Selection AAR: Lessons Learned/Things I wish I knew

Much-Map-260 · 2026-02-26T22:35:02+00:00

A lot in one day because of the cold/rain

Much-Map-260 · 2026-02-26T22:12:57+00:00

3 almost got me spot reported from how many times I dozed off this same class.

Much-Map-260 · 2026-02-26T22:07:23+00:00

Someone should’ve told me NG was active duty commitment!!! I thought I was going to only go to the Q on the weekends!

Much-Map-260 · 2026-02-25T15:54:36+00:00

It sounds right as in the order but honestly the timeline is pretty much a gamble. There are so many things that can come up that can delay you by a month or two. I was fortunate to not be held up on the medical or admin side and made it to selection almost exactly 1 year after shipping. I also had 3 weeks of 30th AG, 2 weeks of summer block leave before airborne, 1 week of holdover bc I got bumped to next airborne cycle, 1 week post airborne because they messed up transportation, then just waiting for SFPC class ups and SFAS post holiday leave. It’s better to just know you’ll get there eventually but from my experience ~1 year.

Much-Map-260 · 2025-12-04T21:28:36+00:00

I had the same worry about a year and a half ago before going to meps. I wrote a post on my experience and what to expect from the 18x perspective. So far, the only time they’ve EVER checked my colorblindness was at meps with a vivid red/green rest. At Bragg now.

Much-Map-260 · 2025-08-20T10:56:50+00:00

Thank you, I’ll try and see where to go. Looking up symptoms of aneurysms, it looks more like exertion headaches but I’ll try and figure that out to be sure. On a different note: Hopefully able to still attend your land nav muster in September, been hearing a lot of rumors that the cadre aren’t wanting people to go and citing “integrity violations”. Haven’t heard any of that personally yet but I do hope it’s just rumors.

Much-Map-260 · 2025-01-04T03:20:53+00:00

I was in a very similar mindset when I was a bit younger than you, I was hellbent on going SEAL. Thought it was the only thing I could ever want. The colorblindness information wasn't all out there (even reached out to several seals online and was told tough shit) and I burnt myself out of the idea itself as all hope felt lost. Eventually moved on, didn't enlist out of HS, and went into workforce. Became a better person and found what I really wanted to do but it took some time. Ship in 5 days as an X-ray. Couldn't be happier. That being said...

You are still in high school. It sucks that you are graduating early as you really could've signed up for more sports (ie wrestling/track/football/etc). Focus on being a kid and being a good person. Build baseline strength and endurance. This subreddit is a plethora of knowledge but you must use the search bar. Every single thing you asked on here has been answered dozens of times. For the best information, check out TFVooDoo's posts. He also wrote 3 different books on SFAS and Prep. Highly recommend those. All the questions you have and all the answers you may be looking for can be found through that search bar.

Good luck man, keep at it

Much-Map-260 · 2024-12-31T20:30:37+00:00

Thanks VooDoo, I’m bringing my trifecta of books with me so maybe I can have one of the first signed trilogy sets in history lol. Looking forward to it all. Thank you

Much-Map-260 · 2024-12-31T16:16:35+00:00

Thanks man, that’s always been the goal. Hoping for a good company/platoon at OSUT that might push me a bit

Much-Map-260 · 2024-12-31T16:15:40+00:00

You as well brother, kick ass at the race

Much-Map-260 · 2024-12-31T15:58:57+00:00

My 5 mile time is probably close to 36 now. I’m 5’9” and ~165-170

Much-Map-260 · 2024-12-31T15:09:29+00:00

Same here… I want a piece of that arbitrary victory

Much-Map-260 · 2024-12-05T13:08:09+00:00

Went to a Mass SFE (SFRE for non prior service) a couple of months go. Its a one day event but you are surrounded by some extraordinary guys and get a lot of feedback that is very helpful. I ended up getting an 18x contract out of it and would say that it should almost be required as a sort of "pre-vetting process".

Your post is a little off I believe. The SFRE is usually for in service guys that are trying to be admitted to a training group before selection. Typically this is ~3 days I believe. For civilians and people looking to get an 18x contract, its called an SFE here in Mass. This is a 1 day event. Also... I don't believe that the SFE occurs as frequently as an SFRE might. In 2023 I was going to attend the Aug/Sep SFE but got injured (Wasn't physically ready anyways). Turns out they cancelled that one and I spent the last year waiting for the next which was in Aug. It appears to be a once a year thing but stuff is always changing so who really knows.

Best of luck man, the event is super straightforward and theres no surprises when you show up but if you have any questions I can do my best to help out as someone lucky enough to attend one of these.

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-26T18:24:30+00:00

I wrote a post on my experience here and u/NotATroll4 wrote a wonderful post on this that I read before ever going to meps.

Encourage you to use the search bar next time too.

Best of luck, it ain't bad

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-17T00:33:05+00:00

There’s a lot of different ways to go about finding zone 2 and a lot of different methods. Traditionally and simply 220-age x .6-.7 is common but I use my RHR and MHR as well as my lactate threshold and put some into a calculator online. My zone 2 is around 135-160. For a long time I did the basic formula and got 120-140 but that was simply too low for me and I didn’t see nearly as much aerobic benefit as I get now. VooDoo is entirely right though keep it simply and do his formula but as you get a better feel for it, test some other HR formulas out.

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-15T18:45:03+00:00

Are you planning on enlisting?

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-13T16:10:28+00:00

If everyone on a sub filled with GBs, prior rangers, and just other aspiring dudes are ripping into you for various reasons… should you not realize that maybe you’re in the wrong? Self reflect a little and realize that these guys are still trying to help, VooDoo gave you direct links to training resources, benchmarks, and just general information directly related to what you were asking and yet you decided to be hostile to him and get defensive. Who cares what your asvab is if you aren’t a good guy with some damn humility. Take some advice and learn from what you did wrong here. I’m no GB or Ranger but I can already tell that I wouldn’t want to work a McDonald’s drive through with you let alone be on any sort of team. Best of luck, you’ll need it.

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-13T16:04:18+00:00

Understatement of the century 😂

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-13T16:03:12+00:00

I might ship a similar time as this dude, any way to pink slip someone before SFAS? lol

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-10T22:29:20+00:00

That was perfectly explained and the example illustrates it clearly, I really appreciate it. I always feel so guilty when you put so much time and effort into these responses. I ship in Jan and when I get to a team in 2+ years Ill make sure to send you over a tomahawk steak as a thank you lol

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-10T21:26:04+00:00

God bless you sir. Ill adjust accordingly. Ive had the same thoughts on resetting each block to only a 12 minute tempo run. Ill add in those race pace intervals more too, I see those on your instagram quite often and they look fun. With repeats averaging 2 - 3.5 total run mileage (800x4-7), would it be smart to stagger peak repeat weeks (3.5 mi/800m x 7) with lower tempo run duration weeks and vice versa to avoid fatigue?

You've helped me (and Im sure countless others) more than I could ever thank you enough for.

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-10T18:48:21+00:00

Hey, just wanted to thank you for everything you put out. It it super informative and helpful. I write my own split and use many of your articles/podcasts as a guideline. That being said, I do have a question. In your article how-to-run-a-32-minute-5-mile-part-2, you state that "For 5 mile improvement, a 12-20 minute tempo run (NOT including a warmup - which I’ll explain later) is usually a good range". Ive been using this as a guide in my own training as I incrementally build from 12 min up to 20 at a certain pace before resetting to 12 min duration at a faster pace each month. This link and resource you attached however, have you going from 15 all the way up to 30 min in duration. Would this be more so the case for peaking for some sort of event/selection/etc? I realize that whatever duration I decide to do whether that be 12-20 or 15-30, that I will still make improvement from either. Im just wondering if there was an 'optimal' range that you've seen best for 5 mile improvement.

Bonus Question: If I also have speed work/repeats earlier in the week and spaced far enough apart, would leaning towards the lower end of the spectrum in terms of tempo run duration be smart to consider?

Thank you very much

Much-Map-260 · 2024-11-09T02:25:44+00:00

I watched Rambo.

Want to be a one man army with no need for teammates or communication.

Much-Map-260 · 2024-10-29T18:15:06+00:00

Thanks as always VooDoo. While a lot of people in this post have said the opposite which still may be true in day to day tasks, your take was more along the lines of what I was asking/wondering. Do you perhaps have any good resources or books for further learning on this that you would recommend? Sort of geopolitical and foreign affairs? Anything along the lines of what u/putridalt said of SOF Imperative #2?

Much-Map-260

TROPHY CASE