IBanking Vs Special Forces

I think there are a few people on here who have actually served, but I think they would agree....

1) You don't just join the special forces. I hope you are in marathon-like shape physically, and can endure great periods of pain and discomfort mentally. Even then, the chances of you making the teams are slim to none.

2) You should want to join the military to serve your country, not use it as a springboard to something else.

Seems like your taking the whole "joining the military in special forces" for granite.

I realize the demands that are needed to become a member of a special forces group. I have had the opportunity to talk to someone that has been involved in the SEALs and then has gone on to work in business. I would also not be joining the special forces in order to springboard to an MBA school, I was just wondering what kind of place being involved in a special forces unit would put in you after you are done with your duty, as you would not have really been taught any transferable skills to the business world.

"you would not have really been taught any transferable skills to the business world"

Anyone can lean/teach finance skills, but leadership, teamwork and keeping a cool head under pressure is something else... And they're what I'd call some the hardest skills to acquire and most transferable skills of all.

I've never had anything to do with the military but have a three friends in who are/were fighting for their countries. It's true that business and military are very different, but be careful you don't piss anyone off. It seems like you should do some more real thinking before making these posts.

I think you'd get some useful skills but mentally it would be a huge change. Anyway, since I have no first hand experience here I'd rather not say more and risk misleading you.

Do you want to work in business, go do it. You want to work in the military, go do that.

It's true that sometimes the path of your life doesn't go the direction you initially planned, but if you are planning on doing business in the end why do something completely different?

Don't worry about your MBA now anyway. Go do something you enjoy and if getting an MBA is something you eventually want, then sell yourself in the application, whoever you are and whatever you've done.

I am prior military and am now on Wall Street. Business schools love former military, special forces or otherwise. And all the skills from the military are very applicable in finance. Biggest difference is that the people in the military are a lot more competant overall than most of the people I've worked with at b-school and on Wall Street. They may not have the same level of shear intellectual horsepower, but overall skill set is far, far superior to what I've seen at MBA programs and on the street.

Agree with some of the other people on here. I'm not military or anything, just very interested in it. Hell, I read Patton's biography for fun at the beach one time. Anyways, go where you want to be. I would say most businesses value someone with a military background, mostly for the leadership that is learned/taught while there. That doesn't mean that you should join up as a resume booster though. Good luck though, if you do decide to go into the military. I wish I was as tough a son-of-a-bitch as all those special forces guys.

BTW, did anyone see that story about the Duke grad who was the son of a Senior VP at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and was accepted to law school as well as having a job offer from UBS that was killed in Afghanistan? Kind of goes along with this thread I thought.

Here's the link to the story: http://www.dealbreaker.com/2007/02/while_you_were_banking.php

There are a lot of former military bankers. Most are not combat arms officers (lots of intel and logistics types), and those who are tend to be either former aviators or submariners. I've worked for several at the MD/group head level, and my background probably went a long way to differentiating myself from my classmates at the start (don't count on it to save your ass if you mess up, however - it won't happen).

There are a few former trigger-pullers, and not many of us were snake eaters. However, having the background did make it less likely that an associate or VP would go out of his way to make me angry when I was a junior banker. On the other hand, you have to almost go out of your way to come across as a "normal" guy.

Did any of you go through that pdf file of Wharton MBA resumes? There were A TON of military people in there. I'm not ex-military; however, I would say that what GhengisKhan said makes sense. I agree with skins1 when he said that business schools love ex-military people.

First of all broseph, if you're torn between an MBA and Special Forces then you're probably not cut out to join the SEALs/Recon/SAF/AIA etc...

Also, just so you know, SEALs in particular get overwhelmed with requests to "try out for the team." You usually have to put in AT LEAST 3 years before you even get a chance. If you are luck enough to make the cut then the Navy signs you to an additional 5 year contract. That puts your precious business school 8 years out.

GhengisKhan what does SnakeEaters mean?

And Rigo1979 i agree, being involved in special forces does require a different discipline then many that want to go to MBA have, however, i think that alot of the attributes that IB has applies to special forces. You have the desire to be the best, work long hours, and not usually get the recognition you deserve.

miniballa: you noticed all the military people in the Wharton resume book? Just to give you an idea, only about 5% of Wharton's MBA class is prior-military. The other schools (especially HBS which loves military) are all about 10%.

my best friend is currently in the army actually and I know tons of ex-mil people. it's a tremendous skillset to have, and looked on very favorably in business. I think it is a really ideal background for sales and trading; a military background gives you the ability to communicate, quickly, clearly and accurately which is vital skill.

I agree there is a stamina/humility issue that is common. I'm sure there are other common features. What I'm trying to ineloquently suggest is that for real SF people, making a SEAL squad is a finality. Everything before and after that point is just background noise. If somebody thinks they'll be able to use SF as a stepping stone then they will probably get devoured in the process. It takes a singular focus to be a SEAL, and if you're looking past that then you will a) die, b) not make the cut.

That's all I meant.

Not to be too nit-picky here, but I think SEALs are in Special Operations, not Special Forces. The Special Forces are a part of the US Army, more commonly known as Green Berets.

My friend's brother-in-law is an ex-SEAL and we have chatted several times about his days in the SEALs (well, what he could actually tell me cause it was classified and he doesn't like to gloat).

He says that a lot of skills he has transferred over to the business side are intangible in nature: cool head under pressure and the ability to get things done no matter what. He is a quick study, considering it's helpful when in a bad situation, and believe it or not most of those guys are extremely intelligent.

It's an 8 year commitment and there is a good chance you could get killed, they don't send them to be diplomatic or nice. Getting in is a bitch: you go for days without sleeping while performing laborious tasks such as running, survival training and trying to stay out of the hospital and even then they do their best to make you wash out. Afterwards, you could also end up seeing a shrink as you do a lot of things that might keep you up at night or even go crazy.

If you can make it and get out in one piece (and in good mental health) I am sure you will be able to do whatever you want in your life and be able to achieve it. Best of luck, bro, cause you'll need it.

Thanks for all your responses. As much as I want to, I doubt I will get up the courage to actually go through with it, but it was great getting some feedback. Realized that some of that training alone would probably kill me, those damn ocean swims.

Here dude. Before you decide you should read this website. It was written by a guy that went from F500 VP to Special Ops. Kinda the opposite of what you want to do, but you should read it.

http://www.hoo-ah.net/

interesting both will look great

It seems that for you, getting into a B School is a goal. Very strange, as it's nothing more than one of the possible means of boosting your career progression. Studying in a business school as a goal per se...strange

Yes I have been considering other possible groups to join. One group in particular is the FBI HRT (Hostage Rescue Team). Outside the typical military, but still extremley good at what they do. Made up of alot of ex delta, seal and FBI personal. Best thing about them is that I could try out banking, and if I don't like it I could make the transition easier then joining the military. I brought up the fact of getting into B school originally because I know I would not want to be involved in the military for my end game, but I was thinking about doing it for a few years to give back to my country.

Again, I think you’re failing to consider the time and devotion required to become a member of such a squad.

From the FBI website...

"Candidates for the position of FBI Special Agent must possess a four-year college degree and three years of professional work experience"

And

"TRP candidates must understand that they are applying for the SA position first, and must gain at least two years of FBI investigative experience before receiving transfer to HRT"

Why don't you just add CIA SOG to that list?

Seriously, you sound like a little kid in a candy store saying he can get whatever he wants. There's no chance you have what it takes to be in special operations because the people that do aren't contemplating which one will give them better exit opportunities. They have their mind set and they've been training for it while you sit and spin your wheels.

.

as im sure you know only the top few percent make it into such groups. there are a few reasons i doubt you have what it takes.

you dont even know which group you want to be in, you just want to do something cool. let me assure you special forces and navy seals are so completely different it is ridiculous.

now im sure your thinking that you are dedicated and smart and would be the perfect choice and youd make it no matter what. right? well what about the freak broken ankle, or the tab protector that fails you because hes having a bad day.

in special forces you could complete everything in selection and then not get in just because someone doesnt like you. and i can assure you if they read anything youve written here, you could just forget about it.

what you should realize is that when you sign up your uncle sams property. he doesnt care about your dreams, your mba, and least of all wall st.

you need to be prepared to be happy with your service to your country no matter what, because if you sign up and dont make it, youre at the needs of uncle sam. aka scrubbing decks on a ship or world wide assignment in the army.

each and every one of these careers youve mentioned is a career. this is important and almost nobody wants to hear it when the envision these pipe dreams. if you want to serve, with other goals in mind for the future, serve... but not in seals or sf. thats a complete way of life by itself.

if you joined the army and could get a ranger contract, or impress someone when you get in and make it into rangers you could do some bad ass stuff and still make it out in four years. but thats as high speed as i think you should aim for....

and even thats a crap shoot sometimes. i have a friend that competes in ufc, really in shape, smart guy... couldnt make it through ranger school because he broke his ankle both times.

i hope you do serve, we need more people. but realize the difference between serving for awhile and then getting on with life, and the elite units that keep you training for 2-3 years then resign you for 6.

While I respect your opinion, you know nothing about me so i'd respect that you didn't say that "there are a few reasons i doubt you have what it takes." I have researched almost every special force group within the air force/army/navy/marines and know a substantial amount of information about each unit. I did not want to get into details on this board because I did not think many people had knowledge of what Air Force Paratroopers/Combat Controllers did compared to the well known SEALs forces. You are right that the chances are very small, and hell there is always a chance you can get hurt. I did college athletics and got 2 stress fractures that would have immediatley knocked me out of any training if I was in army training at the time. I have just always been curious if I have what it takes to get into a group such as this and was wondering what people thought I could do after I finished my duty if I decided to go for it.

well thats great you respect my opinion, as i can have one. and i was saying i doubt you would make it because you dont have your mind made up. there is a difference between research and doing. i just think you wouldn't go on to a banking forum to get advice about going into special operations. like i said its a decision to be made with out regard to anything else. and it will put your life on hold for the better part of this next decade. also, like i said, i do hope you serve

SEALs are recruiting, you can call Naval Special Warfare (NSW) recruiter and ask him about the SEAL challenge and as long as you can pass the mininmum screening test while in Navy Bootcamp...you will end up going to BUD/s or SEAL training in Coronado CA. If you do not finish training you wind up on a ship where life sucks. If you finish training...you are living the good life as a Team Guy training with your platoon and eventually heading off to War. You will get all the life experience you need and then some.

If you have a college degree, you can try for Officer Candidate School and become in Officer...same deal though but instead of Navy boot camp you go to Officer Candidate School for a few months. Still go off to BUD/s or SEAL training...but if you don't make it then you have a few more options like Intel Officer, Pilot, JAG...etc.

Bottom line is if you want to serve in Special Forces of any branch...you have to be determined...mentally focused...and physically prepped...also a little lucky not to get injured. You will more than likely be in the Spec Ops Unit of choice for a minimum of 5 years from beginning of training.

Your whole focus should be on what you are doing at the time....then if after your time is up...you want to do an MBA...you will have the Wow factor you need and more than likely get into a top school.

Hope this helps.

Huey

Huey or anybody else with knowledge, Does the military offer to help pay student loans for college grads?