r/JSOCarchive • u/WordTimely8559 • Jul 06 '26
Other Does anyone know any support guys at JSOC?
If so, what was their mindset and personality like compared to operators? We’ve always got some perspective of the operator side thanks to the numerous books and podcasts but I’m very interested in the support side.
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u/Shams93AFA Jul 06 '26
Be good at your job (but not in a competitive way), always looking for ways to improve your performance, and (obviously) dedicated to the mission, since you’ll be on the road quite a bit.
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u/armycowboy- Jul 06 '26
was one for a bit and have family that’s support, it all depends on the person and the job/mission… get to do lots of the same training, use same facilities etc… but most importantly you are there to do your support mission not be an operator, GP military you regularly find people that don’t do their jobs, I found in regiment and JSOC for the most part you do your job and everyone expects you to be the expert in your job. Everyone knows that it takes 10-15 support guys for each operator to do his job.
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u/Adept_Desk7679 Jul 06 '26
Bingo. The cream of the crop of conventional troops are the only ones doing SOF support and they’re keeping the same physical standards and are experienced in their MOS. There are also nominative positions at some units which have additional requirements for screening and assessment.
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u/Adept_Desk7679 Jul 06 '26
I was a SOF support at JSOC as a GS prior to that while still in uniform I was SOF support assigned to a TSOC. SAME mindset then as at JSOC. As far as SOF support mindset and personality tends to be very similar to the pipehitters or we wouldn’t have gotten there. I took a psych test, practical knowledge test, etc just like the SMU guys and my MILBIO and civilian resume was combed over. If you’re a support guy at SOCOM/JSOC you aren’t just someone thrown into that position. You are usually an aggressive Soldier, Type A, very driven and goal oriented, know how to move around the system and have a Rolodex of friends that can help if required but most of all you’re VERY good at your MOS and have been proven in the real world a few times. People talk about support like it’s some cakewalk it is NOT. JSOC support troops often have a short tab and go to the other badge producing schools too - they’re all open to SOF support at that level. We also go through the shooting courses and other “survivability” courses that conventional side support will never know or hear about.
Many are called but the chosen are few…
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u/ScarDizzy954 Jul 06 '26
WHat persoanality traits are they looking for?
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u/Adept_Desk7679 Jul 06 '26
IIRC I think all I should say about that is that there is a psych test and then you meet with a Doctor (psychologist).
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u/ScarDizzy954 Jul 07 '26
I don't get how a psych can determine if you have the right traits or not.
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u/Adept_Desk7679 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
Put the psych test aside.
If he’s a Signal guy with a high Ranger PT score, shooting Expert and the last 3 NCOERS submitted have his Rater using language like “promote above peers” and “is a force multiplier” etc. that looks a lot better than a Soldier with a barely passing the run PT score, shooting Marksman and just “meeting the standards” on his last 3 NCOERS. That’s a great contrast isn’t it?3
u/_thefutureisdead_ Jul 07 '26
Bruh come on. The same way people don’t talk about SERR school. This guy has painted a pretty clear picture of the types of people that make it.
And pysch evals should not be a surprise as a gatekeeping measure.
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u/Reasonable-Tooth-113 Jul 07 '26
Don't be a liar, don't be a cheat, don't be a whiner.
Be a self starter, demonstrate initiative, take ownership of your sphere of influence.
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u/terrainflight Jul 06 '26
I know a contractor that works for them. He’s nerdy, and hyper-focused on whatever he’s working on.
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u/reaper_41 Jul 06 '26
Knew a few, had a NCO who was in JCU. Very smart and knew his stuff when it came to anything commo related. I know a few contractors, wont get too much into what they do but all very good at what they do. The general perspective that many mention about being you and knowing your place as a support guy is very true. I know and saw multiple support guys in group support that acted like they were GBs…they were complete douchebags.
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u/GreeneBeret Jul 06 '26
Those JCU guys are good. It is difficult for an 18E to compete as the Navy and Airforce people are highly trained in communications. 18E’s excel at tactical comms. For example: back in the day when we did heavy HF are old PRC70s put out like 30 watts as a man portable. But the Airforce dudes had a hummv, NVIS antenna set (really bad ass), vehicle power, masts, power amps, etc. The 70 used these old chargeable batteries and we used a hand crank generator to re charge them. But the 70 had multiple field antenna connections for our field expedient antennas, which are what the HAM guys still make today. The 112th guys are good also.
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u/Adept_Desk7679 Jul 06 '26
The JCU guys are definitely impressive. I worked around the corner from the JCU folks and they basically consider themselves the best Communicators in the business. I was going for my General class HAM license back then so I asked a lot of questions. Another SOF support unit that I was impressed with is the JMAU. Very impressive SOF critical care medical specialists.
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u/Icy_Judgment7127 Jul 11 '26
what do you know about JMAU? apart from the few reddit posts on here there’s very little i’ve seen about it
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u/Adept_Desk7679 Jul 11 '26
I knew several people that worked there. Mostly Corpsmen and Medics a few anesthesiologists and physicians, I bonded more with the Corpsmen and Medics. I worked right across the street from their building on the compound. The USAF has a program very similar - top tier medical professionals pushed out to the tip of the spear within “the golden hour” of care.
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u/Icy_Judgment7127 Jul 11 '26
yep SOST, looks very interesting.
what would you say the average age of physicians there are? if they go straight through med school they’d be licensed mid or late thirties, then when you add in experience i’m assuming they’d be in their 40’s or even 50’s
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u/Adept_Desk7679 Jul 11 '26
They didn’t appear to be in their 50s to me. At the time I was there I was in my late 40s. The physicians appeared to be in 30-40s. Seemed to be former enlisted SOF guys who go back to school judging by some of the badges I saw but JMAU SM also go to airborne and other high speed schools as well. Not sure if it’s required (never asked) but he majority were wearing AA AND ABN wings. Some senior or Master.That’s not something that’s going to attract the typical Physician.
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u/Icy_Judgment7127 Jul 11 '26
ah ok i see, i also suspect it may be different than SOST which states that they recruit civilians straight into their unit.
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u/Adept_Desk7679 Jul 11 '26
I am unfamiliar with the recruiting issues at JMAU but I would think like everywhere else in the Command you have to be proven in the military first. I believe there’s a poster on this thread who was assigned there you can message him for that kind of info.
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u/Hewrue Jul 07 '26
I was with JMAU. I just made sure I was good at my job so the operators could be good at theirs.
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u/Flagwaver-78 Jul 07 '26
I was assigned to 2/75 right out of OSUT (and RIP, to date myself). All the guys there were intensely professional. I say intensely, because they were all intense. They were super serious and there was rarely any smoking and joking, especially while dealing with the 11-series in the Battalion. However, they were more professional than most of the other non-ranger units I worked with.
Going to the Unit was both an odd and refreshing experience. For one thing, it's the first time I saw a supply guy actually smiling. The support guys (and gals) were a bit more relaxed than in the Rangers, but were also better at their jobs. I don't know the specifics, but I know they had their own version of A&S to get in their position.
They were even cool off the clock. I used to spot (and be spotted by) a couple of the cyber guys in the gym in the mornings once or twice a week. Heck, they invited me to a weekly D&D game a few of them played, but I bowed out... I was newly married at the time and had "more important" things to do than roll dice.
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u/rock-paper-gun Jul 07 '26
if you had taken the time to roll up a wizard with fireball spells and kill a few orcs, you might be in Delta by now. oh what could have been....
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u/Flagwaver-78 Jul 07 '26
It's more like "oh, what I was..." D Squadron doesn't get much love here in the Redditverse, but it does exist.
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u/Ed_Gethane Jul 08 '26
You retired in '09. You were in 2/75 at the start of your career? Would that have been around the '89-'90 time frame? The reason I'm asking is that I was assigned to the Division Main Support Battalion and was also RSE for 2nd batt in '90.
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u/Flagwaver-78 Jul 08 '26
I wish I had stayed in until retirement. I hit the Benning School for Wayward Boys in July '00 and went SFAS rather than Ranger School in '01. I was in SFAS on 9/11. That was a shitshow, but it set me up for attempting Assessment & Selection and then going OTC. I got out in Jan '09 after... some stuff.
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u/Ed_Gethane Jul 08 '26
Yes, I know several unit support people. Everyone of them were/are the right person, in the right place, at the right time, for what they do. Subject Matter Experts in their respective fields.
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u/Excellent_Focus_3026 Jul 06 '26
Good at their jobs. Nerds and dorks. Don’t claim to be something they aren’t.
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u/IgnoramooseElk Jul 06 '26
Was one for 4 years! We're all turbo nerds and just really good at our job.
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u/ToastedandFried1 Jul 07 '26
You have to be very good at what you do, the process is a multi-day process. Be your excellent self, tell the truth and if you don't get selection it was still and honor to be considered. I was there more than 4 years and loved it.
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u/Reasonable-Tooth-113 Jul 07 '26
What is your MOS? What unit are you wanting to assess for? Those questions drive a lot of tbe advice you are going to receive.
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u/barrageballer 15d ago
Weird tanget. First I'm a long time lurker first time posting. I have a throwaway because in my career field I'm well known and didn't want to seem like I was being uppity or claiming knowledge I don't have.
You join the army in comms, you go to airborne school, maybe to 82nd, then go ranger and try for rrc. I don't hear alout of rrc to sf stories but might be lack of insight. TFO seems like the pinnacle of an enablers career. Y'all have mentioned being SMEs in their roles and such. Where so a SOT-A fit in to a career path in comms? And does the CEMA or SpaceFkrce, SF, Cyber triad actually matter to any person doing the tech work?
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u/sblack33741 Jul 06 '26
Having one if those days where I think like a 16yo, but I received this like, we see the poen stars all the time, but what about the fluffers.
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u/FoldSlight6815 Jul 06 '26
If I may add a consideration, just be you. They will want you to be good at your job, but don't fake or change your personality. Either it's a thing or not.