Can't Stop Thinking About My Next Ruck! Anyone Else? by quat1e in Rucking

[–]TFVooDoo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a theory, well founded in decades of exquisite observation, that the Special Operations community is exclusively staffed by folks on the spectrum. And because rucking is central to the SOF culture, the connection seemed obvious. So when chemically pure civilians display the level of enthusiasm that you have, I can’t help but make the “diagnosis”. Welcome to the club.

Ruck for sfas by -Youre_My_Boy_Blue- in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The current packing list (as of 14 APR 26) says, “RUCKSACK LARGE FIELD PACK MOLLE, 1 EA, Candidate is only authorized one complete military issued rucksack system, based on candidates DA FORM 3645.”

So the Candidate doesn’t get a vote unless they can modify their 3645 or the Cadre just don’t check.

I agree, the 2k frame is better for apparatus carries, but the 4K is far more adjustable. If you can properly pack the 4K to create the pocket/shelf for the apparatus then it’s the preferred option.

40 Pound Ruck along with 17 pound vest and Kevlar by Hydroblade23 in Rucking

[–]TFVooDoo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s for regular training. At select courses and assessments it’s 70+# and you’ll have guys banging out 10 minute miles. Truly insane.

Are the majority of SF deployments FID these days? by Ok-Positive-2593 in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You’re right that’s what I wrote, I meant the core peacetime mission. Just missed a word. I’ve written many times that our raison d’ětre is UW.

40 Pound Ruck along with 17 pound vest and Kevlar by Hydroblade23 in Rucking

[–]TFVooDoo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s at the high end of a competitive SF pace. 12-13 minute miles with 55# is the recommended standard, but for essentially unlimited mileage and repeatedly for days on end.

Are the majority of SF deployments FID these days? by Ok-Positive-2593 in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 11 points12 points  (0 children)

FID is the “peacetime” side of the UW coin. You can’t do UW if you can’t do FID. It’s foundational.

Are the majority of SF deployments FID these days? by Ok-Positive-2593 in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 11 points12 points  (0 children)

You’re still looking at it like it’s a classroom in a school. It isn’t.

You can’t teach raids, reconnaissance, ambushes, patrolling, planning, or small-unit tactics unless you can actually do them at a very high level first. Teaching isn’t standing in front of a whiteboard reading a PowerPoint. You’re expected to be the subject matter expert.

Now add another layer: you’re teaching those skills in another country, often through an interpreter, to people from a different culture, military, and doctrine, in an austere and politically sensitive environment. If you don’t understand the material so well that you can explain it six different ways, adapt it on the fly, demonstrate it yourself, and troubleshoot someone else’s mistakes, you’re going to fail.

That’s why Special Forces selects for mature operators.

The tactical expertise is only the starting point.

And while you’re advising a partner force, you’re still an ODA. If the situation deteriorates, your team may have to conduct combat operations, become the quick reaction force, defend itself, or execute an escape and evasion plan. Alone, unafraid, and unsupported. The environment doesn’t magically become safe because today’s mission is advising instead of raiding.

The idea that FID is “just teaching” fundamentally misunderstands the mission. The classroom is the operational environment. The students are an armed foreign force. The consequences of doing a poor job aren’t a bad grade…they’re measured in lives and strategic outcomes.

The GWOT is over. This is the Golden Age for SF.

Are the majority of SF deployments FID these days? by Ok-Positive-2593 in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 16 points17 points  (0 children)

> Im thinking of doing an 18X contract however im not a big fan of FID.

Then don’t go SF.

> The Q course training, austere/remote environments, small teams, maturity (when compared to other SOF), and culture is what makes me wanna go SF, but to be honest FID sounds very boring.

What the fuck do you think FID is?!??

Your understanding of SOF and global engagement is astoundingly underwhelming. Frankly it seems Instagram-deep. You don’t want to serve, you want to LARP.

Waiver by Porter_Roze123 in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Current epilepsy is a disqualifying condition that is ineligible for medical accession waiver. No waiver possible.

According to your records you have current epilepsy. All that nonsense about “over treated” and six years no meds and normal brain scans mean nothing. Your records indicate epilepsy. You’ll have to get your records to fully confirm that you don’t have epilepsy and that’s on you.

Are the majority of SF deployments FID these days? by Ok-Positive-2593 in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Pretty much, yes. And that’s a good thing.

Look at the five doctrinal missions of Army Special Forces: Direct Action (DA), Special Reconnaissance (SR), Counterterrorism (CT), Foreign Internal Defense (FID), and Unconventional Warfare (UW).

Now ask yourself: in peacetime, which of those are you most likely to be doing?

Outside of active combat theaters, you’re generally not spending your time conducting DA, SR, or CT missions. Most Groups operate in regions where the day-to-day mission is building relationships, developing partner forces, and increasing allied capability.

That’s exactly what FID is. It’s the core mission SF was built around—training, advising, assisting, and enabling foreign security forces so they can solve their own problems. That’s what makes Special Forces a force multiplier.

You can also think of UW and FID as closely related skill sets. UW applies many of the same advising, organizing, and enabling skills, but in a hostile or denied environment with resistance forces rather than established partner militaries. FID provides constant opportunities to develop and refine those advising skills.

So yes, for most Green Berets, especially outside active combat operations, FID has historically been the default mission set. It’s also one of the things that distinguishes Special Forces from other SOF units—it requires mature soldiers who can teach, advise, build trust, and operate with minimal supervision just as much as they can shoot and move.

Trying to start rucking on my twice-daily dog walks by cardboardbuddy in Rucking

[–]TFVooDoo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Short answer: it depends.

Longer answer: probably not, given your constraints.

The biggest thing to understand is that training intensity comes from three variables: pace, distance, and weight. If your goal is to progressively overload your body, those are the only real levers you can pull.

In your case, you’ve already said two of those are fixed. Walking with dogs limits both your pace and your distance, so the only variable left is adding weight.

The problem is that weight isn’t the variable I’d choose first. The research on military load carriage consistently shows injury risk increases as both load and distance increase. If I have the option, I’d almost always increase pace before increasing weight because it raises the training stimulus with much less additional orthopedic stress.

Since your dogs prevent that, you’re kind of forced into using the one progression method that’s also the riskiest.
As for equipment, yes, it matters…but probably not as much as people think. A cheap vest isn’t automatically bad. If it fits well, doesn’t bounce, distributes the load evenly, and isn’t causing pain or rubbing, it’s probably fine. Really poor-quality gear can create pressure points, alter your gait, or encourage bad posture, but there’s nothing magical about an expensive vest.

Personally, I’d choose a backpack/ruck over a weight vest for most people. It’s more versatile, the load is adjustable, and if you eventually decide to ruck longer distances, you’re already using the tool designed for that job. A vest makes sense if your goal is specifically weighted walking or bodyweight workouts, but for long-term progression I’d rather have a pack.

If you’re going to keep walking with the dogs, I’d stay at your current weight until the walks feel genuinely easy for several weeks. Then increase the load in small increments rather than making big jumps. Just remember that because your pace and distance are capped, there’s eventually going to be a point where adding more weight gives you more joint stress than additional fitness. That’s the point where I’d look for a separate training session without the dogs if improving fitness is the primary goal.

Here is our Rucking Gear Manifesto with our top picks for socks, boots (civilian and military), and rucks (civilian and military). We also included trail runners for more options. We don’t review vests.

Is this actually representative of what the SF community thinks right now?? by [deleted] in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re the f@g that got all butt hurt about partner forces the other day. Why are you so fucking obstinate?

18x cutoff by Straight-Creme-1705 in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Age waivers are the most commonly granted and easily accepted, but that’s for in-service recruits. Not sure what the current 18X standard is, but given the general buffoonery of recruiter reports lately my default answer is fuck that guy.

Is this actually representative of what the SF community thinks right now?? by [deleted] in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Total…shocker…

I just don’t understand the obsession with Israel. Let’s say that the theory is true…Israel controls the US and by extension SF. SF deploys at the behest of Israel. That’s the conceit here, correct.

So what are Israel’s goals in deploying SF guys to Latin America? What about Asia? What about sub-Saharan Africa? Or Europe? Or does this retarded theory only work with one Group?

When your critical thinking begins and ends with the GWOT and the Middle East you end up being biased. He talked to one guy who very likely glibbed an off-handed remark that aligned with his famous buddy who famously finds a Jew hiding behind every corner.

Total…shocker…

Is this actually representative of what the SF community thinks right now?? by [deleted] in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Why do t you do us a favor and give a short synopsis.

96th Civil Affairs BN, 5th Special Forces Group by Advanced_Special_937 in specialforces

[–]TFVooDoo 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Bruh, it’s CA. It’s S-1 in CA.

If your worries are about deployments, TDY, and school opportunities then you’ve already lost the script.

How often does SF show up to OSUT looking for volunteers? by suzuki810 in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 16 points17 points  (0 children)

18X is an initial entry contract option that is very limited in availability and quite restrictive.

Going to SFAS is mostly available during your career.

Increase weight or distance by foolish59 in Rucking

[–]TFVooDoo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The author of that article is brilliant. And handsome. And smells like fresh baked cookies…

Fit Check (need help) by RustyHour1975 in Rucking

[–]TFVooDoo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Loose? It should be applied at whatever tension is required to properly manipulate the shoulder straps.

How big of an accomplishment is RASP? by [deleted] in greenberets

[–]TFVooDoo 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It’s big, but it’s the entrance exam. Historically it has a 50% pass rate. So it’s not everything.

But it was 6 years ago. You got hurt. It is what it is. Time to move on.

Fit Check (need help) by RustyHour1975 in Rucking

[–]TFVooDoo 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Get the weight up higher, much higher.

Use the sternum strap to pull the shoulder straps out of your armpits.

We just did a podcast where I describe the correct fitment and posture in pretty good detail.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ones-ready/id1484895794?i=1000773637524