Any taxpayer can comment, huh?  Well then as a taxpayer and former memeber of a USASOC unit, C co, 2/75 Ranger, I feel an obligation to comment.  No one ever said it was a secret club.  You have a guy who comes out and says that a unit is full of a bunch of shitheads due to his experience with a few vets who are pissed off at the world because thy were handed a bum deal in life.  As far as the vets I have ever talked to, they said we had it better, not easier.

come again?

these men, who have volunteered to give up their lives so you can sleep soundly, are not worth your time?

these men, many of whom carry wounds because of this selfsame decision, are not worth your time?

these men, who would be called 'brothers' by the ww2 vets you know, are not worth your time?


i submit to you that your time is a gift from these men.  they have chosen to be warriors so that you can be a consumer.  accept their gift with grace, or be known as a fool and an ingrate.  but i would say that you've already made that decision.

Now that was a really intelligent point, well in a 6th grade kind of way
WOW you knew a guy that wanted to go SF and an E6 from a Ranger unit. I didn’t know you were so well connected. It must be one of the perks of being in a “forward support unit”

Hey greenhat,

I'll put my intellect up against your intellect any day of the week.

This I have to see....

Hey Steve and SneakySFdude, Piss off.  

I did my time and I will feel free to comment on what I saw and what I observed.  I am not, assuming you didn't just read my post-but actually digested and understood  what was contained therein,say or insinuate in anyway that I am an expert on anything when it comes to combat or the army.  I got out after 4 years cause it wasn't what I wanted for the rest of my life.

Since your special training abviously did not include reading & comprehending english, I said that I respected the Rangers and SF guys that I met.  Nothing more, nothing less, so screw you and the horse you rode in on.

Don't like it, then tuff.  Go crawl back under that rock crawled out from under.

BTW:  S-SF-D, I don't have to type because I can afford a secretary for that shit, so again, piss off, typing ain't in my job description and I simply don't give a fuck.  Is typing in yours?  Probably a freaking secretary somewhere missing your glory days.

You two are wound a little too tight to be real SF people.  The ones that I knew knew what real important shit was and didn't get uptight when little, inconsequential shiot like this came up.  That's because most of them had seen combat or seen people get really fucked up in training.  Anyway,. your comments make me wonder.  Actually, I don't care, if you are what you say you are, great.  If you aren't really what you say you are, then shame on you.

Well I see this lil' thread has turned into quite a (well deserved) ass reaming. 308 Shut yer hole and swallow your crow. You spout your drivel about "when SF used to be special" et al. Yet can't back it up when the real guys come out of the woodwork. Whomever posted this on SOCNET thanks, I thought of doing it myself but figured the FNG didn't need to call out the posse

Back to you swinging dick wannabe's. As an American taxpayer you have the right to say whatever it is that you want, we as former servicemen (all services and MOS's) have the right, nay DUTY to tell you to STFU when you open your cockholster and start spewing shit about a subject that you know nothing about. "I saw on TV", or "I read it in a book..." doesn't count.

So youy read "Inside Delta Force" too, I guess that makes you an operator? [rolleyes] Hey why don't you tell me about the "good old days in the field stations"!

Well said pony_driver, I agree with what you said & I am out of here & shutting my pie hole.  308 has apologized, accepted the fact that he stepped in it on both the SOCNET and this forum.  

  To misquote William Randolph Hearst, "You supply the questions about swimming, and I'll supply the war."

 Seriously, having a group of "been there, done that" soldiers coming to the defense of a complete stranger like me has made a huge impression.  I can tell just from this one thread that I will find a home worth sweating for in my next unit.  Thanks to all you SOCNET posters for your support and advice.

That would be me. Glad I can still amuse the little ones.

Hey fucker, eat my ass. You're welcome to post what you like, when you like, to whom you like... but don't cry foul and act like the pissed-off nerdy kid who got his pee-pee smacked by saying (essentially)"You're all dumb, I'm smarter than you, I make more money, and you guys suck" just because a bunch of guys called you out too.

SO you were in support. Great. I'm glad. People like you were useful at JRTC when I broke my ruck or had a pay issue, or needed a new tire for the hummer. I can understand getting out after 4 years from that; I'd get bored off my ass too and look to find something of more equitable benefit (there ya go guys), and probably walk around making excuses for why I only spent 4 years in a stagnant role. Nobody blames you. Hell, if I was a tire-filler in the motor pool, I'd probably view having a Secretary my own slice of heaven. That said, I know Rangers who make a shitload of cash, have secretaries, toys, etc. and don't run their sucks like you do.

You remind me of the 2 kindergarteners on the playground fighting, and one goes "Well you are... no YOU are.... no YOU are... and you smell... and I got more toys." Assfuck.

Defend your point. Vehemently if necessary. Just don't turn it around into a pissing contest, and a penis comparison. You may have a bigger dick, but the other guy's wife might be Sofia Vergara, while yours is Betty-Blow-Up.

You call the others wound up and tight... but I didn't read them going "Piss off... I'm better... I got a SECRETARY... I'm smarter..."

Sounds like the Army is better off since you left. I've met your kind all over the place. Pissed-off, making excuses for themselves while trying to laude every little achievement they have... trying to pinpoint every idiosynchracy you find in a person and magnifying it 10-fold to pull the shadow off yourself, and giving excuses for your 1 term in the Army. It's a sad existence. Have a beer and fuck your fist pal, it's about the best you can hope for in life.

Match wits with whoever you want. You're not Albert Einstein or a Rhodes Scholar.

Eat Shit.  

Feel the LOVE!

I wonder if 82nd has seen this post?


BTW: if you can get into a summer SFAS class do it.

308wood,

I was the 1998 NCO of the Year for 3/20 SFG(A), Florida Army National Guard. I spent 9 years in that unit as a soldier, NCO, and later as an Officer. I am not Special Forces qualified.
Pre-9/11 I can think of 4 or 5 countries that we deployed to. In 1998 alone our full-time staff of less than a dozen planned and executed 14 separate Annual Training periods. Our “one weekend a month, two weeks out of the year” was more like some very long weekends and 3 to 4 weeks out of the year. Mind you that this was all BEFORE 9-11.
The training pipeline for a support soldier OR an 18 series soldier is THE SAME as the Active Duty units. When we reported to our unit we were as qualified as our AD brothers.
Does the Guard have a “Bubba” network? Sure, all units in the Guard, Reserve, and AD do. You can’t run from it. It isn’t changing.
You’ve never worn a uniform so you have the gall to question those that have? Yeah, you don’t need to be a gunsmith to work on a gun or to know about them. You DO have the legal right to state your opinion. That opinion is baseless in light of the fact that you’ve NEVER SERVED A DAY IN YOUR LIFE! Dropping the coin out there was tasteless and stupid. I’ve never served in the Ranger Regiment, for example. I have AN IDEA what it is like, but am I qualified to speak on it? No. Do I have the legal right to? Yes. Just because something is legal doesn’t make it prudent for me to perform that action.
Your statements are based on second and third-hand comments. Why didn’t you preface your posts with that? Why did you feel compelled to speak out on something that you know nothing about? You giving swimming advice to a guy that is going to SFAS is laughable. You may be a great swimmer, but that isn’t what he was looking for.
What do NG SF units do today? Almost everything. My old unit is going back to A-stan for round #2. The “bubbas” are going to busy for years to come. Some will sacrifice their careers and even families to make that happen.

Not bad for a bunch of “bubbas”, eh?

AvengeR15: shoot me an email if you want. We probably have some friends in common. That CSM that interviewed you? He boarded me in 98. CSM "B" is as good as they come.

Take care all,

BTAR

Damn, well, you have balls. Not many people who will volunteer to take part in a gunfight unarmed.

Well, I finally got my password and looks like the dust has settled in here. Nice to see all the posts from the socnet guys here.

Good to see all the SOCNET folks here. Well, let me tell you all a story about the "Bubba Brigade". This is a "No Shit, there I was" story.
Back in the winter of 1966-67 I went out West with about 350 other members of the 3d SFG (Abn) to get some Ski Training in Solitude, Utah and take part in a FTX where we were to "Train" members of the local NG SF units in Utah and Montana. Being a typical "Know it all" butterbar who was formerly an E-6 (working under two handicaps), I jumped into Deer Lodge, Montana with the attitude that National Guard SF have to be a bunch of guys that hang around the Armory and drink beer on Weekends. Us REGULAR ARMY guys were going to show them a thing or two. (Believe it or not, I wasn't the only one with an attitude....most of the Senior NCO's with 3 or 4 Vietnam Tours felt the same way) WELL GENTS! We got our asses handed to us by the "Nasty Guard SF". These guys were all lumberjacks and outdoorsmen and were as much at ease in the mountains of Montana (Contenintal Divide) as we were at the bar of the Center Parachute Club. These guys TAUGHT US how to survive overnight in temperatures that were 70 below zero. It was miserable, but nobody got frostbite and we all survived a night in Rogers Pass on the Contenintal Divide after being shown how to dig snow shelters by the NG SF Troops. There was nothing we could "teach" these guys about Map Reading/Orienteering, they had their acts together. Most of the membership of the units were guys who were on active duty with SF but decided not to make the Army a career and joined the NG after getting off active duty. Don't ever knock NG SF units. Most of them are in places like Iraq and Afghanistan right now.

colmurph:

Great story, it's pretty fucking easy to criticize from behind a keyboard. Totally different ballgame when you actually walk in the other guys shoes:

People who have not "walked the walk", are the most prone to "talk the talk":

Terry

Lordy Lordy Lordy...the gangs all here!  Hey guys...where did Chucklehead go?
AvengeR15 Swim info dude...you leave yet?  Keep us informed.  Some of us really do care, in a manly sorta way.

Primum non Nocere

AvengeR15,

 Here's my advice.  Learn to be comfortable in the water.  Wheter it is 50meters or 5k.  Be comfortable.  That's what I looked for when selecting guys on my scuba team (15 years on dive status).  

 Good choice as a 18C if you make it.  Just know your basic math and long hand problems (no calcultators allowed).  I started out as a 12B/18C years ago.  

 To all SOCNET gents thanks for the support.  I need to check back over there, been busy.  This weekend I was the primary jumpmaster for my aircraft at Saint Mere Eglise, France for the 59th Annv.  While on landing I hit extremely hard and fractured my left hip.  Second time in 19.5 years on jump status I've broken something.

AvengeR15 good luck in your quest.

De Oppresso Liber

Hey Pony Driver I could tell you about the good old days in the Field Stations. Been there done that.
H&S Co Field Station Berlin.
As far as the arm chair wannabees. Try serving your
country before opening your mouth. You have no clue as to what you're saying. One of my captains that I served under was Sf and I have the utmost repect for him. He was far superior than some of the other officers that I knew.

Combat_Diver,
DUDE!!! The REAL St Mere...absolutely phenominal.  Sorry about your injury, but at least now you have no excuse not to drop in for a digital pint.  So hurry up and bring your lame ass over!
Heal up quick brother.  Looks like the chucklehead went into hiding.  See you in the TR.

Primum non Nocere
BTW...
Sound advice to swimmer dude...ODA 755...

If .308 comes back, here's a preemptive asshat on my apart.

ASSHAT!!!

Honestly.  You guys should pull his ass out from behind that computer and out of his parents' basement and make him try some of those selection tests.

SC-Texas:

Not only are Sneaky and Steve real deals, but I served on the same ODA as Sneaky.

They did their time and put their asses on the line for the people of this country, and paid with their blood to give you the right to talk smack.  Sneaky continues to work as a security specialist in a high risk area, FYI.

You are a braggart and owe both of them an apology for your comments, and have just proven yourself to me to be a world class ass.

308wood, you may have a bunch of posts, but clearly, you haven't learned much along the way.  You are ignorant and prejudiced.  The dead and wounded who fell in Afghanistan from 19th and 20th SFGAs were obviously not up to your high standards.  Too bad, they were comrades of mine and good enough to serve with this old broken down AD SF soldier any day.

AvengeR15, keep swimming till you are done or pass out.  Good luck and never, ever quit.

Have a nice day.

SF

I thought you might like to know these dates and class numbers.  While I’ve only worn the Maroon Beret, I’ve worked and “Played”, with those of the Tan and Green Head Gear.  Neither of them would take any lip from anybody without a TAB.

Class 038 Reports on August 1, starts Training August 4, Ends August  22.
Class 039 Reports on August 8, starts Training August 11, Ends August  29.
Class 040 Reports on August 15, starts Training August 18, Ends September 5.
Class 041 Reports on August 22, starts Training August 25, Ends September 12.
Class 042 Reports on August 29, starts Training September 4, Ends September 22.

Report to Building 2748 no later that 1200 hours on whichever is your designated reporting date.  I think you know the rest of the drill.
By the way, Class 038 has 302 Students currently enrolled, 039 has 317, 040 has 313, 041 has 314, and 042 has 305 students enrolled.

We shall be very unhappy if you don’t make at least THIS School.[(:)]

The swim test isn't bad, just down and back w/BDU and boots. Don't touch the wall, don't touch bottom. I made the mistake of waterproofing my boots before selection, when I jumped in the water, they filled up like lead weights. I made it though, but it was harder. Make sure to do a LOT of land nav before you go. That's crucial. Run a lot, ruck a lot. Someone said to go in the summer, but i disagree. Go in October. I looked at a chart that showed the pass fail rates at Bragg and the summer had some of the highest fail rates. Don't be afraid of selection. Just prepare yourself as best you can and go for it. Oh, wear the eye protection they give you on land nav. [;)]
And 308, and SCTexas, I got out of 20th goup 2nd battalion NG in Maryland because of a disabling injury. I was training to be 18D. That was two years ago. Not a day goes by I don't miss it. I'd give anything to go back and finish training. You could have offered me the presidency and i would have turned it down to be an 18D. I can tell you first hand that the guys in the NG units are every bit as good as those who are RA. Once you are SF, you are always SF. To be honest I was white hot when I read you two cockbreaths talking shit about something you know nothing about. After cooling off I see you for what you are.
An apology would take intestinal fortitude. Neither of you have it.