT for having hard conversations. He does it cause he cares for sure.

[@Lumasi3]

I’m taking my PAST test on the 30th of the month and I’ve been binge watching all these podcast and they’ve helped me so much. I very much look forward to these next two years, I will be a PJ. Ps cameras look much better

[@ConnorTheDJ24]

Good luck with everything on the PAST! 🤞

[@JonathanRodriguez-ul6re]

How’d it go man?

[@nellis042]

Thank you again for another great episode! Change, the only thing that never changes. 🤙🏽👊🏽🙏🏽

[@drmarkintexas-400]

Thank you for sharing 🤗🙏🏆🇺🇲🎖️

[@Sanfu69]

I’m surprised these conversations are happening with regard to BMT. I joined relatively recently (late 2019) and I have to say the stress inoculation seemed very balanced and deliberate. Although looking back what could’ve been improved are areas to perform. Wall-lockers and going to chow and marching were good starting points but toward the end don’t have the same effect. Beast week for sure needed to be overhauled as it was way less hardcore than expected but I think they removed it altogether now. Looking back the time it felt like my flight was doing it’s best was when we were competing for commanders excellence. It took us out of the survive BMT mindset and put us into trying to build comraderie and work as a team. I’m coming from an Intel background so I’ve got a completely different track after that but that’s what I can remember and offer from my experience. Oh and we unfortunately didn’t win. We lost by one point to our sister flight 🤦‍♂️ but they ended up beating all the other squadrons too so we were proud of them. Thank you sirs for what you do!

[@DariusJones05]

Let’s gooo! The raptor community getting some shine on the podcast 😂

[@ned3970]

Hasn't this already been figured out at the 724th with their unilateral troop? Maybe it's not that simple and I understand that they aren't necessarily comparable to the rest of the 2 series squadrons. However, unlike the other branches where the mission set from their JSOC units to their SOF units really can be different, I feel like the transfer from a CCT from the 724th to a CCT at any 2 series for instance works really well because the critical problems that AFSW solves are fundamentally the same, just maybe to different standards and for different commands. And maybe their model isn't the best fit, but it seems logical to assume that it would be a great starting point to at least move out from.

[@OnesReady]

This is a really unique perspective! Do you have any experience in the units you mentioned? We’d love to explore more with you

[@johcaone]

There were many logistical, fiscal and demand issues as to why whole blood administration wasn't a standard. Also some legal issues as to an enlisted military medic or PJ administering whole blood to a non-uniform military personnel, i.e., civil service, military dependents and civilians. The first is the daily demand during peacetime wasn't there. The second is between expiration date, costs, and most PJ units not being collocated with a major Military Medical Treatment Center (Hospital doing frequent surgeries) it was impractical to repurpose the whole blood back to where it could be used before expiring. There is also temperature control storage requirements. Many don't realize the medical supply costs of keeping medications and other sterile consumables on-hand. Further back in the day Plasma and whole blood was mostly available in glass containers. Also EMT certification even at state level was pretty much nonexistent prior to 1970 and even through about 1977 was problematic in getting and sustaining. I was assigned to one of the helicopter units involved with Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST) project and one of the first PJs to get a National Registry EMT certification. We had a defibrillator (lifepack IV) bought and paid for by the State of Idaho as we were involved in setting up there EMT program. The AF docs and lawyers went crazy over the fact we were trained to use it.

[@xmandmv]

Deciding on which community to go to. Love the grey shadows, love recon. Can I except SR to be similar to RRC teams on the Army side.

[@OnesReady]

There are some foundational similarities. -T

[@Skillmatic323]

The Tesla 😂 perfect chief mobile haha

[@johcaone]

Training methods, techniques and means is a dimensional continuum. At the Demensional extremes there certainly exits the wrong, ineffective and inefficient. Being an instructor is finding the better balance of effective for the training situation. The same can be said about being an effective leader of the small team accomplishing the mission to the commander intent in the rapidly changing and unpredictable operational environment. The distinction between the BMT, Military Training Instructors (tech school) and the AFSW enlisted career field Instructors is they are actually concurrently fulfilling a leadership role due to the high-risk training requirements and influence those placed in such instructor positions exert over the confidence and motivation of the students who are being expected to do training that could kill them (the student has to trust and respect the instructors' judgement). Ie., night parachuting into trees and limited drop zones, mountain climbing, night dives, etc.

[@CarlosVerdinOfficial]

I contacted an Air Force recruiter a couple weeks ago, he sent 1 email with an application. now he doesn’t respond. I contacted an army recruiter for an 18x contract today, and he wants me to come in tomorrow morning with documents to go to BMT immediately following approval of an age waiver from his CO. What the hell guys?!?!

[@hammstah9578]

Trent, using a warm-tone ring light or spray tan to create that warm glow?

[@OnesReady]

Yes. -T

[@farewellvoyager5379]

I know this is off topic on regards to this video particularly, but I've been watching a ton of your videos as i prepare to enlist with the intention of attempting to make it into and through the pipeline. One thing I've not seen you address, and if you have I apologize for missing it, but when guys are going through A&S is age a major factor? I'm in my 30's, but in good shape and currently training on my own to meet YOUR standards for the IFT. Basically just wondering if I get the same shot as anyone else or is it a black mark?

[@gen3kali877]

Onepunchdad is the hero we need . . . and deserve. But y’all got to get the characters correct. “Behove” is the Sgt. Major’s tagline. Sunglasses and mustache is the CWO. Super Christian chaplain. ❤ And the waifu supply dude.

[@realdfree]

3 fire emojis of a podcast 🔥🔥🔥 aaron, stay away from those eggplant emojis on patches lol 🤣

[@kdubwesty]

I am currently in the process of enlisting into Special Warfare. Also I’m about one semester away from earning my BAS in Psychology. Is it smart to enlist and gain experience and then become an officer or better to try and become an officer ASAP?

[@silvestregarcia3755]

I’ve only been in for 6 years, but I’ll share what I think. Everyone’s experience is different, but this is my little piece of the pie: I’ve ran into some really *questionable* officers and some extremely solid and sound officers. The solid ones are typically previously enlisted. The questionable ones are often those who jumped right into being an officer. I’d advise getting enlisted experience first as you will get a taste of what you’ll command your men and women to do. It’ll help give you hands-on perspective. However, everyone’s situation and experience is different. As long as you have a solid head on your shoulders and a great ethic and moral compass, you’ll be great in either path 🤙🏼

[@Flowmada]

I'm a previous medic and do cyber now. I went back and forth on PJ vs CRO for a while. At 12 years in, I've come across a wide range in the quality of Officers and Enlisted alike. If you like to lead and make calls, it's hard to beat Officer so long as you understand that you are no better than the men under your command and understand exactly what they do while taking care of their interests/needs. Enlisted respect prior enlisted Officers on the merit of that. But not all people get it. Even prior Enlisted. If you like to work and focus primarily on training to become very great at your job with leadership being developed primarily around that expertise and taking care of your teammates - It's hard to beat never having to worry about being stuck behind a desk after 2-3 tours. Realistically tho it just depends on the maturity, leadership potential, and how quickly you learn. And if you're doing 20+ years, you'll have time but it's easy for you to hit 10 years and realize you're an entirely different person than when you joined. Going from Enlisted to Officer is growth where you get a pay raise and start making those higher level decisions/calls and might end up behind a desk. Staying Enlisted your status remains and you just keep focusing on training and making calls for your team. Going from Officer to Enlisted at this point would be kinda foolish. You can do it but your pay/benefits take a hit. You'd likely be doing it to avoid a desk as you near 30-35 years old. And none of it would really make sense but it can/has been done. If I could do it all over again tho, I'd go Officer because I'm the guy that loves listening to high level leadership talk about how individual commands/units impact the mission. I've always been at such a strategic and tactical level of thought to see and enjoy that perspective. And then I'm just a jack of all trades master of showing up and just doing doing things naturally well so it's easy for me to come back down from that perspective and show up beside team leadership and get to work understanding I have someone more experience and knowledge about how the actual work is being done. If you don't care for the high level and just want to work - go Enlisted and possibly grow into Officer later. If you want to make those higher level calls, are comfortable possibly ending up at a desk in as early as 8 years in service, and capable and willing of understanding, showing up every day, and taking care of the people below you - go Officer. Just my thoughts.

[@controlledchaos7432]

You should enlist. You can always become an officer later but you'll never be able to go from an officer to an enlisted position. Always keep every door open at the beginning!!

[@CherylWolff-eg3pm]

@@controlledchaos7432 “you can always become an officer later” may or may not be true. It doesn’t always pan out...

[@lawrences2541]

You just know there is some hacker Rambo airstriking unit out there or a satellite sabotage team but they wont say who does it

[@Tokupukwawti]

Great info. Some constructive criticism. Allow Trent and Peaches to talk more. Aka share the microphone. This episode seemed very much like a monologue and dominated by Aaron. I was curious to hear from both Peaches and Trent. Thanks

[@OnesReady]

Got it and thank you for the feedback. - A

[@ncd7184]

What is the likelihood of a 37-39 year old being allowed to go through the Special Warfare pipeline? Isn’t it like ~2 year investment training wise for the Air Force? So are they going to be cool with someone being 39-41 years old before they start to see a ROI?

[@OnesReady]

We have covered this a lot. A. LOT. The age limit is 39, and that age was set deliberately. - A

[@ncd7184]

@@OnesReady I know you’ve covered the age limit. What I’m asking about is the selection process? Even if you have great pt scores are you going to be chosen to go through the training if the Air Force isn’t getting a good return on investment(I.e. many years of service)? A 20 year old and a 38 year old have different life expectancies in SOF.

[@OnesReady]

@@ncd7184 I am not aware that one of the selection criteria is ROI; I’ve never heard of someone passing selection and then getting non-selected due to age. We can ask around and make sure.

[@ncd7184]

@@OnesReady I'm definitely not saying it's the case. I'm genuinely curious if that might be a common thing or preference with leadership? It's not going to be advertised as that could be considered discrimination. Are there very many active duty PJs, CCTs, etc. at the age of 45, 46 or 47? If you go in at 39 you sign a 8 year contract does the Air Force want individuals more vulnerable to injury in SOF still?

[@ryandickson2224]

there was a 37 year old in my special warfare BMY flight.

[@zoominkim3186]

Which job in the airforce sf have the lightest ruck sack?😂😂😅

[@bmr0289]

What safe space is reserved for us trans people who want to join special warfare? Due to DEI you need to give spots to us trans.

[@ginotedeschi4385]

Does SR do CQB training?

[@OnesReady]

CQB is a basic soldiering skill. So, yes.

[@ginotedeschi4385]

@@OnesReady hell yeah 🤙

[@josetorresvalle1450]

You guys made my day! Almost a year waiting on my 422. Still waiting. 🥲