Autism and special forces

[JustSomeCrocodileWrestler]

Hey everyone,

I really need some advice from people with experience. I'd especially love to hear from SF operators but anyone with knowledge is appreciated.

I'm 26 civ and I'm interested in joining the Australian SF. I believe I have the skills and determination needed. However, I am autistic -- I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD as a kid. Im not medicated, im very high functioning. In fact I'm about to complete an associate degree in engineering at a full time study load whilst simultaneously working 6 half-days a week.

The only thing is I am socially awkward and socially anxious. The anxiety is purely social though -- I work well under pressure and in dangerous conditions (I have a lot of experience in dangerous and strenuous work roles such as crocodile egg-collecting and pet-meating).

I understand the SF is not a place for snowflakes and I dont expect nor want special treatment. I can roll with the punches and put up with anything. I just want to know if the SF can put up with me and my awkwardness.

So I just want to know, is there a place for someone like me in the SF?

Thanks for your time!

 

[Feanor]

Hey everyone,

I really need some advice from people with experience. I'd especially love to hear from SF operators but anyone with knowledge is appreciated.

I'm 26 civ and I'm interested in joining the Australian SF. I believe I have the skills and determination needed. However, I am autistic -- I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD as a kid. Im not medicated, im very high functioning. In fact I'm about to complete an associate degree in engineering at a full time study load whilst simultaneously working 6 half-days a week.

The only thing is I am socially awkward and socially anxious. The anxiety is purely social though -- I work well under pressure and in dangerous conditions (I have a lot of experience in dangerous and strenuous work roles such as crocodile egg-collecting and pet-meating).

I understand the SF is not a place for snowflakes and I dont expect nor want special treatment. I can roll with the punches and put up with anything. I just want to know if the SF can put up with me and my awkwardness.

So I just want to know, is there a place for someone like me in the SF?

Thanks for your time!

Your best bet is to talk to a recruiter and get the details from them. The other piece of advice I would give is talk to someone who's served in Australia to find out how they even recruit for special forces.

 

[JustSomeCrocodileWrestler]

Your best bet is to talk to a recruiter and get the details from them. The other piece of advice I would give is talk to someone who's served in Australia to find out how they even recruit for special forces.

Yeah that's what im trying to do on here. Hoping to hear from an ex or current SF operator. I dont know any personally.

 

[DDG38]

I never served in the Army nor in SF, however I did work closely with them a few times during my service career. Firstly which SF are you thinking of joining ? For example, there are different recruitment pathways to SASR compared to 2CDO, and again to be a CD in the RAN.
If it's the green machine you're looking at, there's some pretty decent (though 7 years old) general advice on a couple of Reddit threads here and here.
If there are ex-SF operators on this forum they may be reluctant to provide specific advice in a public forum, however they may DM you to provide personal advice.
I don't want to state the obvious, but you know that there's vastly different levels of risk and danger between crocodile egg collecting and military service right ?

 

[Volkodav]

I'd be careful self flagging neuro diversity.

The ADF is full of neuro divergent people, especially in some of the more elite (as in complex and difficult) employment categories. Many of them are 2e or twice exceptional, that is gifted and autistic and/or ADHD.

On the recruitment side giftedness is picked up by the psychometric testing and can help, the ADF knows they need gifted people.

On the training side, your instructor at Kapooka could be a uniformed clerk who is less skilled than an army Cadet and may have difficulty tying their boot laces. If they pick up you are different, or than you don't conform in any way, they will make you their personal project and you may not get through.

There are many gatekeepers in defence, they seek out and remove those they don't think fit, and that includes the exceptional, as well as the mediocre. Nothing attracts their ire more than someone they fear is better than them. Keep your plans and ambitions to yourself, do the work, but let someone else make the suggestion and show you the path.

An aside on autism. The USN nuclear program does not accept autistic candidates unless they have waivers. They do however actively recruit from highschool gifted programs. Many of these gifted kids go on to have long, successful military careers and are diagnosed as autistic in their forties and fifties.

The difference between an autistic kid and a gifted kid is the quality of education, support and opportunities they have had in life.

 

[JustSomeCrocodileWrestler]

I never served in the Army nor in SF, however I did work closely with them a few times during my service career. Firstly which SF are you thinking of joining ? For example, there are different recruitment pathways to SASR compared to 2CDO, and again to be a CD in the RAN.
If it's the green machine you're looking at, there's some pretty decent (though 7 years old) general advice on a couple of Reddit threads here and here.
If there are ex-SF operators on this forum they may be reluctant to provide specific advice in a public forum, however they may DM you to provide personal advice.
I don't want to state the obvious, but you know that there's vastly different levels of risk and danger between crocodile egg collecting and military service right ?

Commandos is what I have in mind. I believe you can do general entry as a civ. But I'm also considering joining the army in infantry as a grunt and serving a couple years to see how I like it before trying for commandos. I'm not sure exactly how that process works though or if it will make it more difficult for me to apply. An army guy told me you have to be nominated if you're currently serving. I'll check out those resources you shared, thanks!

Yeah, I know egg collecting doesn't hold a candle to military deployment, but as far as civilian jobs go its pretty dangerous. We had a fatality a couple years back when a chopper went down with a guy slung under it. There have also been bites and close calls. Mind you, its not like there are heaps of people doing it, there are probably literally less than 10 of us currently doing it.

 

[JustSomeCrocodileWrestler]

I'd be careful self flagging neuro diversity.

The ADF is full of neuro divergent people, especially in some of the more elite (as in complex and difficult) employment categories. Many of them are 2e or twice exceptional, that is gifted and autistic and/or ADHD.

On the recruitment side giftedness is picked up by the psychometric testing and can help, the ADF knows they need gifted people.

On the training side, your instructor at Kapooka could be a uniformed clerk who is less skilled than an army Cadet and may have difficulty tying their boot laces. If they pick up you are different, or than you don't conform in any way, they will make you their personal project and you may not get through.

There are many gatekeepers in defence, they seek out and remove those they don't think fit, and that includes the exceptional, as well as the mediocre. Nothing attracts their ire more than someone they fear is better than them. Keep your plans and ambitions to yourself, do the work, but let someone else make the suggestion and show you the path.

An aside on autism. The USN nuclear program does not accept autistic candidates unless they have waivers. They do however actively recruit from highschool gifted programs. Many of these gifted kids go on to have long, successful military careers and are diagnosed as autistic in their forties and fifties.

The difference between an autistic kid and a gifted kid is the quality of education, support and opportunities they have had in life.

Thank you for your advice, I will take this to heart and be cautious. Like I said I dont expect or want special treatment or to single myself out, so I'll keep it all to myself. Do you think its a good idea to join the army as infantry and to try and work my way towards SF from there? What would that process look like?

 

[old faithful]

Commandos is what I have in mind. I believe you can do general entry as a civ. But I'm also considering joining the army in infantry as a grunt and serving a couple years to see how I like it before trying for commandos. I'm not sure exactly how that process works though or if it will make it more difficult for me to apply. An army guy told me you have to be nominated if you're currently serving. I'll check out those resources you shared, thanks!

Yeah, I know egg collecting doesn't hold a candle to military deployment, but as far as civilian jobs go its pretty dangerous. We had a fatality a couple years back when a chopper went down with a guy slung under it. There have also been bites and close calls. Mind you, its not like there are heaps of people doing it, there are probably literally less than 10 of us currently doing it.

For what it's worth, the ADF is choke block full of socially awkward people.
So many young men aged in the 17-19 year group are recruited with not much social or life experience in general.
There are plenty of people on the spectrum mate, go for it and let the ADF medical team find out for themselves.
You sound like a very intelligent, adventurous and driven individual, I reckon you would stand a good chance of getting the job you want.
Go for it!
I'm ex 3RAR in the airborne years, and worked closely with SASR and 1 Cdo.
There isn't really a stereotype of operator other than they all have a good ability to learn, are focused and driven, and will push selves to complete the mission.
I met all types from nerds who look like accountants to chubby blokes swigging on rum and smoking a Durry to olympic type athletes, all of them had something the regt wanted.

 

[JustSomeCrocodileWrestler]

For what it's worth, the ADF is choke block full of socially awkward people.
So many young men aged in the 17-19 year group are recruited with not much social or life experience in general.
There are plenty of people on the spectrum mate, go for it and let the ADF medical team find out for themselves.
You sound like a very intelligent, adventurous and driven individual, I reckon you would stand a good chance of getting the job you want.
Go for it!
I'm ex 3RAR in the airborne years, and worked closely with SASR and 1 Cdo.
There isn't really a stereotype of operator other than they all have a good ability to learn, are focused and driven, and will push selves to complete the mission.
I met all types from nerds who look like accountants to chubby blokes swigging on rum and smoking a Durry to olympic type athletes, all of them had something the regt wanted.

That is very encouraging, thank you. Huge respect to you and your service.

What Avenue of entry would you recommend? Would serving a couple years in the infantry help to prepare me? Or is it harder once youre already serving in another branch?

Thanks again