SFAS FAILURE: Lesser known ways students get dropped at Special Forces Selection | Green Beret

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Some common ways people get dropped that you may not have realized are pitfalls at SFAS and during the W Course. High performers may still find themselves washing out because of these things.
#specialforces #greenberet #SFAS #selection #dol

[@sadf526]

Riding the bus over there in the morning, so thank you for the last minute advice. Say a prayer for all the boys and I!

[@ValhallaVFT]

Good luck brother. Never quit.

[@ralpherl5657]

Tell us how things go when you can

[@philliphagenson6549]

Just got back from SFAS, what was your roster number?

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@philliphagenson6549 how’d it go, selected?

[@sadf526]

@@philliphagenson6549 I was RN 25. Hope you’re healing up okay man.

[@bodidley5015]

Heard a interview quote from a former Delta operator some years ago that was both vague and on point. He said it’s not always the best guy that gets selected . . . It’s the right guy.

[@andrewkwekel3195]

As someone striving to go to SFAS next year, these lessons I'm learning in your videos are preparing me for the future. Thank you.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Glad I can help, that’s the goal of the content.

[@lenbong1234]

Dont party too much.. Went thru the Q Course in 2007 was about halfway thru and got an alcohol related incident was young and dumb.. Got sent to a regular infantry unit, sent to Baghdad and hit by an IED.. That ended my military career

[@pJ-us2vl]

I was there in 07 that entire year. DUI or in the car with someone who got a DUI?

[@golgotha1522]

I went through twice. 21 day non-select the first time coming from 1/75… a veritable death sentence back at Batt. You come back non-selelected you ain't getting shit for schools… ever. Here's my take… Don't quit. Don't get hurt. Be nice. That's all you got to know.

[@jayjuarez1686]

How’d it go the 2nd time?

[@golgotha1522]

Smoked it, completely. Selected 18D. Curious enough, 1st time they said I was too “Rangered Up”, although I disagree because we were warned about that, the 2nd time they kind of encouraged that behavior.

[@TheBeast-qv2gy]

@@golgotha1522wow

[@Warrior_of_Christ_75]

@@golgotha1522what do you mean by rangered up?

[@jasonledford3114]

I went in as an 18x as well and I think that we have a little bit of an advantage because we only know how to do things the way we were taught. I remember hearing the Cadre talking about they could see who the SF babies were because if we only had been through osut, airborne, ranger school we did everything by the book.

[@bdetavernier]

You passed the 18x program? What was the hardest part on getting selected?

[@ExtraRice365]

To me #1 and #2 seem pretty obvious. #3 thought, I think a lot of guys struggle with the idea that leadership doesn't mean just acting all alpha and loud. It takes practice but to me leadership means being able to step back and assess the big picture, and step in to lead as necessary, or support others who are taking the initiative to lead in the right direction.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Bingo, you see a lot of what you bring up with thinking loud = leadership presence. Exactly why I brought that up as a big one people don’t realize.

[@sharonturpin4022]

My son is in the 5 week prep course right now...he said when he moved in to his room the guy that was already there was waiting to leave...he got tapped out of selection the first week. He told my son it was raining...they were going through the obstacle course...when he was told to go he hesitated...he was worried about slipping on the beam he had to walk on. He told my son...don't hesitate. Good advice.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Good luck to your son, it’s an awesome journey.

[@One_of_Gods_Warriors]

Great channel man keep ‘em coming

[@ValhallaVFT]

Thanks brother!

[@leyrich1995]

Thanks for another great video 🤘

[@ValhallaVFT]

🫡 thanks brother.

[@robbentodd6824]

Great vid. Some of the most arrogant officers I served with in the ANG were former enlisted. They forgot to be humble. Some of the most confident humble people I ever met were SF guys. They clearly had great confidence and humility, and also demanded proficiency from other service branch serviceman.

[@ValhallaVFT]

I think that’s one of the great things about SOF is the level of professionalism. Guys get more humble the higher up the tiers you go.

[@rogerfranks6942]

I wanna join the army and be the best i can be. So this guy's insights are refreshing man. It's a huge commitment and i wanna know what I'm getting into and wanna know the basics of how to conduct myself. Even with the army's controversies, this guy makes me wanna join. Keep up the good work man, and hey try to highlight some travel benefits please. For those of us who wanna see the world. Great content my guy

[@ValhallaVFT]

Hey that’s one of the best comments someone has given me. Thanks brother. Glad I can help, and these are definitely things I wish I had known ahead of time.

[@Marteeen261]

Ayyee good video. Be a good dude and put out is definitely universal Idea for a future video: Can you go over units (foreign/ domestic) you worked with and maybe what you learned from them and their attitudes/ capabilities you were impressed with? I think that would be interesting. Keep up the good work🤙

[@ValhallaVFT]

It absolutely is universal, in all walks of life, probably one of the most critical traits of success in general.

[@mikethegruntt]

I wanted to join the Army Special Forces since I could remember as a kid, now my time is coming up where I enlist. Great videos, great advice, and great motivation to push myself to that goal.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Love to hear it 🫡

[@zayhi1328]

same brother a 1 year to go personally

[@discardedghost3769]

Great knowledge, wish there was more to learn about the SOF community. Trying to finish University right now and working towards fitness. Hoping to come by state side and pick up the 18X contract down the road once shit is good.

[@T1q121]

What’s up Nate, awesome channel.

[@Dimitrioswtf]

Going to SFAS in June of next year. Thanks for the advice.

[@rhino7933]

Great video brotha👏

[@ValhallaVFT]

Thanks rhino 🤘

[@strongnfast3815]

Thank you for the advices I’m going to selection after airborne,I’m a holdover now after finishing the infantry school.

[@rashad6459]

Be a jerk when you need to be. Especially if you are the last team....and I need to make it back in a decent amount of time to do my write ups. When I worked at selection Maj Decker made us read psychology books. One thing I took away is that some people will work in cadre presence. So I walked away but watched my team through binos. Many candidates...mostly Cpts would stop working not knowing Im still watching.

[@ValhallaVFT]

You definitely hit on a big one there that goes a long with the theme there with guys who stop putting in effort when they think nobody is watching, see that throughout the course. Your teammates definitely notice that. Very good one there, definitely will add that to the list. Also, big LOL to it being the captains, classic officer things.

[@chrisgregorich9004]

These were all the reasons I was a non-select at Air Force A&S. Too much of a grey man and load bearing crushed me. Don’t be afraid to fail. Trying to avoid failure held me back.

[@dewaynepatrick6290]

I've been thinking of trying to join SF. I'm apart of the national guard for my state and I recently tried to contact the 20th SF group through their link on Instagram to see what I have to do and the physical standards that are to be expected.

[@easyy376]

That’s a great general Army tip as well. Always listen to the E3 and E4s.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Ha. I duno about always, but you should still treat them with basic respect.

[@kylemchugh6314]

Going to selection this week 8/22. thanks for the tips!

[@ValhallaVFT]

Hell ya brother good luck! Never quit 🤘

[@Rascal-of-War]

...bit risky making a comment like this don't you think?

[@ralpherl5657]

Give us updates!

[@mattb4826]

As a master gunnery general...the Cadre need to check their biases...dont they know i am a level 69 shaman.

[@Pepper-kw9ny]

You are only planet based? Apply again when you at least have a level 4 Dimensional protocol.

[@ayan6759]

What a wise, humble, badass Warrior!

[@dangelothompson3649]

Man I went last year and didn’t make it, not enough points on the star. But I’m definitely gonna make a come back I swear

[@ValhallaVFT]

Keep working on that land nav, I know a ton of guys who came back and made it their second time through.

[@Eirik36]

Any good SF gwot (especially Iraq) books out there that you recommend? I read Rusty Bradley’s book and it was outstanding. I’m 100% not looking for SFAS prep, I’m a former infantry marine turned city firefighter and usaf reserve aircraft crew chief 😂

[@HonestGuyTom]

Great vid and much appreciated. Curious though, you mentioned you were a big, strong guy when you got to SFAS, and that it was an asset. How much do you think your size and strength played into your success at SFAS? I'm 5'9 140. Very lean, but in decent shape. You think my smaller size puts me at a disadvantage?

[@ValhallaVFT]

It helped because as an E-4 18X I had very little to contribute outside of physically, seeing I had no military experience compared to many guys there. Being smaller isn’t necessarily a disadvantage, but you do need to be strong and have high levels of endurance regardless of size for sure. You don’t want your physical strength to be a liability.

[@okGrove]

Ship out in 5 weeks for 18x contract. I appreciate it man.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Hell ya man good luck, come join the discord if you haven’t already and let me know if you have any questions or want info on anything.

[@TheBourbonWrench]

The problem with the military is that officers/higher ranks have some sort of weird mindset of "im higher rank, i know more than you when in reality we are humans with brains and my E3 brain might have a better idea than you. Rank shouldnt disregard good ideas. Always remember that. I can respect your rank and still give you an idea without it "overstepping authority."

[@Pepper-kw9ny]

I would have thought that the main reason people get dropped for arrogance is not to get along with teammates but rather to be able to deal with the foreign troops and residents they are to train and instruct to become an effective fighting force.

[@almorrow9345]

Good Advice. You mentioned coming in as an 18X, what were the challenges for you around Land Nav specifically during SFAS against the unidentified time standard for a given distance/set of points? Perhaps a different video to answer.

[@ValhallaVFT]

So, in fairness and transparency, my dad was also a green beret, and I spent a lot of time in the woods growing up doing stuff like that. However, 18X go to SOPC before selection, a prep course, and you do an awesome block of instruction on land nav and then go do a mock star course for a few days, it’s a massive help in getting experience in land nav before selection. I am thinking about making a video exclusive to the 18X pipeline that will go into detail on stuff like that though soon.

[@jakecarmack6250]

the b2 course you do as an 18xray is harder than the actual star course but you do have a partner during it.

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@jakecarmack6250 can confirm was the same when I went through.

[@Tony.G.Z]

How much did you score on your ASVAB ?

[@jcarlo331]

Taking a Power Nap on land nav will get you cut quick too , Integrity is a big one too .

[@jaredramos5920]

Was stationed at 1-1 2019-2023 loved it there. I’m out now in the reserve but heavily considering going through SFAS

[@ValhallaVFT]

What company? Was there during the same time.

[@jaredramos5920]

@@ValhallaVFT was HSC Supply but got to bond with a lot of the line companies. I got one sticker from a company on my hydro flask and it happens to be from 1116. I had my opportunity to go to selection while there but decided to get out. Since being I realized I should’ve given it a go

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@jaredramos5920 cool, I was on 1116, were you still there when MSG Poston took over HSC?

[@jaredramos5920]

@@ValhallaVFT yes! He was my last 1SG. Definitely a great guy and mentor

[@Charlie-jj8bk]

If you are looking for more video ideas, I suggest you make a few on what the pipeline is like AFTER you are selected but before ODA

[@ValhallaVFT]

We talk about that more in the discord. The Q course has been pretty drastically changed since I went through, phases have been moved/removed and it’s been shortened a lot, so I don’t want to give out outdated information.

[@randymartens1823]

What is an "ODA" - just curious?

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@randymartens1823 Operational Detachment - Alpha. It’s what we call a special forces team.

[@viper7320]

You think you will make a video on from the beginning of selection to the end

[@ValhallaVFT]

Possibly, I do stuff like that by request over on the Patreon.

[@thomasbeck6102]

Hey do you live in Washington my dad was in first group and I’m getting ready for selection and I need instruction on land nav.

[@ValhallaVFT]

I unfortunately moved recently and no longer live in Washington. Sorry brother.

[@MCHH-ml2qq]

On the first one im pretty sure overconfidence and arrogance are what kicked out both my 1SG and commander for my unit who stonewalled me from going and why im transitioning to new duty station. Perfect example my commander just before weekend release bragged about being better and stronger than everyone so nobody could ever possibly beat him in rucking or pt so i was legit hiding laughing like a maniac because he judges by rank and appearance too much thank lord going somewhere else....

[@ValhallaVFT]

Yea there’s a lot of that in the military and it’s unfortunate.

[@Mrcornbread31Corn-gz5pr]

I feel it’s gonna have to be humbling for me at 28 going in for an 18x. Probably a lot of your get guys with more experience. I’ve got a ton of civilian experience, degree, etc but I don’t think they’ll care about that 😂

[@arc1756]

Turning 30 next year. I hope I still got it and won’t mess up my body.

[@MCHH-ml2qq]

I'm 32 and getting after it trying to go at my next duty station, I feel like its not about so much how old you are but putting in the work and letting your body adjust to the training. Definitely getting back on 18A Fitness when reach new duty station.

[@agr9432]

Going next week at 28. Seen a video on a 40 something your old RASP graduate. Friend is in the Q at 41. It’s possible brother

[@ValhallaVFT]

I know tons of guys who went to selection around that age. You have a massive maturity advantage, just gota take care of your body so it holds up.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Good luck, crush it buddy. 🫡

[@ValhallaVFT]

My last ODA 5 guys were over 40 years old. Early 30s is normal for a lot of guys who to to selection.

[@dirkdiggler5164]

I think it's unethical that the Army is recruiting people directly into Special Forces "MOS". We both know the vast majority of those people are going to wash out and wind up being cannon fodder in an infantry unit or something. For every "Nick Lavery" success story joining special forces off the street, you are going to get 99 fails. The honest thing to do would be to tell recruits, "Listen, why don't you first see how things go in basic training and AIT before you decide you should train to be special forces?"

[@ValhallaVFT]

I was an 18X. I made it through first time go, so did many guys in my 18X class. Does the army say you are guaranteed to become a green beret because you have a 18x contract? Not sure I see where ethics comes in to play. I know we’re a victim society now with comments like yours here, but I don’t play that game, if you sign up for the contract, that falls on you’re own personal responsibility, no one forced you to volunteer.

[@dirkdiggler5164]

@@ValhallaVFT Come on, man. You know as well as I do there are all kinds of young, immature fools out there who watch too many movies and got stars in their eyes and rocks in their heads. And the Army is only too happy to take advantage of those people. It's not about recruiting people into special forces. It's about shanghai-ing all those washouts who are then re-assigned as grunts. Maybe nobody "forces them" , but they can certainly be mislead about how realistic their prospects are of succeeding at what they are attempting. I knew some guy in high school who was a soft blubbery slovenly wad of sh*t and he "joined" the Army to be a Ranger and anybody could take 1 glance at that guy and know there was NO WAY in hell he was going to become a Ranger

[@arthurheath8693]

You’re right. That was the only approach back in ‘71 anyway. Basic and AIT form a basis for you to build on.

[@Smackman219]

This was spot... 19 day NS due to not really talking... At all

[@JG-yc2fr]

What if your prior service E4 who is a realistic pessimistic optimistic person haha

[@HeyMikeyLikesIt2]

We peered this one guy out, because he wouldn’t even sweep under his own bunk. The broom goes from bed to bed, so you sweep your area, and the guy either below you or above you…take turns….. this one guy never touched the broom. Never volunteered to clean, was never found when doing a police call.. Just simple soldiering stuff was too much for him. Everyone in that portion of the hut peered him and made their comments…… this guy makes it all the way through 21 days. His name was called to be boarded. He comes back to the hut, and said, “You mother FKers peered me out, I got an NTR”. (Never To Return) This one big guy jumped off his bunk and said, yeah, we all did, Now get your shit and get out. Man, there is so much stuff that can get you dropped, boarded, injured. I swore it was luck for me. But I can attribute it to me making all the way through, SFAS, and SFQC at 34 years old to being in the best shape I can be. I did the 8 week training program 3 times in a row. I practiced for everything, even eating meals in less than 5 minutes. Get out of the messhall and find a pull up bar. Don’t be scared when you get there. The first few days everyone will still have all their badges and rank. You’ll see Rangers, 82nd, Jumpmaster wings,…..shit every badge you can think of…… stay in your lane and be consistent. Don’t look at them, look at yourself on the mirror. That is the person you need to be better than.

[@xusmico187]

Please stop telling people what their basic weak faults are. it lets them know how to hide and get by until they get to rgt/group and then you have wasted $$$ and can't get rid of them.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Interesting. Most guys I’ve met with that type of non mentor, tab protector attitude, are the guys who have no business being in group themselves.

[@Neutronism7]

But this gonna mean some assholes who are good at acting are gonna get in

[@ValhallaVFT]

Everyone’s true colors come out when put under this much stress and sleep deprivation over weeks at a time, so that’s actually pretty rare.

[@Neutronism7]

@@ValhallaVFT good to know