Transferring from Infantry Office to Force Recon to Delta?

[Tre!nt]

Ive already been accepted in Marine OCS and will be attending this summer, so please don't use this thread as a way of saying "you dont have what it takes, go back to playing COD" I firmly believe i have what it takes and ill decide if i do or not. not you

So down to business. What are the possibilities of first transferring from Infantry officer to Force recon? Little research came up with...
I'm going to be a Marine Officer. How do I get in Recon?
Currently, Recon units gain their officers from two sources.
First is the Infantry (0302) officer who has typically has 2+ years experience in a Battalion with at least one deployment. At this point he's ready to be a Weapons Plt Leader or a Company XO. Some opt to take the recon indoc and, with approval from their chain of command, receive orders to a recon unit.

so the first step into transferring to recon seems to be not only possible but quite straight forward.

The second step i wouldn't expect for another 4 years after being in recon (id be just around 30 if i put in 4 as infantry officer) which seems to fit the median age of 30-40 for delta force. The ONE thing that creates some doubt is the fact that apparently delta recruits heavily from the berets and rangers. Why they pass over recon is beyond me.

Also id be giving up my prelaw major but would much rather be an operator than a judge advocate

what do you feel are the challenges in obtaining my goals? Besides the physical testing. Also what are the differences between delta and recon. Its a bit hard to find information on a branch that doesn't technically exist

[This is Droll]

First thing I'm going to say is I'm not in the military, I've been talking to to recruiters though and will probably be signing up with the army in 3-6 months.

About delta recruiting from rangers instead of force recon...according to the internet Force Recon isn't considered Special Forces. That is probably why they don't get recruiting from as much as the Rangers.

Unless you are hell bent on force recon you might want to consider trying for MARSOC. I think they are a fairly new organization/regiment because I've never heard of them until today. Wiki says they got finalized in 2007. No idea how you would go about getting into it; that will be up to you. I think that seems like a better route for eventually getting into Delta than recon.
http://www.marines.mil/unit/marsoc/Pages/default.aspx

[Tre!nt]

Originally Posted by This is Droll

First thing I'm going to say is I'm not in the military, I've been talking to to recruiters though and will probably be signing up with the army in 3-6 months.

About delta recruiting from rangers instead of force recon...according to the internet Force Recon isn't considered Special Forces. That is probably why they don't get recruiting from as much as the Rangers.

Unless you are hell bent on force recon you might want to consider trying for MARSOC. I think they are a fairly new organization/regiment because I've never heard of them until today. Wiki says they got finalized in 2007. No idea how you would go about getting into it; that will be up to you. I think that seems like a better route for eventually getting into Delta than recon.
http://www.marines.mil/unit/marsoc/Pages/default.aspx

yeah i had no idea they existed. Looks like you're right about recon not being the way to go. In fact recon was actually shut down for a bit when MARSOC was getting up and running.

[This is Droll]

That is surprising unless they were just looking for a way to boost marsoc numbers by pulling all recon guys in the fold. You should ask a recruiter or someone at officer school about getting into MARSOC or just more info about them. Details look a little sketch on their website.

[acid_drop]

I was in the 82nd, but I went to ranger school between deployments. And I'm guessing the reason they want Rangers and SF guys is that it's much more balls to the wall than Marine Recon training. You can tout your bs Marine shit all you want, it's nothing like ranger training. And SF shit is much worse.

[Tre!nt]

Originally Posted by acid_drop

I was in the 82nd, but I went to ranger school between deployments. And I'm guessing the reason they want Rangers and SF guys is that it's much more balls to the wall than Marine Recon training. You can tout your bs Marine shit all you want, it's nothing like ranger training. And SF shit is much worse.

until recently recon was always kind of unofficially the marines spec forces. Now they have a legitimate special forces group MARSOC which is WITHOUT a doubt as hard if not harder than the SEALs etc.. Army rangers are certainly a different breed beyond the average marine but not comparable to SEALS or MARSOC.

edit: one of my great buddies is planning to his 6 years as a ranger than transfer to delta (he's in ROTC now). So obviously there is no disrespect intended. I am fully aware as of now all i have are words and if i ever met you i would be certain to give you the respect you deserved. Seriously all rivalry aside the rangers are not people to fuck with

[Creepy Lurker Dude]

I will tell you one thing guys, all this prick waving only exists online. All US military special operations forces are hard. Every branch trains the hardest for there specialty. You're going to tell me that swimming 3 miles in combat gear is harder than humping 25? Or vice versa? Who is anyone here to talk? Go to a Ranger or whoever and tell them they're softer than SEALs or Marines or ninjas, and you'll get jack jawed.

I'll tell you one thing anyone of these guys' wifes can probably get a good pinch on their nipple and make them cry and beg them to stop.

[acid_drop]

Originally Posted by Creepy Lurker Dude

I will tell you one thing guys, all this prick waving only exists online. All US military special operations forces are hard. Every branch trains the hardest for there specialty. You're going to tell me that swimming 3 miles in combat gear is harder than humping 25? Or vice versa? Who is anyone here to talk? Go to a Ranger or whoever and tell them they're softer than SEALs or Marines or ninjas, and you'll get jack jawed.

I'll tell you one thing anyone of these guys' wifes can probably get a good pinch on their nipple and make them cry and beg them to stop.

Exactly specialties for units. But no, the dick contest exists even in the service. I had the ranger tab, and jump wings, and I still had E-1 through E-4 marines try to call me a pussy because I was ARMY. Idiots. I've never met a SEAL, I've met a few SF guys and they were in general curteous to me, but we were the same branch. And I don't typically wave my dick around, unless someone starts something.

[Tre!nt]

im guessing the dick waving stops higher up in the ranks?
just a bit ago i was at bar and there were a couple army guys. just enlisted privates and my buddy is army rotc and we all started getting along really well like they were buying us guiness and having a good time. Than i off offhandedly mentioned i was actually going into the marines and BAM awkward silence...

i mean its not like the cold cocked me but they definitely got a bit quieter. and i quote "don't forget what the army's done for ya" as he handed me the beer

[p6867]

Originally Posted by Hypno

The ONE thing that creates some doubt is the fact that apparently delta recruits heavily from the berets and rangers. Why they pass over recon is beyond me.

probably because it's a branch of the army.

[acid_drop]

Originally Posted by p6867

probably because it's a branch of the army.

Rangers have a ton of ex Marines. There were quite a few when I went in the school.

And yes Hypno, they marines and Army are always in compitition with one another. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's fucking stupid. My squad was attached to a Marine unit for two months, and I will say when the gun fire stops, all that rivalry shit stops, and it's time for business.

[p6867]

Originally Posted by acid_drop

Rangers have a ton of ex Marines. There were quite a few when I went in the school.

And yes Hypno, they marines and Army are always in compitition with one another. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's fucking stupid. My squad was attached to a Marine unit for two months, and I will say when the gun fire stops, all that rivalry shit stops, and it's time for business.

Ranger school has marines. The 75th Ranger regiment is the ARMY as is 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. Plenty of non rangers and non Army personnel go through the ranger school. It's a leadership course for them. Not everyone who earns a ranger tab is a ranger. You are ranger qualified. Just as if you get your sniper qualification and earn a tab but do not do sniper work, you are not a sniper, if you are not in a ranger battalion you are not a ranger.
The marine corp itself has no rangers, while the Rangers might have some ex marines.

My point was for why delta recruits so strongly from US Army Special Forces is that it's an army unit. Specifically an SF one.
Sorry if this is rushed i'm in a hurry.

[acid_drop]

Originally Posted by p6867

Ranger school has marines. The 75th Ranger regiment is the ARMY as is 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. Plenty of non rangers and non Army personnel go through the ranger school. It's a leadership course for them. Not everyone who earns a ranger tab is a ranger. You are ranger qualified. Just as if you get your sniper qualification and earn a tab but do not do sniper work, you are not a sniper, if you are not in a ranger battalion you are not a ranger.
The marine corp itself has no rangers, while the Rangers might have some ex marines..

...Uh I know, I had a ranger tab but was in the 82nd. The Ranger division has a lot of ex marines, that's what I was saying. Not just ranger school, but the actual division has quite a few ex marines.

[Freelance Tax Collector]

Originally Posted by Hypno

At this point he's ready to be a Weapons Plt Leader or a Company XO.

What? A weapons PC? Dude, I don't know how they told you it works, but when a grunt unit deploys, the weapons platoon gets pushed into the line platoons as attachments or they create a 4th line platoon with weapons guys spread loaded throughout the company. The LTs from those platoons will be in charge. Our LT who was weapons prior to our workup ended up being the JTAC. Him, the arty and mortar FOs and the Air-O were all part of a JTAC team.

[i poop in your cereal]

From what I've picked up from the great Interbutts, Delta recruitment focuses more on mental abilities than fitness, as all candidates are already spec ops and therefore top of the line in terms of toughness.

So if you're not a seriously bright guy, you're probably fucked.

[Tre!nt]

Originally Posted by i poop in your cereal

From what I've picked up from the great Interbutts, Delta recruitment focuses more on mental abilities than fitness, as all candidates are already spec ops and therefore top of the line in terms of toughness.

So if you're not a seriously bright guy, you're probably fucked.

honors classes/ 26 act.prelaw and all that. Not that good i know but i feel like good enough? i mean to get into OCS for marine is a 22

what a bullshit way to test intelligence though. Im sure they go off a better system than some test you took when you were 18. Probably some testing in the process etc..

[Ocalan]

i dont think you just transfer to Delta. actually i am pretty sure that they pick you.

[The Fuck Shit]

When or IF a recruiter comes to my school, I wanted to talk to him about the 10th Mountain Division.

Also, reading some posts, Im pretty sure you cant just train for delta. They have to hand pick you. From what you said they skip over recon and usually go for rangers and green berets......than maybe you should look into one of those.

Another edit, if you want to join a special forces team that bad, join the seals. They usually dont recruit from marines but if they think you are mentally and phisically tough enough they'll accept you.

[Freelance Tax Collector]

I just heard some dope last night from a buddy of mine in MARSOC. He told me one of his friends passed the screening. Anyways, it's not referred to as "delta" anymore, it is now referred to as combat applications group or CAG. I have heard that the delta name came from trying to establish a cover name for the tier 1 unit, and they tried to make it look like another support group for SF groups (SFOD-A are the operational teams, B and C have to do with support and command, I believe).

Anyways, it sounds like there is a liaison at the division level for CAG. This might indicate that it doesn't necessarily matter which MOS you hold, just as long as you can arrange to take the screening, and your command releases you to do so. You should know though, that all operators are enlisted. Officers are there for support and coordination, but at the tactical level, the operators are the ones calling the shots.

[Tre!nt]

Originally Posted by Freelance Tax Collector

I just heard some dope last night from a buddy of mine in MARSOC. He told me one of his friends passed the screening. Anyways, it's not referred to as "delta" anymore, it is now referred to as combat applications group or CAG. I have heard that the delta name came from trying to establish a cover name for the tier 1 unit, and they tried to make it look like another support group for SF groups (SFOD-A are the operational teams, B and C have to do with support and command, I believe).

Anyways, it sounds like there is a liaison at the division level for CAG. This might indicate that it doesn't necessarily matter which MOS you hold, just as long as you can arrange to take the screening, and your command releases you to do so. You should know though, that all operators are enlisted. Officers are there for support and coordination, but at the tactical level, the operators are the ones calling the shots.

another really helpful post. Wonder if theres some way to give my rank up? Screw being a coordinator in some outpost somewhere. Anyways im still all focused on OCS this summer; one step at a time

[Freelance Tax Collector]

Well you can always resign your commission, but I've never heard of anyone doing that so they can enlist. In any case, you have to spend several years as an enlisted man before trying out for the CAG screening. If you're currently going to school for your undergrad however, one option that might interest you believe it or not is the Army national guard. I know it's strange for a Marine to suggest that, but I have another friend in one of the NGs special forces groups (yes they do actually exist). From what I understand, you can sign with the SF candidate contract, get run through the pipeline, then do the one weekend a month thing but as a part time operator. I have no idea how effective and cohesive these units actually are, but they do get run through all the same training that the active folks do. My guess is a lot of ex active operators end up here for whatever reason if they choose to only want to do the part time thing. Anyways, if you don't pass the screening on the first go around, they'll keep recycling you until you do. Unlike being active, they won't just send you back to a grunt unit. So from there once you do pass all the Army SF training, you can finish your degree and probably from there either choose to go an active SF group, commission, or perhaps take the CAG screening. I'll bet if you choose to stay enlisted with your undergrad degree, it'll make getting warrant officer much easier should that be what you choose to do as well.

Again, I'm not sure about all the details here, but the only reason I suggest this is because I think this is an option I want to pursue. I'm kind of in the same position, except I already have prior enlisted experience. In any case, a recruiter would have much more information. I think the Army SF screening should be a bit easier than recon, as they don't seem to have anywhere near as much amphib work, but in any case, I don't doubt that it's a serious gut check.

[Son of Liberty]

i'd pay to go to Ranger school. but then again, I plan on paying to go to a non-combat survival school...