people joining the army

[KPseoul]

im wondering what people think about others joining the army, i ask this because im considering joining to become a special ops sniper and my co. worker says im too nice of a guy to do the job.:smileymobmassacre:

[ArchangelX]

Dude...that is a nasty job. Personally, if I can get through life without taking someone else's life...that's just something I'd rather have than not.

It's a pretty tough job, very demanding, you need to be a really quick thinker, and it can be pretty dangerous. It also can be very fulfilling, because you're filling a vital role...one that can be used for protection of your fellow soldiers, and very instrumental on the battlefield.

Snipers are tough SOBs. I'm a former Combat Arms instructor, and I knew quite a few of them...if you do it, you're going to have to ask yourself a ton of questions, lemme put it that way.

[werd]

im wondering what people think about others joining the army, i ask this because im considering joining to become a special ops sniper and my co. worker says im too nice of a guy to do the job.:smileymobmassacre:

Hey man, i give you a salute if you join the army...in this day an age of war, wanting to join is really giving you credit especially with the fact that you will most likely be deployed.

but as far as a spec ops sniper...good luck on that man...hope you like staying in one place and absolutely not moving for several days...

---

As far as taking a life...I had several close encounters in Iraq...I just put it this way...its either him or me.

[ArchangelX]

Basically. You'll make that choice real fast...

[Sgt_Ox]

I'm sure it's the same way in the Army as it is in the Marine Corps. If that's what you want to achieve you'll have to pay your dues in the infantry field first before even stepping foot at some school (either sniper or special ops).

And as what Eddie said, props to you on thinking about joining considering our current position.

[Sgt_Ox]

Hey man, i give you a salute if you join the army...in this day an age of war, wanting to join is really giving you credit especially with the fact that you will most likely be deployed.

but as far as a spec ops sniper...good luck on that man...hope you like staying in one place and absolutely not moving for several days...

---

As far as taking a life...I had several close encounters in Iraq...I just put it this way...its either him or me.
Dude an old Master Gunnery Sergeant of mines (back in 95) told us Vietnam stories. He served several missions with the famous Marine Corps Sniper "Hathcock".

Anyways the first story he told us about was his first kill in Vietnam and he was pinned down for 7 days straight in a head hunt chase with a "Charlie" sniper. And on the 7th day she slipped and gave him a clean shot. Yeah I said "She" that was his first kill a f*cken female "Charlie" sniper.

[ArchangelX]

Nuts. Man...just nuts.

[Latka]

If you want to be an "operator", then you'd better be in the best shape you can be and prepared to leave everything behind and vanish for months at a time.

Others are right though - you're not going to waltz into any branch of the Military and get to do the "cool stuff". You're going to be a basic grunt first, and only after you've proven yourself doing that could you be given the chance to even apply to a special operations command. Following that you've got a huge selection process to go through...and after that, only the cream of the crop are selected to work as a real operator. I mean - out of the country, doing things you can't evn talk abut... that kinda thing.

If that's your choice, go for it. I'd reccomend choosing a profession in the Military that actually translates to a civilian job though. Get some computer training, get a trade skill - somethin. You can't exactly put "real good at killin suckas" on your resume.

I was an MP and a K-9 handler when I was in the Marine Corps. When I got out I quickly decided that I didn't want to be a cop...but several years later my K-9 training allowed me to get a job with the bomb dog unit at the airport. "The Suck" actually helped me out ;)

(Edit) I had a buddy who was with 1/12 (Marine Field Artillery here in Hawaii) who went through the Force Recon indoc. I watched a lot of it 'cause I was on duty at the time and had nothing better to do... lol...anyway... after following him all over the damn base running with a stupid ruck sack on his back I decided that I was happy in my air conditioned car. ;)

(Edit 2)
And before you go into ANY branch of service, do yourself a favor and check them *all* out. You'd be suprised what hard core shit you can do in the Air Force. Combat Controllers... PJs... and things like Phoenix Ravens. Plus a lot more.

[Devil Boy]

To be a sniper in the Army, you will have to become an 11B infantry. You will get your chance to try out for a scout/sniper team as long as you show that you are smart, responsible, and squared away. You will need to be able to score expert at rifle marksmanship too.

To be Special Ops (Ranger or Special Forces), you will have to go through selection (aka - weeding out the weak) processes and qualification courses. These are no walk in the park. You need to be in top shape and mentally sound.

I think they still have an 18X mos where you join the Army to go Special Forces. You need to score good on the ASVAB. You will have to go through basic, airborne, selection, qualification, SERE, etc. It's not easy and if you fail, you will automatically become 11B infantry anyway.

Oh...and stay single! You WILL see the world.

[Sgt_Ox]

........I had a buddy who was with 1/12 (Marine Field Artillery here in Hawaii) who went through the Force Recon indoc. I watched a lot of it 'cause I was on duty at the time and had nothing better to do... lol...anyway... after following him all over the damn base running with a stupid ruck sack on his back I decided that I was happy in my air conditioned car. ;)..........
I was in a Force Recon Company but never went into indoc (support hehe). But let me tell you about RIP Platoon (Recon Indoc Platoon) those f*ckers get their asses handed to them on a platter everytime they PT (ahem everyday). I seriously think being in RIP platoon is worse that being in part of the teams (Recon Teams).

Only once have I seen some seriuos screening action from the Recon guys themselves. Our guys were invited to attend the Royal Bristish Marine Boot Camp in Europe and they wanted to send the Marine Corps best. Hmmmmm they tore up even the Recon Marines a new one. We had this Hardcore Recon Gunny who we thought would make it but failed. We went from 20 some Marines down to 2 that passed the screening.

It paid off since they went there and kicked some ass and passed their Boot Camp. But I thought screening for Recon was hard, screening the Elite Best of the Best for the Best is even tougher!

[Sgt_Ox]

To be a sniper in the Army, you will have to become an 11B infantry. You will get your chance to try out for a scout/sniper team as long as you show that you are smart, responsible, and squared away. You will need to be able to score expert at rifle marksmanship too.

To be Special Ops (Ranger or Special Forces), you will have to go through selection (aka - weeding out the weak) processes and qualification courses. These are no walk in the park. You need to be in top shape and mentally sound.

I think they still have an 18X mos where you join the Army to go Special Forces. You need to score good on the ASVAB. You will have to go through basic, airborne, selection, qualification, SERE, etc. It's not easy and if you fail, you will automatically become 11B infantry anyway.

Oh...and stay single! You WILL see the world.Same path you have to take with the Marine Corps as well. You still have to pay your dues.

And if you stay single you and pass the screening (for Embassy duty) you can be assigned to Embassy Duty and see all the World too. That's a cool assignment in my opinion.

[Kamakura kid]

Same path you have to take with the Marine Corps as well. You still have to pay your dues.

And if you stay single you and pass the screening (for Embassy duty) you can be assigned to Embassy Duty and see all the World too. That's a cool assignment in my opinion.

Oh yeah, Embassy duty is cool. I know in Tokyo and Singapore the Marines have these monthly or so parties. These parties are so popular, the Marines can sell tickets and usually sell out. Needless to say, many hot chicks vie for those tickets.

[Latka]

Yeah, Marine Security Guard (MSG) aka Embassy Duty is the ticket. Every time the recuiters would come to K-bay we had HUGE lines. Not that everyone hated their jobs, but they all knew what MSG was like. It was a "B" billet too from what I recall, so if you were going to stay in you didn't have to go play regular recruiter at some point. ;) or DI... hahahaha. Then again, if you don't like inspections stay away from MSG!

Had a buddy who did it and went to ...I think it was Bogota, Columbia or somewhere crappy like that. He got shot at a lot. Said that was no fun. Other friends that went to Italy came back with tons of money and hot Italian girlfriends. ;)

[ral808]

To be a sniper in the Army, you will have to become an 11B infantry. You will get your chance to try out for a scout/sniper team as long as you show that you are smart, responsible, and squared away. You will need to be able to score expert at rifle marksmanship too.

To be Special Ops (Ranger or Special Forces), you will have to go through selection (aka - weeding out the weak) processes and qualification courses. These are no walk in the park. You need to be in top shape and mentally sound.

I think they still have an 18X mos where you join the Army to go Special Forces. You need to score good on the ASVAB. You will have to go through basic, airborne, selection, qualification, SERE, etc. It's not easy and if you fail, you will automatically become 11B infantry anyway.

Oh...and stay single! You WILL see the world.

I remember the RIP guys(the 3 week course to get into Batt) would literally run circles around us while I was at OCS.

[Devil Boy]

Ranger Indoctrination Program. If I was younger and stronger again I'd try out for it. At 35, I'm happy just to stay in shape enough to fulfill my regular infantry shtuff.

I did the SFAS thing back in 93. Didn't make it. 18th day I physically fell out. My body said' "Ok I'm done." I wound up grovelling in the sand during the Sandman. Humping those duffel bags full of sand kicked my ass. My legs felt like wet noodles.

[ral808]

Ranger Indoctrination Program. If I was younger and stronger again I'd try out for it. At 35, I'm happy just to stay in shape enough to fulfill my regular infantry shtuff.

I did the SFAS thing back in 93. Didn't make it. 18th day I physically fell out. My body said' "Ok I'm done." I wound up grovelling in the sand during the Sandman. Humping those duffel bags full of sand kicked my ass. My legs felt like wet noodles.

A CSM I know joined the Army at age 35, and was a private in the Ranger Regiment at that age.

[NasTee]

If you want to be an "operator", then you'd better be in the best shape you can be and prepared to leave everything behind and vanish for months at a time.

Others are right though - you're not going to waltz into any branch of the Military and get to do the "cool stuff". You're going to be a basic grunt first, and only after you've proven yourself doing that could you be given the chance to even apply to a special operations command. Following that you've got a huge selection process to go through...and after that, only the cream of the crop are selected to work as a real operator. I mean - out of the country, doing things you can't evn talk abut... that kinda thing.

If that's your choice, go for it. I'd reccomend choosing a profession in the Military that actually translates to a civilian job though. Get some computer training, get a trade skill - somethin. You can't exactly put "real good at killin suckas" on your resume.

I was an MP and a K-9 handler when I was in the Marine Corps. When I got out I quickly decided that I didn't want to be a cop...but several years later my K-9 training allowed me to get a job with the bomb dog unit at the airport. "The Suck" actually helped me out ;)

(Edit) I had a buddy who was with 1/12 (Marine Field Artillery here in Hawaii) who went through the Force Recon indoc. I watched a lot of it 'cause I was on duty at the time and had nothing better to do... lol...anyway... after following him all over the damn base running with a stupid ruck sack on his back I decided that I was happy in my air conditioned car. ;)

(Edit 2)
And before you go into ANY branch of service, do yourself a favor and check them *all* out. You'd be suprised what hard core shit you can do in the Air Force. Combat Controllers... PJs... and things like Phoenix Ravens. Plus a lot more.


sorta agreed. as far as joing SF goes, most people end up breaking bones or falling out during SERE course. Ive been to that place and its pretty ****ing nasty. Basically its survival and evasive training and u end up either trying to get away, getting caught and/or being heald as a prisoner where u get tortured. I believe they are allowed to break at least 1-2 of ur ribs so dont get caught.

SFQ takes a long time over a year and u gotta go to language school. If ur down for getting tortured and starved on a daily bases then I guess SFQ is for u. good luck man!

[NasTee]

Ranger Indoctrination Program. If I was younger and stronger again I'd try out for it. At 35, I'm happy just to stay in shape enough to fulfill my regular infantry shtuff.

I did the SFAS thing back in 93. Didn't make it. 18th day I physically fell out. My body said' "Ok I'm done." I wound up grovelling in the sand during the Sandman. Humping those duffel bags full of sand kicked my ass. My legs felt like wet noodles.

I think RIP is better for those who perfer the "jump outta planes and kill people" type. Especially for the author of this thread, SF does more then just kill people. SOF does all 16 activities supporting SO, just because u want to be a sniper it doesnt mean youll get to be one. Snipers are for designated missions where they are needed, not every mission needs a sniper.

for instance when SF linked up with the northern alliance in afghanistian to support the rebellion against the taliban. Things like that takes brains, not guns. There is more to SOF then being the best shooter, and its nothing like the infantry. You need more brains then an artillery officer to be in the SF.

[NasTee]

A CSM I know joined the Army at age 35, and was a private in the Ranger Regiment at that age.

which battallion?

[bluehawaii2003HD]

I was in a Force Recon Company but never went into indoc (support hehe). But let me tell you about RIP Platoon (Recon Indoc Platoon) those f*ckers get their asses handed to them on a platter everytime they PT (ahem everyday). I seriously think being in RIP platoon is worse that being in part of the teams (Recon Teams).


I know someone who just got out of 4th Recon Kaneohe.
Only once have I seen some seriuos screening action from the Recon guys themselves. Our guys were invited to attend the Royal Bristish Marine Boot Camp in Europe and they wanted to send the Marine Corps best. Hmmmmm they tore up even the Recon Marines a new one. We had this Hardcore Recon Gunny who we thought would make it but failed. We went from 20 some Marines down to 2 that passed the screening.

It paid off since they went there and kicked some ass and passed their Boot Camp. But I thought screening for Recon was hard, screening the Elite Best of the Best for the Best is even tougher!



I know someone who just got out of 4th Recon Kaneohe.

[ral808]

which battallion?

I do not know which BN he was in back then...it was a long time ago, but he is the CSM of OCS and was a stud.

[NasTee]

I do not know which BN he was in back then...it was a long time ago, but he is the CSM of OCS and was a stud.


probibly 1st BN. Ranger Regiment.