u/MasterpieceGreen2544

I’m currently in the DEP for SERE and recently had the opportunity to talk with a few SERE specialists about the pipeline. One thing I asked about was food, because honestly, my biggest concern is losing enough weight during training that it becomes a legitimate medical issue.
One of the SERE guys told me that it’s not necessarily as bad as I’m imagining. His point was that nobody is getting extra food based on body size, so the bigger guys can actually feel the caloric deficit more because they have higher energy requirements. On the other hand, the leaner guys obviously have less stored energy to work with.
For reference, I’m 6’0” and around 140 lbs on a good day. I’m very lean, but I’m also relatively fit for my size. My pull-ups are well above the IFT minimums and my pushups sit-ups and run is currently on track.
I’ve also heard that if someone passes the screening/selection course but isn’t physically developed enough for the next phase, there may be an opportunity to be held for additional physical development before going to Fairchild. I’m not sure how accurate that is, though.
So I’m curious about firsthand experience from current or former SERE guys:
Has anyone gone into the pipeline around my size- very lean but physically fit and done fine?
Did your weight become a significant issue during SST, particularly during the field phases?
Would you recommend trying to put on some weight before shipping, or would you prioritize maintaining/improving performance and letting my body adapt to the training?
I’m not looking for reassurance just because I’m worried. I’d genuinely like to hear from guys who have actually been through it and what they wish they had done differently beforehand.

I’m currently in the DEP for SERE and recently had the opportunity to talk with a few SERE specialists about the pipeline. One thing I asked about was food, because honestly, my biggest concern is losing enough weight during training that it becomes a legitimate medical issue.
One of the SERE guys told me that it’s not necessarily as bad as I’m imagining. His point was that nobody is getting extra food based on body size, so the bigger guys can actually feel the caloric deficit more because they have higher energy requirements. On the other hand, the leaner guys obviously have less stored energy to work with.
For reference, I’m 6’0” and around 140 lbs on a good day. I’m very lean, but I’m also relatively fit for my size. My pull-ups are well above the IFT minimums and my pushups sit-ups and run is currently on track.
I’ve also heard that if someone passes the screening/selection course but isn’t physically developed enough for the next phase, there may be an opportunity to be held for additional physical development before going to Fairchild. I’m not sure how accurate that is, though.
So I’m curious about firsthand experience from current or former SERE guys:
Has anyone gone into the pipeline around my size- very lean but physically fit and done fine?
Did your weight become a significant issue during SST, particularly during the field phases?
Would you recommend trying to put on some weight before shipping, or would you prioritize maintaining/improving performance and letting my body adapt to the training?
I’m not looking for reassurance just because I’m worried. I’d genuinely like to hear from guys who have actually been through it and what they wish they had done differently beforehand.

From my understanding I know that special tactics are smaller units that focus on supporting high-risk missions such as direct action, personnel recovery, reconnaissance, precision strike coordination, and special operations alongside units from other branches.

Where am I very confused is where ST enablers or combat support people come in. What is a ST Sere specialist really doing in that space? When and if they pass their ST selection later on in their sere career are they having to enter a whole new pipeline or is it literally just a new PCS and working with an operational unit?

I feel I’m missing a large chunk of information. I’m interested in SERE specifically and if anyone has information on their role in an ST unit and what a deployment would look like for them compared to the day to day at Fairchild AFB.

From my understanding I know that special tactics are smaller units that focus on supporting high-risk missions such as direct action, personnel recovery, reconnaissance, precision strike coordination, and special operations alongside units from other branches.

Where am I very confused is where ST enablers or combat support people come in. What is a ST Sere specialist really doing in that space? When and if they pass their ST selection later on in their sere career are they having to enter a whole new pipeline or is it literally just a new PCS and working with an operational unit?

I feel I’m missing a large chunk of information. I’m interested in SERE specifically and if anyone has information on their role in an ST unit and what a deployment would look like for them compared to the day to day at Fairchild AFB.

Me and my recruiter were talking consistently for a week. I went and did the fitness test for special warfare. I was JUST short on my run. Everything else I blew out the park.

Since then I’ve been HAMMERING runs left and right and even let my recruiter know after 3 weeks of no contact basically saying hey we all good I’ve been hammering miles running lately.
Left on read.

I know recruiters can be busy with a lot of people but do you think he’s not responding because he doesn’t wanna send me to MEPS until I pass the fitness test?