Eyesight? Drugs? Jail time? SPECOPS Recruiting Questions Answered!
EPISODE 4
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WELCOME ANOTHER Info-packed EPISODE OF THE ONES READY PODCAST! ON THIS ONE, Bring in special operations recruiter Tsgt spring to answer all of the most commonly asked questions.
Today in the studio we have TSgt Spring. He is a recruiter out of the 330th Recruiting Squadron and he's here to talk to you guys a little bit about what they do. We're going to talk about some of the requirements for you guys that are interested in coming in the SW career field, why it was originally made and how they can actually help you guys additionally we will discuss how we're going work with them in order to help you guys and make sure that you're ready to go for the future. So get in receive mode, take out a piece of paper and pencil. We're going to throw a lot at you.
What is a Special warfare recruiting squadron?
TSgt Spring
We stood up in 2017 so we're still relatively new squadron. With that, I'm sure you guys can all attest to how you guys came into the air force was kind of really the reason of why we did this.
TSgt Spring
When you guys came in, I'm sure your recruiter was kind of not too knowledgeable on your said jobs. You probably brought more to the table then than they did. I was part of that as well, so I'm not knocking our enlisted brothers, but as soon as you mentioned these jobs or that you are focused on these areas, they probably pushed you right for a PAST test right away. And if you're lucky enough to pass, then you were shipping out probably immediately under that job. So that's not how we roll anymore. We'd take it more of a grooming standard. We want to make sure you guys are mentally prepared, physically prepared, and just have kind of a good shot at making it through the pipeline.
Brian Silva
Yeah. And I think one of the key things there is that, you know, focusing in on these six career fields, specifically. So as the four of us and then EOD and SERE, the other ones that are on the six list, but focusing in on those allows you to really, you know, focus in on these guys that need this extra kind of attention a little bit.
Trent Seegmiller
I'm just gonna say I'm excited about this because I remember going to my recruiter and they didn't know anything about these jobs. In fact, it was never even mentioned to me that it was a, a possibility. So I'm pretty stoked about getting everybody out there, the right information from the people that they should be getting the information from.
TSgt Spring
And I think it's great too, cause we have a liaison, obviously not only between us and one's ready but also versus the special operations community as well. So we, we are just able to plug in the correct information, any changes to the pipeline, anything that goes on, we're just, I mean, it comes out as soon as the decisions made through through big air force that comes out and you know, you guys were able to get it out, weren't able to get it out on our side. So, it's just great to have a good link. Like you're you're saying, it's great to have this.
How far out from wanting to leave should you contact a recruiter?
TSgt Spring
I personally as soon as you possibly can get out, go talk to a recruiter, um, you could be training for something that you are not qualified to join. Um, that we want to stop any of that stuff early on out gate. I say three to six months, I've, I have high school juniors, well they were juniors or seniors now, but in my DEP program for about over a year. So it's great. I mean, you're not missing out or you're not, you're not going to hurt yourself by being in our program for that long. Really, we're going to build you, we're going to get you everything, you know, and at least at the end of the day, even if it's a year out for that year, you have that mental check that, Hey, I know exactly what I'm going to be doing. As long as I'm checking the boxes and I'm passing my past test and I'm ready to rock and roll and I don't do anything dumb to get disqualified. I know that I am going to be, and you name your job that you're going to try out for, but that, and I think to me it's one less thing that you have to really worry about. So
Jared Pietras
Yeah, because you guys are keeping these guys accountable for the entire time that they're part of your program. I mean, I know some of the groups I've talked to, they have to check in at least once a week and, and at least show up or at least some kind of contact. Obviously they have school and work and stuff like that. But you guys seem to keep a pretty regular, um, not leash, but accountability of those guys.
TSgt Spring
Yeah, I mean, especially with how everything's changing so much inside of these career fields. A lot of times they're getting research done and they're figuring stuff out in there or they're just realizing, Hey, what's, what's new about this or what's new about this? And we're so, yeah, we're in constant contact with them, whether, you know, a lot of times I don't even have to force it on my guys. I'm just sitting there kind of doing my thing and all of a sudden I'll get a phone call from one of my guys, Hey, what, what happened with this pro, with this change on this and what's going on with sr program. And then, and I'm just like, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. Like, you know, let me, let me get my bearings straight first before you come out. And with a lot of this, cause I mean it's, it's fresh information and I love it about it. Just that I can sit there and be like, okay, now let me reach out my avenues and kind of figure out what's going on. But yeah, we're in constant contact with these guys and I enjoy it. It helps build that, you know, kind of what we're expecting as, as a military as well.
Brian Silva
Yeah, and I think one of the important things is not just, you know, can be with you guys, but accountability to each other. Like, you know, a lot of these guys aren't really used to preparing with other individuals and just having that contact and you know, shoulder to shoulder doing the same kind of workouts. And if you see that you're, you know, the lowest on the totem pole as far as work outs then you know, that you've got to start busting your butt in order to get up back to that top tier or those guys that are all always in front. So I think that's important on the accountability aspect. So basically if you go see the recruiter earlier, earlier, the worst thing that can happen is you're more prepared coming in the door.
TSgt Spring
100% yeah, 100%. And I would like to put a little caveat too, if you are already working with, an enlisted recruiter as well, don't let that stop.
How is Ones Ready working with the recruiters?
Brian Silva
The pipeline is a dynamic process and we need to respond to that with a dynamic solution, which is why we're doing this podcast right now.
We can continue to update every week what you guys need to know and you know, it's an outlet for them to get your guys' ears and eyes if you're watching the YouTube video and that way you know, you're the most UpToDate because I know you guys are going to watch some of these videos and texts and be like, Oh man, do you got, do you see trents hair? I was looking on point today or did you guys see whatever like, or you hear about this and that. So, uh, continued to spread it. Like we're not against any type of stuff like that. We want you guys to know as much as possible. So, uh, yeah. So I just want to make sure that you guys are clear on that. And while we're doing this and how we're working with the recruiting services and we're not personally recruiters or anything like that, we're not trying to get paid for the number of people that join the air force. Like they don't do that either. They're not trying to get a certain number of people. We just want you guys to know what you're getting into again and pick the right career field for you because that's what you feel like in your heart that you want to do. Not just because we need numbers or any of that kind of stuff. We are not trying to do any of that stuff. So yeah, go ahead.
Jared Pietras
Which is kind of why that were so when you bring up the integration that we're going to have with the recruiters, that's why there's actually going to be a link on a ones ready.com for recruiters and you're going to be able to select that and then you're going to be able to submit a question that you want and that's going to go direct to a recruiter or a recruiter, you know, email inbox. Right. And then the recruiters or the, the SOR recruiters have told us that they guarantee a response within 72 hours. So that's going to be a great place for you guys to be able to go to get information or ask very specific questions. If for some reason you can't make it to a, an actual recruiter. So these guys would be able to give you some good information. Really. It'll be able to give you a chance to ask more than just, I mean you guys are going to be looking for specific special operations questions. You've got sure. You guys can answer questions for the norm, the other, you know, whatever it is, 150, 160 other air force jobs. But really you guys are going to be able to provide pinpoint information to, to special operations jobs. You know, the six career fields, the PJ, the CCT, the special reconnaissance TACP, SERE and EOD,
TSgt Spring
Correct. Yeah. So that's our primary focus. Um, and we're going to be able to give you guys, you know, most UpToDate and accurate information on qualification questions. Um, if it is questions about the pipeline and stuff like that, we might not know then. Yeah, well that's where we can reach out to to ones ready as well as, you know, any, any special operations units that we have around us. Um, to get the most UpToDate accurate information, you're going to get a response. Um, it might not be the response you're looking for. It might be, Hey, let me figure this out right now and I will email you back. You know, and it might not be within that 72 hour window, but I guarantee you're going to hear something back from us and it's going to be,
Jared Pietras
and you're right. And that's, that's the important part of that because you, you brought it up earlier is that, you know, you'll get guys that they, they, you know, get training plans from Brian or, or some other, you know, uh, other company and then they start training for six months and they just, they, they spend the money, they spend the time and all the effort and then they have something that disqualifies them based off of something medically or, or whatever. You know, and that's so really if you guys were out there, you're saving yourself time by hitting a recruiter first, getting those, those initial things set up to make sure you are good to go and then you can start busting your ass and training.
Trent Seegmiller
I think a lot of people just seeing the movies and there if you go talk to a recruiter, you're automatically enlisted. Your life is over. Uh, and if you could just clear up what is the point of no return. Um, I mean it's, it's like right before they ship. Correct. So talking to a recruiter doesn't do anything
TSgt Spring
negative. So yeah, in my, in my office there's a no legal binding document. I can have you sign that will enlist you for the air force for six, four to six years. The, um, the, the point of no return, really. I like to have the commitment. Um, I don't like sending you up to MEPS without that commitment. Um, but yeah, the, the point of no return is 100%. When you go to maps and you're swearing. Um, that's where I like to have, you know, like I said, that commitment beforehand. So I feel good about the process moving forward. Um, but yeah, short answer to that one is as maps is when you're going to be 100% committed into this process.
Who is the ideal candidate for a recruiter
Trent Seegmiller
I actually get this question a lot from the recruiters. They're like, Hey, who are you guys looking for? Who's successful? Um, and a lot of the things that you've touched on, I think, team sports or individual sports, just sports in general are pretty good background to have. Not only physically, but it teaches you the discipline and how to work with people. So I think one of the big things is, um, is that environment. So being on a team with a whole bunch of other people, same purpose, one purpose as a team is essentially exactly what we do. So having that as the physical and the mental side, um, and wanting to serve for a, so there's the, the physical thing that I was always asking about, right. And then there's the, the one to serve a side. So it's hard for me. I can't be like, Hey, um, yeah, look for Tight ends. Tight ends always make it right. I'm going to, it's just not the case. It's, I'm looking forward, the people that are willing to grind and not necessarily the most physically talented people are always the most successful. It's the people that are willing to put it out there to grind that, that want it for a reason beyond just looking cool. Cause that gets almost no one through the pipeline. It's, it's whether you want to do it for your country, for your family or whatever. And then having that mentality that nothing is going to stop you and it being a very important thing for you. So, uh, I mean, I've seen high level athletes make it, I've seen high level athletes fail. I've seen people that have spent most of their life behind a computer or a video console, whatever gaming thing. Um, and then one day they decided to, uh, to, to start training and to, and to pick it up and whatever it is, it's, uh, they flipped that switch and, and they have a reason for it and they're getting after it. But, being familiar with the outdoors and the elements and the team environment is definitely not going to hurt, in my opinion.
Jared Pietras
Yeah, I'd agree with that. Just, you know, and I, I get the questions at the same time too, but I think what I like to kind of say is, Hey, if we were all football players are all wrestlers, like, you know, Hey, that'd be, that'd be great. But we would really show some serious weakness on, on whatever areas of our lives or of our mission sets. Right. So by April, you know, if we're getting gamers, we're getting, you know, computer programmers, we're getting football players, wrestlers, water polo players, like putting all of us together and going on an admission is what's going to really make us stronger because any gaps that I'm, I'm weekend or missing in, you know, Trent or Brian or Aaron or somebody else can help plug those holes because I am definitely not good at everything
Brian Silva
I think you know with that being said though, when I was an instructor, I kind of noticed that there were some things that like people did back in high school that kind of helped them out a little bit. One of them was if the dude was like a surfer, you know, getting crushed in the waves and getting used to kind of not being in control of the splashing and getting water up your nose and that kind of thing. I think that kind of helped them a little bit. Wrestlers, like you said, like just the conditioning aspect. You go until your smoked, you have to dye it and do all that stuff to cut weight? So those are two things that like really stick out and then anybody that has some team sport team sport experience and is able to work well with a team.
TSgt Spring
Really we just try to get the word out there that, that we do have stuff. Um, Spartan races, mud run, stuff like that where we're individuals really want and strive for that. Um, I think to me though that there's no absolute right or wrong person out there. Um, it could be anybody, even if you didn't play team sports in high school or something, but you're, you're still striving for that team, team membership aspect. I mean, to me, I'm, there's no absolute, Hey, you have to had played this or played even a sport. To me it's, it doesn't matter. I mean you can be a carpenter for all we care. As long as you're just looking and you have that mental ability, that mental toughness to, to make it through these jobs, then I think you're the right person really.
What are the qualifiers and disqualifiers to join?
TSgt Spring
You need a passing ASVAB score. That's anything over 31. It's a little bit different for each job. Um, we, you know, we can post something up on the website of what each job is as lab score wise. I know a big thing is if you do get a pretty bad score on your initial ASAB, what should you do? The biggest thing I can say is do not proceed any further along with your process. Um, so if you're up there at MEPS and you're about to go take the ASAB one night and then go take, uh, the physical the next day and if you get your scores and you decide and they're not qualifying for these jobs, definitely stop your process right there. Um, myself as a recruiter, I know I every time, if I know you're looking at a certain career and you're not open to anything else that you do qualify for with those scores, I'm going to immediately pull you off and kind of, you know, change direction a little bit and get you a 30 day wait and then you're going to retest again on the ASVAB.
Brian Silva
I think the key takeaway here is don't be the guy that requires a reset or redo of the test. You know that the test is going to come if you're trying to join the military. So study for that test and like a peaches was saying, There are some courses out there, people that offer like online books, there's plenty of resources out there that you can go to or I'm sure if you like go to a local high school, they probably have some kind of ASVAB class that they put on for guys that are doing it. Swallow your pride. I don't care if you're 30 years old or you're trying to join the military, swallow your pride and go to the class because no one in that class is gonna remember anything about you. All that matters is that you go to the MEPS and pass that test. If you don't pass it, then you're screwed and you're going to have to figure out some other kind of thing. Are you waste another month of your life trying to retest or do any of that kind of stuff?
LASIK and PRK which is okay?
TSgt Spring
So far in our regulations, there's nothing that says either LASIK or PRK. You can get either one of them. The big one is if you do get it done beforehand, it's a year wait. And then if you get it done while you are in the DEP, that's a six month wait after that. So that is an option for you guys. If for some reason you try out for one of our jobs and you're, Hey, my eyes are just atrocious, I can't see anything and you want to get it upgraded, then that's fine. Um, that, that's a different options for you. Um, I'm trying to think of anything else on that topic right there. Just cause he had the PRK and Lasix huge right now. Um, but just make sure you keep all your doctor's notes. Realistically talk with us before you even go out to there. Cause we're going to give you a form to have your optometrist or surgeon fill out that whoever does your eyes so we can give you a form and kind of alleviate the paperwork on the backside.
Drug usage? Jail time?
TSgt Spring
We don't care about the quantity of times you've done it, but just keep it with marijuana. If it's anything else, you know, that's, that's no boy, no one on all branches. Um, the big thing with law violations, yes, we do run waivers. We're, we're not the air force of 2000, early two thousands where if you had a traffic ticket and you're gone, um, we've ran DUI waivers, we run, um, kind of simple assault charges. Anything along those lines, we can, we can within reason of running those up. So within reason means if you're a habitual idiot and you get caught doing a lot of stuff, like you know, DUIs and you ran from the cops and you did this and then the next week you did else, obviously you probably didn't learn your lesson. So that's something we're not looking to try to push. But if it was a simple mistake, then our commander is pretty level headed about things and he knows people do dumb stuff. I've done dumb stuff. I just didn't get caught. Um, as a, as a pretty good motto that I like to say of just I'll run your waiver, I'll help you out. That also goes into, you know, I like to kind of go back to the zones I like in the Midwest. We can run waivers, maybe in Texas and California where thier having a surplus of people, they might not be able to have the time to run those waivers as well. Um, so kind of reach out and engage them. Recruiters, I know I'm open and honest with you. If, if you're close to a busy market in recruiting and they don't have time to run your waiver, maybe make that two hour drive to go see another recruiter and they'll definitely hook you up. So, make the drive if, they're not willing to do it right then and there.
Brian Silva
So again, summarizing this whole thing, we're looking, looking at trends on what you're going to be doing. So they're looking for a smooth person. That's stable and is going to be able to not show up on the radar as much. So if you're a person that's kind of all over the place, like you've been in jail, like he said, for taking drugs and then you also had some other issues that are domestic or you're have some kind of drug dependency, like your constant depression or constant, something like that that you may be a risk or you may put you in a nondeployable type of category specifically for these kinds of jobs. I'm not talking about like other recruiter kind of things. We don't want to really, we don't want to put our mission in jeopardy or our people in jeopardy because of, you know, another issue. And I'm sure that those people that may have those issues would understand that this is a high stakes kind of thing. And if people are sick in any kind of way, even if you have like some kind of asthma and the team has to carry you through the field or has to do something, then that's going to hamper the mission overall. It's going to put your guys and your team in danger.
US citizens vs non- us citizens and age
TSgt Spring
guys that are non citizens are citizens. Can I join for any specific career fields or what are their options? Um, so right now our jobs as special operation jobs are off the table for non us citizens. Um, the air force does have other jobs that can get you to that process. So if you are a green card holder or anything along those lines, um, kind of find your, find your best path in. Um, if it is joining through a traditional air force job, do that and then maybe leave this option open as a cross training event later. Um, so I mean a pretty basic on that one. I would not, yeah, no non us citizens. I'm sorry. Um, another one with the age 17 to 39, um, 17 obviously with parental consent, um, uh, other than that, there is no waiver, um, authorized for that.
Asthma
TSgt Spring
we look at timeframes. So if you had maybe, um, childhood asthma or something like that and you haven't had a history of it and you can get a good, uh, pulmonary lung function test, stuff like that, um, they will, we're easy. We can, we can bypass a lot of that stuff and just run up to our surgeon general and get, get clears on that stuff. So we're good to go with that. Um, it's not a guarantee. 100%, nothing is in the military. If you guys can't figure that one out. Um, so we can, what we're gonna do is our best shot though. We're going to run it up and just put definite dates on there of, Hey, I had it from this age to this age. Um, here's my medical documents, here's all this stuff that shows I'm, I'm good, I'm clean. I don't have any issues with me. And even if you've played sports outside of that, so that helps out a little bit too. Um, let's see. Did we mention the weight, the weight standards?
Special Thanks to TSgt Spring and USAF Special Operations Recruiting for making this episode possible.
Guest Bio:
TSgt John Spring Enlisted into the Air Force on 14 Nov 2005 as an Electrical Systems Apprentice. His first duty Station was Kadena AB Okinawa Japan from 2006-2008. During that time he deployed to Balad AB Iraq. Soon after returning from there he Permanently changed duty stations to Yokota AB Japan. from 2008 until 2012. while there in 2009 he got deployed back to Balad AB in Iraq. After his time was over in Japan he got transferred to F.E Warren AFB in Cheyenne WY. and in 2016 he was selected to become an Enlisted Accessions recruiter in Lincoln NE. After spending one year doing enlisted recruiting. He was handpicked to help stand up the new 330th Special Warfare recruiting Squadron. He is Married to his wife Ayako for 9 years and has three sons.
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