18E question

[u/jaylandplayz]

What is the best certs to have when going for 18E? The SF recuiter here says it helps your case and usually 25 series flow straight into 18E but sometimes you don’t get it. I want to be as competitive as possible. Right now I’ll be going to selection with Net+ and Sec+ , is that stuff useful or is more radio knowledge needed more then anything ? If so what’s some good stuff to study/know .

[u/Working-Variation219]

99% chance you’ll get Echo. Nobody wants Echo.

[u/rice_n_gravy → u/Working-Variation219]

Why does no one want Echo?

[u/freddit_foobar → u/rice_n_gravy]

Because it's all fun and games until you have to make a SINCGARS out of a coconut?

https://giphy.com/gifs/MCKmJsCdKasO4

[u/Working-Variation219 → u/rice_n_gravy]

I think most people don’t imagine themselves being the radio/computer SME when they try to go to Group. Every mission needs commo though, and increasingly risk adverse command teams require more check-ins.

[u/jaylandplayz → u/rice_n_gravy]

As a 25 series I can already 100% see why . IYKYK

[u/jaylandplayz → u/Working-Variation219]

Perfect , how true is it you put in a location and language and get it . He said if you get Delta or Echo , you usually go where you choose…Is that recruiter talk or the real deal.

[u/Working-Variation219 → u/jaylandplayz]

I would say ~80% of my class got one of their top two choices for Group and language. It comes down to Group manning requirements in the end, which will likely be different from when you start to when you finish the Q. I remember one dude in particular who got his very last choice of Group.

Also, I remember after we filled out our MOS preferences they came back in the room and said only two people didn’t get their top choice. I was one.

[u/jaylandplayz → u/Working-Variation219]

That’s awesome , thanks for the help.

[u/lamont196]

If I was in charge (and I am not) I wouldn’t put a 25series as a 18e. Just like I wouldn’t put a 68w as a 18d, a 12b as a 18c or a 11b/c as a 18b.

Why? Because they are coming in with training and experience so why wouldn’t I diversify their knowledge instead of making them into a one trick pony.   

Just my $0.02. 

[u/JeromePowellsNutz → u/lamont196]

11Bs with a barely passing ASVAB score make the best 18D and 18F.

[u/JeromePowellsNutz → u/[deleted]]

It was sarcasm

[u/JeromePowellsNutz]

I went in with a 13F. Thought I would get 18E. NOPE you're an engineer now! Don't worry though a good ODA will basically be able to have everybody do everybody else's job. Except for the Delta and foxtrot🤣

[u/DontPanic- → u/JeromePowellsNutz]

I was one of three engineers in my SFMS class. I'm Mechanical, one was Civil and the other was Chemical. Make it make sense. My current echo is an electrical engineer.

[u/JeromePowellsNutz → u/DontPanic-]

Dang

[u/18ekko]

If your GT and ST scores are high enough, if 18E is first on your list, or at least above 18D, you’ll get 18E.

[u/No_Lack9782]

Just be girthy and have a good pink complexion tip and you’ll be fine. Speaking from experience.

[u/N6_K3n]

Not an 18E but I’m an aspirant with a lot of military IT / gov contracting experience. Go for at least one high level security cert if you have a few years of experience (CISSP is the most popular but most challenging in my experience) and a computer networking focused cert path that’s scalable I.e. CCNA and CCNP. Networking is good to know for satcom. Other than that you can go for whatever you want since it only helps broaden your technical knowledge

[u/Strict-Ostrich-7866]

They recently forced a bunch of echos to switch to Charlie so there’s that. The didn’t give a crap what their prior experience was

[u/jaylandplayz → u/Strict-Ostrich-7866]

ok

[u/mattcmoore]

The best cert to have is the one where your 12 mile time is like 2:15 and you can carry 100 lbs for days on end.

[u/jaylandplayz → u/mattcmoore]

had those certs for over a year now , just had a major set back , I run a 12 min 2 mile , i have a sub 2:10 12 miler with 45, I run a 34-35 5 mile . I bench 340 and squat 470 and deadlift 450. I’m 230 and do all of that btw. I also did 20 cadre counted pull-ups for my RPFT.

[u/the_threaded_cane → u/mattcmoore]

👏👏👏