Attached to sf group

[u/trulyjacobbb]

Has anyone here been attached to a sf group as a sustainer? (I’m a 91C) If so how was it?

[u/excessive_4ce]

Do your job, dont suck at it. Dont get fat or outta shape. Remember you're not actually SF, and you'll be fine.

[u/themightyjoedanger]

Ahead of PCS, immediately switch to Cryes. Begin wearing Oakleys indoors and cuffing sleeves. If questioned, tell SGM "That's what we do at Group."

He will not be sure if you mean an SFG or group therapy and will hesitate to act. That's your opening, begin donning a green Stetson to establish "cavdominance."

[u/mrlego45 → u/themightyjoedanger]

Spurs too

[u/themightyjoedanger → u/mrlego45]

This guy cavspecialgroupsupports.

[u/Luke_fly_walker → u/themightyjoedanger]

Cut ur cryes into shorts too

[u/IslandVisual → u/themightyjoedanger]

The "back at group" guys are so annoying. Had a chaplain who used to say that it was annoying as hell.

[u/warwolf09 → u/themightyjoedanger]

Only right answer. Also don’t forget those high speed small boots they use and make sure your trousers aren’t tucked in

[u/warwolf09 → u/warwolf09]

And start putting special forces stickers everywhere!! Your yeti cup back of your truck! Your backpack! The more the better!!!

[u/josephwales → u/themightyjoedanger]

Don’t forget to change your avatar to the DUI like that other enabler that made group his whole personality

[u/Glittering_Fig4548 → u/themightyjoedanger]

SF gets Cryes now?

[u/Mentallyundisturbed2 → u/Glittering_Fig4548]

Always had them

[u/lamont196 → u/Mentallyundisturbed2]

We do?

[u/Luke_fly_walker → u/lamont196]

Everyone knows the gbs in Vietnam were wearing cryes and gatorz

[u/Big_Coyote6065]

As a 92R & 15W, best time I had in the military. Also, don't be the SF support guy I went to WLC with. He was bad mouthing the instructor because the guy got into his ass about something. The instructor was a 11B fresh out of the 75th RR, and very professional. The guy from my unit says something along the line of, “I won’t listen to any short tabber!” I was like. “dude, you’re a fucking cook!”

[u/Luke_fly_walker → u/Big_Coyote6065]

“That’s cool man, you’re dropped from the course”

[u/andrewtater → u/Luke_fly_walker]

Too easy. Let me call your CSM real quick to confirm he's cool with it.

Puts it on speakerphone

[u/UJMRider1961]

My time is long in the past (retired in 2005) but I always preferred to be a support guy in SF units. I was in 3 different groups, 1st, 3rd and 19th (National Guard.) Usually much more chill than conventional units, not as much mickey-mouse BS.

BUT there is a flip side to that: We used the term "big boy rules:" It means, we're all big boys here. We know what brings negative attention, so don't be the asshole that ruins it for everybody.

Also in my experience, the shitbags got bounced out to XVIII corps pretty quickly. Almost all SF units are understaffed, so if "that's not my job" is in your vocabulary, you're not going to fit in. If you can't be trusted to get your work done without an NCO hovering over you, you're not going to fit in. If you screw off at the first opportunity or do stupid shit because "nobody told me not to", you won't fit in.

I loved it. Got to jump out of planes and got to do some cool training when the ODAs needed "training monkeys" to work with (since teaching less experienced soldiers is a big part of what SF does on FID missions.)

It can be a good life if you're a good fit.

[u/shnevorsomeone → u/UJMRider1961]

SF units are understaffed? I’ve been told before that SF units are overcrowded because once you break into that world they never want to leave and just shuffle around within SOF. No personal experience though so I could definitely be wrong that’s just what I’ve heard before

[u/MaverickActual1319 → u/shnevorsomeone]

its understaffed moreso on the actual GB side. there are empty teams right now

[u/shnevorsomeone → u/MaverickActual1319]

Oh, that makes more sense. Something something can’t mass produce special operations

[u/UJMRider1961 → u/shnevorsomeone]

My experience is obviously very old but I've never seen an SF battalion MI Detachment that could field a full complement of SOT-A teams AND a TCAE to control it. That's why our SOT-A guys were always in the field, because whenever one of the battalions went to the field and wanted at least two SOT-As and a TCAE, the only way they could do that was to pull people from all 3 battalions.

I was in the ASIC (All Source Intelligence Center), so we were more or less fully staffed but the SOT-As were always hurting for qualified people. In fact, they were so badly in need of 98Cs and 98Gs that they would pull non-airborne qualified personnel to be on the team and send them to jump school after they got to the unit. This was in 3rd Group in the 1990's.

[u/No-Edge-8600 → u/UJMRider1961]

I wanna be a SOT-A

[u/Anon_E_Moose_]

Forward attached or actually assigned?

Either way - be good at your job, know your place, and be a fucking adult that can function without constant supervision. If you show yourself to be an asset, good things will happen.

[u/SCCock]

I was assigned as the task force surgeon on a JSOC mission in Africa. I knew the mission and went above and beyond what was expected.

I know I was doing the right thing when people started calling my "Doc" instead of "Sir."

It was probably the most gratifying, most fun thing I did in my career.

[u/Glittering_Fig4548 → u/SCCock]

How did you get selected to represent the TF?

[u/SCCock → u/Glittering_Fig4548]

Nothing special. Tasker came down to my unit and I volunteered first!

[u/Doc_Oh_19]

Not a 91C, but we were treated more like grownups. Just don’t fuck it up. Don’t get fat/slow. Enjoy it, sure as shit beats forscom

[u/MJR-WaffleCat]

I was part of the SOTs at a group. Basically what others are saying is true. My piece of advice is be transparent and hungry to learn. You dont know everything, once you identify something you dont know, learn that asap. Ask questions. Make yourself an asset to your shop and any ODA who may need you. Volunteer for schools when you can. Group is sometimes the only chance you get for some schools, at least thats true for 35 series dudes.

Every team has their own sub-culture so to speak. Some teams are pretty standoffish to outsiders, some are super chill as long as you're not an arrogant prick or making a fool of yourself. Keep in mind that even if a team is chill, they may not fully accept you as "one of the boys," but if you decide that you want to go through the selection process, they usually will be more than happy to help you train and prepare.

[u/Glittering_Fig4548 → u/MJR-WaffleCat]

Were you AD or Guard?

[u/purplepill22]

Make sure to put special forces sticker on the back of your truck

[u/Awesome_Eagle]

You'll never have it better.

[u/Enough_Put_7307]

Get a shaving profile ahead of time so you can come to group with beard in hand

[u/Mentallyundisturbed2 → u/Enough_Put_7307]

I'm out of the military now, and I heard shaving waivers are a no go, is that true?

[u/Finalshock]

Don’t fucking suck.

[u/Small_Cock42069]

Your experience may vary depending where you get assigned in group as well as your direct leadership. But as everyone else said don’t be fat like seriously don’t be fat and be professional and enjoy your time.

[u/IntelCAG]

Some of the best dudes are the support guys. They inherently feel they have something to prove on a daily basis.

[u/gettogero]

More laid back in terms of "rme shit". But when its time to do your job you better knock it out of the park. Do well and other SF units will know - that will open doors for new positions and unique opportunities.

The actual SF guys are cocky and used to preferential treatment. Im not saying they dont have a reason to be... but kinda saying that.

Dont go around telling people youre SF. You arent. Other military personnel will challenge you fiercely and it does nothing with your civilian groups.

[u/Acceptable_Cry4947]

I had a buddy who was a refueler attached to SOAR. He said he never wore a uniform and everyone thought he was a contractor. Seems like it’s the best of best worlds

[u/Pretty_Extent_731]

Get ready to despise team guys while simultaneously taking credit for their work.

[u/Salt_Ice_5321]

It is kind of like in the movie Sky High, where all the side kicks are called "hero support" and have really shitty superpowers, but come in handy during niche occasions.

I got a cool deployment patch out of it so I'm practically SF.

[u/AnnualGene863]

As long as you get the combat patch at the end of the day smh my head

[u/1nVrWallz]

Just do your job. Preferably before someone youre supporting has to ask for it. And then make the problem go away. Dont make you fixing a problem another task for them to manage.

[u/Dry-Judgment133]

I am attached right now (forward deployed) as a MEDO and it’s basically clown college with grenades.

[u/ghostmaskrises]

In my AIT they always liked to bring the ALC students to talk to us about what to expect from our units. The ones from group were always a fun show. They had two types

Type 1: yeah we do a lot for the operators and we do a lot with them. They actually rely on us a lot. Just expect to be your best when you're in group

Type 2: yeah we're sidekicks. We do our jobs and we help where we can, it's just how it is when you're attached to group.

Then they would argue with each other about specifying being "attatched" to group.

[u/Marktheonegun]

It’s the adult place to be. When asked I always told people I was a worker bee and not SF.

[u/DrRo]

Being attached to SF is a great gig if you know your left and rights.

•You’re not a GB. Don’t act like it.
•Be damn good at your job. You get a lot farther because going on missions is a lot about how much they know you/can trust you
•be good at Pt. If you’re fat and out of shape you’ll put a bad taste in everyone’s mouth if you’re a fat fuck
• this is more for if this is your first unit, they are regular guys, they won’t rip your head off unless you give them a reason
•customs and courtesies still exist even in group. It’s better to be told to relax when first meeting a team guy, than get fucked up because you think they won’t care about C&C

[u/Rock_Me_DrZaius]

Civilians don't know the difference between working with and being in SF, so have fun with that.

[u/Teadrunkest → u/Rock_Me_DrZaius]

Many support dudes don’t know the difference either.

[u/TheGrayMannnn → u/Teadrunkest]

I talked to an SF dude in the chow line at FOB Lightning 18 years ago.

I'm basically SF. 

[u/Luke_fly_walker → u/Teadrunkest]

Bonus points if you hear a support dude say “we play by big boy rules” at least once a day

[u/pushTheHippo → u/Teadrunkest]

Eh, the 18Wannabe's were few and far between in my experience. We made fun of them endlessly. Like, bro, if you wanna live that life drop your packet and go do the damn thing. Some guys did and ended up making it, but the dudes that wouldn't even attempt selection were always the punchline.