Ask a Support Dude

[YesWeCan2008]

I can answer most of your questions about the life of a support guy. I'd say I'm pretty experienced, been stuck with teams on different types of missions in different countries. I'm also familiar with what a lot of support guys in different MOS's do.

[Mr_Loki]

Where do you sleep at night? What type of meals do you eat? How much butt did you have to kiss to have done the things you did?

[7011USMC]

Where do you sleep at night? What type of meals do you eat? How much butt did you have to kiss to have done the things you did?

LMAO...diet dew thru the nostrils! How is being a POG different in "group" than being a POG as a REMF???

[YesWeCan2008]

Where do you sleep at night? What type of meals do you eat? How much butt did you have to kiss to have done the things you did?

Slept in a bed, we're on a strict diet of soy beans and organic sprouts. I didn't have to kiss butt to do anything, except for getting promoted.

[YesWeCan2008]

LMAO...diet dew thru the nostrils! How is being a POG different in "group" than being a POG as a REMF???

What a great question! Thanks! It's a lot different. You often find yourself fielding gear that hasn't been issued to the rest of the army yet and working on equipment that is specialized for smaller units. You also have more opportunity for schools, etc. It's different from being a REMF because a lot of support guys aren't "REMF"s, they're specialized in their field and are often sent to missions with SFODAs or SFODB's to support in their field of specialty. So to answer that question, "POG"s from an SFG are a LOT different than being a "REMF".

Keep the great questions coming everyone.

[SF Hunter]

I can answer most of your questions about the life of a support guy. I'd say I'm pretty experienced, been stuck with teams on different types of missions in different countries. I'm also familiar with what a lot of support guys in different MOS's do.

You have opened a big can with this post. Good Luck.

[YesWeCan2008]

You have opened a big can with this post. Good Luck.

This is easier than the tons of PMs I was getting. At least they can reference here.

[7011USMC]

What a great question! Thanks! It's a lot different. You often find yourself fielding gear that hasn't been issued to the rest of the army yet and working on equipment that is specialized for smaller units. You also have more opportunity for schools, etc. It's different from being a REMF because a lot of support guys aren't "REMF"s, they're specialized in their field and are often sent to missions with SFODAs or SFODB's to support in their field of specialty. So to answer that question, "POG"s from an SFG are a LOT different than being a "REMF".

Keep the great questions coming everyone.

Great answers and I appreciate that you have a great sense of humor (and sarcasm); Too many people get all tore up and take things way too personal now days. So in a nutshell your no REMF, pogue or fobbit good deal!

[Mr_Loki]

Think you can provide a nomenclature or two on the equipment?

We have equipment, such as a "CPP" "ADAMs" "MC4" "BCSSS" etc... Granted, not many know how to work these pieces of equipment so they are not used often but they are CRITICAL in disaster missions and even in war time.

Basically, what type of equipment do you work with? Special NVGs, weapons, computers. I kind of want to know where we stand... opsec of course.

[YesWeCan2008]

Think you can provide a nomenclature or two on the equipment?

We have equipment, such as a "CPP" "ADAMs" "MC4" "BCSSS" etc... Granted, not many know how to work these pieces of equipment so they are not used often but they are CRITICAL in disaster missions and even in war time.

Basically, what type of equipment do you work with? Special NVGs, weapons, computers. I kind of want to know where we stand... opsec of course.

Yeah we use the TACLAN, SDN, MC-6 parachutes that were recently fielded (we've recently halted airborne ops due to deaths at Ft. Bragg), etc.

An SFG support guy will mostly have the same weapons, NVGs, etc. As far as computers , radios, satcom, etc, like I've said, we use equipment specialized in rapid deployment, quick set up/tear down, so a lot of the time it takes 3 or 4 support guys a couple hours to set up an entire commo shed on a good day. For fear of OPSEC reasons, I don't want to name all of the names of our equipment, I don't really know what's cool and what isn't to talk about, so I put what you can find on Google.

I've seen mostly PVS-14s, M4s, a lot of the times with AimPoints or ACOGs on them.

[YesWeCan2008]

Great answers and I appreciate that you have a great sense of humor (and sarcasm); Too many people get all tore up and take things way too personal now days. So in a nutshell your no REMF, pogue or fobbit good deal!

I don't think there's much shame in being a REMF or anything like that, some people don't always get the chance to do things, and chances are some guys in S-1 end up stuck inside or at the office while commo, mechanics, intel guys go out and play. I thought I'd answer your question and explain some differences between a commo guy in an SFG and in a signal battalion.

[YesWeCan2008]

Also, the canopy you jump is the SF10A, which unlike units like the 82nd use, is a steerable and maneuverable chute. Along with the MC6 is a new reserve that is a full sized canopy

[lindy]

Would you happen to have a POC for the MID, 5/19th in Watkins, CO?

[YesWeCan2008]

Would you happen to have a POC for the MID, 5/19th in Watkins, CO?

We do, PM me and I'll shoot that over to you. We have a couple AGR MID dudes.

[nocjallen]

I'm currently deployed to Iraq, and am trying to plan my next move in the Guard for when I return from deployment. I have been very interested in the support side of SF for quite some time, but how does one go about finding and interviewing for a slot? I suppose what I'm really asking is how do you do this without stepping on the toes of your COC?

I am MOSQ'd as a 25S which is a SATCOM Operator and have been in the Guard for 3 years. This is my first time looking for a new slot, and I'm looking for something new that is both challenging and rewarding. This leads me to my second question. What is the life of a commo guy in a SF support slot like?

[Phantom]

Commo guys are a much needed job in the Support Roll. There are many Commo MOS's in that sections and most of them cross train each other to become more of a SME. The commo responsibility has really changed over the years. Its not just radio any longer. There is a lot of computer work with setup/breakdown and troubleshooting. Then you go to all the different forms of commo equipment, tht you are probably already semi familiar with. It it not unusual to see a commo guy work at anywhere from a Battalion to a Company level, and possibly down to a ODA if the need is requested. This field is wide open and always has plenty of work to do and training to accomplish.

[nocjallen]

Thank you for the information Phantom. I appreciate you taking the time to reply to my questions. Once I return from this deployment, I will make some calls, either to a recruiter and/or possibly any other POC's that I may get a hold of.

[iambrian90]

I am currently an 11B in the VA guard, but will be graduating college in may with a degree in strategic intelligence, so i obviously want to get involved in that area in some capacity (guard or civi) ASAP. I have a buddy who is a linguist in the 2-19 sfg out in WV, and he said they are hurting for more intel guys. I would love to take him up on that offer, but how would it work? Is it as simple as just getting an IST and having the new unit send me off to re-class and go to the DLI if applicable, or is it much more complicated in that I am trying to IST as well as reclass, all while joining a SF unit. Any help, POC, or anything of that sort would be greatly appreciated.. I asked my friend to talk to his people out there next time he has drill, but they are preparing for a AT type of training, so I don't want to overstep my bounds and get my possible future bosses mad at me before I am even there. I am currently an E3 and will be getting the auto-promotion in FEB of this year, if that makes any difference. Thanks ahead of time

[Nivale]

Gents,

Sorry for resurrecting an older thread, but my question seemed a good fit here. Former Marine (8yrs) as a 2621/2611 (SIGINT, CNO operator/analyst @ tactical and national level) and came over about a year ago to the USAR out at Ft. Belvoir and after an AT w/ 58th TC and chatting up some folks, am interested in ARNG, in particular 20th SFG.

Still new to the Army way and thus some of the distinctions are still above me; hoping someone can clear up some questions. From what I have gathered from other older threads and ol' reliable OSINT, there are two types of MI support to SFG: as a part of a SF Support Co., or 2) Spec. Ops. Support Unit. What are the differences? What would be preferable for an MI guy?

Respectively,

SSG