National Guard vs Active Duty Special Forces

[@InfiniteGrit]

Let’s train! Infinitegrit.us

[@garnettbroy3105]

Tt

[@robertsoucy9725]

Guard SF is the way to go! Good training without all the AD BS! 18F4V 23 years (USSF) OEF2, 10 overseas deployments!

[@ryanbeech6917]

Hey boss, I would love to pick your brain about this stuff, I'm thinking about going back in for NG SF and wanted to hear it from someone whose been there and knows the ins and outs

[@rhino7933]

My dad was a ng xo for ~10 years and he warned me that the bureaucracy in the guard was actually worse than the big army. Getting packets and papers filed is a pain in the ass because nobody wants to do their staff job. He said you need to continually bug the staffers to get what you need done for yourself. It took them 2 years to accept and process his retirement, and the entire time his name stayed on the roster so they begged him to come in every time his company had a formation. I think as long as you got sfre in your packet you don’t really have to worry about the guard bureaucracy effecting your sf career.

[@InfiniteGrit]

Jeez! That is wild. I can definitely see how that could be a problem though. I appreciate you sharing!

[@andrewgeldmacher4765]

How do the National guard groups complete the Q course? Doesn’t it like take 56-95 weeks of consistent training to complete.

[@96armycrazy]

​​@@andrewgeldmacher4765Guard SF goes to the same Q-course. During your time of selection and the Q-course, you are put on AD status just the same as regular Army folks. On top of that you are given PCS orders to Bragg (liberty now) for your time going through the school house. Once completed, you are put back on to NG orders and sent back to your guard team. As for the length of going through the school house, it depends on your MOS. The different specialties 18B (Weapons sergeant) 18C (Engineer sergeant) 18D (Medical Sergeant) 18E (Communications Sergeant) all are going to be around a year- to year and a half with the exception of 18D being about the 2 year mark.

[@96armycrazy]

@@andrewgeldmacher4765 Guard sf goes to the same Q-COURSE. When Guard SF go to selection and then through the q-course, they are put onto AD just the same as regular army folks. You are also given PCS orders to Bragg (now Liberty) for your time running through the school house. Once you are finished, you are put back onto NG orders and sent back to the NG team. As for the time of training, it depends on the MOS. 18B (Weapons Sergeant) 18C (Engineer Sergeant) 18D (Medical Sergeant) 18E (Communications Sergeant) all the specialties take just about a year to a year and a half, with the exception of 18D being over the 2 year mark.

[@ironhorsemodding8995]

@@andrewgeldmacher4765You go on active orders for that.

[@ExtraRice365]

You pretty much confirmed what I already hoped. I spoke to both NG and AD recruiters but chose AD because I want to go full send into SF and I don't have any commitments or fulfilling career in my civ life. Maybe in 10 years I'll apply to switch to NG if I want to start a family.

[@InfiniteGrit]

Hell yeah man. It’s quite the ride but extremely worth it. I wish you nothing but the best!

[@cat8088]

im in the same boat, im about to apply for AD im going around learning the pros and cons of both AD & NG rn

[@Inposed]

With this, many states will prioritize 18-series individuals for ADOS and AGR slots within the group and the counter-drug units. Therefore, there’s the possibility of still enjoying the benefits of being a full-time soldier without much of the bureaucracy and paperwork.

[@InfiniteGrit]

That’s awesome!

[@jacobl6109]

What are ADOS and AGR slots?

[@Inposed]

@@jacobl6109 ADOS and AGR are different types of employment opportunities you can get in the NG. ADOS (active duty occupational status) and AGR( active guard reserve). It gives you the opportunity to earn active duty time and benefits through the guard.

[@Ronin91S]

@@jacobl6109 ADOS Is ( I may be butchering the acronym) Active Duty Order Status, and AGR is Active Guard/Reserve. ADOS orders are typically temporary, and allow you a temporary allowance of active duty benefits such as BAH and Tricare (Tricare typically kicks in after 30 days on ados orders) AGR is a permanent Active Duty Status with Immediate activation of Active duty benefits such as BAH and Tricare. Typically the pay for AGRs is much much higher. E-5 is typically a requirement for AGR and I've seen them get an immediate promotion to E-6. AGRs are almost always Supply Sergeants, Training/Readiness NCOs, and other assorted positions that manage a unit's readiness while the rest of the unit is in between drill status.

[@AFGixxeR88]

The only thing I’ve heard besides over course the obvious job side etc is that if you go to selection and fail in the NG you don’t go to needs of the army like you do AD. You just go back home.

[@nomad0395]

I’ve been debating this myself, my buddy told me I should go NG and I didn’t know there was a SFG in the NG but I’ve always wanted to go Active Duty for Army SFOD-A… thank you for breaking down the different between the two I don’t think anyone has done a video between the two!

[@lawrencesmith43]

I spent my last 10+ years in the Army as a Foreign Area Officer, specializing in South Asia. My introduction to special operations and operators took place at the Army's Command & General Staff College's SOF Track. Back in 2004-2005, it was filled with guys with OEF and OIF experience. (At the same time, my son had enlisted as an 18X, and would eventually become an 18D with HALO qualification and Mandarin language training. Assigned to 1st SFG (A), he eventually deployed to the area in Iraq around Baquba.) That year-long introduction to special operations and their unique needs helped me a great deal, when I was assigned to embassies in Nepal and Sri Lanka/Maldives, coordinating with host nation forces and US special operators, in a constrained/restricted geo-political context. All of the operators were great, and the active duty guys had the energy and exuberance of youth and the benefit of recent schooling and combat experience. But the generally older Army National Guard operators brought added maturity and life experience to the table. Many of them were in local, state, or federal law enforcement, EMTs, SWAT teams. They often displayed better rapport-building skills and were more willing to be creative when confronted by the complex restrictions of US foreign policy, often held hostage by a handful of ideologues and their useful idiots.

[@MeridianSwift]

I'm sure it varies by unit and timeframe, but the unit I spoke with let you choose your MOS (e.g., 18B), prepared you for SFAS, and if you fail SFAS you go back to the Guard unit SF training team and go back to SFAS when you're ready (assuming you're eligible to return). And you go home in between the various phases of the pipeline. I'm not quite sure why everyone wouldn't use this option and then go Active Duty after.

[@uffu2490]

This is something I am seriously considering as the opportunities, although openly advertised, are phenomenal in terms of leadership. Im a recent college graduate and prior to Covid, I was going to attend law school BUT my mother had major health issues I had to attend to and I had to support my family. Regardless, Berets offer a lot of diversity when it comes to training and, since I already have a job, it’ll be a great resume booster. Every job has its downsides and I just have to embrace how selection is going to suck. Ughhh. Being in charge is like trying to herd stray cats when no one wants to listen/do work.

[@rhino7933]

Been waiting for this lol

[@jbird4165]

National guard is the smart route.

[@samuelsampieri7609]

To those of you wondering about if its a young mans game or not, sf is a mix of very young guys with no lif experience in there late teens early 20s, and then you have alot of guys in there 30s to 40s. If youve seen his videos or other military chanels they talk alot about this. And how its a good thing, problem is lately is they are having trouble getting some of the older more experienced guys to go sf because most of them have families.

[@Dirtydan200]

What would you suggest if I want to go to college at this time aswell

[@bureaucraticconsequences4828]

Im planning on goi g the Guard SF route. Im married, no kids. Was wondering if it better to just full the send the whole pipeline or join then get the 18X contract to break up time away from home.

[@InfiniteGrit]

Obviously a highly personal choice but if I were to choose, I’d go 18x off the bat. It’s the most time you’ll ever get in the Army to prep for selection and have all the resources and support around you. There’s no way around the time away from home and there will never be a good time for it. As long as your family is on board it’s not too bad

[@rmarli17]

So help me understand how selecting your unit works. If you choose 19th group can you be stationed at a component of it such as the 5th group?

[@ryanbeech6917]

Is SFAS and the Q course doable in mid 30s? I would be going for the NG side. Obviously the first 2 parts are identical but as far as being on a team, is it more doable in our 30s?

[@InfiniteGrit]

Absolutely. I know many guys that went through in their mid 30s. We even had a couple guys who were in their 40s in my class

[@alejandro_1776]

Are both equally taxing to the body?

[@frankjaeger3799]

is a guard bum a bad thing? im confused

[@InfiniteGrit]

Not at all! Just a funny Army term for guys that do it

[@lawrencesmith43]

Your temperament is the key. I've known guys who loved the short-term commitments, picking assignments/training/schools that fit their lifestyles, while earning good money.

[@AFGixxeR88]

If you didn’t go in prior meaning you never served, would you go in now at your current age and mentality?

[@commandercrypto]

Yes, this! Please answer

[@lavonglenn641]

32 thinking going would this be to old.

[@joebidenn9697]

@@lavonglenn641I think it’s pretty common for dudes in their 30s to go. Watch FNG academy he has a video about it.

[@AFGixxeR88]

Most guys aren’t going to basic in their 30’s from a civilian though. Seems the 18x is a high wash out rate at this current time

[@marquez4497]

Making 5x more money as opposed to being AD. Go hard go guard.

[@pyeitme508]

Wow