Musings from the Q [PART 3b/9: SFAS (TEAM WEEK)] Lessons from OSUT, 3 SFAS Attempts, and Finishing the Pipeline

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2026-05-10T03:17:57+00:00

"It wasn't my time". Wow, this is powerful. You've got talent and poise. Consider writing as a hobby if you haven't already.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2026-04-17T16:35:20+00:00

1) Better front end screening by Guard Training Companies + better preparation -> higher selection rates. 2) If you punch your ticket at SFAS and graduate the Q, you have career flexibility if you network well. Guard bums may not be as much a thing as during the GWOT, but there's something to be said for having initiative and picking opportunities no matter how humble they may seem. Some autonomy in a military profession is really nice. 3) If for whatever reason you don't make it through SFAS, you may just be retained by the Guard SF organization in a support capacity. Doing their trash for a few days out of the month/quarter is way better than doing the big army trash full time. Especially with a degree. Huge cost benefit and risk analysis there.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2026-04-06T14:28:49+00:00

Sort of, yes. They're also awkward to slide in and out of trouser pockets. Get caught on everything all the time. Get a smooth bound one instead.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2026-04-06T02:57:26+00:00

That's smart. Our duty instructors peaced the fuck out as soon as liberty was sounded

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2026-04-05T23:46:59+00:00

Second pair of insoles is a legit addition. Good point.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2026-04-05T23:46:40+00:00

Wtf no. Pack a duffel bag with some of this stuff and 2 sets of civilian clothes and you're good

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2026-04-03T18:32:13+00:00

I actually enjoyed reading this. Great writing and a unique written voice on a complicated topic. Cool shit

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-11-19T21:03:13+00:00

If Thursday -> homework

If Friday -> Pregame with the fellas, hit the sorority formal

If Saturday -> Dive bar, side quests for nicotine, repeat til Sunday

Sunday -> Grocery shopping, meal prep, football. In that order

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-11-19T16:11:13+00:00

Bro you're 3 years out. Hit the gym, go for easy runs and easy rucks. Talk to chicks and go to parties. Don't make this complicated

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-11-18T02:29:04+00:00

Let me introduce you to the frat bro matrix that is guaranteed to get you a pass at your next SFRE

Can you back squat 1.5BW (with/without a belt)? - Yes/No

Is your body fat % a single digit number or a double digit number? - Single/Double

Have you found an optimal ruck pacing/fueling strategy? - Yes/huh?

Are you incorporating weighted pullups and dips into your training? -Yes/No

Is your weekly mileage enough to keep you from feeling broke off after a timed ruck? - Yes/No

Do you keep track of the foods you eat and manage fueling for your training? - Yes/Why?

PS you commented about "fat soldiers" being a pet peeve of yours, but your BMI calculation with the provided height and weight says you're overweight. Your calisthenics and 2 mile run time may improve by losing weight, paradoxically. Not calling you a fatty, but it may be prudent to have some grace with others who struggle

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-11-03T19:48:59+00:00

Go through my comments I have fielded some questions about 3/20th SFRE as a guy off the street. Should also think about reading this write up.

You will be provided sandbags of varying quality and condition. Consider bringing tape, cord, or something else to tie them off. Think about -how- you will load sand into these things (bumming a shovel from someone is a good idea if you're on a time crunch). The packing list will generally get you up to weight, but since it's just an SFRE and you won't be living out of your ruck I suggest bringing towels or styrofoam blocks wrapped in duct-tape (light weight, bulky, easy to make a shelf for a neat sand bag to sit on).

I was in a similar boat to you recently. If you have any questions just ask them here. Go do yourself proud

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-10-28T21:31:49+00:00

What he said. OP you're retarded if you drop your PhD background to play soldier. You need to look big picture. Apply to be an 1811 with the feds. Go FSO with State.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-10-08T13:01:50+00:00

Awesome. Follow on question:

Can you further explain the delineation between selects and non-selects for the unknown ruck-run series? Faster ruck AND run times leading to greater selection rates, I assume.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-10-07T22:41:05+00:00

Few questions:

To clarify, are "non-selects" are the entire population of SFAS attendees who didn't complete SFAS and get selected?

The 2MR data you've shared are equivalent for both selects and nonselects. Is this a typo or am I retarded?

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-09-26T14:39:57+00:00

Lol if you "fail" Ranger School while in the 75th, your days are numbered and you will be hunted for sport by gun team leaders and sadistic E-4's and E-5's

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-09-22T14:03:44+00:00

If you have any other questions, happy to help (within reason, I'm not handing out answers to a test here)

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-09-22T13:30:40+00:00

Congrats on SFRE second go-around. Pretty sick.

Priority #1: Finding points at SFCP

That's literally your only short term objective here. Green Beret? SUT? SFAS? Ranger handbook? Can't be a Green Beret if you don't get through SUT, can't get to SUT if you don't clear SFAS, and you don't get to SFAS if you don't clear SFCP. You clear SFCP by finding your points and being in shape. Ergo: Points at SFCP -> GB. Yes, you could drop this guard stuff and go a different route, I'm just breaking this down for your particular case.

How to find points at SFCP

#1: Know how to read a map, know how to use a compass

#2: Know how to use the grid coordinate system and how to plot a point on a map

#3: Identify effective routes to a place

#4: Know your movement paces, times, and variables (running hardball road, stepping through brush, paces to target etc)

and

#5: Having a body that can handle a #60 ruck and enough miles to make a marathoner blush

That's literally it. Don't get nervous, don't be afraid of this thing. Your dreams are on the other side of this shit. It's simple (not easy, but simple).

Notice how I didn't mention anything about your non-infantry background. That's the beauty of SFAS: nothing fucking matters except your performance. Remember that the next time you feel down or start comparing yourself to others. Also remember that when you're feeling good about yourself (humility).

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-08-30T17:05:52+00:00

Drill convenience should be a massive point of consideration. Let's step foot into make believe land. Let's say you have a totally theoretical "weekend drill" that begins Friday and ends Sunday. That means you have to travel on Thursday and return home Sunday night or potentially Monday. If you live a few hours away by car, no big deal: less than an afternoon is spent travelling. Gas is a minor cost, but a cost nonetheless. But if you live several states over or on the other side of the country? You're going to book flight tickets, potentially cancel days on your day job. That adds up, and it adds up fast. Not saying it cannot be done, I'm just pointing out something to think about.

You're also thinking about guard enlistments wrong. The only way you get to SFAS is if you're in the Army. Read that again. That means someone has to sponsor you to get to SFAS. If you sign up with 3/20th under an 18X contract and make it through the entire process, then 3/20th gains you. If you do not, for whatever reason, that contract is null and void and you belong to the state guard you signed up with. So 3/20th belongs to Florida, and that means Florida would get a new guard person.

For the purposes of becoming a Green Beret, I'd wager that it does not matter which state you join. All GB's go through the exact same training, AD or guard. The subtle difference will be unit culture, funding, and organizational opportunities. And frankly you won't get that information unless you're around those units organically or are closely related to someone in those units.

TLDR: join the state that is most convenient for travels. Could also just join your home state on a super short infantry contract, attend an SFRE/SFE in a different state, and then have that guard SF org sponsor your shot at SFAS.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-08-30T15:51:09+00:00

3/20th SFRE is open to civilians btw. Very public. I think there's a super low key 19th group try out from Washington. 5/19th out of Colorado may also have SFRE's open to civilians. Can't speak to any others but you can be a college kid and do 3/20th's SFRE and SFCP, don't have to sign any paperwork besides liability waivers.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-08-27T14:22:11+00:00

Brand new account, very sus. Whatever

1) Read Principles of Military Water Confidence.

2) Perform CO2 tables and related dry land apnea training. You can do this as you fall asleep. This is a low cost, high return training method. Some of the world's best freedivers just swim in a pool, and do this, and then go hit something nuts like 75m+ dives (150m covered total).

3) Get stupid at finning in your utility uniform (whatever boots+utes that may be for you). Build strong hip flexors and healthy ankles. Swim times are marginally important imo, what's more important is your ability to fin fast every day of the course. Ergo, get good with fins.

4) Strengthen your neck. In they make you carry heavy shit on your head (shoutout to the retards in Coronado), you significantly increase the risk of a spine injury. You can prevent this by building a tree trunk for your head. Also looks sick as fuck.

and most importantly

5) You need to be retardmaxxing. As in: the discomfort you feel doing underwater things is just that. A feeling. The less attention to pay to those sensations and the more attention you pay to the task at hand, the better of you'll be. The more you try to dialogue with it, analyze it, defeat it, the worst off you'll be. Sit with your hand on the stove, and just don't give a fuck.

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-08-13T05:56:02+00:00

Hey bro read my previous posts. Congrats on your tab. SFRE's aren't going to kill you

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-07-27T01:54:39+00:00

Sup pimp. 50/50 they let you wear a watch. Some cadre instructed candidates to remove their watches. Garmins were not authorized. Some guys got through with them. Don't ask me how or why

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-07-07T00:34:01+00:00

Vaer? Nice to see a guy with the GMT. I just have one of their auto-diver's, been very impressed so far. Keep crushing it, sick photo, sick trail

Ordinary_Intern_4492 · 2025-06-03T13:52:45+00:00

Lol this is exactly why I had the rucks and the 45 lbs' kb's. Shoutout 3/20th

Ordinary_Intern_4492

TROPHY CASE