Does the military look at your grades from high school if you want to join the spec ops? serious answers only?
you go to MEPS and take your ASVAB. you score VERY high, Then you go to MEPS again, and do your physical, and job counseling. You choose your job with the counselor.. That simple. Then you train everyday before you go to boot camp.. High score grades do not matter, as long as you've received a diploma. But i'd keep them high, it shows you'll get a high grade on your ASVAB :)
Do High School grades matter in the Military?
Grades don't matter, so long as you have a diploma. And you need to score quite high to get into the special forces. And get through the training, which has an obscenely high wash out rate. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0321new.htm
How can I start training in high school to join US Army Special Forces?
Mr. Asoyan’s answer was very good. I’d only like to add a few things. Note: I’m not SF, but these are lessons I’ve gathered from speaking with much more qualified individuals.The 18X contract has served as an unofficial 82nd Airborne contract. Very few X-Rays have been completing SFAS, let alone getting selected to go to the Q. Any X-Rays who don’t ultimately pass SFAS are sent out to other light infantry units, usually the 82nd. However, the majority of Rangers in the 75th came into the Army on a Ranger contract. So you may have a better chance getting a Ranger contract, doing a few years in a Batt, then going SF. The 75th has the highest selection rate at SFAS in the entire Army.If you’re dead set on going the 18X route, I’d recommend a few things to prepare.Start physically training now. Mountain Athlete and Stew Smith have some phenomenal training guides to help you prepare for the physical part of selection. But, the physical part is just that… a singular part of selection. There’s a lot more to it than just rucking and log PT.Consider college. College will force you to mature, to be responsible, and to become better in social settings. All of which are crucial for Special Forces.Take writing and speech classes. SF does a lot of both, and you’ll benefit from getting familiar with both in an academic setting. Social Psychology and Conflict Resolution classes are also really educational.Start learning a language. If you have an idea what Group you’d want to go to, you can start learning the fundamentals of one of those languages. For instance, I took four years of German in high school, and I’d be interested in going to 10th Group, which has a European Area of Operations. If you get the basics out of the way, it’ll be somewhat easier going through Language training.Like I said, I’m not SF. But I’m like you, and I plan on pursuing SF once I get my degree. I feel that having done all of the aforementioned things, I’d be at least slightly ahead of the curve compared to other X-Rays.
I want to go into the military as a sniper, which branch would be better?
Some things to keep in mind:1. Snipers are almost always drawn from non-commissioned (no officers) members of the Infantry. (Yes, the Navy has snipers with the SEAL teams but I'm an Army guy so I'm going to approach this from the Army perspective.) That means in order to be even considered you will have to not only join a ground force like the Army or Marines etc but specifically the "Black Cadillac" (combat boot) marching straight legged Infantry. If you are confused as to what the Infantry is, the Infantry is the fighting force. Your duty isn't to fix trucks or operate tanks, it's to fight, mostly on foot, and to close with and destroy the enemy.2. Snipers are drawn from the BEST of the Infantry. Sniper positions are competitive so you need to not only be a good shot but also a highly ranked solider with your unit. You need to be in top physical shape, a "team builder", a potential future leader, and a master of your craft (basic soldier skills and tactics). Yes this sounds like a lot but for those that are selected to be snipers, they all hit those boxes.3. Don't get ahead of yourself. I am assuming you are still a civilian and have yet to start your journey in the military. We have all seen plenty of wide eyed enthusiastic recruits walk through the gates of the base to only be put on the first bus back after the pressure is turned on and the screaming starts. In order to be even considered as a sniper candidate you will likely have to be in for at least 2-3 years and have completed all of your basic and some of your advanced training (mountain, winter, mounted and dismounted warfare, basic and advanced recce etc). All of these courses are extremely hard and make basic training seem like Sunday tea. What I am trying to say here is you got a long way to go and you should be focusing on finishing your basic training and your basic infantry training. If you haven't washed out by then (and plenty of people do wash out) then start to think about what you need to do to become a sniper. If you are switched on your chain of command will be more than happy to help you with that goal.You are probably not unlike many people who aspire to great things in the military - enthusiastic, and with your heart in the right place but trust me on this... You have no idea what you are getting yourself into. Like I mentioned previously, focus on finishing and excelling at your basic and basic Infantry training and then evaluate where things are stacking up.Good luck.
Should you join the military before or after college?
Oh boy… Someone with more time will probably write a beautiful answer to this question, but I’ll give you the short version.Going after: You have the opportunity to pursue a commission as an officer, which is a ton of work and responsibility but basically makes the whole experience better in almost every way, including pay and career prospects for after the military. If you don’t choose that path you still get automatic promotion to E-4 with a college degree, which means more pay and opportunity. You can also have the military pay off your college loans in some cases and still be eligible for the post 9/11 GI bill if you serve more than 3 years (These programs change and your mileage may very).Going before: You get the “full experience” and the camaraderie of being a Joe. If you don’t choose to go career, you basically get it out of the way. After you’ve been through military training and an enlistment, college will seem crazy easy. You won’t have to worry about loans at any point (assuming the post 9/11 stays around). You will also most likely have a better pick of schools, since most colleges are pretty good about letting veterans in. You would also have the option to go to college and do ROTC knowing a lot more about the military if you did want to commission. It would be an informed choice.For the record, I went in after and commissioned. The level of responsibility that you have thrust on you in that situation is unlike anything you will get in the private sector or anywhere else. If that’s what you’re looking for, I highly recommend it. Good luck.
How do I train for military special forces as a teenager?
The easiest way is to find someone that is either currently serving or used to serve in SF and get them to mentor you. Obviously that is not an option that is available to everyone.You need to train in multiple disciplines. I recommend getting started with a good weightlifting program to build muscle. Don't focus on just one body part (some people do all chest and arms and ignore the rest). You'll also need to be able to run reasonably well. You should also start marching over distance while carrying weight. Being able to swim is also highly recommended.Start slow. A lot of people push too hard too fast and they end up injuring themselves. I can tell you from personal experience that an injury will set you back a lot more than just easing into it.There are published guidelines for preparing for SFAS. These guidelines assume you are already in the Army and meeting existing physical fitness standards. Run yourself through the Army PT test first and see where you are.If you have an obstacle course available, take advantage of that as it will get you used to using multiple muscle groups together to accomplish tasks quickly. If you have the money, there are various obstacle races that might help, like Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, etc. Aim for the best time you can while also completing all obstacles. Start with the smaller races (5k) first and work your way up. If you're tight on cash, most races let you work as a volunteer for one race to get free entry into a future race.Most importantly, train your mind. Don't shy away from training outdoors just because it's cold or raining or otherwise not fun. You won't get that option during selection, training, or real missions. I've known a few SF guys. Some were lifters. Some were runners. Many of them were not the huge ripped beasts that a lot of guys picture. Instead, the one thing most of them had in common was that they didn't have an "off" switch. They just kept going no matter how hard it was or how much it sucked.Finally, be confident in what you do. Don't expect to get feedback on how you're doing or if you are doing the right or wrong thing. You can't be constantly second-guessing yourself (although this isn't the same as not listening to anyone, keep that fine line between confidence and arrogance in mind).APFT Standards for 2015Preparing for SFASPre-SFAS Workout
College Grad going into the Army for Ranger or Spec Forces?
Wow, a lot of advice here. Some good, some bad. MSG J seems to have the best answer regarding the Ranger vs SF stuff. Personally I recommend the 18X (Special Forces - Initial Entry MOS) way. I have gotten nothing but positive feedback from the field ever since they implemented that program. Now what you need is information that will help nug through all the rank "stuff". First of all, to settle the enlistment rank. You would enter the service as an E-4 (Specialist), no not a Corporal. That is a lateral promotion and will NEVER happen to a IET (initial entry trainee). As far a OCS, my recommendation would be to wait. Enlistments get you the largest bonuses. Finish your initial enlistment with a minimum of four years and THEN go to OCS. Couple reasons for that: 1) Your Soldiers will respect you more for having walked in their shoes. 2) 4 years enlisted will put you in the commissioned ranks with an "E" designator which means lots more money as you move up the ranks. An O-3E with ten years makes more money that a regular O-3 with the same number of years. 3) If you have completed Basic, AIT, Jump School, and Ranger and/or SF Q-course then OCS will be easy. 4) If you are already SF qualified and go to OCS then you can stay SF or change branches. If you go straight to OCS you may end up as a Finance Officer stuck in an admin job. Finally, I know that that the stereotype for recruiters is that they are all lying S.O.B's but in truth they are mostly a professional bunch. Most of them are not going to jeopardize their careers by lying just for one enlistment. Ask your recruiter to set up a meeting with his company commander and you can more information about all this. Once an applicant goes to this level (potential OCS, 18X) the commander should be involved anyway.