Ranking the HARDEST schools Special Forces Soldiers attend| Green Beret

Racking and stacking 10+ of the most common schools we go to in special forces.
#greenberet #specialforces

[@jeffhahn5106]

When I was on a scuba team in the early 90's, my Team Sergeant told me after pre-scuba and before scuba school the 3 keys to passing scuba school were 1. There is always air you just have to reach it, 2. No one can hear you scream underwater, and 3. Fin harder. Back then if you were assigned to a scuba team prior to heading to Key West you placed all your gear in a shopping cart (in 10th SFG(A) that was 3 shopping carts full) and if you came back without your bubble, you pushed those carts down the street to the Company HQ to get you next assignment. DOL

[@ValhallaVFT]

Lol the shopping cart process isn’t a brutal now but still basically the same. And ya you always have more air, until you don’t, and at that point you don’t care anymore from the hypoxia anyway lol. Good stuff brother. DOL.

[@giancarlojk1449]

You did a great job with the walls and decoration 💪🏽

[@ValhallaVFT]

Thanks brotha, my wife did it lol but appreciate that

[@HarryGuy-xz1bk]

Can you do a video solely on MAC and dive school? Things like your training up for it, your experience during, and challenges you faced going through?

[@ValhallaVFT]

Me and my former dive team teammate are going to do that one together here in a few weeks.

[@cej3940]

​@@ValhallaVFT I swear you read our minds haha

[@user-ec8ns2lb1k]

I love these types of videos, keep more coming please.

[@marksmusicplace3627]

Never was a SF guy but I did attend airborne, Jumpmaster, air assault , pathfinder and more big army conventional schools. Air assault was a serious 11 day smoke fest. on your body and brain. 11 days because I do include zero day. Pathfinder simply because the day one test loses at least one third of the class. Jumpmaster because of the JMPI test. never got an opportunity to attend CDQC but we all heard about the extremely high failure rate, Definitely Ranger School because most fail patrols because of the lack of sleep and food. You would think any infantry guy would pass patrols in ranger school because ranger schools mirrors infantry tactics such as traveling , traveling overwatch, bounding overwatch, setting up OP/LPs. battle drills, 5 principles of patrols, range cards, movement techniques, react to contact. hasty and deliberate ambushes and so forth. Of course there is mountain techniques and swamp techniques in Florida phase. what kills most students is trying to do fragos, warning orders, or a proper op order and executing a proper patrol mission while operating on no sleep. 90 percent of the students are delusional hitting trees thinking they are vending machines. its so pitch black that you can't even see the cat eyes on the back of the patrol caps in front you. at times , we would operate on very little sleep in the infantry but no where to the level they do in RS. I also attended a lot of schools that do not give a badge or get glamorized at all but they sure did help with a lot of knowledge and get looked at for promotion. Schools such as Unit Movement Officer Course, Airload Planner. HAZMAT, Master Driver, EO Leaders course. Battle Staff Course. of Course my NCO academy schools, PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC. I also did Drill sergeant Duty and Recruiting Duty. I know people will laugh and not believe me but believe me Recruiting is by far the hardest duty in the army. Only former Recruiters will understand this, everyone will say I'm full of blank. Trust me, what we had to do as a recruiter , recruiting duty is mentally brutal. Better have thick skin. ask any former recruiter how they did they like their recruiting duty. 90 percent will say they hated it.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Damn, your post made me realize I forgot 3 schools I meant to include as an MFF dude. Jumpmaster, HALO JM, and ATIC. All challenging in their own rights. Good comment lot of good info on some of the other schools I didn’t bring up.

[@noahwilson8549]

Great video. Thanks!

[@rockytopvfl8350]

Man this guy has awesome videos!! Wish they were longer, its very entertaining

[@Stormbringer505]

At FT ORD in 1992 this E-6 went to Ranger school it took him 6 months to graduate and return. My 1SGT said he PCSed to ranger school.

[@ValhallaVFT]

One of my teammates, an 18D took that long as well. It happens

[@Tommiabamf]

It’s not particularly difficult course, but as a Marine who spent time in Okinawa, we did Jungle Warfare Training. Almost lost someone from our platoon to quick sand. It took us 3 hrs to find him. Did you guys do the same course at group?

[@ValhallaVFT]

Ya I did the jungle warfare training up north of Hansen with the marines up there. Fun course, pretty wild jungle out there.

[@garretthayes9392]

Did not know this until after it happened but apparently any branch, and MOS/AFSC can apply for Ranger school (only a handful of billets are slotted for non-army and non-combat arm careers) but I had a guy who was an Acft Mechanic go. Idk if he made it due to leaving the unit before he came back. He was one of two selected from “regular” Air Force.

[@toddbates1099]

Was with the 7th SFG(A) at Ft. Bragg, NC 72 to 74 and 75 to 79 (before USSOCOM). In 76 I went to Ft. Benning, GA and attended Pathfinder School. You left out Jump Master School which is a difficult course of instruction. Thanks 🙏 😉🇺🇸

[@JBCCT01]

Went to CDQC in 2003. Our class was one of the last classes to do tank tread. I had to do it back to back everyday during pool week due failing it. If you've never done it, it is basically controlled drowning for five minutes, when your legs are shot from all the running. The staff were pretty professional and did everything to allow the students to graduate. I had severe hip flexor issues, shin problems that led me to being last in every run, failing tank tread everyday. The cadre hooked me up with IV's, meds and would given back points I had lost because I could excel during the non-running events. The hardest "cool guy" school physically. One of my favorite formal course I have attended.

[@MikSF123]

Discovery Channel's suriving the cut follows US army SF dive school. The Sea takes no prisoners...I think the quote was "it will chew you up and spit you out" Ive alwayss heard its the hardest school to do.

[@RescueMedic]

Some people might not realize this, but also in the special operations community, Air Force PJs and CCTs do a lot of water and dive training. In fact PJs are the ones who get the astronauts out of the capsule when it lands in the ocean.

[@shrapmagnet]

The hardest part of MFF for me was getting the big chute in the little bag within the time standard. The hardest part of sfsc was playing catch-up after my team mate who failed left me with a low score that I had to sweat for the rest of the course, so I was sort of blade running and I couldn't screw up anything else. The hardest part of CDQC for me was the period between inprocessing and graduation. Prescuba was even worse. Don't know why its called mac now. I went to air assault as a E6 in 5th group but I went to get out of something else. I figured at least I got a badge out of it, why not. It was interesting.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Chute packing blows, even after hundreds of times I still hated it. And yea pre dive is fucking awful, had to do it twice myself.

[@bradleygonzalez1160]

Bro. Good video. At jump school we had to do the PT test the Friday before because they kept failing the Marines with “zero” pull ups and push ups. I will say every school I went to I had the mentality “ this will make life more fair”. In a sense , using it as a springboard to further success. Jesus is Lord Jesus Saves !!!

[@ValhallaVFT]

lol I’m pretty sure they gave me “42” pushups on the airborne school pt test. At the time I was doing 100~ on a normal pt test.

[@bradleygonzalez1160]

@@ValhallaVFTyeah dude it amazes me how easy that school is but they made it seem like selection for the unit. Seriously, that school can be done in 3 days.

[@zabuza759]

My goal is 18C on a dive team. I’m not in the military yet but i will be in 1 year when i am 21. Could you possibly do a 18c video? maybe an old 18c teammate? Love your videos man !

[@ValhallaVFT]

Already did, there’s a video on each MOS on my channel.

[@boltgamer7]

I would really love if you could do a video of a breakdown of SOCM and the 18D course. I'm planning to become a special operations medic and I would love any info that can help prepare aspiring SOF medics like me to best prepare for the Special Operations Combat Medic Course (SOCM) and Special Forces Medical Sergeant Course (SFMS)🙏

[@ValhallaVFT]

I’m going to try and start doing episodes with former teammates. If I can get one of my 18D teammates on that’d be the best way to do it so it’s not just heresay from me.

[@boltgamer7]

@@ValhallaVFT Appreciate it a ton 🙏🙏 thank you so much🙇‍♂️

[@Anonymous_joe445]

I feel for the guys that went sf to not have to do buds and got a dive team that’s got to be the ultimate snafu because I bet a lot of sf guys go impart due to not having to go to buds and you have to go to army dive school arguably the hardest dive school in the military due to army not having many waterborne resources so you need the best

[@TheBeast-qv2gy]

Would love to go to CDQC in the future

[@troms0418]

What has your experience with PJ’s been?

[@kjella13]

Have you trained with norwegian SOF units?

[@ExtraRice365]

What was it about SUT that was the most challenging? Any advice on things to study beforehand, like Ranger Handbook?

[@ValhallaVFT]

For me as an 18X with no military or tactical experience, learning all of that side of things, tactics, ambushes, raids was a steep learning curve. Leading a squad and stuff like that. Guys who come from the infantry/ranger bat obviously it’s much different for them since they have the experience already. Ranger Handbook is the standard. There’s an SUT handbook as well.

[@w.s.2102]

As a retired Tac PsyOps guy, I'm offended 🇨🇦 😂

[@Stashyboi]

Did you ever work/train with the British Royal Marines, or do you know anyone who did? What do you think of them?

[@ValhallaVFT]

Negative. Only Brits I’ve done combined work with was SAS.

[@FingerLaserZ]

Air Assault Course was definitely more physically challenging than Airborne School. Parachute Rigger School was more "mentally" challenging than Airborne S. - Although physically easiest of the three.

[@JA-jx1hk]

Nice 😎

[@Eirik36]

Still can’t believe Nick Lavery went to combat dive with a prosthetic

[@somemilsimnerd]

Can you talk about training rotations? I only know that you will be not seeing your family during deployments, but I heard during training rotations, you would not be able to see your family. How often are there training rotations? And what's the average length?

[@ValhallaVFT]

When you combine deployments, JCETs, training rotations and schools, you can expect to be away from home on average about 6-9 months a year while on an ODA.

[@cliftonbrown4051]

I live just a mile from the Top Sniper course for Seals. Anyone got a guess to what state i live in?

[@jimclean2]

Nate! It’s Dave Stone! What’s up brother!? The beard is looking good.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Oh shit brother what’s up!! Are you still in? I know we talked right before I was out and you were on the fence about what next.

[@jimclean2]

@@ValhallaVFT I’m finishing up my time on 15 and will start my ETS process soon. Hopefully I can head to the MNT Locker, but I’m down for a quiet place to work so I can retire.

[@jayfuhr3712]

Hey Nate I just got selected and want to know the likelihood of being stationed in Okinawa if I get to first group? I’m fluent in Tagalog and have lived in the Philippines for two years before I joined the military. Will this help me in getting to Oki?

[@JustJoeKane]

RSLC! Ever been?

[@Jv6932]

How do you think the military will deal with the recruitment crisis? Will they resort to mavni-like projects?

[@ValhallaVFT]

No idea, everything we’re doing now isn’t working, so we’ll just have to wait and see what direction they go.

[@GoodCovfefe]

Does anyone know what that metal device in the center of the frame over his left shoulder is?

[@ValhallaVFT]

You can just ask me bro lol. It’s the pull handle from a RA-1 HALO parachute. That plaque is from my time on my HALO team.

[@user-ec8ns2lb1k]

Can you please do a video comparing the different SOF selection courses and which ones are the hardest?

[@ValhallaVFT]

Been mulling that one over in my head, probably be one I put out here in the next couple videos.

[@user-ec8ns2lb1k]

@@ValhallaVFT 👍

[@josephsilvestre2174]

Just a question what 18series attend Special forces version JTAC School?

[@ValhallaVFT]

Anybody can. But it’s most often 18Es the end up being JTACs.

[@nasgonzo5]

Do you have to do Dive School in order to pass the Q-course??

[@ValhallaVFT]

Nope, dive school for SF is only if you’re going to go to a dive team.

[@ItsMessyHD]

Do a lot of 18Es go through the Controller course? That’s legit

[@ValhallaVFT]

Any of the 4 mos can, but predominantly it’s 18Es that go, first more in line with our actual mos.

[@sirloin9348]

For any future 18Xs out there, just wanna say the 18X prep course is a bitch and a half. I personally found it more difficult than SFAS.

[@WoWDontu]

Does SF have to pull staff duty and CQ like regular army?

[@ValhallaVFT]

Yes, but it’s like once a year and typically once you’re an E-7 you don’t get pulled for it anymore.

[@kasogod5682]

Question what happens if your on a ODA for example dive team and just can’t pass it what would happen do you get removed?

[@ValhallaVFT]

You get kicked the fuck off and your stuff gets thrown in the hallway.

[@StrategicResponseInstitute]

SFARTAETC? Hard? Pass rate?

[@VincentVanGogh4]

What happens if you fail some of this schools,and is it a MUST go or do you choose which school you attend

[@ValhallaVFT]

Depends on the school. Failing schools is always looked down upon. For stuff like dive or halo school, you get pulled off the ODA obviously as you need to be qualified in that specific skill set. Things like failing ranger school or jumpmaster are more of a reputation hit.

[@VincentVanGogh4]

@@ValhallaVFT Thank you for the information. I have just one more question, I am 18 years old and is it still worth joining the SOF.(Green Berets)

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@VincentVanGogh4 of course, compared to doing what else with your life? Nothing as a young man in my opinion comes close to matching all the things you will get out of being a SOF soldier.

[@Chance_M]

Hey man, as someone who’s about to ship out to start my pipeline with an 18x, what would you say to someone who is worried about losing all connections in personal life to achieve this goal? Feel like I’ll loose all my friends & family I’m close to currently by leaving to do this, I don’t exactly know how contact works whilst going through the pipeline, maybe a little insight would be awesome, thanks!

[@ValhallaVFT]

I talk to 1 person now that I knew before I joined the military. All my friends are green berets now, it is what it is, and im happy that’s the way it is. That’s how you might as well look at it.

[@Chance_M]

@@ValhallaVFT gotcha, yeah I can totally see only talking to 1 person before joining due to the things you’ve done that no one else understands other then other guys from ODA, was hoping I can get picked up for 18D or 18E so I could either do cybersecurity or P.A school once I’m out.

[@TheVinceb100]

@@Chance_M dude, you have to focus.

[@enriquep.-cz2xx]

I’m a former Marine. Ranger class 12-92 ( Msgt Sarun Sar was a guy I remember from the time). Dive School Key West was a PT nightmare but fun school. Lots of dudes showed up out-of- shape. Nonsense

[@Fourthirteen82]

Wtf is a "former Marine"

[@dekuknight2058]

An inactive Marine, there are no ex Marines, they are still Marines.

[@alexR00000]

Y don’t I see your dive bubble behind u?

[@LeonSebas]

Let’s go first one

[@ValhallaVFT]

🫡

[@ChrisWilliams-vm1do]

Oh boy. There were 6 women in my class at Jump School. 1 made it.

[@SodaPrezsing]

So is being a SEAL harder from a purely physical standpoint? Since all SEALS have been through the dive portion of their training but not all GBs have been dive qualified?

[@ValhallaVFT]

I’m gona do a video pretty soon on which qualifications course are the hardest. In my opinion I think BUDs is physically probably more challenging due to the water, but it’s only 6 months. The q course is twice, (used to be 3x) as long, so it’s punishment over a much longer duration. Hard in their own ways.

[@SodaPrezsing]

@@ValhallaVFT Thanks keep em coming 👏

[@ShriekingCrows-bp3vh]

I thought Sere school would be worse than ranger school. My dad did sere school while in the Navy during the Vietnam War. I found out a couple years ago from him.

[@ValhallaVFT]

I mean there’s some really shitty parts, but not even close.

[@SubHertz]

Can SF attempt to get an EIB?

[@ValhallaVFT]

I believe so, I don’t know many guys who’ve done it after they get to SF though.

[@Stormbringer505]

​@@ValhallaVFTwhen I was in Korea we had SF go thru EIB training and the test. They are authorized if they chose.

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@Stormbringer505 there we go. Thanks dude.

[@zozetamad3022]

I'm afraid to ask what constitutes "failing" at freefall school.

[@Lobardan]

You have to control yourself while freefalling and some people can't figure that out

[@ValhallaVFT]

Yep, pretty much that. Typically guys can’t stop tumbling off their exit. Also, doing dangerous shit in your final landing pattern gets guys as well.

[@zozetamad3022]

@@ValhallaVFT Thanks for the response. I was thinking along the lines of the student's chute not opening and the instructor's not being able to do anything about it. Hopefully that's rare.

[@stanwizzel4959]

You didn’t say pathfinder cause I see alotta y’all SF over there to prep for deployments

[@ValhallaVFT]

I actually don’t know a single guy in my 10+ year career in group that went to pathfinder school after becoming a GB.

[@TheArizonaRanger.]

How much does language school teach you? Blend in with the locals fluent? Or can ask directions to the bathroom fluent? 😂

[@ValhallaVFT]

8 hours a day for 6 months. You get pretty fluent by the end of it. Maintaining the fluency over the years is the hard part

[@TheArizonaRanger.]

​@ValhallaVFT Awesome! Random question, I know there is an FM on SF Tracking and Counter-tracking. Is there a class for that, or is that something you just train with partner forces on?

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@TheArizonaRanger. unfortunately can’t confirm or deny that course exists due to its sensitivity, but it’s probably out there on google somewhere.

[@GallowsPole805]

SERE School in a Nutshell: Slap, Slap, Solar Plexus hit, Slap, Slap, Solar Plexus Hit… after a few rounds “ here’s your passing certificate son now sign right here saying you won’t give out the details, van to the airport leaves at 0400 tomorrow, grab some Gatorade and chow, straight to bed with You…and remember: don’t tell anyone.

[@erics362]

Why is the MARSOC Raider pipeline so much more challenging than the CAG pipeline?

[@ValhallaVFT]

Lol

[@erics362]

@@ValhallaVFT Finally someone who knows a troll comment when they see one. 😂

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@erics362 bro I get serious comments 10x more ridiculous than that. You’d be surprised.

[@fdangleshadang-a-lang7149]

man, it’s always been a dream of mine to go SF. Grew up playing the old Tom Clancy Ghost recon games, which were a fictional detachment of 5th SF group. But I’m 27 and have a six figure career. Im just kinda at a crossroads in life because eventually I’ll get to a point where I won’t even qualify

[@CoolHandLuke34]

Exact same spot man

[@ValhallaVFT]

6 figure careers are waiting for you when you’re done too. You decide what life you want look back on when your 80.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Also I made 6 figures in SF so.. ya.

[@fdangleshadang-a-lang7149]

@@ValhallaVFT damn… well that might just change my mind then. I always appreciate your videos and your responses 👊🏾

[@fdangleshadang-a-lang7149]

@@CoolHandLuke34 send it bro. Might just do the same

[@Neutronism7]

I don’t like water I like air

[@calebstinson1087]

When sere school is your easiest 😂😂

[@ValhallaVFT]

SERE school is a blast man, even with all the naughty parts.

[@JosephsCoat]

OSUT was really hard…

[@ValhallaVFT]

From what I remember from OSUT we did like a 5 day patrol, then cleaned gear for 2 weeks lol.

[@JosephsCoat]

@@ValhallaVFT lmao correct. That’s what we did. Was easy in hindsight but I was 17 when I went and honestly too immature. I missed home and damn we got smoked a lot. Now that I think of it, I left for training 10 years ago today!

[@kirkanos3454]

Yoo tripping bro, most dificult course is either any A&S and OTC for Fort Liberty, Fort Belvoir and Regimental Recce.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Is regimental recce and OTC schools green berets go to? Obviously not. So why would I have included them.

[@alamsucksemirisbetter2329]

Ranger school def one of the hardest, Rltw!