Okay, I can't hold it any longer. I have to brag on my son.

[panader0]

He just completed a hellish 24 day "selection" process to become a
Special Forces soldier. He was at the JFK Special Warfare School at Ft.
Bragg and the selection was held at Camp MacKall.
114 guys went, 43 were selected and Matt was one. Now begins a long
training (again) at the end of which he will be Special Forces. I kept TEB up
on his progress. TEB is an Airborne veteran and took an interest in my son.
I'm not sure where my son got his desire for this, but he is hell-bent.

[Walleye]

1. Way to go Matt!

[snowybirdie]

2. Congratulations

and best of luck and success in his chosen career. A fellow SFMom!

[panader0]

17. Thanks and I'm curious--did your son go to Camp MacKall too?

[snowybirdie]

22. Can't remember

name of camp. He was at Ft Bragg 20 years ago. But they are special people who do much for us without most Americans knowing at all. Be safe young man.

[panader0]

33. Camp Mackall is part of FT Bragg, so I'll bet he was there too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Mackall

[Laelth]

3. You have every right to be proud. Congratulations to your son. n/t

-Laelth

[3catwoman3]

4. Wishing him every success, and may he stay...

...safe.

[Ohiogal]

5. What an awesome young man.

You should be proud! You sure did something right when you raised him!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. CONGRATS TO YOUR SON! WOW.

You should be bragging on him! He has done something that few do.

And he looks like a really strong and nice young man too.

[panader0]

16. Strongest person I know. He won a plaque at selection for best times.

And yeah, he's a good man too.

[In_The_Wind]

7. Congratulations Matt.

[a kennedy]

8. Bravo eh??? That's a company right? Bravo Company?? Think I've heard that in movies....

Good for him.....and congratulations

[onethatcares]

9. You have every right to be very proud

of your son.

Today my son finishes his 23rd year and goes on terminal leave. He'll be totally finished in August.

As he's told me, "It's a privilege to serve my country".

Not all service members are crazy killers. Most really have high ideals.

Congratulations of the highest order to you and him.

[sl8]

10. That's awesome.

Congrats to Matt!

[TEB]

11. STUD

[BComplex]

12. That's awesome panader0.

Congratulations, proud papa! And I pray your son is always safe.

[blueinredohio]

13. Congratulations to your son and congratulations yo you for raising such a good son.

[cayugafalls]

14. Congratulations! Good news!

In this time, good news is well received. You must be very proud!

[Dan]

15. Happy for you and son

but thinking, might not want to post his picture in the future.

[underpants]

18. 🇺🇸

[panader0]

20. He served 4 years in the Coast Guard after a stint at Red Dog Mines

in northern Alaska. He wanted to serve and I said what about the Coast
Guard. My concern was that in the army he might get sent to do something
on the whim of a selfish president. But he thought the USCG was too easy
and wanted a tougher challenge. He got it. He's way too big to argue with.

[sorcrow]

61. I know Red Dog

I worked as a claim staker for one of the companies that did the original exploration and ore mapping when the land was opened as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Amazing country. Plenty of bears, no trees.

Best regards and congrats to your son,
Crow

[panader0]

63. Don't mean to intrude--are you Crow?

My grandmother was born in Lodge Grass on the Crow Reservation.
She was half Crow.

[sorcrow]

71. Not at all

Family legends to the contrary, there are no Indian princesses in my genes according to 23 and me.

The original Sorghum Crow had a general store and probably a sorghum mill near my aunt's house in north Georgia. I always thought it a curious name. When I googled the name and found he had been lost to history (digitally, anyway) I took it as a "nom de keyboard."

Also, crows are awesome birds.

Best regards,
Sorghum Crow

[handmade34]

19. so wonderful and good!!

[Alliepoo]

21. Congratulations!!!!

Way to go, Matt!!!! Fantastic job!! Pan-you must be bursting with pride!! Hope Matt knows that he has this whole DU family rooting for him-and-we want regular updates!! And pics!!

[AllaN01Bear]

23. most eggscllent

[3Hotdogs]

24. Able Baker !

[SunSeeker]

25. Magnificent kid. May he stay safe.

[blm]

26. 👍🏽

✌🏽

[TNNurse]

27. Of course, you should brag.

[Pepsidog]

28. Congrats!

[aggiesal]

29. Loud & Proud!!! Congrats. I know the feeling well. n/t

[SayItLoud]

30. Made my day! Thanks for this post.

With deepest respect I congratulate your son...and you for raising a fine young man. Thank you!

[DFW]

31. No need to hold it in

Shout it out for all to hear!

[bronxiteforever]

32. Awesome 😎

Congrats!

[keithbvadu2]

34. AWRIGHT!

[Upthevibe]

35. Awesome! n/t

[RustyWheels]

36. Congrats !!

That is impressive... My brother went through OTS back in the late eights and then the "selection" process for special forces but didn't make it. And yes, you have to be "hell-bent" to make it through this VERY demanding process.

[Thekaspervote]

37. Awhh! What a handsome guy..obviously talented and brave!

[littlemissmartypants]

38. That's fantastic news! I would be bursting with pride, too!

Congratulations! All the best in his future endeavors!

[democrank]

39. A job well done.

Congratulations, Matt!

[lunatica]

40. Brag all you want!

He’s obviously pretty damn outstanding to get into Special Forces. Your heart must be pushing to pop out of your chest with pride. That’s the way it’s supposed to be!

[NNadir]

41. Congrats! There's nothing more rewarding that being able to brag about your kid! n/t.

[tavernier]

42. Congratulations!

[Lonestarblue]

43. That's wonderful!

What an accomplished young man. You have every right to be so very proud of him.

[Skittles]

44. *SWOON*

just sayin'

[liberalla]

45. Great news for your son and you! Congrats to him!

It's wonderful when you have a passion for something, pursue it and succeed.

I'm just curious... You said 114 guys... were any women applying?

Again, that's fantastic for your son! He's a good looking young man.

[CaptainTruth]

46. Congratulations!!!

Tell him I salute him!

Figuratively I guess, because I'm a civilian.

[lillypaddle]

47. Wow Wow Wow

What an impressive young man. You have every right to brag ... congrats!

[Traildogbob]

48. Massive respect

Extremely difficult. This is what is called a Patriot. Not those coward protester strutting around with war toys. Congratulations.

[Fla Dem]

49. Congratulations Proud Dad!!!!

You've certainly have had a whole range of life events in a very short time. Congrats again!

PS: Bet he gets his good looks from his Dad.

[sellitman]

50. That's so cool

May he succeed and stay safe always.

[sdfernando]

51. Awesome!

WOW!!!!! S.F. ain't easy!

Congratulations to both of you!

[MLAA]

52. Smart, strong and handsome!

He has it all 🙂. Congrats to the whole panader0 family!

[leanforward]

53. Nice

Graduations to your son. I know you’re proud.

[Joinfortmill]

54. Awesome

[kacekwl]

55. Congratulations to your son and you.

I know how hard it is to qualify and complete training for SF.

[Generic Brad]

56. It's not bragging if it is a fact

Respect to you, your son and your family!

[Blue Owl]

57. Salute

[TomSlick]

58. HOOAH!

Specialist Baker will know what it means.

[montana_hazeleyes]

59. Reminds me of Burt Lancaster.

So handsome!

[babylonsister]

60. Congrats to Matt and his proud papa!

[Olafjoy]

62. That's fantastic

Such a fine young man

[spudspud]

64. Congrats, best of luck to him making it on through to SF

and may God bless him and you for his service to the defense of our nation.

[diva77]

65. Congrats!!

[Tiger8]

66. Congratulations and thank you!

Good to know there is more good in this country then I realize. You brought him up well.

[luvallpeeps]

67. Kudos!

[Scarsdale]

68. You have every right to be proud

of your son. Quite an accomplishment for this young soldier. Congratulations to him, you and the rest of the family.

[LuckyCharms]

69. Congratulations to your son, and to you!

You have good reason to be very proud!

Great picture...your son is a handsome young man.

[Rabrrrrrr]

70. That's a heck of an almost-impossible accomplishment - congratulations!

WOW!