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Joe Kent shared his journey from Ranger Battalion to Special Forces on The Shawn Ryan Show, highlighting the challenges of leaving the elite unit and the impact of 9/11 on his training.
Leaving Ranger Battalion
Kent described the stigma of leaving Ranger Battalion: “The only accepted reason to leave Battalion was like you either got picked up for Delta or you died. If you left for any other reason, you were like a horrible traitor.”
Before heading to Special Forces selection, leadership made the stakes clear: “If you don’t pass, you don’t have a job here anymore.”
9/11 and Motivation
Kent was in Special Forces selection when the 9/11 attacks happened. At first, he thought it was a training scenario: “I’m thinking like, that’s weird, like is there a scenario… because, you know, you do training missions.”
When instructors brought in TVs and allowed candidates to call loved ones, the reality set in. “That makes it real,” Kent said.
The attacks motivated him but also created fear of missing combat.
“I was afraid I was going to miss it… am I going to be out here rucking around in the woods trying to get into SF while my Ranger Battalion is jumping into combat?”
Special Forces Selection Challenges
Kent found the isolation during selection tough.
“You’re alone for a lot of it… not getting any feedback… am I doing this right?” he explained. He later appreciated the independence: “It’s kind of all on me whether I succeed or fail.”
His reflections offer a rare glimpse into the mindset and challenges of those pursuing Special Forces.
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