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how would i go about getting into the 18 field of the army?
i need to know what to tell my recruiter to be able to get into the 18 field… im planning on enlisting infantry (11b) than going airborne and after that applying for air assault school and than ranger.. what else would i have to ask for in my contract. or tell me a better way to go about going this
Hello Zack,
Halt, Soldier!
Remember this from the start. You don’t make a plan like you just did and think that it is guaranteed to you and that it is going to happen just because you “wish it” — Infantry to Airborne – to Air Assault – to Ranger. Everything is about the Needs of the Army. That comes first. The Army will pick and choose those people that they think will best qualify and complete the training.
MOS 18 is Special Forces. MOS 11 is Infantry. If you go into the Infantry the Army is not going to take you out and fast track you, an unknown, into the Special Forces. You will be a soldier who is being trained to take his part in his Infantry regiment.
Do not sign on to the Army unless you can get the Enlistment Option to try out for 18X. Of course, trying out does NOT mean that you will make it. But, at least you will not have to wait 3 years until you make Corporal and then wait until you reenlist to have sufficient retainability to complete a Special Forces training school.
Try Out: Not everybody makes the high school basket ball team or football team just because they want to play the game. They try out and if they don’t have the talent or skills they don’t make the team. Same with Special Forces in the Army.
Now, what YOU need to do is get the recruiter to get you the 18X Enlistment Option:
“18X isn’t actually an MOS (Military Occupation Specialty). Instead, it’s an enlistment option. Until recently, the only way to join the Army Special Forces was to apply after achieving the grade of E-4.
Under the 18X enlistment option, recruits are guaranteed the opportunity to “try out” for Special Forces. It does not guarantee that the recruit will be accepted into the Special Forces program. It only guarantees that the recruit will be given the opportunity to see if he “has the stuff.”
A recruit who enlists in the 18X Special Forces enlistment program will attend Infantry OSUT (One Station Unit Training), which combines Army Basic Training and Infantry AIT (Advanced Individual Training), all in one 17-week course.
Upon graduation, recruits attend Airborne Training at Fort Benning, GA. After “jump school,” recruits attend a 4-week Special Operations Preparation Course (SOPC) at McKenna MOUT Site, Fort Benning, Georgia. Following graduation from SOPC, recruits are scheduled for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) program. This is a very tough course, and has an extremely high wash-out rate. The Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) program assesses and selects Soldiers for attendance at the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). This program allows SF an opportunity to assess each Soldier’s capabilities by testing his physical, emotional, and mental stamina. The SFAS also allows each Soldier the opportunity to make a meaningful and educated decision about SF and his career plan.
Soldiers attend SFAS on a temporary duty status. You should plan to be at Fort Bragg, North Carolina for up to 30 days. You will be trained in all military subjects used in the assessment. The course is individual cross country land navigation based covering distances from 18 kilometers up to on or about 50 kilometers. The distances and weight carried increase during the course, but being prepared mentally and physically for the events cannot be over emphasized.
If the recruit passes the SFAS, he moves onto the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). The SFQC teaches and develops the skills necessary for effective utilization of the SF Soldier. Duties in CMF 18 primarily involve participation in Special Operations interrelated fields of unconventional warfare. These include foreign internal defense and direct action missions as part of a small operations team or detachment. Duties at other levels involve command, control, and support functions. Frequently, duties require regional orientation, to include foreign language training and in-country experience. The SF places emphasis not only on unconventional tactics, but also knowledge of nations in waterborne, desert, jungle, mountain, or arctic operations.
The SFQC is currently divided into three phases: Individual Skills, MOS Qualification, and Collective Training. The enlisted applicant’s SFQC training will be scheduled upon successful completion of SFAS.
Best wishes,
Larry Smith
SMSgt, USAF (Ret.)
First Sergeant
Finnish Army – Field Artillery