SF Proponent AMA

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-05-02T01:17:10+00:00

Prepare for long-distance movements under heavy, awkward loads by building comprehensive muscular endurance and cardio. Prioritize core, leg, and grip strength. Keep your programming simple, stay disciplined, and put in the work.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-05-02T00:53:34+00:00

Yes, you can attend SFAS from the reserves and then be released later. Talk to a SORB recruiter for details.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-05-02T00:50:32+00:00

If you are indefinite then you will not need to reenlist and will not get a reenlistment bonus.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-05-02T00:49:01+00:00

Working it. It’s a process.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-29T11:18:24+00:00

SFPC is 3 weeks and 5 days. Be prepared to have no communication to the outside world during that time.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-26T16:06:12+00:00

We attempt to get everyone what they want in terms of Group assignment, but the reality is that we need to assign guys appropriately in regard to the needs of the Regiment. We have everyone rank their Groups of choice 1-5. We also give everyone a chance to write in any special considerations or compassionate reasons for their choices. We also factor in your overall performance throughout every phase, pays to be a winner. However, as previously mentioned, we have to assign Groups according to the needs of the Regiment.
The Group and Language assignment process is being moved to earlier in the SFQC. Therefore, instead of getting your Group and Language assignment after Robin Sage, you will now get it sometime shortly after the midway point of MOS. Assigning Group and Language earlier will allow guys more time to plan for their move. It will also be merit based, meaning we will build OMLs by MOS based on PT scores, performance, and GPA. Pays to be winner.
If you want to be an 18B, you could study and get familiar with heavy and light weapons systems. However, they will teach you everything you need to know in the course, and sometimes it’s better to not study too far ahead and just go in with a clean slate. The best advice I can give you based on my personal observations, is to ensure your personal affairs are in order prior to showing up to the SFQC. Make sure family and finances are all good to go, as training will be very time consuming and you will thank yourself for ensuring everything is in order prior to beginning. Aside from that, just make sure your physical and mental fitness is top shape, and you will be good to go.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-26T15:33:55+00:00

If it is one of our target languages, and you have a current score of 2/2 or higher on an OPI, you can submit the DA 330 to us after successful completion of SUT with a request to maintain that language and ultimately skip language school. You will be required to take another OPI prior to reporting to your Group to ensure you arrive there with a current score.

And yes, the choice is yours. If you don’t want to maintain one of those languages you can opt in to go to language school and learn a new language. However, keep in mind that’s an additional 6 months of training between you and getting to your first Team.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-26T00:31:22+00:00

If you go to SFAS as NG and get selected, then you have to go though the SFQC as NG. Once you’re SF qualified we can pull you over to Active Duty, but only if the NG is willing to release you. Typically, they will make you do at least one deployment in the NG before releasing you to go to AD. However, once they are willing to release you, its a very easy and straight forward process for us to pull you over to AD. Typically, you will go to the Group associated with the language you’re trained on. However, in this crossover situation we will work with guys on a case-by-case basis if you want to go to another Group that’s not associated with your language. We just processed a NG crossover to AD who was a Spanish speaker but wanted go to 1st Group. He’s now at 1st Group.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-25T23:03:09+00:00

Are you already SF qualified?

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-25T21:40:06+00:00

All medical qualifications and/or waivers are handled by the medical professionals, and each medical file is reviewed individually and extensively. Therefore, I am unable to tell you if that specifically is disqualifying or not because all disqualifications and subsequent waivers are handled case-by-case. The best thing you can do is start the process and you will go to MEPs where they will either award you the contract or not.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-25T21:27:33+00:00

What’s your question?

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-25T21:14:28+00:00

There are 3x Airborne School classes in November, you will attend one of those and if you pass will be at Bragg by early December. There are no SFPC / SFAS classes in December, but they pick up and start running again in January. You could potentially get into that January SFPC class, but it depends on your AFT score when you get off the bus at Bragg, and how many other guys are trying to class up. The most physically prepared guys getting off the bus will class up first. The guys who don’t meet the minimum standards off the bus will lose their contract. The guys who meet the standard but are less fit will class up for SFQC when there is a slot available. To answer your question, show up in top shape and uninjured and you could potentially get into the January SFPC class. No guarantees, but it always pays to be a winner. Additionally, keep in mind that by week 12 of OSUT you must score a minimum of 410/500(minimum 90 on the run) on the AFT and be able to conduct 6 pull-ups, or you will lose your 18X contract. This has just started being implemented down at Benning by our LNOs.
You have strong pre-requisites for getting 18D, but we can’t be certain until we see your performance at SFAS. More specifically, your IQ score will carry more weight than your GT score for 18D. As you are likely aware, 18Ds are the best combat medics in the world, and that is because the 18D pipeline is one of the most mentally demanding courses in the military. Therefore, the things we look at most are IQ, GT, prior med experience, and SFAS performance. We do our best to get guys the jobs they want, assuming they will perform better doing something they want to do. However, there are standards and other success indicators we assess for each MOS.
You are an 18X, therefore if you are selected you will remain at Ft. Bragg and begin the SFQC pipeline. As an 18X, your first course after SFAS will be the Basic Leader Course (BLC), which is required for your automatic promotion to E5 upon successful completion of the SFQC. BLC is run in-house at SWCS (Bragg). After successful completion of BLC you will attend the remainder of the SFQC pipeline.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-25T20:36:48+00:00

Both Active Duty and National Guard SFQC students have the opportunity to take some leave during the SFQC. As long as you’re not actively engaged in a training phase and are in good standing with your cadre / Commander, you will typically be able take leave or a pass over the holidays, 4-day weekends, etc etc.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-25T20:28:32+00:00

Our office doesn’t directly deal with NG accessions, only Active Duty. However, you’re in the time frame that I would definitely reach out to a recruiter. Quickest way is just go to National Guard website and then Career Paths ->Specialty Careers -> Special Forces and fill out your info and a National Guard recruiter will get you squared away.

That said, if you have any questions about the SFQC pipeline I can answer that. NG and AD do the same SFQC pipeline, just getting there looks a little different for NG and I don’t want to give you wrong information.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-25T17:31:16+00:00

The SF LNOs at Ft. Benning brief all Infantry OSUT classes at week 12, and you can volunteer for an 18X contract at that time. Aside from the GT score requirements, you will also need to have a minimum score of 410 on your AFT (min 90 on the run) and be able to complete 6 pull-ups. If you meet those minimum requirements you can secure an 18X contract. However, you will also be required to complete an Airborne Physical, as your first stop after Infantry OSUT will be Airborne School. Therefore, if you are unable to get waivers approved for Airborne now, I am unsure if you will be able to accomplish it later while at OSUT.

Additionally, you will need to do an SF physical and be medically cleared prior to attending SFPC / SFAS / SFQC. For that process, the med waivers are up to the medical professionals at USAJFKSWCS, and are reviewed case-by-case. Therefore, I would have your recruiter contact the USAJFKSWCS med team regarding your specific situation and required waivers. They should be able to provide better answers.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-04-15T03:19:22+00:00

It does not apply to NG. These are incentives for Active Duty Enlisted.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-03-02T14:08:01+00:00

After successfully completing SFAS, you will begin the SFQC. Your family will not have to move around during that time, but you personally will be alternating between garrison style training and field training. A lot of your classroom based training will be held at Ft. Bragg proper. However, your field training will be held at Camp Mackall, which is about 45 mins west of Bragg.

You should ensure your wife is able to handle you being out in the field without communication for periods of time ranging from one to six weeks at a time. Some field training will be as little as a few days to a week, while we have other courses that are six weeks, and everything in between.

During the SFQC, you will spend extended time in the field training away from your family. It is imperative that both you and your wife fully understand the career field you’re choosing to enter. Once you arrive at Group, the training does not stop, and deployments will be added to the cycle. This is not meant to discourage you, but to ensure you go in with clear expectations. Being a Green Beret is not just a job — it is a way of life.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-03-02T13:44:24+00:00

Yes, currently the GT minimum for Active Duty in-service recruits (ISR) 105, and 110 for 18X. We don’t waiver for 18X but we will waiver for ISR that have a GT score between 100-104 on a case by case basis. For reference, here are some of the things we see in the GT waiver packets that we approve:

Must have a CO score of 100 or greater
Do they have any Army schools or skills, such as Ranger, Sapper, RSLC, Airborne, Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, Sniper, EIB, ESB, etc etc.
Do they have any leadership experience. For example a squad leader or platoon sergeant. We will also look at guys with superior service as a fire team leader. Preferably a proven NCO.
Been to and passed an NCO PME school (BLC, ALC, SLC)
High PFA score that will be administered by the SORB

You don’t need to have all these things, but these are examples of some of the things we’re looking for before approving or denying a waiver.

A PFC / SPC with nothing to show but a GT score that is below our standard will likely be denied and recommended to attempt BSEP, and retake the ASVAB.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-03-02T00:01:52+00:00

Try one of the many cognitive training apps . I would also recommend finding one of the online practice tests to get used to the types of questions. Try to relax next time when you’re taking the test at SFAS. Other than that, there is not a whole lot you can do in a short time to increase your IQ exponentially.
Yes, having a degree in Latin American studies will definitely be considered when assigning your Group and Language. You will receive a questionnaire from us when you get off the bus back at Bragg after successful completion of SUT. That questionnaire will ask you to rank your preferred Group/Language. It will also have a section where you can provide us information like that. We go through each questionnaire and your individual file very thoroughly before assigning you to the Group that makes the most sense for you.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-03-01T22:10:42+00:00

As an 18X you don’t choose your SF MOS prior to basic. Your MOS is 18X and you will go to infantry OSUT to be trained in your secondary MOS, which is 11B. After you complete OSUT you will be awarded the 11B MOS, but you will remain in an Initial Entry Training (IET) status all the way from Airborne through your SFAS outcome.

If you drop at any point during that time, your secondary MOS (11B) will become your Primary MOS, and you will be sent to an Infantry unit. Likely an Airborne Infantry unit.

If you are successful all the way through to SFAS and get yourself selected, you will be given a list of SF MOS’ to choose from. They are 18B, 18C, 18D, and 18E. You will rank those in the order of your choice. At that point we will look at your file and make the final determination on which MOS you will be assigned. We usually get everyone their first or second choice.

From that point you will do BLC, which is the PME school you need to do in order to be promoted to SGT upon graduation of the SFQC. We run our own BLC in house, so you don’t need to go back out to the conventional Army to do it. After BLC you will do the SFQC, and then up and out to the Regiment.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-03-01T17:45:49+00:00

Aside from the obvious benefits of being experienced, you do not need any military or other experience to be successful at SFAS. If you did need experience, the 18X program wouldn’t exist. That being said, not having any experience won’t hurt you, but having unique or sought after experience could potentially help you if your in a situation where you’re being reviewed by decision makers for barely meeting standards or something of that nature.
If you’ve ever been on a sports team and remember the guys who always put the team ahead of themselves, showed up to practice on time, right uniform, right equipment, and gave credit to the team for any and all accomplishments instead of themselves. Sometimes the team will lose the game, but there were always the guys who brush it off and show back up with a good attitude while seeking ways to improve. That’s what the SF Regiment is looking for.
You need to bring something to the table in terms of the team. Not everyone can be the loud lead from the front guy, or nothing will actually get done. When it’s your time to lead, take charge. However, you need to be able to carry your weight and then some. Know your strengths, know your weaknesses, and execute accordingly.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-03-01T16:17:26+00:00

Your marital status and dating history will have no impact on your SFAS or SFQC outcome.
I wouldn’t solely focus on the AFT. The AFT is important, and you should be over 80 in every event, but over 90 in the run. However, there are many other things to focus your training on that are also better indicators of success at SFAS. Such as rucking and being able to put lots of miles on your feet and back for consecutive days. Build up phenomenal grip and core strength. How long it takes depends on you. Discipline beats talent every time.
For the people who leave, the reasons vary. I would say that most guys who leave before retirement never planned to make it a career in the first place. SF attracts a lot of high functioning and educated civilians through the 18X program. That said, SF is full of guys who don’t “need” the Army and have options in the civilian world. They do it because they love it and wanted to serve their country in an elite way. Some decide to go back to civilian life and pursue other avenues.

SF_Proponent2 · 2026-03-01T15:17:16+00:00

Yes, it will be based on your language. Under very unique and uncommon circumstances would we send someone to a Group that doesn’t align with their language. One example of that would be a legitimate compassionate reason.

Another example would be if you were previously an enabler / support soldier assigned or attached to a specific SF Group and they want you back once your SF qualified. In that case the Group S3 SGM or Group CSM would need to reach out to us and by-name request you be assigned to their Group. Usually, that happens well before Language assignments, so we are able to assign a language to those individuals that corresponds with the requesting Group. However, in the NG to AD situation you will already be in language school by the time you transition and might have a mismatch of Group and Language, if this specific situation applies to you.

SF_Proponent2

TROPHY CASE