{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"speaker":"Intro ","startTime":2.0,"body":"You're listening to the ones ready podcast, a team of Air Force Special Operators forged in combat with over 70 years of combined operational experience, as well as a decade of selection instructor experience. If you're tired of settling, and you want to do something you truly believe in, you're in the right place. Now, here's your favorite CCT personality JTAC extraordinare, embracer of the ridiculous face, and like the shortest operator you'll ever meet, Peaches. \n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":28.0,"body":"Hey, everybody, welcome back to the ones ready podcast. We're happy to have you. And again, thanks for joining us and tuning in. If you guys haven't already, go check us out on YouTube Spotify, leave a review, leave us some stars hammer that like button. And we appreciate it just helps out, you know as getting more subscribers and getting that information out there to everyone. So we've got something a little special for you guys tonight. Oh, before I do that, check out our page for our recommended reading list and also our partners if you guys want a good discount, so we got some special tonight. I am probably well versed in working with TSgt Cameron Spencer. He is the Tampa Special Operations Recruiter. And I'd like you to introduce yourself if you don't mind.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":79.0,"body":"No problem. Hey, So like Peach said, my name is Technical Sergeant Cameron Spencer, with the 330th recruiting squash and as a Special Warfare Recruiter. A little bit about me real quick by trade. I'm an aircraft mechanic, the crew chief. I came in in 2008 did that for seven years in Nebraska, seven years straight in Nebraska. But lots of traveling around the world during that time. But uh, after after the seven years, you know, I was really looking for something else. And it's, it was very difficult to get off of it. So I looked into special duties. It was something I always wanted to do. Fun fact, I wanted to be an MTI originally, but at the time, he fives couldn't do it. It was e6 is only so a mentor of mine said, Hey, you should be a recruiter. And it's kind of funny, because when I joined, I told my recruiter He's like, what do you want to do with the Air Force? I said, I want to travel and I hate people. So any job that is not customer service. He said, we'll go work on planes. So it's, it's in that's what it is. My customer was the plane it is the pilot. And I got to travel. But after a while I wanted something different. And I found it kind of funny when my mentor said recruited I'm like me...a recruiter I joined to not work with people and that's the most customer service job that y'all have. He said try it out. You'd be good with with people. So once a recruiting school actually had a blast with it, went into our normal recruiting and enlisted sessions in upstate New York and Albany. I thought that upstate New York was like, a lot like New York City. That's why I chose it. Number one, I will not right. But that choices that turned into great choices. I did three years there before the 330th was stood up 2017 I got snatched up from there. And then around two years ago now late 2018 I got orders to Tampa to continue doing Special Warfare recruiting. So that's what I do now. That's a little bit about me. \n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":235.0,"body":"So we're gonna have a little different format than what we're normally doing. We'll call it like a two minute or three minute drill and I'm going to ask questions that we've got from all of the viewers and our followers on Instagram. So as a as a baseline going in though, I we have not reviewed any of these questions like I literally have my phone out right now. Yeah, I don't want to get everybody too excited about football starting. But, so as a disclaimer, anything that is asked medical wise, I'm going to skip and the reason why is because One's Ready. Anybody on this and TSgt Spencer are not authorized. We are not professionals in it. We all we can do is advise And even then that is not a great deal. So we will not answer any of these. If there are medical questions. I haven't seen any yet, but we'll see. Alright. So I'm, uh, I'm gonna toss you a softball. And I'm sure one of the guys will, you know, tagging on match. But what the first question is? on a first date, UDT shorts or Ranger panties? \n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":336.0,"body":"Um, probably the Ranger panties. I have more than I than I showed for no good reason. \n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":345.0,"body":"How dare you? You know, it's just because you haven't had your life changed by udts yet? I think so. Once you get a pair of good, just that Canvas Brown. udts. You just got two little D rings that you sort of like, I gotta be honest with you, man. \n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":362.0,"body":"I mean, it depends on like, also if it's going out to wear them or underneath, because that was actually my underwear for a long time. We all did. Why did we were so proud. It's like, I have to wear these out. Yeah, you're like, yep, check it out.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":377.0,"body":"Yeah, check it\n"},{"speaker":"Trent ","startTime":378.0,"body":"out. Everybody answered their door. And that's all there were\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":382.0,"body":"eight years chores around the dorms. You're always wearing those things. And anything. carwash, Donald's raising funds for the team? Who knows?\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":390.0,"body":"All right, now on to some more serious questions. Just wanted to break the ice a little bit. So Cameron or TSgt Spencer, if you have self eliminated in the past? Can you retry? Can you come back?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":408.0,"body":"And are we talking about in the pipeline? Or are they talking about?\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":413.0,"body":"Yeah, in the in, okay. In the pipeline? If they're at an S or their or their prep? Or I guess really anywhere in the pipeline? If they decide to self eliminate? Can they come back in the future?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":426.0,"body":"Yeah, so a lot of people think you're on an internal blacklist, you know, hey, if you if you self eliminate during that, now, if you do anything violent, of course, you self eliminate by striking an instructor or something? Yeah, you're not coming back, you probably won't have a career in the Air Force either. But if you do self eliminate, you know, maybe this was just a factor of you need some years to mature, you know, maybe you do need to physically get stronger, but probably more on the mental part. Then Yes, you know, these career fields will always be you know, undermanned by by nature. So taking those two years and waiting for your retraining window to open and then making that switch is a possibility.\n"},{"speaker":"Trent ","startTime":468.0,"body":"Okay, I said that to like, when you when you come back, you're going to need to be like very, very honest. And know yourself very well. When you start talking to people when you come back. You can't just if you come in with like a list of excuses why you didn't make it, and it's somebody else's fault or anything along those lines. \n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":488.0,"body":"Yeah, yes, that's it. They had it out for me, man. 58 I did 58 push ups. He only counted 51 he failed me on my eval is terrible. His name's Brian.\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":497.0,"body":"Yeah. And real quick. Did you get a lot of people that had incident where they striked instructors or struck instructors? \n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":515.0,"body":"No one's ever heard of him, because I wonder what happened to him afterwards. So no, I have not heard anything yet confirmed.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":522.0,"body":"And the only thing I've seen is a get out of the pool. And I was still in the pool. guy got out of the pool, grabbed the bullhorn said, I quit. And then he smashed it on the pool deck. Did not go over very well. But whatever. Okay. On to the next and this is, this is a great question for you, Spencer. If you're 17 and you're interested in spec war, what do I do?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":557.0,"body":"All of us on 1-2-3. I was reading this. This is a tough one, but talk to a recruiter 17 you are eligible to enter. Of course you need parental consent. No big deal. But contact a recruiter. Get your pre qualification done to make sure you even qualify for the Air Force Special Warfare or not. You're still part of the Air Force he got to qualify for the Air Force. So reach out to a recruiter plain plain and simple.\n"},{"speaker":"Trent ","startTime":582.0,"body":"And how would we find one of those guys because apparently it's really difficult to find a recruiter just based on my experience.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":595.0,"body":"No, it's it's really simple airforce.com. Find a recruiter. If you can. Remember that link? Go to Google, Air Force, Recruiter, Find Recruiter. Let me add on to that too, because I know what brought it up. And it's something that I think I just answered on your page earlier today. someone saying they couldn't reach a recruiter. If that happens, one you can speak to a normal recruiter. Right? Call them, text them, email them. If you have to go to their office it's really up or up and down. You know, depending on where you are with COVID right now. Go to the office. If you go online, you can reach them on the website, enter another zip code Special Warfare or check no to Special Warfare. We work very closely with our normal enlisted session recruiter so they know where we are they know our contacts. So basically just use every route to find someone we we get paid to be here we are here. \n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":700.0,"body":"Since we're on this road, what is like, you know, we've all received it. And Spencer, you and I have spoken about this before because guys say guys or girls say, Hey, I haven't heard back from my recruiter, or my SOR. And I asked, okay, well, how long is it then? Oh, it's been two days. Like, hey, listen, that's not that long in reality. So what would you say? If a candidate or recruit does not hear back from their recruiter, whether it's phone call text email, what is too long? Or what should you know if they keep pinging these these guys? At what point should they you know, enter in another zip code?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":759.0,"body":"So whenever we get leads from, let's say, air force.com, fill out an application, and it tells you the weight. I think it uses, it usually is five to seven business days. With Colbert, I think it's saying seven to 10 businesses. But if you're sending that text, right, and it says right after it. And you're like this, recruiters just blatantly ignoring me know that they're not, you know, there's you're probably one of around 20 to 30 texts that day. And then in the middle of an appointment with someone, or one of these zoom calls we're in all day with candidates, and they just don't want to be rude to the person in front of them. And sometimes they just slip things things get buried. So I would say to answer your question directly Peach, if you've tried to call text them, you know, at least three or four times, four days in a row and you haven't had any response, reach out to that zip code. Most of the time, they're going to tell you that recruiter is on leave that's paid vacation time, or you know, maybe that office is vacant. And that normal recruiter will tell you exactly who to reach, they will have a contact of who only they can reach, whether it's that it's their boss, or the recruiter who's standing in for them at the time, the website just doesn't automatically update. Two days after a new recruit an old recruiter leaves, It normally takes a few weeks. So reach out to a regular recruiter, they will definitely put you pointed in the right place.\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":846.0,"body":"And on that note, real quick signs mentioned I just want to say thanks for you know, 40 all those questions that come across our desk and people that are outside of your zip code and stuff because you don't have to do those kind of things. It's for you guys that don't aren't aware. He's only in charge of a certain zip code in certain area. But he answers all these questions because He cares about the job of the people that are coming into it. So I appreciate that. And I've spent a lot of people to you as a resource to get to the right person. Because like like Peach said, we're not recruiters we don't know everything about the recruitment. Oh, that's your guy's job. You guys rum. We're not gonna try and step over that. But I appreciate things that you're doing on Instagram.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":880.0,"body":"Do we want to cover recreational drug use, or just leave that well? Well I'm gonna read it verbatim because I actually liked the way it's worded. \"I used to smoke the devil's lettuce, but never use another substance. Does Uncle Sam still want me?\"\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":927.0,"body":"So just click pause if he did not get that from Zacg Braff podcast, real doctors, fake friends or fake doctors real friends. You are a liar. Zach Braff refers to it as the devil's lettuce all the time. All right. Go ahead, Spencer. Devil's lettuce over to you.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":942.0,"body":"All right, Devil's lettuce. I'm pretty sure I know what he's talking about there. Uncle Sam still still wants you. But not if you're still harvesting the lettuce on a daily basis? Okay. Do you have to be off of marijuana? Let's be clear for everyone, for at least 45 days before you join. Here's a warning. If you're thinking about cutting it close, do you think you'll sit by there's a drug test at the military improcessing station for maps. But do you pop positive? You ain't joining the Air Force ever. You know, that's it. And if you think well, I'll just make it through maps. And then before I leave, I'll have a big old party. You'll have a drug test almost immediately when you arrive at BMT. And it takes a couple of a while for the results to come back. And here's the secret the fastest way to get out of BMT is actually going through BMT to graduate.  If you pop positive, you're going to be there for a very long time while they process your paperwork. So yes, you can use marijuana or experiment with it in the past, just in the last 45 days, you cannot to start the process.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1010.0,"body":"Cool. What are what are the age limits to join AFSPECWAR?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1015.0,"body":"17 to 39?\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1017.0,"body":"Okay, so and this question is, for real? How old is too old? I'm gonna throw that to Brian because he was at INDOC, what are some guys that you saw going through?\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":1030.0,"body":"They're literally 40 year olds that were going through when I was an instructor INDOC and we, you know, made fun of them all the time because they're older. And they dealt with it. I think they honestly did a pretty good job. For the most part. We've talked about this a little bit before. And it was that mindset of where there's no going back. They have family they have you know, they've been dedicated to this. Whatever, they ended up going in the airforce for, and I think they did a great job for the most part. Or they have something to fall back on. It's either 50/50\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":1058.0,"body":"I don't know, we we answered this one a lot to like, no matter how many times we're like guys, like, it doesn't matter what we say anyway, it doesn't matter if I tell you 39 too old. It doesn't matter if what I think is impossible. If I think it's too old, as long as you're underneath that time and you're gonna go do it, like just go be successful, you know?\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1074.0,"body":"Yeah, well, I mean, we to stick up for those guys a little bit that we do have new listeners that don't go back and listen to 41 or whatever other episodes\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1093.0,"body":"Hey to add on to what he says you're probably wondering, I said 39. And then Brian just said what are that 40 year old. So when you have active service under your belt, let's say you did serve in the guard or the reserve full time or active duty and got out, we actually subtract some of the years off of your age based off your service. So if you're 44 and I'm spitballing here, but if you're 44 trying to join again, he served a four year contract 10 years ago, we actually are 43 we actually consider you 39 basically they think you were in the military so you age slower. \n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1153.0,"body":"Trent I'm gonna throw this one to you. But if you don't know it obviously punt it. What happens when a candidate fails and s but they have a SWOE?\n"},{"speaker":"Trent ","startTime":1181.0,"body":"Well then you get you don't get the one of the 1Z AFSCs if you fell out, and then it's needs the Air Force. So like there's a when you get reclass there's there's a list of everything that the Air Force needs, like right now. And then, you know, we go to these candidates that are former candidates and we say what do you want to do and We look at their their scores and everything else like that. And and sometimes it really works out, like, we'll be like, hey, do you what do you want to do? And they tell us like contracting, right? Because everyone said go to contracting, which is almost impossible to get, if they have the scores and contracting happens to be number one on the list that they need to fill that day, for some reason, they have an open seat, they're going to match you with that, right? So like, they're gonna go through the list and see what they can match you with. But at the end of the day, it's needs they are forced, whatever needs to be filled. That's where you're gonna go.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1225.0,"body":"Yep. Sweet. I will answer this one. It's the question is, how often do you guys see retraining slots for E-6? It doesn't matter whether you're an E-4, E-5, E-6. The reason why we tell people to not delay or to go in or and not to go into another job in hopes of cross training is because cross training slots are never a guarantee. I think it was this last cycle or the cycle before they they released zero slots. So all these guys that were hoping, you know, to chase their dream and do it could not do it. Because therefore said we're not releasing any slots.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":1269.0,"body":"Was it was it TMA, that explain that process really can concisely. And it's because the cross training slots like they're betting on you as a, you know, somebody without that, that institutional knowledge, right, like somebody comes in the pipeline, they get out as an E-4, they have all that time to orient to the job and become a leader. And then they have time to go up through the ranks and be a leader in those career fields. Well, when you cross train as an E-6, and that's why they didn't release any of those slots, when you cross trained as an E-6, pretty soon, you have a whole contingent of leadership with less than five years of experience on the teams. And they have to they have to watch that throughout all of the communities, not just you know, the AFSPECWAR communities, but all the communities Imagine if you just turned over all of your top leadership in favor of a bunch of cross trainees because you put out 10 slots in a year that was just wreak havoc. So I think it was TMA that explain that one pretty well. But I might be wrong.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1315.0,"body":"Yeah it was either him or Chief Guilmain.\n"},{"speaker":"Trent ","startTime":1320.0,"body":"Yeah, that there is a way to do it. And whether they're showing slots or not, you can still submit your paperwork or get a hold of one of the MAJCOM functional managers that handles that kind of stuff. And if you if for some reason, you're exactly what we need. We'll make it happen. So that it's not, it's almost never an absolute No. But especially like as an E-6, it's going to be a it's gonna be a hard look.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1345.0,"body":"Yeah. Okay, on to the next question. This one's for you, Spencer. What is the time length normally between first contact of a recruiter and then signing up and departing for BMT?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1360.0,"body":"Oh, so I love that question. Because it's like most recruiting questions. They're not the kind of black and white answer, right. So the context, I normally get that question, that question is, How soon can I get a contract? And then I returned the question with how soon can you get a contract? Like how soon can you meet the physical requirements and the PAST requirements and exceed them. And then we have to take an account on ship days right now, the Air Force ships off people, every single Tuesday, and graduates, people every Friday, like clockwork, for Special Warfare, because of these pipelines, and the schools and prep and all that, we only have five ship days a year. So, you know, our next day is coming up in November. And those slots are pretty much spoken for. So if you came to me today, right, and we got you through maps and the ads that in three weeks, you're not leaving until probably that February should date and to\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1418.0,"body":"be clear it to be clear. It's the 9th of September, that we're recording this right now.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1424.0,"body":"Okay, yeah. Thank you. So you're looking at February and that's if assuming you're meeting the PAST standards and exceeding them by that time as well. So overall, you know, what we what I tell my guys out here and at least our boss is you have four to six months. Not not pending, that that ship window, like you have four to six months maximum to be passed in the PAST. Because if you just to my experience doing this job. If you're not passing that PAST in four to six months, that means you're not doing the necessary things in your own workout time to get there. I know the most out of shape recruiters who can do some pull ups and run like crazy and at least meet the bare minimum standards have a pass. And you mean to tell me this is your dream job. And you're 18, 19, 20, 25, and healthy and can meet the standards in six months. You got me going on for a second but four to six months is normally the rule but you have a year and the delayed entry program before we have to discharge it because you're stuffing your time in the delayed entry program expires. So I know it's not a concrete answer. But most of the people I work with, they're going out the door between three to six months full at BMT.\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":1515.0,"body":"All right. So real quick, I just want to add on to that. I think that's really important what you just said, those guys that are like, hesitant to go talk to recruiter, because I know they're going to try and ship me off or whatever, as soon as I want, like, you guys work with the guys and work out whatever date is most appropriate for them. Right? You know, don't just, you know, just say, Hey, we have a spot in two months, you're going signed up for whatever no one do, though. You're going? Like, a lot of you will approach me in a case mentioned that, like, should I go talk to a recruiter right now or whatever? And it's obviously the same answer over and over again. But you know, those guys that are scared, don't be worried about you're in charge, you're in charge of your life. You know, like you said, you have a year. So you say you work with a recruiter and they tell you what dates are available. And then you go out there and pick them. It's not like they're going to say you're leaving next month shipping off to to freaking INDOC or whatever. \n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1570.0,"body":"Yeah. I'm glad you said that. I just had a talk this morning with someone who was like, I'm moving to another state, and I'll be shipping out of Tampa. Three weeks, I said, Why was this three weeks number? He's like, that's when you know, I'm gonna I'm like so Wait, are you thinking that? After speaking to me today that you're going to be in basic training and three weeks? He said, Well, yes. I said, Sir, sir, let's talk a little bit more. Let me explain this to you. That's that's not how it works. So thank you for saying that. Brian.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1611.0,"body":"All right Aaron, this one's for you. Here we go. This, this is easy one. Can you do Special Warfare and go to college at the same time?\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":1621.0,"body":"Absolutely. I've been doing it for 10 years. No, absolutely. That's a funny joke. Yeah, college only takes four years. Yes. But yeah, absolutely. You can write so it's about time management. It's about getting past you know, what I recommended as a three level as a as kind of like a junior five level when you have a ton of stuff to do and you're out to the wins. If your time management is really is really good. And it's important to you, then absolutely, you can 100% do college and actually, we recommend it. We push people towards college your entire career, we put a high value on getting higher education not to you know to include CCAF so Community College of the Air Force, which is an associate's degree that you can get in the Air Force, but that higher education and trade schools as well, if you don't know we have the Air Force COOL program, where you can go get a certification. I've had friends use it to get their advanced freefall license, I had a couple SERE friends that went down in the US the cool program to actually get a certification to be better freefall instructors and coaches. So there's a million things out there for higher education, and you certainly can you just have to remember what comes first. It's the mission, it's your primary job and your primary duty. And then after that, yeah, absolutely. We actually encourage people to go and get that higher education get that college.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1693.0,"body":"Yep, absolutely. This one is for Spencer, especially since the Special Operations recruiters work directly with what are called developers and they hold development sessions. And you guys also hold your own PT sessions I know that we've shared videos that you've put up on Instagram of sessions that you yourself have put on which are pretty awesome. And you've got a fantastic developer that you work with who's retired he was TACP and then he was Controller and then he retired but so he's a stud but the question is, Can an Air National Guard candidate attend the training active duty candidates get to do ie the development sessions prior to go into MEPS?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1743.0,"body":"Okay, so good question. So I'm an active duty recruiter right so that's our program is for active duty. When you're going Air National Guard, your process works differently you're typically going to that Guard unit, you know, and you are kind of getting sponsored by them like they're having their own pass selection then you're working out with them. Reserve does the same thing. We had this PJ unit out on the on the Space Coast and you work with them you train with them. So that question sounds like someone who probably hasn't reached out to the Guard unit that they want to join yet. But once you reach out yet that they're investing money in you so that Guard unit isn't it's probably not going to take Hey, I'm working out with this dude in Tampa. You guys just be ready to pay for my training when it's time.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":1797.0,"body":"Nah, bro. I like to get out of here. Yeah, maybe You have a question, though. So does. Are you aware to that? Does Air National Guard have their own development program? I know there's the development program for active duty but I would ask a developer this but we I cannot get them on the show. We've tried so many times.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1812.0,"body":"So we're not you're not talking about, like the development program before BMT. Are you talking about the schoolhouse? The prep you talking about the developer program aspect?\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":1821.0,"body":"Where development? Yeah, yeah, the development program?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1824.0,"body":"No, I think that's I think that's just active duty. And I believe the Guardian is those those men, they take care of their own candidates that they set up, like I said, coming out of that basis, money that units part. So I do not believe that T3i works with may be wrong, but I've never heard of a T3i and National Guard type deal.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":1846.0,"body":"We'll keep trying to figure those questions out, they always pop up.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":1848.0,"body":"And this is this is a good question that I've actually not seen before. But it's probably one that Spencer you've dealt with a lot, I imagine. But the question is, when should I start putting together my medical history? How long does it normally take as in? So, you know, he's, and I know, we said, we're not going to answer any medical questions. But this one's not a Hey, I have this. So he's got to gather as medical, how long? I mean, what else you need to grab? And how long does it take normally?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":1877.0,"body":"Okay, that's, that's a good, easy question. And this is something that I tell people, even if you're not ready to reach out to a recruiter, have the medical documents ready, like start working on their stuff, just have it in your back pocket. Because if you call me You say, Yeah, I have this, but I already have all the documents, I'm going to say, you know, this is money, that you just saved us some some real time. So what type of documents you need, whatever it is, whatever surgery or operation or that you had, go to your hospital and gather all of those docs from the ER visit to the final time you saw the doctor been typically a current evaluation, basically saying, hey, six years ago, I did fracture my arm. But I saw the doctor and he says, I'm clear for military service, all high impact activities, you bring those two together, we submit them to our MEPS doctors. Now, this is going to vary. I'm in Tampa, which I think last I heard is one of two or the busiest MEPS in the United States. So here, if I turn in paperwork, typically within five to seven business days, the Chief medical officer will say yes, this person is good to process. We need more documents, or no, they're disqualified. If you are disqualified, there's only one person who can Trump a Chief medical officer officer at a mess. And that is the Air Force Surgeon General Office, that process they have this quarantine has been messed up. I believe they have 60 business days, it's 45 to 60 business days to review your documents and come up with an answer if you're good to serve, or if you're not. So hopefully you don't have to get to that Surgeon General part. But if you do spend that time training, but typically once you have all the documents Peaches and whoever asked that question, once you have the documents, then we submit that stuff and keep going keep moving. So do that immediately. Reach out to a recruiter over the phone, figure out what you need, but I just gave you the bare bones basic of what you you can start doing on your own.\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":2007.0,"body":"So just a quick follow up on that one because I get this question a lot also, people will tell me like they failed the hearing test or they failed or whatever vision color blindness whatever test and it goes from maps, they said I found what I do now, you said that the recruiter should automatically go up to the Surgeon General or is there something else that they have to do in order to reach that level?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":2028.0,"body":"Good question especially what slowly because it changes here right PJ/CCT formerly SOWT all had different requirements even for medical may made it pretty crazy. So let's say you go there you fail. color vision. Right? I see a lot of people who are like so and so told me that I go get a color vision done and you have to send it back to MEPS. The cmo does his job when he disqualified you. That's all he has to do. Or she they do not have to invite you back at all You done in their eyes right? That's why for SWOE you don't need color vision to actually get a contract for Special Warfare Special Warfare operator enlisted, because you will have another physical respect work physical when you get to basic training. So the color vision test you have a BMT is that is Ishihara test, the color plate test, you know and BMT you have the more advanced CCT contest. So what I have people do is if they fail it, go get that test down with your primary your ophthalmologist ophthalmologists, whoever does it. Just so you have that feeling. I know I'm I'm going to be good when I get to be empty. But if you fail that stuff, those specific things you need for Special Warfare. Chances are you can still get a SWOE contract. You'll be rolling the dice when you get to BMT but it's better to try and just come in as a normal job and never know.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":2120.0,"body":"Nailed it. Okay, I got a new one for Trent. Typical length of an SR deployment. I'm just kidding. That Yeah, he was he was done. Okay. But seriously, though, is anything in BMT different for AFSPECWAR candidates compared to regular enlisted?\n"},{"speaker":"Trent ","startTime":2149.0,"body":"Yes, you, you're gonna be grouped together, we do our best to group ever together. And then the the PT sessions at least it was things a bit a little bit different recently. But if things go back to normal, you'll you'll get a land based past just to see where you're at. And you'll get extra PT time. So you'll actually have some of the the coaches that also worker prep and some of the Cadre come over and and run you through a little bit of extra PT, and a couple different tests just to see where you're at and gather some data.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":2182.0,"body":"Oh, so there's a nasty little rumor going around Spencer, that you guys that the sores hate prior service, folks. What's up?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":2201.0,"body":"Would it be tight? Why do y'all hate prior service? Is that what what they wrote?\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":2205.0,"body":"No kidding. Why do you hate prior service folks? Just kidding. Yeah. Like, seriously?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":2212.0,"body":"So we don't hate prior service. That's, that is a myth. Okay. The, we get calls from prior service all the time, not just Special Warfare recruiters, like so many people, Army, Navy, Marines, hey, I made a mistake. Can you take me back and it's like, Hey, sorry, there's just not a lot of slots available for prior service when compared to non-prior service. But we don't make them we have to actually, we liked them so much we created this year, to begin this year, a specialized recruiter who's only focused his prior service. So those\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":2252.0,"body":"please get that information out, we get this cat like, I mean, literally, we're gonna do a podcast on it\n"},{"speaker":"Unknown Speaker ","startTime":2258.0,"body":"is 11 of them. So we all used to work prior service, but they said, Hey, we need to do better with our service and officer program with these candidates. So they created these positions called special program managers. So their main mission is helping our pirate service people. So if you are non, if you are prior service, and you want to join, first of all, don't get on the phone with a rigorous sore like me, and speak to me for 10 minutes and say, Hey, I'm actually prior service to because he was wasting my time. So as soon as you get on the phone, say hey, I'm prior service, I'm interested in Special Warfare. And they will give you the direct number or email, whatever to a Special Programs Manager and that will be your man or woman. So we don't we don't hate y'all\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":2311.0,"body":"got nothing but love for you. To love the love. Okay,\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":2319.0,"body":"I will say this about the prior service. So you need to bring it right, we don't typically want to tip for tat right now. Like, for prior service, those expectations, you know, there are a lot higher, right? You're not going through the traditional being, you know, BMT Special Warfare prep, at least for now, you're doing that phase one and phase two. So if your comment and I invite prior service out to my non prior service development sessions, just to show them, I'm like, you're probably going to be picked as an informal leader, since you had eight years of service. I said, you see that 19 year old right there, we just knocked out 20 pull ups, we just ran an 8:30 and did 100 push ups and not that many 80 push ups and sit ups. Like he just crushed you like to give them an idea of where they need to work. So I would say if you're part of service, you need to be realistic, and make sure you are not an average. I'm sorry to say it, you know, leave no doubt when it comes to your physical ability.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":2380.0,"body":"Well, and prior service like no, you know, we tell this to NPS all the time. But like prior service, they need to be ready. That's like the hardest job interview that they've had ever and if you show up unaware, it's like what do you even talk about? You should be the top of your game.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":2397.0,"body":"All right, Brian. What's up Uh, PJ is it just automatic, you get great hair?\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":2405.0,"body":"You're actually born with a great hair and then the PJ you know, finds you and then you end up becoming a PJ. So, yeah, the job, honestly, you know, ended up finding me I told people that I started going as a airborne linguist first and that didn't work out because I guess my hair was too good. And I ended up failing the D-lab and then I ended up going for PJ instead because my recruiter recommended that he showed me a video and I was hooked by that point, he's like you'd fit right in. \n\nWe actually have joke that the commandant when I was the instructor supervisor would have like a little photo shop type of thing. And he did put you know a baray on top people's heads and see like, does that look good? Does it look like a PJ or does he not look like a PJ? Because if he doesn't, then he's out of here? Obviously, we didn't really do that. Yeah.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":2495.0,"body":"Alright, I want to I want to revisit developers for a second. So yeah, Spencer, how does Special Warfare prep develop individuals? Like what are the main skill sets that are focused on during these development sessions?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":2513.0,"body":"Thank you so much for this question. This is what I love about this job right here. Our developer is amazing. I had an amazing developer before him. 30 plus year PJ. That covers now the whole east coast. And we have our Chief now. Retired many years of service. So the relationship that we have him and I are in lockstep, you know, it's my job to find these folks, screen them. And make sure that these people actually want to be here. And he comes around my parts a couple times a month, a few times a month now. And I say, hey, Chief, here are the three or four guys I met over the last few weeks. I think they're actually worth their their stuff. Let's see what you think. You know, he's a professional, right? He's from the career field. From then he always accepts the people that I bring him because I don't bring them any, any crap, the rest of the people will just quit. Or I'll say, Nope, keep working with me until you prove you're ready to meet our developer. And then from there our training that he does. So this is going to vary by where you live. Do not hold what we do here in Tampa, as the gold standard. But this is the standard is just different, depending on where you are, but with our developer does is he focuses on the physical training and the mental part of the training, right? So he's actually developing the PAST test. We our sessions are normally around five hours long. The PAST test is literally just the warm up. It's like okay, let's get this knocked out. Now, the real fun stars, and sometimes especially when I do mine, I don't tell them the development session afterwards. I just say yeah, you come in to have a trial as a PAST. And then when we finish that and they're dying. I'm like, Alright, now the next three hours, we're really getting to work and some of their eyes are just like, wait a minute, I thought I thought that was a workout. \n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":2656.0,"body":"I was gonna say like, you figured out that Qadri that Qadri mental warfare, that psychological warfare trick you figured that out on your own congratulations. That's like running past the schoolhouse at the end of a run. Like oh, we're almost there. We're almost there. I can see it and then the instructor keeps on running and you're just like, I hope I die. I hope I just fall over so I don't have to finish this.\n"},{"speaker":"Trent ","startTime":2682.0,"body":"Yeah, or let them walk for like three steps and then just take off again.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":2689.0,"body":"Yeah, yeah. What our what our development program you know, the Chief focus a lot on the physical and I feel like First of all, you don't need to be an operator or these kryptos have mental toughness, right? That thing, that's something that translates across and my job here is, I read a lot. Now my books not Harry Potter's and stuff anymore, but they're about mental strength, resiliency, and toughness, and what my goal is, when I have those workouts, I make them make a promise. I'm like, hey, let's make one deal. You can quit. But you have to wait until the workouts over. Is that a deal? And everyone's like, Okay, sure. And at the end of it, it's just me showing them look, you just finished a 5-5 1/2 hour workout. Did you want to quit? Yeah, at some point, did you hate my guts at some point? Well, yeah, you know, they start raising the hammer. I'm like, but look, you're still freakin here. Right? So once once we get that into them, and then I bring him the Chief. And he puts them through his sessions, 5-6 hours of just just beating them just beating them up. I know, they're not gonna quit and they just get stronger and stronger. So it's just building that mental, that mental resiliency, that mental strength, and then improving the small things, their strokes. They're runagate he's a personal trainer. He's a crazy swimmer. And forget his age, like, he'll remind them He'll slip in the water. You know, when you know, just to remind these fools every once in a while, like, Hey, don't you know this? This is what I do. \n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":2786.0,"body":"Yeah, a napkin says, so if we ever get him on the podcast, I know is a developer and stuff. But if we ever get him podcast, or next time you see him to have him tell you the story about when he was a fish boat captain? Because he was no kidding. Oh, he told me Oh, man, he told me. I mean, everybody else is probably gonna be wondering, but it's basically he was a ship boat captain, I think he was 16 or 17 at a time. Bad bad storm coming in. None of the other companies or the boats were going out. And his you know, the actual Skipper came by and said, You're going out and I'm paying you a bunch of money. And what happened is they went out storm got too bad. Boat ended up, collapse or capsizing. And it was just him and another guy. And he ended up grabbing the other guy. And they they tread water or he tread water holding the guy up because the guy was willing to just screw it. I'm just gonna drown and die. So he is the right 14 hours he was treading water in this storm with these seas. It was just an amazing story to tell it. He's just like, yeah, you know, whatever.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":2872.0,"body":"These, these developers are really, I mean, they're it. They say that we are but me and Mauzy just go back and forth with compliments. You know, it's like, a, it's you, it's used you, but having these people here. And it's not just for the candidates as well, you know, even for us, for recruiters, as Airman. It's like, just having another mentor. And for these people to have people who are from the career field, who can just speak from experience and not just a recruiter turn wrenches on a plane is it is invaluable.\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":2907.0,"body":"On that on that vein sarens best, I just want to get to this real quick, because I have a personal question, What makes you so passionate because you know, you're doing like I said before more work than most recruiters have to do. And you're investing in these guys. And you're seeing the mentorship aspect of it. And the opportunity that you have to have an impact on these guys lives. What makes you so invested in this kind of thing and helping these guys out.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":2929.0,"body":"So my my first few years on the Air Force, I remember getting out of tech schools and I couldn't wait to get out. I was just like that I've can't wait to get out of this thing. Um, and I was just a pretty hot headed, loud mouth dude from California attitude problem and everything. And it wasn't until I became an NCO, a Staff Sergeant, where a switch just kind of flipped. And I actually got to start helping, you know, other people and realizing, dang. Like, I can really like mold people, you know, and stuff like that, where that's what kept me in the Air Force. And then when I came into recruiting, that kind of grew a little bit more and then it was Special Warfare recruiting. You know, even the people who show up and they run 18:00 1.5 miles or can do zero pull ups. Just the fact that these people I live in Tampa. We have people who get up Thursday mornings and drive 3.5 hours. They wake up at 3am 4am every single week to come to a workout. So I guess my passion comes from as I just love. I love the human potential. And having any freakin hand I can inside of that, you know, me and my developer joke sometimes is we're not just recruiters and developers. We're big brothers or uncle's. We're father figures for a lot of for a lot of these young men and young women. So I just, I don't know, it just fires me up when I, I get that call that, hey, I made it through an S, hey, I have my baray like, seeing where they come from, and seeing how they grow even when they're not selected. If it doesn't work out, we know we leave something with him. So it sounds super gushy, but I swear to you, it is it is the truth. These are the people I work with. Or joining our Air Force. That's, that's all the fuel and the fire that that needs to keep going.\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":3051.0,"body":"Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah. There was a ton of times when I was an instructor that I just felt that feeling of just pride. Like I put these guys through so much shit to get to this point, and they hated me for so long. And they probably talked me back at the team room. Yeah, they still probably do hate me.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3074.0,"body":"Yeah, the heat and the heat is laid is real. I know, listen, I shouldn't be even snitching on myself like this, but I'll say it. There's been so many times where when guys are shipping, you know, we'll we'll have lunch or something before COVID hit just a last Hey. And they'll say you know what, Sergeant Spencer? I'll tell him you know, I'm so proud of you man. I'm so proud of everything and the hard work like it's funny Sgt Spencer because you told him that, that you're one of the weakest swimmers you've ever seen when you met them? And that you don't see how this is ever gonna happen. I'm like, well, wasn't what I said. I don't listen. I I never remember that. Because I'm just like, Well, look, look at you now you're swimming eight minutes. So I guess the work right there like, Well, yeah, after you set that I went home and just like cursed you out my head. And I really was just super pissed at you. So I'm like if I need to be the person that you hate. So be it you will appreciate it later. what's what's the other option just saying? Hey, it'll get it'll get better just keep sucking and one day this swim berry will just sprinkle some skill on you know, it's not gonna happen like that.\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":3154.0,"body":"Sometimes? Sometimes that anger is the spark that just gets people going and then they just keep on moving with it. Like I'm gonna prove that dude wrong.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":3163.0,"body":"Yeah, and wait until you see a whole team do it. Wait until you see a whole team getting instructed that they don't like as a culture they don't like is like a team watch how they perform because they will go out of their way to prove that instructor wrong. It's it's hilarious that that motivating factor can be can be sometimes useful. Good.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":3181.0,"body":"All right, Brian. Should we be focusing on endurance or more strength to help with carries and rucks?\n"},{"speaker":"Brian ","startTime":3189.0,"body":"Hundred percent endurance and strength? There you go. So yeah, what i what i mean by that? Yeah, I want to make it confusing for you guys. So you have to work on obviously your rucking your jerrycan carries your grip strength and that kind of thing. And it's going to be for a long time, we had a thing you know, where we have guys carry 50 pound jerry cans in each hand for over a mile. And that was just part of the ETD you had to complete that event. So it's just that full on endurance is not like certain Spencer's talking about in his development sessions. It's not gonna be like a one hour like, Hey, guys, let's do you know, just minute by minute off for an hour of flutter kicks or whatever it's gonna be. Alright, we're gonna do that. That workouts done. Let's go to the pool. Alright, that workouts done. Well, let's go for a ruck. All right, that workouts done. And let's go carry some heavy stuff and carry but do buddy carriers do grassing gorillas. And then once that's done, you know you guys are get a chance to take a quick 30 minute break, get some food in you, and then we're going to go for a run. So it's just over and over again. It's not like, Alright, see if you can pick up this 300 pound object. And if you can do it 10 times you're done for the day. There's nothing like that. It's just like, when you're doing actual mission or doing whatever, you're just gonna have to keep on going until they tell you to stop.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":3264.0,"body":"Yeah, nailed it. So I'm gonna ask one more question. One final question, and then I'll open it up to any parting shots. But this one's about to go to you Spencer? What is the minimum or the scores for ASVAB? And if someone doesn't score high enough for it or they want to retest? Can they retest and what are some of the ways that can help they can help improve their score? \n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3297.0,"body":"And once again, there is no singular answer for ASVAB. So the ASVAB that you have your overall score, which is the AFQ2. And normally when people brag about their scores, I got 70, I got 80, they're talking about that. But the air, the scores an average of four sub scores that's mechanical, administrative, General and electrical. And all Air Force career fields have requirements in one or two of those areas. For Special Warfare operator and listening, you need a G score of 47. Okay, so when people call me and they say, Hey, I have a 70. Overall, the as that, can I do Special Warfare, like, I got to see your sub scores, if you get above a 50, overall, you should be fine. Then he said, a testing. So once you take the official, you can take a practice test with your recruiter in their office. Or we can easily just email you a practice test to take that once you take the official as that if you don't like your score, you have to wait 30 days and you can test again, don't like that score, you can wait 30 days and test again. But after that third time, you have to wait six months to restart that process. And it's important to keep in mind that we keep the highest score. Okay. And then the last part and how can you improve for it. So for Special Warfare, Math and English, I wouldn't matter on the on the aptitude test. Not saying the mechanics and the electrics and the spatial stuff is not the science stuff isn't important. You know, you do want to set yourself up in case this Special Warfare thing doesn't happen. But just make sure you work on the the math and the English the most most of the time people are great in one area, and horrible on the other. I'm great at English. I just finished a math class 10 years too late, because I was scared of it the whole time. But just know what your strengths are. Download an app. I always recommend that because having a book is probably good to have. But an app I mean, it's $3.99 This is a Big Mac meal for your dream job, like spend the freakin money and you have a phone on you at all times. You know, just whip it out in between commercials on the bus, whatever you're doing. So that's some ways that you can boost up that score. \n\nFollow up Have you seen any correlation between those who are that have high as bad scores? such as or low as as scores and those of you who make it? I just want to see you know sample my ASVAB theory.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":3462.0,"body":"He has a very well developed ASVAB theory that you can get weighed down by that big old brain of yours. I'm just collecting data right now. What you got, I got no numbers we're gonna put the numbers out when they're solid. But here's the thing if you get he walked into an AFSPECWAR recruiter and you got a straight 90 on your as you're in shape dog, you're weighed down by that big old brain.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3485.0,"body":"I don't know. So my my caliber of candidates is very different from a normal recruiter right there, their bread and butter is 17 through 19 or 20. Right? I get excited when guys call me who I think that the stats from what A\u0026S is special for prep the whole SW training wing is the perfect candidate is between the ages of 20 and 28 with some college and a bachelor's degree, normally in history or something that this tall and blah, blah, blah, blah. So I have a lot of dudes with bachelor's degrees, right bachelors and associate's and that was written at a high school sophomore level. So if people score bad on it, it's probably because they've been out of school for a while, or for other reasons. \n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":3551.0,"body":"Quick shout out to Zach Braff and Donald's Phason on I'm a fan fake doctor's real friend the devil's lettuce. I'll send this clip to you. I've been trying to go on that podcast forever. I don't think it's gonna work but scrubs my favorite TV show of all time. So don't smoke Devil's lettuce before that. \n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3564.0,"body":"And just be smart. Don't be not smart. And you should do you should do device.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":3573.0,"body":"Okay, wait is the guy just be smart? Don't be stupid.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3577.0,"body":"But you don't need surprise for it. I see. I see. I can't correlate I'm sure the same way you guys said you know you see a big buff dude. People assume they're gonna make it through they quit second day you see a skinny one and they are someone who's below five foot and they they make it through. It's the same way with these scores. Like if someone gets a 99 and they're super buff those guys couldn't quit on me at the same rate as someone who just barely made the minimum standard. \n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":3609.0,"body":"If you're not smart, you better be hard.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3611.0,"body":"Yeah. 100% Yeah, I tell guys all the time. I tell them all the time choose a struggle. When someone sucks at their run and swim, I normally go up to him in the pool, but you got to choose your struggle. You can suck at one here, but you can't suck at both. \n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":3626.0,"body":"That's a that's actually a great saying choose your struggle and you suck at too many things.\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":3631.0,"body":"All right, well, does anybody have any follow up questions or any burning questions that they wanted to ask before we wrap this up?\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":3638.0,"body":"I got an easy one. Spence. Hey, so you said you'd like to recommend a couple of books. We've had a bunch of guys throughout their bunch of guests throughout their reading list. Is there any books that you recommend for for candidates that are in kind of your wheelhouse there? Is there something you'd like to start with?\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3653.0,"body":"Yes, sir, I will, I will go with two that I recommend almost everyone, one Relentless by Tim Grover, he was a physical trainer for Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron. I think all three, just a legendary coach. Then second, the 10x Rule by Dan Cardone, doing everything in life to the extreme, like 10 times the effort. So those books that 10 x rule, I know everyone normally comes on and list all all of the Spec War books, I think all of your listeners already know about those, these two I just said are just for basic, being relentless in life, period, no matter what you're what you're pursuing. So those are those are my two books.\n"},{"speaker":"Aaron ","startTime":3700.0,"body":"It's perfect. That's exactly why I asked and you'd have a different perspective. So appreciate it. And we'll make sure to add those to the Ones Ready reading list. And I'll probably throw them in the in the YouTube comment section as well. Thank you,\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":3710.0,"body":"]So as we wrap this up, we covered a litany of different topics throughout there. So if you submitted a question to Instagram, and we answered it, we appreciate it if you submitted it, and we didn't answer it, we still appreciate it. Sorry, we couldn't get to everything but I mean there was 50 or 60 questions on here and it was up for three or four hours before we before we started recording us. So we appreciate that kind of engagement and hopefully we are engaging with you over Instagram or Facebook or over email and that is info at Onesready.com.\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3751.0,"body":"Before you wrap up completely I want to and I have to these recruiters are out here doing a lot of this job that you guys see on Instagram that's that's just a small part of it. All of these Special Warfare recruiters and and are out here grinded for these candidates like the stuff that we do to help to help these folks out. So just a big shout out to all of these Special Warfare recruiters out here. Just granted I respect them all it's kind of a thankless job sometimes\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":3783.0,"body":"so lonely and thanks for everything that you and everybody else has done as well it's we reach out and and tag a bunch of sores and normal recruiters pretty regularly so I just tend to go two years since since we're local and you and I have a pretty good working relationship so but again, thanks for joining us and if you guys check out our reading list at onesready.com and then you guys can email us at info@onesready.com follow us at at ones ready. And then we each have our own individual and then Spencer you said that your Instagram is...\n"},{"speaker":"Spencer ","startTime":3825.0,"body":"tampa.af.specwar.recruiter that is that's it if you type in Tampa Special Warfare. I think I'm the only one that will come up for\n"},{"speaker":"Peaches ","startTime":3835.0,"body":"Hey everybody, appreciate everybody joining us and you guys go out there and train hard, lighter,"}]}