It's true that all kinds of people are getting thrown into the fight at this point. Since this conversation was about a career path I was addressing typical historical utilization...who knows how much longer we will be operating at this intensity? I assume quit a while, but you never know after the elections...

At this time even skillsets which normally play a supporting role in special operations are getting plenty of trigger time...SWCC's for example are running around all over the desert, and their job is supposed to be boat driver.

While I personally believe in wearing t-shirts I've "earned" rather than things I like, I can't fault others for doing so. Selling t-shirts at airshows bring flying squadrons all sorts of money and it clearly doesn't bother them to have non members wearing them or they wouldn't be for sale. I've sent a civilian bud tshirts from every unit I've been in and I think it's just fine for him to wear them. I think people pretending to be SEALS or anything else they're not is pathetic, I think wearing a t-shirt in support of a friend is okay. But...just my opinion.

General lack of stress? This based on your time spent in the AF, or what experiences?

It all depends on where you work. I don't find my job stress-free in any way whatsoever.

Lack of stress...... ha, here we go.

The young man needs to consider what will happen if he's part of the 75% or more that will fail out of SEAL training. What then?

If I was interested in special forces I'd look to the AF. If you don't make it your have plenty of options and your QOL will be better than the other services.

I've lived and worked on bases run by our sister services. I'd take the AF any day of the week...


-LAFF

Ther are a variety of other jobs in special warfare and special operations, and a BUDS atrite would not normally have a problem getting accepted...

SWCC (special boat unit driver)
EOD diver
Deep sea diver
Special warfare logistics support
Etc.


I'm not sure what the exact arrangement is, but I believe the navy will allow to join specifically for BUDs, and then release you if you wash out for a legit reason (not misconduct). They are doing this to attract people (college-level athletes) who would not otherwise join the navy.

Or you can join the Marines and do it all. Fly, FAC whatever. You will not necessarily have the SOC sticker and money unless you are in MARSOC though. There are plenty of other units out there to join, ANGLICO, Recon Bn, Force Recon and MEUs. Lots of options here.

Thanks LAFF. When I read your first post it sounded like one of those "My branch is the best the rest suck" posts. You're right, he does need to consider the likelihood of washing out of training and decide which branch he would want to be in if he were in a non special operations position.

I would also like to live on an AF base as opposed to most other military bases (A few exceptions but generally the AF's are quite a step above the rest) but for the bases and QOL weren't reason enough to dissuade me from joining another branch.

Hacker I do believe we were discussing mostly enlisted jobs correct? He did ask about enlisting with a SEAL contract did he not? So the discussion was over combat arms type enlisted jobs. Yes, I do have quite a bit of experience with the enlisted side of all the branches. I have a lot of family that served in the Air Force, I have family in the Army, I grew up by an Air Force base, I served four years enlisted in the Marine Corps (infantry), and yes I did get the chance to serve alongside some fine airmen.

So here is my opinion (We are allowed to have those correct?) formed from personal experience, enlisted airman are subjected to far less stressful environments than the enlistees of the Army and Marines. What percentage of the Air Force's enlisted airmen are deployed in a combat zone at any one time? What are the odds of an airman that enlists today having to do multiple combat deployments throughout the course of his enlistment in the current wartime environment? If you enlist in a combat arms MOS in the Marine Corps or Army you pretty much have a written guarantee that you are going to be put into combat and get to experience everything that comes with it. If you enlist in the Air Force I'm pretty sure your chances of seeing combat are pretty low.

So yes sir, when I'm comparing an Air Force enlistment to an Army enlistment or Marine Corps enlistment I am going to take the likelihood of combat in to account when I talk about QOL and stress. And upon comparing that I come to the opinion that enlistment in the Air Force, while not easy, will not be as physically, emotionally, or mentally demanding as as an enlistment in the Marine Corps or Army.

And just so we are clear here, I am not minimizing anybodies job in the military. I am not disrespecting anybodies contribution to our country or the war effort. I am not saying that one branch is better or worse than the others. I am not trying to insult or offend anyone. And I am most certainly not saying that because you are in the Air Force that you have it easy or don't serve our country.

Thank you for your service Hacker, I meant no disrespect with my previous post.

MARSOC is currently...problematic. I wouldn't bet on that as a long-term plan.

ANGLICO and the recons are cool (done some myself as a liaison in fact) but hard to stay there for an extended period, especially for the officers.

If you're serious about special operations, you really want to be in a SOCOM funded program (SEAL, Army SF/Av Regiment, AFSOC, rangers). That guarantees several things, including career employment. If you don't really understand what SOCOM is, do some research, it's more than you think.