What Are Some "jack Of All Trade" Jobs?

I checked to see if there was a topic like this, and didn't find one, so I hope I am not repeating anyone here.

In regards to the topic itself, I'm not looking to get my heart set on anything yet, but more-less to see what options I are available to me.

I am sixteen, and I do have my heart set on the military, and my dream is to be in Special Forces. I've got the drive and motivation, as there isn't anything else I've wanted to become, but I don't really know what is "out there".

What are some "all around" type jobs that the US SOF has? I'm leaning towards the Navy, and becoming a Corpsman (SARC?) in MARSOC or a SEAL medic, but was wondering if there are any other jobs to be had that deal with even more variety.

While I still have a lot of time to make up my mind, I'd like to be able to get an idea of what I will shoot for when my time comes so I can further prepare myself. My dilemma is that I want to "do it all". I'd like to parachute, dive, shoot, work with languages, and anything else I can fit on my plate. I could very well be getting ahead myself, and please let me know if I am. I'm not looking for an answer or directions, just some places I could go.

All in all, the needs of my country are going to come first, but if I can aim for an occupation that I will enjoy doing in the process, I feel it would only add to my enthusiasm and motivation.

Have you tried google or bothered to stop by Amazon / Barnes & Noble to pick up a book or two on the subject?

There is a wealth of knowledge on the internet which can be had by reading a bit. There is also a plethora of books which have been published since 9.11 on SOF that would aid in your desire to find what you believe you may want to do.

FWIW::

SOF= Special Operations Forces It is an encompassing term which includes SEALs, SWCC, MARSOC, PJ and CCTs, Army Rangers, 160th SOAR, 1st SFOD-D, and Special Forces.

SF=Special Forces This is the US Army Special Forces - Green Berets

Amazingly enough I found these sites in less than a minute using this new thing called GOOGLE The last site was the one I was most surprised to find some very informative READING on.


http://www.pararescue.com/

http://www.military.com/army-rangers/join.html

http://www.navy.com/navy/careers/sp...se/Google/SEAL Navy/navy seals&sid=navy seals

http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces.html

http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Smith_112003,00.html

http://shadowspear.com/

Thanks, I apologize for not looking harder. I appreciate the replies.

I plan on going the enlisted route, and maybe becoming an officer later. I hear a lot "smack talk" on "fresh out of the academy" officers that don't know what is actually going on in the field, and I don't want to be that kind of leader. Now I have no evidence or experience dealing with "fresh out of the academy" officers, but it makes sense to me to know both sides. It couldn't hurt, could it?

If all goes as planned, I will be able to enter the service at at least an E-2, possibly an E-3 or higher, so I am hoping I will still be able to

The JROTC CO at my school was an 0-6 intel officer in the Army. Pretty cool guy, very quick witted. I decided to join the Sea Cadet Corps instead, I sort of regret not sticking with that program. Shoulda, coulda, woulda....

Again, thank you for the reply, Marauder. I'll take any advice I can get.

Specifically an SOF medic/corpsman, because of the variety of things I can do. They shoot, dive, jump, etc. plus get medical training. All things that I would like to try. It seems like one of those jobs I spoke of in my OP. Once I get on my feet as a corpsman (should I complete the necessary steps to become one), I could have a variety of places I could end up, i.e. MARSOC, SEAL's, EOD, all things that I would like to possibly reach for.

I plan on (if all goes according) spending twenty years in the military. With that said, I am preparing myself to attend one of the military academies, should I change my mind my junior or senior year. I've got good grades, active in sports, Sea Cadets, clubs, community service, etc. I reckon all of that stuff won't hurt, whether I take the officer route out of high school or not. I will probably try and get into an academy preparatory school if I decide that I want to become an officer post-enlistment.

I got a feeling this might interest you. If ya got questions feel free to ask.


http://www.airforce.com/opportuniti...prentice-males-only/http://www.pararescue.com http://www.specialtactics.com/pararescue.shtml

Or this



Jeff Kraus offers some interesting perspective and insight having completed all 3.

Looks like I've got a new title to look for. I saw the book for sale on the SEAL Fit website, I believe. I'll look into it, thanks.

Good point, I never thought about the percentage of them.

I understand that the standards are higher for officers, and while I don't doubt my abilities to rise to the occasion, I have heard that SOF out of an academy is a crapshoot because there are X amount of slots, and they get taken quickly.

On that note, what are the differences between an SOF NCO and an SOF officer?

I should probably worry less. I hear a million different things from retired military guys that I have talked to in the past, each one saying something different in regards to their advice. I guess it'd be better to be prepared all around, in case I change my mind or something doesn't align when the time comes.

Thanks, cback, very insightful. I appreciate it.

I'm just a wannabe like you, but...
Like you, I've always just wanted to serve. And I went through HS without much of a plan. I applied to the academies, 1st choice was USNA, didn't get in, got into USMAPS, went for a while, wasn't where I wanted to be, and now I'm at civi college.

I can honestly say, that the past 4 months or so have been a huge period of personal growth. Between going to school full time and working, I've grown up a lot.

The cut off age to become a SEAL or enlist in the USMC is 28 years old- lots of guys have waited to enlist. I hate to use this as an example but- if you read the bios of SEAL warriors who have given their lives, most of those enlisted guys did a year or more of college and then enlisted. CPO Harris was 28 when he went in!

What I'm saying is- don't worry too much. I felt like my life would be over by 30 and that I'd need to be doing big things by 22 to be successful in life when I was 16. Figure out what you want to do now- if you feel like you need some time to have fun, civi college isn't a bad holding tank. Like everyone's said- have fun in HS. Don't take it too seriously- it's a small part of your life lol. You've got a lot of time to do cool stuff and live a Teddy Roosevelt life!

Good luck on everything man.
PS If you do decide to go to an Academy, you don't HAVE to decide now. Hal Moore did two years of college before going to USMA.

AF side of the house. You can jump right into CRO, but need to put some time in before you will see time in a STT. As for the STO/CCT. You actually have to go through a selection process. You can go through the selection process PRIOR to OCS/OTS but you will still choose a different AFSC prior to attending OCS/OTS. If selected then you would proceed through the STO pipeline and not the original AFSC.

Source: specialtactics dot com

You cant just jump into to CRO. You have to go through CRO phase I and II selection...then to the Pararescue/CRO Selection and Indoctrination Course.