Looking back at this now, if I could do it all over again and reenlist… I would have enlisted as a 68W combat medic instead of an 11B infantryman and then tried out for SF because the probability of getting hurt along the way would have been lower. You could also get some excellent and relevant skillsets for your SF MOS first. I couldn’t get the 18X contract because I didn’t have U.S. citizenship (which has now changed-there’s no need for citizenship to enlist with the 18X contract). But then again, you’ll never know how the alternative or other decision would have turned out… Maybe I would have died; you never know. Gotta love life, man!
Very interesting video. It'd be nice to hear about your experience at MAC and CDQC. Also, the differences between an ODA, ODB, and ODC and perhaps what life is like at each.
Excellent and very comprehensive video! Thank you! It’s crazy that you can get a job and language that you hate, but good to know that you could have more flexibility down the line and possibly switch… I’ll share this video with all of my buddies, great work, thanks again man!!!
@@ValhallaVFT Absolutely, thank you again! Do you think that if you were to be selected and then asked to be on a HALO team and you would say that you are scared of heights and want to go on a different team… What do you think would happen? Would that even be an option to refuse to go on a HALO team? Or would they kick your ass out? Thank you!
Video was awesome and informative brother, I was wondering if you could speak on guys coming in from different branches to be green berets ? Appreciate it man
Great vids wish i had this info coming out of highschool , oddball question I want to be a green beret but i coming from a civilian backround feel kinda hoppless against ex rangers , marines ect... , im 21 years old just want to have the best shot for a good career im debating if i should go be a recon marine get a feel of the millitary life plus they badass imo , then go for sf after i understand the millitary better . the same time i feel like im deviating from the path that was closest to my heart , lot of things on my mind and im not geting younger already wasted my time out of highschool. Great vids for the next generations keep it up !!
Ha! I wish I had all this info too, when I went through social media was barely a thing and there definitely was no information around from guys who’d gone before me. I was an 18X, 4 months in the military when I went to SFAS, and made it through the course first try, so it’s doable even with essentially zero military experience.
Just send it man, train smart and do your research. Just like you no previous experience but I’m shipping out on Sunday on a 18x contract. Best of luck 🫡
Don't join the marines if you want to be a green beret. Yes, its possible and a lot of guys do it, but its a lot of extra steps thst are unneeded. If you really feel unready to go 18x, go Army with an option 40 and spend three or four years in the 75th ranger regiment before going to SFAS. That will prepare you better than the marines.
Now that youtube is a thing, you can do tons of research on what it takes going in as 18x. Train to do it. As you said, you aren't getting younger, but going 18x with a bit more life experience is also very useful. Don't worry about who else will be at selection. None of that matters. You'll see plenty of the "best" guys quit. You also have to attend the 18x prep course before SFAS. I honestly found the prep course was more difficult. If you really want to go SF, do your research, spend as much time training as you need, and refuse to quit. Do lots of rucking. Lots of rucking. There's nothing they'll throw at you you can't handle.
The route was similar back in 71, but there were some considerable differences. Also there was a lack of money for training back then so we suffered from that.
Is the MOS training for the Echo really that difficult ? I know you’ve made a video on the 18e before, but is there a way you could go over what the MOS phase was like? And what the expected knowledge is for them?
So, we kinda mixed up the sequence now, you get your MOS list at selection (90% got what they wanted, just had too many Deltas that weren't qualified so they got shuffled,) no preference on language or group. You can do a 1 for 1 swap at 4th BN SWCS if you and another guy want to. That's honestly just a phone call away once you're there. They save language and all that for MOS now and you submit that "wish list." Then they tell you between MOS and SERE what group you get, and the language is given RIGHT AFTER Robin Sage for some stupid reason. Lot of guys wanted to get a head start on language after SERE but obviously you can't know what you don't know.
That 1 for 1 swap is definitely nice. They refused to do that back in the day even if a guy wanted to swap you. The not knowing your language until after sage is dumb though, we got ours at the start of MOS.
Thanks for the detailed explanation, that’s something I’ve wanted to know. How does it work if you already have a second language before you get to SFAS? Also do you know if it any easier switching companies in the national guard? From what I understand the different guard companies align regionally / language with the active duty groups. Thanks and keep the great videos coming
Depends on what the language is, if it is a target language, if the regiment currently needs more speakers of that language etc. so short answer is you potentially can test out, and potentially you’ll still just have to learn a new language.
The DLAB will impact the language you learn, but, as is always the case, needs of the army will win. I was in 7th group with a guy who was fluent in Arabic and French since childhood. Sometimes it wont make sense.
I got a question for my buddy going to SFAS already in the Army. How does it work if he gets selected but already has a CLANG because of his MOS? Ive heard different things but not a solid answer.
Some classes you can get dive school en route to group. Usually top performers have the option if they’re doing it at the time. I could probably do a video on that.
Awesome video sir, thanks a lot! If a candidate goes to the Q course already speaking at a very good level, let's say spanish, or any other language, would he get to skip language school and be assigned to the group based on the language he's proficient? or would he still have to go through language school and learn another one?
You potentially can test out of a native language if it is a target language, but there’s no hard and fast rules if you’ll be able to or not, sort of depends on needs of the regiment at that specific time and what languages they need more speakers in.
Not tryna start any beef here but a SF guy I know says that although Army Rangers are badasses and the best infantryman out there, they aren’t special operations. Do all Green Berets agree? Or do u agree at least?
Ranger battalion is under the umbrella of Special Operations. They are essentially a more skilled infantry battalion though in their scope of duty. It’s far more linear than the wide range of things SF does. Typically ranger battalion is a much younger force as well.
No in fact it works the opposite way, Spanish is a CAT 1 language, considered the easiest to learn. Doing well on the DLAB would actually make it unlikely you get it, you’ll most likely get a CAT 4 like Arabic or Chinese.
Thanks for the video, I’ve got a question if I do a degree in engineering or medicine before going to special forces will that factor into which mos you go into
Nathan: In the case of the Prior Service Enlisted Marine that goes ARNG SFGA ( 19th or 20th SFGA) , via the " Marine to Guard( M2G) " Program, does that Former Jarhead get a chance to choose His MOS , Language, and whether He can go into a Mountain, MFF( HAHO/ HALO) , SCUBA, or Ground Mobility Team? What happens to the Soldier from the Regular Army , Who was Prior Service Enlisted Marine,and , speaks Spanish ? Automatic orders to 7th SFGA?🇺🇲🇺🇸🪖🎖️💣💥🔥🪂🤿🇺🇸🇺🇲
Do you guys have mustangs? The regular army has the green to gold (or at least they used to) and even in ranger regiment you could put in your packet and come back once you hit 0-2
There was a lot of guys who were former 68w, really doesn’t have that big of an effect on them choosing, they’re going to teach you everything you need to know regardless of your medical background.
If you are already fluent in a second language going in does that matter and does that mean that’s were your they are going you too? It seems to make sense that if a guy is already fluent in say German or Italian etc he would be pushed to 10th?
@@ValhallaVFT Make sense haha…way easier for class formation / admin considerations. Also, for immigrants, does your background (for example, growing up in Japan) affects your group placement or the placement is completely dependent on language school (ex. Native Japanese but take French -> 3rd / 10th group)?
Do you think that if you were to be selected and then asked to be on a HALO team and you would say that you are scared of heights and want to go on a different team… What do you think would happen? Would that even be an option to refuse to go on a HALO team? Or would they kick your ass out lol? Thank you!
Given that you go through airborne school and will have to be airborne qualified to even attend sfas, I reckon youre gonna have to figure that out a bit sooner 😅
Mm, not really. Officers obviously only have 1 mos, and there track and ODA time is much different. They have their own process for how their career direction works.
How would one get into SF as a medic? I'm 17 years old deciding on either going 68w or Corpsman, but I really want to do more and get into the SF route. Any resources would be great. I've looked everywhere but there's not really an actual answer...
I’m shipping out for an 18X contract on the 15th. Your videos have helped me a lot thank you! Keep it up 👍
Good luck 🤘
Goodluck brother
Same here 👊
Awesome man! Best of luck
Me as well. These videos have been clutch. Maybe we'll see each other there 💯👍🏾
Looking back at this now, if I could do it all over again and reenlist… I would have enlisted as a 68W combat medic instead of an 11B infantryman and then tried out for SF because the probability of getting hurt along the way would have been lower. You could also get some excellent and relevant skillsets for your SF MOS first. I couldn’t get the 18X contract because I didn’t have U.S. citizenship (which has now changed-there’s no need for citizenship to enlist with the 18X contract). But then again, you’ll never know how the alternative or other decision would have turned out… Maybe I would have died; you never know. Gotta love life, man!
Can green cart holders now apply for 18X?
@@kirkanos3454 yes
I’m considering SF myself. Thanks for all of the info, Valhalla. Keep up the great work! De Oppresso Liber!
Very interesting video. It'd be nice to hear about your experience at MAC and CDQC. Also, the differences between an ODA, ODB, and ODC and perhaps what life is like at each.
Excellent and very comprehensive video! Thank you! It’s crazy that you can get a job and language that you hate, but good to know that you could have more flexibility down the line and possibly switch… I’ll share this video with all of my buddies, great work, thanks again man!!!
Glad you found it helpful 🫡
@@ValhallaVFT Absolutely, thank you again! Do you think that if you were to be selected and then asked to be on a HALO team and you would say that you are scared of heights and want to go on a different team… What do you think would happen? Would that even be an option to refuse to go on a HALO team? Or would they kick your ass out? Thank you!
I graduate high school in May and plan on joining. Love the videos man, thank you.
Thanks 🫡
I chose my group, 19th. And that was it. But then again it was a given, it’s NG. Loved the group, the guys, the experiences.
Did you receive your choice language and mos?
Loving the info brother i appreciate it
Talk about special forces officers, all about captains, majors, etc🙏🙏🙏
💯💯💯
CPT’s lead ODA’s, MAJ’s lead Companies with CPT’s as the XO’s, LTC’s lead Battalions and COL’s lead Groups
Video was awesome and informative brother, I was wondering if you could speak on guys coming in from different branches to be green berets ? Appreciate it man
Interesting, I do know a lot of guys who have done that, typically marines. I’ll look into making one on that
Great vids wish i had this info coming out of highschool , oddball question I want to be a green beret but i coming from a civilian backround feel kinda hoppless against ex rangers , marines ect... , im 21 years old just want to have the best shot for a good career im debating if i should go be a recon marine get a feel of the millitary life plus they badass imo , then go for sf after i understand the millitary better . the same time i feel like im deviating from the path that was closest to my heart , lot of things on my mind and im not geting younger already wasted my time out of highschool. Great vids for the next generations keep it up !!
Ha! I wish I had all this info too, when I went through social media was barely a thing and there definitely was no information around from guys who’d gone before me.
I was an 18X, 4 months in the military when I went to SFAS, and made it through the course first try, so it’s doable even with essentially zero military experience.
@@ValhallaVFT Only 4 months, that must've been wild, today I understand you get at least 7 or 8 months before going, isn't it?
Just send it man, train smart and do your research. Just like you no previous experience but I’m shipping out on Sunday on a 18x contract. Best of luck 🫡
Don't join the marines if you want to be a green beret. Yes, its possible and a lot of guys do it, but its a lot of extra steps thst are unneeded.
If you really feel unready to go 18x, go Army with an option 40 and spend three or four years in the 75th ranger regiment before going to SFAS. That will prepare you better than the marines.
Now that youtube is a thing, you can do tons of research on what it takes going in as 18x. Train to do it. As you said, you aren't getting younger, but going 18x with a bit more life experience is also very useful. Don't worry about who else will be at selection. None of that matters. You'll see plenty of the "best" guys quit. You also have to attend the 18x prep course before SFAS. I honestly found the prep course was more difficult. If you really want to go SF, do your research, spend as much time training as you need, and refuse to quit. Do lots of rucking. Lots of rucking. There's nothing they'll throw at you you can't handle.
The route was similar back in 71, but there were some considerable differences. Also there was a lack of money for training back then so we suffered from that.
What group were you in? My dad was a GB, was in 46th company in ‘71.
7th. 46 company was hard to get into. Was kinda hush hush for reasons I didn’t understand
Thank you for the good info! Any chance you could cover how to become a Green Beret dog handler?
That I unfortunately don’t have any knowledge on.
@@ValhallaVFT understood thanks.
Is the MOS training for the Echo really that difficult ? I know you’ve made a video on the 18e before, but is there a way you could go over what the MOS phase was like? And what the expected knowledge is for them?
It’s technical and a lot of book style of learning so some people struggle with it more than other MOS.
So, we kinda mixed up the sequence now, you get your MOS list at selection (90% got what they wanted, just had too many Deltas that weren't qualified so they got shuffled,) no preference on language or group. You can do a 1 for 1 swap at 4th BN SWCS if you and another guy want to. That's honestly just a phone call away once you're there. They save language and all that for MOS now and you submit that "wish list." Then they tell you between MOS and SERE what group you get, and the language is given RIGHT AFTER Robin Sage for some stupid reason. Lot of guys wanted to get a head start on language after SERE but obviously you can't know what you don't know.
That 1 for 1 swap is definitely nice. They refused to do that back in the day even if a guy wanted to swap you. The not knowing your language until after sage is dumb though, we got ours at the start of MOS.
@@ValhallaVFT Definitely makes more sense, but the brass does what it wants.
Thanks for the detailed explanation, that’s something I’ve wanted to know. How does it work if you already have a second language before you get to SFAS? Also do you know if it any easier switching companies in the national guard? From what I understand the different guard companies align regionally / language with the active duty groups. Thanks and keep the great videos coming
Depends on what the language is, if it is a target language, if the regiment currently needs more speakers of that language etc. so short answer is you potentially can test out, and potentially you’ll still just have to learn a new language.
The DLAB will impact the language you learn, but, as is always the case, needs of the army will win. I was in 7th group with a guy who was fluent in Arabic and French since childhood. Sometimes it wont make sense.
@@sirloin9348 💯. Dude in my Chinese Mnadrin class did the full 6 months and he lived in China for 17 years and spoke 100% fluent Chinese.
I got a question for my buddy going to SFAS already in the Army. How does it work if he gets selected but already has a CLANG because of his MOS? Ive heard different things but not a solid answer.
What kind of events do you do in MAC/ Pre-Dive? I’ve heard you can attend while in the Q course.
Some classes you can get dive school en route to group. Usually top performers have the option if they’re doing it at the time. I could probably do a video on that.
That would be awesome, thank you.
Awesome video sir, thanks a lot! If a candidate goes to the Q course already speaking at a very good level, let's say spanish, or any other language, would he get to skip language school and be assigned to the group based on the language he's proficient? or would he still have to go through language school and learn another one?
You potentially can test out of a native language if it is a target language, but there’s no hard and fast rules if you’ll be able to or not, sort of depends on needs of the regiment at that specific time and what languages they need more speakers in.
Not tryna start any beef here but a SF guy I know says that although Army Rangers are badasses and the best infantryman out there, they aren’t special operations. Do all Green Berets agree? Or do u agree at least?
Ranger battalion is under the umbrella of Special Operations. They are essentially a more skilled infantry battalion though in their scope of duty. It’s far more linear than the wide range of things SF does. Typically ranger battalion is a much younger force as well.
Talk about green berets crf companies, that's very interesting 🤔
What's that?
The CRF technically is disbanded now.
@@ValhallaVFT why technically?
@@sebastianurdaneta4558GWOT is over so there’s no use for them anymore.
Ctac
Can you do video about the Mountaineer Team ? ? ?
Hey brother, can you talk about becoming a Fox and maybe talk a bit about how getting to ISA works if you know? Thanks a bunch.
Unfortunately both of those entail primarily sensitive information so honestly they are hard to do a valuable video out of due to that.
@ValhallaVFT I get that. Maybe a vid about what they are would still be cool.
We met but I’m pretty sure you forgot who I am. Do you remember the rude/condescending seal guy?
So you're saying if I do somewhat decent on the DLAB, it's more likely that I get a language I want like Spanish?
No in fact it works the opposite way, Spanish is a CAT 1 language, considered the easiest to learn. Doing well on the DLAB would actually make it unlikely you get it, you’ll most likely get a CAT 4 like Arabic or Chinese.
Hey, can you do a video of crf/ctac units? There's a little to no info about them and their work
Unfortunately no, I’m not at liberty to give out any info on that, part of why there’s no info readily available out there about them.
@@ValhallaVFTunderstandable😢
Thanks for the video, I’ve got a question if I do a degree in engineering or medicine before going to special forces will that factor into which mos you go into
Nathan: In the case of the Prior Service Enlisted Marine that goes ARNG SFGA ( 19th or 20th SFGA) , via the " Marine to Guard( M2G) " Program, does that Former Jarhead get a chance to choose His MOS , Language, and whether He can go into a Mountain, MFF( HAHO/ HALO) , SCUBA, or Ground Mobility Team? What happens to the Soldier from the Regular Army , Who was Prior Service Enlisted Marine,and , speaks Spanish ? Automatic orders to 7th SFGA?🇺🇲🇺🇸🪖🎖️💣💥🔥🪂🤿🇺🇸🇺🇲
Do you guys have mustangs? The regular army has the green to gold (or at least they used to) and even in ranger regiment you could put in your packet and come back once you hit 0-2
Lowest rank of officer in SF is a captain. There is a green to gold route but it’s much different that anything else in the military in how it works.
What would be the chances that you got 18D if you were a prior service greenside corpsman?
There was a lot of guys who were former 68w, really doesn’t have that big of an effect on them choosing, they’re going to teach you everything you need to know regardless of your medical background.
If you are already fluent in a second language going in does that matter and does that mean that’s were your they are going you too? It seems to make sense that if a guy is already fluent in say German or Italian etc he would be pushed to 10th?
If you previously went signal school in the regular army such as 25b. Do you have more of a chance of becoming a 18e?
Not really, same goes for 68W and 18D, they really don’t care about your prior mos, MOS school will teach you everything anyway.
Speaking of foreign languages…for those native / bilingual candidates are they able to waive the 25 weeks language school after placement test etc?
Typically no, what I’ve seen more common is they say great you speak 2 languages? Well now you speak 3, and give you some other language.
@@ValhallaVFT Make sense haha…way easier for class formation / admin considerations. Also, for immigrants, does your background (for example, growing up in Japan) affects your group placement or the placement is completely dependent on language school (ex. Native Japanese but take French -> 3rd / 10th group)?
That 1SFG patch falling off on your top left.
Weird question . Does a prior mos go into account when they pick your mos
Nope. Seen plenty of 68w not get 18D and things like that.
If you are a 68w does that give you preference to be an 18D
Do you think that if you were to be selected and then asked to be on a HALO team and you would say that you are scared of heights and want to go on a different team… What do you think would happen? Would that even be an option to refuse to go on a HALO team? Or would they kick your ass out lol? Thank you!
Given that you go through airborne school and will have to be airborne qualified to even attend sfas, I reckon youre gonna have to figure that out a bit sooner 😅
Can you test out for a language that you already know?
Depends on if it’s a target language, also if the regiment needs more of those speakers at that specific time. So short answer is maybe.
Nate very serious question, what percentage of female Green Berets can pash Special Forces dive school?
There aren’t female green berets so 0%. But there are women who have passed CDQC that aren’t SF.
@@ValhallaVFT thank you for correcting me, and for answering my question!
I heard if you can speak certain language, you can skip language school. Is it true?
Depending on the language, sometimes. I also know guys that were native speakers who they still made take a different language.
Does this info apply for officers as well?
Mm, not really. Officers obviously only have 1 mos, and there track and ODA time is much different. They have their own process for how their career direction works.
Why did you want to be in HALO?
How would one get into SF as a medic? I'm 17 years old deciding on either going 68w or Corpsman, but I really want to do more and get into the SF route. Any resources would be great. I've looked everywhere but there's not really an actual answer...
I’m not sure what you’re confused about? How to go SF in general? Your mos isn’t going to matter going into SFAS.
@@ValhallaVFT that makes much more sense. Thank you!
Do you have to be invited to try out for SOT-A?
Not sure how the SOT-A selection process works actually. Worked with them a lot throughout my career but never really heard how that worked
How many years on an ODA to become a Warrant and what’s their job? I hear Warrants in the army just sit back and collect their paycheck 😂
Typically at least 10. I’m going to do a video on that pretty soon.
@@ValhallaVFT 👍
@@ValhallaVFT Waiting for that !