We’ve published several articles on the challenges and benefits of the 18X program, the comparison of 18X vs Option 40 vs. Option 4, and no small amount of consternation about “gaming” the system to get you both a good shot at getting Selected but also a tenable fallback for if you don’t. Along the way I always get questions about the numbers.

Lots of guys want to know what else they can do to prepare beyond the ubiquitous PT stuff. We cover the PT stuff in excruciating detail in Shut Up and Ruck, and of course Ruck or Shut Up talks about SFAS in depth. But we haven’t really deep-dived this ‘other stuff’. So here is a non-exhaustive list of other stuff that you can work on. The devil find work for idle hands, so get busy… 

Resources on Fort Bragg for land navigation training.

Is Special Forces in Crisis?

No, not even close. SF is in transition, like it has always been, and will likely always be.

A letter, and several videos commentating on the letter making the claim that SF is in crisis have asked us to be honest brokers and just admit that the Special Forces Regiment is in peril, rudderless, and not positioned to meet the needs of the Nation. So, I wanted to be an honest broker and chime in. My honest broker assessment? Knock it off. Your arguments are void of evidence, logic, and merit. And you sound like a bitch.