Which Special Operations Pipeline is the HARDEST?? Ranking easiest to hardest.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Alright so I’ve been informed SQT is considered part of the total SEAL pipeline, not a follow on school like I was under the impression originally, so we’ll add that in and put the duration to 1 year. I’m still not adding ranger school to Rangers, any of the infill platform schools or SOCM for special forces.

[@NYRalltheway14]

Marsoc A&S spends a ton of time in the pool and its brutal. My roommate went through A&S

[@Lukeclout]

Half of CA has to go through SOCM,, now as part of their Q course

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@Lukecloutthey should add a phase about embassy party’s since that’s what they spend the most time doing.

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@NYRalltheway14everything water based is the worst for sure.

[@NYRalltheway14]

@@ValhallaVFT little known fact MARSOC obv has their own instructors for ITC but for selection they have a cadre made up of active duty raiders but also retired seals, SF, etc as civilian contractors

[@Finny14754]

I’m British 🇬🇧 and in our military the catering core is clearly the hardest in our entire military. And I can say this with confidence because clearly judging by the food NO ONE has ever passed it .

[@mikehawkslong5529]

You killed me with that one😂😂

[@RANGER73CPT]

NICE DIG!!!

[@kentakeura1617]

hahaha :D

[@mikeall7012]

In my humble opinion, the French had the best food. Followed by the Australians.

[@ProjectMayhem44]

The beauty of their women and the taste of their food made the Brits the best sailors in the world

[@SOCOMAthlete]

USAF Pararescue (PJ) training has the highest washout rate in SOF of 90-95%. If you need to be recovered from behind enemy lines, you want the best of the best coming to save your life. “These things we do, that others may live.”

[@Dirkdiggl]

Navy SARCs are better and cooler

[@jeremyfraley6469]

​@@Dirkdiggl they don't even compare lol

[@Dirkdiggl]

@@jeremyfraley6469 they’re replacing PJs for a reason

[@martelprayer416]

​@@DirkdigglI strongly disagree....

[@brucemcdonald6677]

As a former USAF, C130 Navigator I totally agree. USAF PJ’s are the best.

[@JBCCT01]

I came from the USMC into the USAF to be a Combat Controller. My world was flipped upside down in one day. I got to INDOC in 1999 and weighed 215 lbs of muscle. For context I am also retired 3 time world champion in Thai boxing. I was in incredible shape, tough, determined or so I thought. In one month I was down to 190 pounds. I can honestly say that I NEVER thought I would be able to perform as many physical and mental tasks in single day with no sleep, food, cold wet and hungry. Graduating was an accomplishment. The lessons I took from that course I carry to this day. Plus, you KNOW you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Even being completely exhausted, sleep deprived, injured, wet and cold it gets done. KNOWING what you that ability to dig deep and overcome the worst of experiences is super power. USAF CCT/PJ pipeline in the late 90's was and is the hardest qualification of SOF. More than an 85 % attrition rate. Minimum of 2 years to finish if you aren't injured or set back. The indoctrination course (INDOC) was based on BUD's. The first two weeks were prep for Hell Week. The biggest difference is after Hell Week the course got harder, standards higher each week with the same events. You only got two attempts at any event to pass. Period. There was a curfew 24/7 regardless of rank, cannot walk during the duty day. No drinking, driving or porn. If the cadre saw you out in town they would drop you, smoke the shit out of you in front of the world. If you were caught you were eliminated and permantly DQ'd to reapply for integrity violation. The pool session were 4 hours everyday of controlled drowning. It was routine for trainees to pass out during the underwater tasks. The pool is where the majority of trainees quit. Friday pool session was guaranteed to get students to quit. Literally, the cadre would not end the session until someone quit. The cadre were pretty solid. You had a few that were complete cucks but they didn't get to influence much. However, if you were a hard worker, wouldn't quit and had issues they would bend over backwards to get youth graduate if possible. I was hurt. Had stress fractures in my shin and femur. They set me back and put me in charge of the Prep team to get guys ready to start training. This allowed me to heal and continue with training. Class graduations were ridiculous. There several classes that only one person graduated out 100-140 students. Most class size at graduation was 3-5 out of hundred of applicants. Keep up the great work. Good to see operators putting out quality material. God bless! JB

[@ValhallaVFT]

Cool man, thanks for the insight into the Airforce side of the house, obviously working off second hand information so it’s nice when dudes who’ve been through hop in to enlighten us.

[@1anre]

You really did DO the work. Maybe after reading your post, Marines will humbly learn not to shittalk Airforce folks ever again. Any reason you didnt go STO/CRO instead of CCT?

[@joeg5414]

I went through Air Force ATC school back in late 2001. My first day on the tower simulator was on 9/11. But yeah, we had combat controllers in my class. I was really surprised to learn they all had to make it through ATC training on top of everything else. That in itself is tough to get through. I mean, not physical obviously....you know what I mean.

[@Hell_Hound_Actual]

@@joeg5414 Sorry for the slightly long comment, but I genuinely do hope you take the probably 1 minute to read it. Hey, as a former Air Force Special Warfare member (I was in Special Operations Weather Team as a recon specialist / or as they call it today AFSPECWAR SR) I just want to say that regardless of what job someone had in the military, so long as they served honorably and did their job to the best of their ability during the entirety of their service, they get my respect just the same. You don't have to be in Special Operations Forces to be a bad ass in my book. Thank you for what you did as well, because if you hadn't done your job, many of us couldn't have done ours as well.

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@1anre I worked with CCT’s closely throughout my career, easier to make videos on stuff I actually have experience with.

[@herecomesaregular8418]

Having combat dive school in any pipeline instantly makes it so much more intimidating. I recall a USAF combat dive instructor/cadre saying once "I can take a guy who has never swam, and make him a human fish. I can also take the guy that was raised with a pool, and make him terrified of the water." Obviously he was being a little creative for effect, but the gist was there is no quicker way to get wash-outs than to add the fear of drowning into the mix.

[@stevefowler2112]

I was a U.S. Recon Marine and got sent to a lot of the Spec Ops courses, including Jump school, Ranger School (RASP), Rubber Boat school and HALP/HAHO schools and Pre combat divers school...by FAR the toughest course I attended was the Combat Divers School at Coranado, our class started with 37 and only 7 of the original class graduated (we also had a few pickups). It was a real ball buster...in my case it certainly helped that I had been on the Swim team in H.S. but I think more importantly it helped that I had grown up Beach side in Cocoa Beach Florida and had just always swam/surfed/snorkeled/fished/hunted up and down the central east coast of Florida. I was just very comfortable in and under the salt water.

[@nathanammon4021]

@@stevefowler2112 nice do you think the water stuff in marine recon prepared you for dive diving school. It seems to me that the abrupt entry into dive school would make it that much harder

[@johnwalker5622]

Rangers don't have a long pipeline but they raise a different breed. The dude joining the military with an option 40 contract will very likely see combat and very soon. After RASP you'll be attached with some serious dudes with a world of experience and knowledge. You'll be tested everyday. It's a hard job to get and very easy to lose. You'll be a 20 year old Specialist on your 2nd or 3rd deployment sitting on a 47 beside a PJ who is 40 and never been to combat because they were just in training the whole time. Ranger pipeline never ends.

[@tomyoung8563]

That’s why I loved it We’re down range while the other guys are still in the school house Might be the ADHD speaking but I’m not sure I could have stayed focused long enough for anything else

[@ShorePatrol762]

Fast track to combat for sure while others spend 3 years in training

[@alfredcasasola]

​@ShorePatrol762 I agree being OJT'd is far superior than being in a school environment.

[@Devinek9john]

@@tomyoung8563 I was a SEAL, and I agree. Rangers typically have more deployments, more gunfights.

[@nathanammon4021]

@@Devinek9john thanks for your input I’m still glad you did it.

[@AirAmericaInSaigon]

There’s a reason PJ training is called “Superman school”

[@timmybobby4052]

And during their pipeline and after id call them fuckwit pogs

[@Bear230grain]

Because they call it that. Lol

[@smyers820gm]

Yes because they have to train really hard to get up outta that chair 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Vino2Times]

​@@smyers820gmyea you gotta be a troll

[@ksjdfknes]

@@smyers820gmand what makes you an olympic athlete, sir/ma’am? or perhaps you’re an accomplished physician or doctor?

[@stephenkozlowski5524]

To help shed some light on the MARSOC pipeline. The MARSOC pipeline consists of A&S (Assessment and Selection) 6 weeks consisting of 2 phases , ITC(Individual Training course) 9 months consisting of 5 phases, at which point you earn the MOS Marine Raider. However you can not go to your team without completing language school, and airborne and free fall usually around 7 months for those. Additionally MARSOC is what's called in the Marine Corps as a lateral move MOS only, so you have to be in the Marine Corps for at least two years before you can even start the process but most commonly Marines will attend A&S around 3 and half years in time service.

[@joesgotya9930]

Is MARSOC so-posed to be the USMC version of Green Berets? Like are they dedicated to the same charter of Foreign Internal Defense and Tripple A? Or is there a unilateral aspect to MARSOC like the SEALs and Rangers?

[@JGould-uu4kb]

Finally. Someone with an accurate comment. People forget that not all Special Operations schools are built the same. For example: While it's true that MARSOC is generally structured similarly to SFAS / Q-Course, they do not start language training (up to 6 months in duration) until AFTER they complete ITC--whereas SF starts language training during the Q-Course. Obviously, that alone would contribute to the differences in initial qualification training timeframes.

[@JGould-uu4kb]

​@@joesgotya9930Not exactly. However, they are certainly more similar to Army SF with UW/FID than SEALs, and certainly more than Rangers. Look at it this way when comparing each in terms of priority: * Army SF --- 1) UW/FID (nobody is better), and 2) Direct Action /Special Reconnaissance * Marine Raiders --- 1) Direct Action / Special Reconnaissance (in no particular order), and 2) UW/FID If you are really interested, I'd suggest reading Dick Couch's book 'Always Faithful, Always Forward: The Forging of a Special Operations Marine'. The book is about 10 years old now. Couch is a former SEAL (and CIA case officer) who was embedded with the Marine ITC class through the whole Selection/Training. He has written similar books for Rangers, SF, and SEALs--so he has credibility. He summarizes the following regarding MARSOC 'Critical Skills Operators' (note: that's their offical title; they were not colloquially called 'Raiders' yet at the time of his writing): * Marksmanship/Combat Shooting-Assault ---- he describes the initial training exceeding the other SOF forces He states "a distant 2nd would be the Rangers, and they're the elite light infantry-Direct Action component of SOCOM." So that should tell you something about the Raiders - note: they fire ~900 rounds/per day during their 5-week Direct Action phase, which is crazy--and several of their instructors are former SMU guys). * Direct Action ---- he describes them as being on par with SEALs (but doesn't really qualify how/why) * Special Reconnaissance ---- he states the other SOF units don't come close (this shouldn't surprise anyone.. they were born from the Force Recon companies). * Maritime (Amphibious) Capabilities ---- he describes them as 2nd only to the SEALS (keep in mind their initial amphibious training is similar to Marine Recon, and SEALs as well). Many Raiders go on to the USMC Combat Dive School as well. * UW/FID -----he states they are close to Army SF, but gives SF the edge. The last phase (Phase 4) of ITC is called 'Derna Bridge' and it is modeled almost identically to the Army SF 'Robin Sage' phase which teaches all things Unconventional Warfare (in the book, the Marines had Army SF has instructors). So, hope that helps. MARSOC is a "full-spectrum" SOF force. They do it all.

[@joesgotya9930]

@@JGould-uu4kb Yea, I have to admit I wasn’t entirely read up about MARSOC raiders, but reading about their history and evolution as as a organization, i see just pure professionalism. In a lot of ways, id say they are outdoing the SEALs because they’re not feeding into that toxic leadership culture and they understand and respect the FID side of warfare.. They also have common sense understanding of the importance of getting along with conventional battle space owners. Much more versatile organization on so many levels.

[@robertberatheon4213]

I was a PJ for 20yrs and the biggest mistake we ever made was pulling out of Army SF SCUBA or any army school for that matter. The Army SF guys are some of the best guys around and I appreciate everything I learned from them

[@sukaenacornelius9285]

Although its not special operations forces. I got to work with the Navy rescue swimmers and got to study their training beginning to end. Both versions of the navy rescue swimmers. Both start at same school in Pensacola. I had done part of a study for the eod and divers. And colleagues of mine did buds. We did alot of research. Personally from my perception and observations as an outsider their 2 months air rescue school was extremely difficult. And unlike other programs, you show up and aren’t guaranteed a class. The fittest class up. They get their butts handed to them all day then have to study. Many drop from failing test or medical performance. The instructors are more professional and quite and let the curriculum run it self. Of the men who are able to get into a class, usually only half or much less in winter make it. Their follow on training is like a four year degree worth of learning compacted into a year. They were actually some of the fittest and well spoken men I’ve spoken to. Very handsome men. I think the biggest thing about air rescue in navy, is being able to study ith little sleep and show up the next day prepared. The onset who are truly motivated and want it make it. The ones who don’t study or decide to put sleep over preparing and studying for next day get dropped for test failure or integrity violations. Things as small as stenciling your shirts, water bottles, uniform inspections every morning, and typically a chapter in their publications they must master each day and execute evaluations. As well as just being extremely comfortable in water without panicking. They do do alot of overwatch for the seals when they invade boats as well. And in fact, there was a rescue swimmer a few months ago. Or helicopter crew who just neutralized three huthi rebels who were being hostile. You meet them.

[@kylewalters8651]

Army sf dive school in key west has the best chow hall out of any place I’ve been. Random I know

[@robertberatheon4213]

@@kylewalters8651 seriously, at least in ‘97, it was amazing food. The chef was great. And we could eat more than average.

[@mitchwiegand8078]

As an outsider with no military experience hearing about our SFs is fascinating. Hearing about your experience is mind numbingly insane. I can't imagine what it's like. I can imagine a minute or two, but constant torture for months on end. God Bless you all. There is none better than the other. You are all fucking Badass!

[@buffewo6386]

The best intro to the PJs is watching The Fat Electrician's video on then... I'm former USAF. If I see PJs in a restaurant & have the money in my wallet, I will pull the wait staff aside and pay for their meals. No question. No need for interaction. These were the people who would die to ensure I got to come back to my family when I flew a mission. With a motto like "That Others May Live" you know they are built different...

[@Frankie1LE]

What about Space Force's Space shuttle door gunner?😂

[@namesecondname4548]

AI needs no pipeline

[@shannonmanning6166]

After years of relative obscurity, I'm glad PJ's are getting recognized. Any soldiers on any of the above teams are badass, but PJ's are some incredibly driven and capable operators. Former Army medic here, 10th Mountain, and we only heard about PJ's in hushed, reverent tones from SF guys.

[@Defylaws]

A Good friend I train with was a PJ now works with training them. This dude is one of the nicest and most humble bad ass human beings on the planet

[@sof.maniac1522]

All sof guys are nice & humble, It’s a personality thing.

[@mosesnoble5236]

@@sof.maniac1522the training does make you humble yourself, going in as a cocky teenager really gives you a reality check that you really ain’t tuff like that!

[@Michael-x6v]

As a Ranger I'd say PJ'S have the toughest and longest pipeline.

[@CarHubTalk]

30th AG is the hardest pipeline in the army.

[@ValhallaVFT]

This actually has some merit to it, that place was a nightmare

[@1anre]

What's that

[@bradenbagby4431]

​@@1anre where hopes and dreams go to die. Its basically where you go to us army Infantryman. It's like purgatory

[@Ty-sq7yi]

I still remember guys spending half as long at 30th AG as they did at their actual training company 😂

[@Matty23134]

@@1anreit’s basic training reception for Fort Moore/Benning, so where people in infantry and armor osut initially report to. Sleep deprivation, waiting quietly for hours in formation just for the smallest things, and power-hungry civilian employees just to name a few things. I’ve heard people say they’d rather redo Ranger School than 30th AG.

[@user-cq6dg6ql9j]

One of my buddies went through PJ “Superman” Pipeline. In Indoc, two prior 75th Ranger Regiment guys quit in the second week.

[@MeatballMedic]

Air Force Special reconnaissance, formerly special operations weather, actually has a longer tech school with higher wash out rates than pararescue depending on the year. The 5th was the first unit in Afghanistan… but the first person in the country was a special ops weatherman. The story is one of the coolest of the Afghan war.

[@williamwells6468]

Only one I can speak on with first hand knowledge is the Ranger pipeline. I served with a lot of units from all branches and it may get a lot of heat but I can say the Ranger Battalion has some of the highest standards in the military. Hardest job to get, easiest job to lose. I’m sure I’m bias but I believe we are some of the toughest SOBs on earth.

[@bluestfalcon419]

It’s designed that way. You can take a recruit off the street and get them into Batt in 8-9 months. There are only a few battalions because it’s designed to be a rapidly deployable strike force, so the door must always revolve. The army also wants rangers and ranger qualified soldiers to circulate among the regular army units. This is why regular army loves battalion and why they have a better relationship than with any other army SOF unit.

[@williamwells6468]

@@bluestfalcon419 that’s true. Big army did along with us better. No hate but some units act like they are to good to help the regular guys. We was never like that b

[@Abefroman-lq3md]

Not by a long chalk!

[@crewdoglm]

Cool to see an SF guy vote for the Air Force. (I am retired USAF aircrew.) I have long believed that the PJs have the most brutal pipeline in DoD without being able to prove that. I can tell you that having been AD or CTR for 28 years now, I have never run across anyone from another SOF community who had the slightest negative commentary about CCTs or PJs.

[@jamielancaster01]

Just like a SF guy to leave out Delta!

[@crewdoglm]

@@jamielancaster01 He forgot. 😂

[@trava4156]

“Special teams, special plays, special players!”

[@erichuth117]

I was a 80s/90s PJ. SF Combat Diver and SF HALO were part of our pipeline. Those are tough schools especially going through as an E-3 USAF guy. Immediately after the pipeline, I did SF Dive Sup, SF DMT, SF HALO JM and 3 years as a SF MFFI at Bragg. SF MFFI was brutal. Training never stops, I loved it and I miss it. Yes, I got my ass kicked the entire way and I did HALO JM/Dive Sup multiple times… I got to the 24th STS and training switched to “non-stop”

[@na8522]

Okay but we are talking selection courses not schools bud and you don’t do those schools until after selection . Not sure how the 80s were when you went through but that’s not how it works today

[@erichuth117]

@@na8522 read my original post again, Combat Diver course and HALO were part of our pipeline then 1985.

[@afsoccommando]

You made it to the STS SMU, you are a stud. Most have no IDEA what goes on in the compound and the fact you guys had to be better to prove your worth to the other 2 pipehitter SMU's you guys attached to. Not to include your own stand alone missions.

[@lynngrabill1275]

Hey Eric!

[@erichuth117]

@@lynngrabill1275 what’s up brother 😉

[@Aknight292]

I've actually been wanting this type of video.

[@Jc87134]

Buds+SQT is 14 months if you don’t get injured or rolled.

[@ValhallaVFT]

If I was going to add SQT then I’d have to have done it to all the secondary schools for the all the other SOF units and it would have just made the video too convoluted.

[@adminbusinessdevelopment6220]

@@ValhallaVFT Hey great video, question though. Isn’t the equivalent comparison SFAS as a selection course and SFQC as a qualification course where you receive your green berets upon graduation? Isn’t Bud/s equivalent being that Bud/s is a selection course and SQT is a qualification course where you receive your trident upon graduation? My point is that SQT isn’t a secondary school if it’s required for the SO MOS designation

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@adminbusinessdevelopment6220 if you want to pretend BUDs is a 6 month selection class and not their qualification course then feel free. Hell week in buds is the typical comparison to SFAS. All these units have courses set up differently.

[@stan3943]

@@ValhallaVFTso isn’t it a bad comparison then by the difference between them, since BUDs isn’t the qualification course?

[@Jc87134]

@@ValhallaVFT agreed buds is the selection course and you still have to pass sqt to earn your trident. I’ll be honest I got an ARI when I was in the navy and they voluntold me to attend Ranger School. I thought that was most miserable course in my entire military career.

[@markellis6101]

PJs are rigthfully at top, however, please note each group basically has a different functions. When combined, don't fuck with any USA SF. They can bring it from everywhere, any angle, any direction, and then fight to recover those that did so.

[@EdwardHood]

USAF Pararescue- Even SEALS need heroes

[@jacob6187]

Ranger regiment already coined that phrase

[@DEACONR6155]

Let me guess you weren't one...

[@Xyxesss]

Look at Operation Red wings because it was the ranger regiment who saved Marcus luttrell

[@EdwardHood]

Affirmative- 12 years 1D7X1

[@daviddavis3229]

The boy scouts would come before anything in the Air Force.

[@jimm.5424]

As Navy vet, so much respect for all of these units. Watched a documentary on the PJ selection and that looked like absolute hell. Not mentioned is AST's or Coast Guard aviation survival techs. They go through a brutal selection process as well with 50 to 60 percent washout rates. Then onto their secondary training for medical, rescue, etc. Great video though.

[@nvllam4441]

Great channel and great content, keep up the great work!

[@ValhallaVFT]

Thank you 🙏

[@user-cc5od3zk4p]

Just had a short doc come across my feed by Black Rifle Coffee Co. (Great coffee) entitled "History of the Green Berets'. Don't know if you've seen this Nate but, it's excellent and it really gives us civilians a concise overview of SFs. Highly recommend. Excellent breakdown of the SF pipeline, thank you for the vid!

[@stevefowler2112]

My "Little Brother" was in Special Forces in the ARMY and I was a U.S. Recon Marine (Battalion, not Force). I was the big Sports star in H.S. in the early 70's mainly because I was just blessed with very good foot speed and athleticism and eye hand coordination. I started at both Safety and RB (making all county at Safety) on a very good varsity football team and played SS on the varsity Baseball team, and swam a partial season on the Swim team and ran a partial Cross Country season (my best 2.5 mile run time was 15:25). I was 6'2" 185 lbs as a Sr. and generally liked my weight about 205 in The Corps though it could fluctuate between 190 and 220 depending on the mission. I ran like a deer and swam like a fish and could hump large loads all day and night...But my brother, who was only about 5'10" weighed 225 and was built like a chunk of iron, could outlast me if we trained to near death...he has/had world class endurance and is now an old world class expedition hiker. We have compared notes many times between the Special Forces pipeline and the typical Marine Recon Spec Ops training courses. I have nothing but respect for the Green Berets, they are all smart tough and capable killers with advanced insurgency and counter insurgency training. I got sent to Jump school at Benning, Ranger school (RASP) at Benning, Rubber Boat school at Coronado and Pre-Combat diver at Pendelton and Combat Diver at Coronado. I also qualified in HALO and HAHO parachute, which in the late 70's was in Whidbey NAS in Washington state. Ranger school was only tough because they didn't feed you, had i been able to eat a few thousand calories a day it would have been fun and a breeze. The only real time i had physical issues was at the Rubber Boat school which was still fun, and then there was Combat Divers school...that was a real kick your ass course...Our class started with 37 and we finished with 7 original graduates and a few pickups (a now recently retired Aerospace Engineer with a large American defense contractor's Missile Systems company.

[@escabrosa1]

While in Group (many years ago) I worked with other special operations units, mostly with the Seal Teams and STS(Combat Controllers/PJs). Can't say enough about STS. A great bunch of guys.

[@TommyBombadillio]

The PJ pipeline is also a one shot chance. Unlike courses like BUDS, there are no do-overs.

[@vettevegas]

USAF CCT are trained to land on the X at 10K' elevation, then run uphill (under fire) in 3' of snow leaving SEALs behind while charging and clearing a bunker, take shots to the torso from another bunker, get left for dead while your SEALs retreat, endure an airstrike on your position, wake up alone at dawn and do some hand-to-hand combat, then make a last stand protecting the Rangers and PJ's who have been sent in to rescue you. Whatever trains you to do that is the toughest pipeline. GO USAF! 👍

[@ivicahudika3379]

I was enlisted 82nd and later joined the a Navy and became a SEAL. A SEAL buddy of mine got out, got his degree and joined the Army as an Officer. He was in the 3rd ID, then 75th Ranger Regimental Reconnaissance and then 10th SFG , he retired as a Major. I asked him the same question from his experience he ranked the pipelines like this. 1. SEAL 2. SF 3. Ranger Regiment ( RASP & Ranger school) That’s from a guy that went through all three of them keep in mind he went through the SEAL pipeline as enlisted and the other two as an officer.

[@ValhallaVFT]

I actually went to the q course with a former SEAL, and he said the same thing, then he washed out lol, so who knows.

[@ivicahudika3379]

How did he wash out and what was his name?

[@ivicahudika3379]

@@ValhallaVFT My guess was the guy was probably a SWCC or a support guy in a SEAL Team, not an actual SEAL. Can’t see anyone going from the SEAL Teams to SF unless it was something like Steve Mueller who got commissioned in the Army and then went that route. Let me know what his name was and I’ll check the data base if that washout was an actual SEAL.

[@nathanammon4021]

@@ValhallaVFT I’ve been impressed with all the SOF units for different reasons. It seems like the difficulty of training or lifestyle balances out. I’ll say this you guys ware off on people in a good way. I got to work for a Vietnam era marine and later I learned my other boss was in SF. It made sense now looking back because everything we did was timed. If we weren’t told outright we knew it was implied. I was very proud of being able to keep up with guy. He was in his 50s and it seemed like his whole being moved a hundred miles an hour. My dad was a sergeant detective and I’ve known how to get along with service people usually when you’re kinda the black sheep you just keep your mouth shut and keep up. Those guys were my all time favorite people to work for. They were tough but fair. We went through probably 100 people in just over a year. I told a coworker once we don’t have a turnover rate we have an attrition rate. When you give people even just a little bit of mental discomfort they brake keep in mind we were civilians we weren’t pushing logs up hills but we were expected to work as a team. It got to a point that he didn’t have to tell us anything if we got a guy that wasn’t pulling his weight we broke him in our own way. This was only when he deserved it we didn’t bully people for no reason. I’ve been biased toward green berets since looking into sf after working with those guys. I’m pretty sure Robin Sage is the most genius training program ever designed.

[@MountainVisions]

​@@ValhallaVFTyou said it yourself, water is a great equalizer. The Airforce ironically is basically water based, just not sand based like the SEALs/SWCCs. But very similar otherwise. I did watch an interview not too long ago with a PJ that hated land based stuff, loved the water. Said he got sick on the runs. Could do the pool/water con all day. I guess occasionally you get a guy like that who is meant for it.

[@thebowtiechaplain3399]

Love your shadow boxes in the background. Very cool. I wish I could have had a mind to go into SO when I first joined

[@stephenhampton7444]

I had a a highschool teacher that was a USAF PJ from 1989-1996 he was a bad ass dude . Great video tho . He was my highschool teacher in 2006 by the way .

[@JacobAndJamal]

Pararescue for sure. Occasionally people from other SOF communities try to transfer to PJs and some don’t make it, despite previously making it through a prior pipeline …

[@meece5352]

The SWCC pipeline is roughly 8 months (including CQT). While not as long as BUDs (12 months with SQT), it also includes some of the same challenging evolutions - including water evolutions (not including diving). kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHuQeWuDpdljasUsi=skUJ07llLQDomsZ6

[@nathanammon4021]

Yah apparently they made it harder maybe more sophisticated

[@Devinek9john]

SWCC should have got a mention for sure. They had PSY OPs but not SWCC? Sure everyone can agree BUDs is a little harder, but SWCC is no joke.

[@nathanammon4021]

@@Devinek9johnit actually has a pretty high attrition rate I’m still curious as to why he didn’t include AF special recon I thought their pipeline was part of the ccts and para rescue. It seems all these units have some kind of time a like hell week or selection even the coast guard has some kind of special operations.

[@Devinek9john]

@@nathanammon4021 If we are going by high attrition rates, the navy Nuke program for nuclear engineers has a high attrition rate. Attrition rate doesn't equal difficulty, just like Tier status doesn't equal training either, but thats another story.

[@nathanammon4021]

@@Devinek9john yes I know it has to do with funding I only mentioned attrition rate because you compared it to buds as a comparison. I’m impressed by all of it. I probably wouldn’t last a day in any of it. The engineers I had know idea wow that’s interesting. I still think it’s weird he snubbed the AFs recon guys. Cheers

[@ericb.4358]

Likely Delta Force is psychologically the most difficult.They take applicants from EVERY branch of the US military. The Army Rangers, Marine Raiders are similar in difficulty and duration. Marine RECON is a bit more difficult with more water borne components. Army Special Forces often takes applicants from Ranger applicants. NAVY SEAL training is tough but SEAL Team 6 is even more difficult, taking only from SEAL teams those members who've been proven in combat AND chosen by DEVGRU itself. My neighbor was an Air Force Tactical Air Control operator in Afghanistan. He saw action with British SAS, US SF and Navy SEALs.

[@MeatballMedic]

Pararescue has the most in depth mental health exam out of all the military branches.

[@justindelaney9987]

Out of these I went to Airborne school. Then off to the 82nd. We had a SEAL in my class. So of course I had a ton of BUD'S questions. He already had his Trident. He said he had been to jump school 6 months earlier, but he was really cocky and he got into it with a Black Hat, So he got kicked out. He finished up his SEAL Training then came back.

[@Boomer792]

Hardest part about MARSOC selection is not getting out to do AFSOC or SF 😂

[@ValhallaVFT]

I did have two former recon marines on one of my ODAs lol.

[@samwertheimer4848]

Had a MARSOC officer in my SFAS class. Dude was an absolute stud and all around class act.

[@1anre]

​@samwertheimer4848 he gave up his commission to become an 18X or he just transferred to the Army at a lower officer rank?

[@samwertheimer4848]

@@1anre he was inter-service TDY. So still in the Marine Corp but attending the course and then had the choice to switch over the the Army if selected. I think he wanted to drop his commission, but got talked out of it and switched over as an O.

[@RemoWilliams-jg4yb]

The hate continues.....

[@Paddy-McNasty]

Are SF guys pissed that there has not been a proper A-team reboot and in the movie they made them army rangers ?? (Because I am)

[@sirloin9348]

Weirdest part is they keep calling them rangers and say they're in the 75th, but when it shows them in dress blues, they're wearing SF patches with Ranger TABS. Just like the rest of the flick, it doesn't make sense. Love that movie tho

[@sirloin9348]

And no, I'm not pissed and don't know anyone who is. We're used to getting shafted when it comes to PR. At least we have solid snake

[@danthelowblood2653]

@@sirloin9348 Solid snake was foxhound 😐

[@sirloin9348]

@@danthelowblood2653 recruited from army sf. I really hope I'm not confusing my fictional super soldiers tho lol

[@sirloin9348]

Is why the 3rd game is even called snake eater

[@powellcpr8747]

PJ's are the only DOD medics that earn the National Registry Paramedic license. As a Paramedic with a Paramedic degree, this school was very tough.

[@michaeldbhawker3556]

Many 18 deltas go to med school after dude. Pjs medical training is but a fraction of Sof medics.

[@powellcpr8747]

@@michaeldbhawker3556 The SOF medics are some of the best around. Still, with the PJ'S getting their NREMT-PARAMEDIC license afterwards makes them the best and true paramedic for the DOD. Paramedic school is a two or four year degree and you need to keep above 80% on all tests or you get kicked out. My paramedic class started with 23 students and 18 months later 11 graduated. I worked at the FD with a SF medic from the 5th group, he said that paramedic school was tougher, however, he learned about dentistry, veterinary care and basic surgery as an SF medic. I would agree that the SF medics are better than a SEAL medic or corpsman. Being a NREMT-PARAMEDIC gives you a bigger scope of practice and more medication that you can give.

[@FCSOWMD]

@@michaeldbhawker3556pjs are sof medics

[@perniciousreaper4393]

@@michaeldbhawker3556 that's because PJ's focus more on extracting personnel from denied areas or non-permissive environments. Their medical training is only intended to allow them to stabilize injured or wounded personnel to prepare them for exfil.

[@MeatballMedic]

Straight out of tech school, yes. Many medics are paramedic certified.

[@LA-ep2nr]

They are all hard, but I have to admit, AF PJ school is the hardest. “These things we do, that others may live.” Hooah!!!

[@joshcopeland1151]

these things we do, that others may live. Hooyah*

[@FiveInchTaint]

@@joshcopeland1151 It was Al Pacino saying it.

[@lt.spears1889]

Air Force PJ’s don’t get the respect they should, SF Operators know and understand how difficult it is, but most especially civilians are clueless, thanks for the respect

[@WILDJaegerVeteranAdventures]

for 6 years. SF for 8 years. Did Combat Diver and the Long Walk (Finished but Non-Select). I agree that anything dealing with water will get rid of 90% of candidates off the top. Anyone can walk all day and suck up months of pipeline training. Take away a persons ability to “breath”… Good bye comes real fast.

[@JohnnyYuma405]

I went through security police training at Lackland AFB back in the 80’s. The PJ/CC initial training was there also. There were a handful of guys that got washed out of the PJ selection and wound up being put into the security training class. We’d run 2 miles every morning and those guys were fast as f***. There were a few of us who were distance runners in high school. We smoked everyone except these guys. I asked them if they were distance runners before joining the AF. None of them were were really in any sports. They just got fast from weeks of trying to keep up in first part of the PJ school.

[@vettevegas]

I remember them running everywhere they went at Lackland, all with one hand on a long 3" diameter braided rope. "WTF are those badasses" I wondered. Then went back to thinking about chasing tail again. 😂

[@Smitty556]

Marsoc pipeline is about 11 months to complete. There is a good kick in the nuts like what hell week is, you see a huge wash out during the period. The pool and open water slays folks too.

[@nathanammon4021]

I haven’t been able to find anything on it if they have like a hell week I’ve heard parts of Marine recon is simple to buds

[@Smitty556]

@@nathanammon4021 it’s not a “hell week” but it’s an event that happens during the pipeline that washes a good portion of the class out. It last two weeks. Also the program is very heavy in the water.

[@nathanammon4021]

@@Smitty556 I’ve read some stuff on different military units it’s seems most have some kind of week with the purpose of getting people to quit. I think there are some police units or units outside of DOD that do that kind of thing to. The only thing I can find on Recon is they do something at the end of each month where they run them non stop. If one training regiment is better or harder I don’t see why they don’t just copy that.

[@JGould-uu4kb]

That's correct. It's called 'Raider Spirit' and it takes place at the end of the 'Small Unit Tactics' phase. It generally goes 9-11 days, ~ 200 miles of foot movement, with something like < 10 hours of total sleep. Unlike BUD/S which is a true selection program at that stage of training with its infamously gruelling 'Hell Week' being a PT hazefest, 'Raider Spirit' is more "tactically / operationally" -based. The candidates are many times traversing difficult terrain for 12 or more miles carrying full gear, ~ 120 lb. rucks, and frequently carrying eachother and/or being tasked to carry extreme weights (e.g., 300 or more lbs.) --in whatever form that takes--as a team. Based on everything I've read/heard, it's apparently a blend of the SEALs' 'Hell Week' and a particular phase of the Army SF Q-Course (the latter of which I'm not as familiar with). Re: Raider training, check out the 'Urban Valor' podcast w/ Don Tran. Great interview, and he discusses much of what I mentioned above. There was also another video w/ 2 former SEALs (one is Stew Smith) who corroborate the details mentioned above---including Selection (A&S Phase 2) having elements of 'Delta' in it (note: the Marine candidates have to sign an NDA as it is classified).

[@nathanammon4021]

@@JGould-uu4kbthat’s very interesting I wonder how they’ve come about deciding what goes into these events. I know it’s not a complete art and science. Do the branches get together and take from each others training Regiment. Do you think it will end up being just one big commando force.

[@mutantfmj]

Everybody forgets about Marine Recon and Force Recon, we go to Recon school 13 weeks, pre recon school 8-13 weeks, combat dive school 8 weeks, airborne school 8 weeks, MFF 13 wees, SERE school 8 -13 weeks, Ranger, SFQC, e do everything the larger teams do just a a 4 to 6 man team level. we preform green side and black side mission including gray missions.

[@Patriotx-gx4ce]

I came to US in 1996 as refugee from Bosnia after civil war age 18. Joined US Army as 11B and did my time at FT Benning and went back to my state as National Guard. One of few units that has a tab as part of their unit patch. Specialized in Mountain warfare and I 'll leave it that. Full time for 9 years and they called us "nasty girls"))) in boot camp(yeah about that). Well during deployment we were land owners small COP with certain Airborne unit and more specialized, under it kind off. Active Army colonel cried when he awarded some of our soldiers as we have absolutely decimated enemy in our AO and stirred the Hornets nest, also lost few guys. 9000ft of elevation was its own challenge. My unit did better than all active Army units previously and that's why we were awarded Unit Silver Start amongst others. Since I joined when I was 28 I always felt I needed something more and after medically getting out due to injuries and listening to Tier 1 guys and their mindset i knew I should have been 18X vs 11B. Anyway always above others with courage skills maturity and would have fit in great. Regret it still but it is what it is. As a foot soldiers and 11B what I did and s**** I went through would not change it. Loved it and also got trained to DM and 11C, rolles I won medals for. Scored best on DM test etc... Very seldom does anyone talk about infantry and always forget we are the main force that clears bad guys daily vs certain operation at certain times while in between ops they Sun bathe, shower with Oekleys on and drink "green beans" coffees. Even as 11B we have done operations at night out of shinooks etc. Saved some Dust 1 Navy guys...)

[@SoldierDrew]

Infantry is where the rubber meets the road during combat. Infantrymen are spending months out behind enemy lines, often getting no resupplies, measuring combat time in years and not in missions. Special Forces and Special Operations guys get to return to the rear after their mission to shower, play video games, grab hot chow, hit the weights, rest up before next mission. Infantrymen aren't going back to the rear echelon to rest, get hot chow and shower. Everyone sleeps on the Infantry but more medals of honor and more decorations for combat come out of infantry units. Infantrymen are truly Embracing the suck down range. And right now, Russia & her allies declared WWIII. Trench warfare will be the face of WWIII and it'll be more Infantrymen going into that meat grinder than any special operations or S.F. group brothers.

[@Cholby217]

Who cares if you weren’t SOF it’s just a title, infantry boys get the fuck after it, harder mission than special operations day in day out

[@pwilsonkelly]

I was an instructor in the Jamaican Navy dive unit. I trained JDF SAR and Special Forces marine troop members in dive school and I can say with certainty that water work made any special operations training course THAT much more difficult. If anyone was going to fail, it would be during pool phase.

[@gordonallen9095]

They don't call Pararescue training "Superman School" for nothing.....

[@DEACONR6155]

Dude stfu...hell Ranger school is harder than that shit

[@OlSandyCheeks]

Having been through BUDs and currently awaiting to go SF and having quite a few team buddies on Army side. After knowing what most training entails. I can assure you the water based evolutions at BUDs are NOT that bad at all. OC8 in second phase is the only super shitty thing I would say.

[@ginotedeschi4385]

I don’t know if you’ve mentioned them before but, Navy SOIDCs go through the 18D short and long medic course and also go through dive school, sere, jump, basic reconnaissance course, field med course and what not in their initial pipeline. Curious on how you would rank them!

[@Devinek9john]

That's a special add on school, Every PJ has the equivalent of medical training as a medical super star in the SEAL teams.

[@ginotedeschi4385]

@@Devinek9john I think it used to be an add on school, apparently there are no SARCs anymore, all new candidates in the pipeline go straight to IDC school

[@marklauts]

1. AF PJ 2. Navy Seal 3. AF CCT/TACP/SR 4. Army Green Beret 5. MARSOC 6. Army Rangers

[@philipheppner1851]

Navy Seal in No. 2... lol

[@enriquep.-cz2xx]

I agree. Those guys were very young going through SF Dive and Ranger when I was going through my own pipeline. They kicked ass at PT.

[@hypoluxa]

I think you got the PJ in the right spot. I worked with the some CCT's in my career, and their selection pipeline is 2 yrs long essentially, before they don their beret from what they shared. Side-note on PJ's, There's a good docu on Amazon that I watched that covers their selection process. It's intense. Having to know all of the SOF combat tactics etc, then also having to be a highly trained EMT.

[@TheSWATGeek]

Would you put SWCC in there as well? Or would that be more aligned with the 160th or other AF spec ops?

[@HawaiianBro808]

SWCC pipeline is somewhat similar to BUD/s go through BUD/s Prep together, split off SEALs will go to BUD/s, SWCC goes through BCS both first phases are very similar smoke sessions weed out the weak especially after "Hell Week or the Crucible for (SWCC)". However, around the second phase, SEALs will go through the Dive portion while SWCC will go through a phase that has some water survival elements but no diving & focuses more on the boats. But again, SWCC is focusing on boats in final testing evolutions while SEALs focus on diving. Once both finish respective pipelines, BUD/s or BCS both go off to respective training to learning to being more of an "operator" SQT (SEAL Qualification) and CQT (Crewman Qualification).

[@ValhallaVFT]

Here you go, this comment has way more insight than I could have given.

[@andrewperlmutter8854]

Marsoc generally pulls from recon and are seasoned operators at the time

[@sonnysantana5454]

excluding the animals from delta , the us hair force PJ's part doctor , part frogman and part commando and in the 80's they were smallest elite outfit and they had to learn of medical shit

[@AgiDaKinG]

Getting into Ranger battalion might be "easier" with the course only being 8-weeks but anyone will tell you that it's staying in Ranger battalion that is the real challenge with many soldiers getting dropped within their first year due to failure to meet standards. The craziest thing about becoming a Ranger though is that you can literally go from being a civilian, join the Army, go thru OSUT, RASP, and Airborne school and then be deployed to a combat zone as a special operations soldier in a Ranger battalion all in less time than it takes to complete some of these other pipelines alone.

[@ValhallaVFT]

It’s hard to stay in Ranger Battalion because most high performing Rangers come to SF or CAG. Let’s not play mental gymnastics about it.

[@vedder10]

Do you think that when Army SOF didn't have the 18X contract the quality of SOF soldier was better or the pipeline itself sorts it out? I ask because having a soldier who has time in and must make the rank of sergeant before applying for SOF would seem to me to add a level of maturity that SEALs don't have.

[@ValhallaVFT]

18X, in some type of form, has been around since my dad went through the course in ‘69. I think the pipeline handles it on its own.

[@ratlips4363]

CCT...got out in 1973! Love your comparison

[@marksmusicplace3627]

160th SOAR. 5 week green platoon assessment course to enter. shortest and easiest next to rasp

[@ValhallaVFT]

Interesting, is that for crew/support? I can’t imagine that’s how it is for the pilots.

[@marksmusicplace3627]

@@ValhallaVFT anyone enlisted, warrants and officers must go through the green platoon selection process before allowing to get into regiment

[@marksmusicplace3627]

@@ValhallaVFT I may be incorrect and may only be selection and assessment for enlisted

[@usernamealreadytaken770]

@@marksmusicplace3627Yep. Officers go through a different selection process than enlisted. From what I was told by an officer who was in support, the support officer selection isn’t too physically demanding and instead is much more mentally demanding since there’s lots of questioning and psychological evaluations.

[@82drumhead]

I remember in Basic Training like 4 or 5 dudes went to what I remember as was like the INDOC tryout for PJ school. So maybe they were just going to see if they could just make it into the training pipeline after our flight graduated. But if I remember they went like after a few weeks of training. This was in 2005 so my memory may be a little hazy as to the exact details and it may be different now. Regardless, the all came back lol. I seem to remember them saying the water confidence stuff was just unreal and they had to tread water for like hours or something. I know it was Air Force basic haha but our entrire flight got some sort of an award for PT and those guys were the dudes that were smoking everybody else in sit ups, push ups, run....ect. Nothing but respect for all these folks that go through these SO pipelines and what they do. Unreal stuff. I was an Aerial Gunner and our training was pretty cool. Nothing like this stuff.

[@parkermcgrade594]

you need to start adding Special warfare combat crewmen on these videos

[@jeebugorn]

i concur with your assessment. the only pipeline i was not familiar with was MARSOC. ive not done any, just an army grunt but worked with a few of the special operations guys. but im retired now, but every now and then i'll talk to a kid at the gym or doing BJJ that wants to be an operator, and i steer them to Rangers as the "easiest" aka the gateway Operator. can go SF if you want from there, or feed into Delta if it strikes your fancy. and for Air Force, 2 groups that should not get shit from anyone are the CAS pilots and their Special Operations guys.

[@pauldavis-hh7ud]

you missed Special Warfare Combat Crewman!

[@danielnemecek1798]

SWCCs do the same training as SEALs

[@VileGlory]

@@danielnemecek1798 Not quite. SWCC doesn't go to BUDs. They have BCS.

[@batjackjohnson252]

SARC - Over 95% Attrition in 32~36 months. Both combat dive ie 90% Attrition & 18D is 95%+ are required

[@Paddy-McNasty]

Any interest in bringing your father on for an interview ? I would love to learn where the mcguyver style level of resourcefulness and problem solving came from and how it was adopted ( I dont know of any other selection where you need to make something to pass)

[@ValhallaVFT]

I’ve talked to him about it, we’re looking at doing that sometime this summer.

[@GoDawgz90]

Honestly, CA and PsyOps didn't fully understand their roles 5-6 years ago. They are not a kinetic force. Unfortunately, when people think of Special Operations, they often envision DA anti-terrorism missions. Even GBs aren't as kinetic as most people assume; their pipeline typically provides the most combat experience they'll get in their careers. However, CA's greatest strength lies in their ability to operate autonomously and their freedom of movement. They work in 4-man teams, sometimes in pairs. Their selection process lasts 8 days (considered easy), followed by a 22-week pipeline plus language training (4 or 6 months). SERE school is also required, and you must attend airborne school before being awarded the 38R/S MOS. If your goal is to kill bad guys, consider joining the police force or becoming a Ranger. Given the current global landscape, the next major conflict will likely involve near-peer, large-scale combat operations. Whatever career path you choose, strive to be the best at it. Good luck.

[@jeremey1423]

I was out of the Corps by the time MARSOC was implemented so I can’t speak to that. I can say the Basic Reconnaissance Course in Coronado pushed me to the edge. I blacked out in the pool early on. We did a brutal run, fin, runs on a cold days in choppy water. Boat drills sucked. The term “sugar cookie” gives me flashbacks. However, after Amphibious phase, it was a relief to get back to the field. It was still intense, but for an infantry guy it was more manageable.

[@ValhallaVFT]

I’ve seen the recon course, it looks super shitty. Reminds me of team weak in SFAS.

[@l4c390]

The Assistant Secretary of Defense Office for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SOLIC) publishes a 5 year roll up of training statistics. The difference in eventual graduation rates between all of the training pipelines (SEAL, AFSOC, SF, MARSOC) are within a couple of percentage points when you include the entry assessment.

[@nathanammon4021]

I read that the attrition rates are very close

[@TimboSliceeee]

Would you ever include navy swccs in one of these lists?

[@ValhallaVFT]

Sure, but if I include every offshoot SOF unit there would be like 25 and the video would be obnoxiously long. These are just for fun, not meant to be deep dives.

[@drameday]

I did the initial 12 week indoc course for PJ in 96. There was a 6 week wait for combat dive school after indoc. I was expected to work out with the next class while waiting on my school. During that time I found out my wife was cheating and to my deep regret to this day I self eliminated to try to salvage my marriage. Of course it didn’t work out, so I was divorced, and not allowed to return to my dream. Once you self eliminate, you’re done. But those 15 weeks I spent at Lackland in the pipeline were the most brutal I’ve ever experienced. We started with 104 guys. By week 3 there were only 32. At the end of week 12 there were 8 of us. Most of the washouts early on were the body builder type. The ones who made it through were mostly slim and trim, normal looking dudes. The pool is where we lost most of the beefy guys. I guess muscle mass isn’t all that great in the water. Anyway, I was so disappointed in myself for self elimination, I separated from the Air Force in 98. If I couldn’t be a PJ, I just wasn’t satisfied with it anymore.

[@nvrbetrwhoohoo3941]

The problem with RASP is people don’t include 11 B/C OSUT and jump school. OSUT is it’s own ball buster. And in reality, at the 75th, until you go to and complete Ranger School, your constantly getting smoked and F-d with. I agree with PJ being the overall hardest. It’s not easy becoming a FAA licensed aircraft controller (CCT) either!

[@BrianT175]

There’s also preRASP which ends up being a source of attrition both as a PT teat gates event and a source of suck

[@Project_31]

You’re always competing to stay in regiment.

[@johnshelley7173]

Some serious missing data here and I understand why … because knowing what truly happens in Air Force SW is rarely known. PJU after THE SAME A&S has almost zero attrition … but CCS … after the same PJ A&S has another 50-60% attrition rate (again, from the same selection and after pre and combat dive). It’s not PJ that’s the hardest … it’s CCT and SR - without question. CCS - combat control school is the hardest selection in all of AFSW and most people don’t know that both CCTs and SR must go through it to be selected.

[@samuelhong6758]

Hey big fan of the channel! you should make a video on special operations with the best missions.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Ohh. That’s an interesting one. Thanks for the idea.

[@Hero322]

Makes total sense. Never really knew what the Air Force guys jobs were. Great video, but wish Dev and Delta could have been included.

[@joehoward9905]

I have been through " urban combat school" . I met a " Mac-V-Sog Green Beret and Green Beret " trainer in the Streets of Miami . His name was " CM" . This was in 97 . CM was in charge of Miami City Mission Security. CM was very professional and diplomatic in the hood of Overtown Miami like the Green Beret are known for. One day in Overtown I'm walking by the mission and I see " CM " flipping two knives while a dude is sitting on the block with twenty " Piranha Cuts " on his arms. I walked past him and said good work. CM noticed how smart I operated in the old school streets of Miami. CM noticed I was a lot like the guys he trained with.

[@BlueMax717]

I feel like you hit the nail on the head on with this. Everything you said is pretty much spot on and I think everyone in SOF would rank these the same. I have no clue how things are in 2024 and some of the changes that have happened but I always used to say Rangers were the easiest SOF group to get in to but the easiest to get kicked out of.

[@erics362]

You should've researched Navy SARCS.

[@bradenbagby4431]

Sarcs is no joke

[@erics362]

@@JJReal-m7x Recon has a very demanding pipeline and mission sets but, technically, they don't get an official designation as a special operations unit because they don't fall under JSOC or SOCOM.

[@nvrbetrwhoohoo3941]

THANK YOU! Say it loud for 8404/8425s!

[@RANGER73CPT]

I'm new to your channel, good stuff!!!

[@matthewotis3594]

Ask Wil Willis.😂 Loved his show taking on other sof units.

[@Ky1k]

Boot camp, specwar prep school, buds, sqt. Those are primarily the things you must accomplish to earn seal.

[@oldnatty61]

Air Force doesn't get the cred they deserve.

[@Stiq_912]

Lol Civil Affairs Officer here 👋🏾. Hes not lying lol. CA is pretty easy but I enjoy it. I’m also a 1811 on the civilian side. Yes, for one of the 3 letters.

[@ronb3934]

We can all agree that coming out the closet is the hardest thing to do. It's so hard that an entire month is dedicated to it.

[@ValhallaVFT]

Well that’s who the real heroes are so I agree with you 💯

[@ronb3934]

@@ValhallaVFT haha

[@asparadiseburns7861]

😂😂😂

[@asparadiseburns7861]

Ya, these schools ain't shit compared to that...😂😂😂😂 shits so fucked up now

[@nvrbetrwhoohoo3941]

Ba-Dat-Dat-TAH!!!

[@GeorgeJansen]

USAF PJ/CCand Navy Seals, a person must be willing to literally give their life to graduate. Awesome audio books out there ❤❤❤

[@apexsentinel4926]

Great video! I'm curious about your experience: how do 18 Deltas compare to Air Force PJs in terms of medical training and knowledge? And do Air Force PJs receive comparable tactical training?

[@ValhallaVFT]

18D are trained in a wider variety of medicine, not just combat trauma. 18Ds learn all of that, plus general med like pediatric, veterinarian, can even do things like deliver babies. So 18D are realistically more trained in that regard due to the job requirements.

[@TomCulpepper]

​@@ValhallaVFT PJ's are nationally registered paramedics so they get a lot of regular med as well (cardiac, peds, etc). 18Ds are closer to the Physician assistant (PA) level and could run a clinic in the jungle. PJ's are mostly trained to stabilize for until higher care.

[@perniciousreaper4393]

@@TomCulpepper Exactly. PJ's are trained to go into a real shitty situation - either covertly or weapons hot - get you stabilized if necessary, and then get you out. Their mission got somewhat broadened/bastardized during OEF/ISAF, seeing them get attached more and more to other SOF units as medics and also doing a lot of general CASEVAC. That wasn't what they were originally conceived as.

[@Diplomat_x]

CCT has to go to pre-dive and combat dive school after combat control school too.

[@mcknightdaven]

i’m trying to go to rasp. i’m currently in the conventional army. do you think a 35 min 5 mile and 2:25 12 mile ruck is good enough?. currently at 70 pushups and 75 sit ups and 20 pull ups

[@ValhallaVFT]

Pretty close to exactly my PT scores when I went through the q course actually. That’s probably top 30% of the class.

[@mcknightdaven]

@@ValhallaVFT okay thank you. my enlistment is coming to a end. i’m going to tell them that in order for me to reenlist i want a 100% shot at rasp.

[@ZachWarner-g1b]

That will get you in the door and past day 1... however, that's literally day 1 besides the 12 mile. Make sure you know how to swim. You would be surprised. There is a very mild pool comp, but if you can't swim, you will be dropped. The hardest part of RIP / now RASP is literally all the other days, specifically Cole Range. Every day is a smoke session with training and classes incorporated. You got it, bud. Don't think about getting to a particular physical standard, and think you're good. Just try to get better and improve every day. You'll do great!

[@tr1besk8]

@@ZachWarner-g1b How did you deal with the time and duration of the training/pipeline mentally?

[@ZachWarner-g1b]

@tr1besk8 Honestly, when I thought about quitting, I would look at the guys and tell myself I won't quit until that guy quits. When he quit, I can't quit until this guy quits, and before i knew it, 4 weeks went by, and i was still standing. Your brain is your worst enemy. Just don't quit.... They will do everything in their power to get you to quit. They want you to quit. Every day all day is a smoke session.... and I mean set on fire 🔥. You will fail every time hack..... They will encourage you to quit. Tell you how you aren't going to make it, even if you do, i would never select you, kind of injecting self-doubt in it. They will be outside grilling, eating steak and smoking, and having a good Ole time while making you absolutely suffer. You're seeing all this and haven't but slept maybe 3 hours in 3 days. They will offer you those small luxerys if you quit. They won't talk down to "quiters." They will shake your hand and tell you how they respect you. No hard feelings. It's not for everyone. Go get some food, dude. Blah blah blah. They say the pain will stop when 4 people quit in a single session.... it never stops. This was 2007 RIP. I don't know much about RASP, though. There are no team events except in land NAV. You are an individual with a number, but you will get mass punished. Out of 120, we had 12 or 13 graduates. 90% of those non grads quit the other 10% medical or standards. Probably within the first 2 weeks, you will lose 60% of the class. Just don't quit. Embrace the suck.... it will end, and you will be rewarded. Hard work pays off!

[@KevinDiazx11]

Make a video about your experience working with CCT and maybe bring an old cct teammate already retired to talk about cct

[@ValhallaVFT]

I could do a good video on that. I have some cool and hilarious stories. All the CCTs I’ve worked with are still active though so can’t do that yet.

[@KevinDiazx11]

@@ValhallaVFT it be cool to heard those stories 😂

[@lbadten]

Was that lion tat done by Alec Turner? ...also BUDS is the initial section (B is for basic). That is selection phase. In some of the others you put follow-up/specialty training such as linguistics and med schools in the timeline.

[@joesgotya9930]

I’d love to get your take and perspective on the SOT-As.

[@ValhallaVFT]

I get asked that a lot. I can do a video on that, I worked with SOT-As throughout my entire career. I’ll see if I can get one of my buddies who’s a SOT-A to give me a deep dive so I can do it justice.

[@joesgotya9930]

@@ValhallaVFT That would be epic man. I imagine that whole SIGINT world is pretty sensitive but anything you could share would really cool 💯💯🤙

[@HAMMERTIMEBB]

Sigint marine here. Half the cpls here want to go that path post socsf

[@ValhallaVFT]

@@joesgotya9930ya that’s part of the issue is so much of what they do is TS it makes it hard for me to know what I’m allowed to say about them or not.

[@1anre]

Who're they?

[@user-gd4so4iq1d]

Buds, two mile ocean swims and 4mike timed runs every week. Hell week as well. Being cold wet and sandy the whole time through selection.

[@johnporter267]

What do you think about coast guard special operations, Taclet and msrt ?

[@ValhallaVFT]

I know basically nothing about the coast guard to be honest.

[@nathanammon4021]

I know they had like an exchange program where coast guard guys went into buds to be seal qualified apparently they did quite well

[@Sean-bn2cf]

My sense of it is that while RASP is shorter, it is very intense. In addition, their Battalion life seems much busier and more intense than other units mentioned. Would be interesting to compare pipelines plus their experiences in units from 1-3 year mark. I bet the Rangers would go up in ranking and SEALs downward.

[@cgsai2008]

Great break down 👍🏽🇺🇸🦅

[@ValhallaVFT]

🫡

[@kevinthegrizzly5074]

It all boils down to 2 things: 1) How bad do you want it & 2) What can you contribute to the SOF community. 👊🏾🪖🇺🇸✝️

[@toasterpastries5811]

I don't want it and I can't contribute that much to the SOF community.

[@beanotherbrick]

I can make some mean potato de dauphinoise.

[@Jenga_Henga747]

I cook a mean steak and can crack some funny jokes around a campfire

[@kool4209]

Slaves obey your earthly masters.