Learn about Special Forces here.


What are Special Forces?

History and Mission

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy referred to the Green Beret, worn by U.S. Army Special Forces, as "... a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom."  His description was dead-on. The Special Forces are made up of the best-trained and mentally tough Soldiers the National Guard and Army have to offer.

Originating during WWII under the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), Special Forces have evolved into America’s leading experts in unconventional warfare, counterterrorism, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance and direct action missions.

Known as “The Quiet Professionals,” the Green Berets are always either conducting a mission or training for one. Throughout the world, Special Forces work in peacetime and wartime operations.

Special Forces use five types of missions to accomplish their objectives:

  • Counterterrorism – Special Forces counterterrorism missions are conducted in order to stop, resist and resolve terrorist incidents abroad. They are also used to train other nations' military forces in the basics of fighting terrorism.
  • Direct Action – Direct Action missions are short-duration strikes used to seize, capture, recover or destroy enemy weapons and information or recover personnel or material.
  • Foreign Internal Defense – This mission is conducted to assist, advise and train the military and national defense forces of foreign governments so that they can protect their citizens from aggressors and maintain their sovereignty.
  • Special Reconnaissance – These intelligence-gathering activities monitor the enemy's movement and operations. Special Recon is used for reporting on both pre-strike and post-strike activities.
  • Unconventional Warfare – UW, or guerilla warfare, is used to train, equip, advise and assist forces in enemy-held or enemy-controlled territory to repel a hostile nation’s retaliation.

What's it take to go SF?

Training
The training to become a Special Forces Soldier is tough, long and intense. You’ll be physically and mentally challenged every step of the way and pushed to new limits as you develop the strength, creativity and skills to overcome almost any obstacle. As part of the select group who makes it into the Special Forces Qualification Course Special Forces Qualification Course:
The SFQC is an intense five-phase course, during which Soldiers become experts in Unconventional Warfare., you’ll train for at least 18 months, depending on your specialty. You’ll become proficient in at least one foreign language and learn advanced combat methods, unconventional warfare tactics and special reconnaissance techniques as well as counterterrorism tactics and the skills to organize and train foreign military and defense groups.

Prerequisites for Qualification

The following information represents the minimum requirements needed to be eligible to attend the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC).

  1. Must be a male volunteer, minimum age 18.
  2. Must be a U.S. citizen.
  3. Must be a high school graduate or have a general educational development (GED) certificate with 15 college credit hours.
  4. Must have an ASVAB General Technical (GT) score of 107 or higher (non-waiverable).
  5. Must be airborne qualified or volunteer to attend airborne training.
  6. Must be able to swim 50 meters unassisted, wearing boots and battle dress or Army combat uniform, prior to beginning the SFQC.
  7. Must be able to score a minimum of 240 on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), with no less than 80 points in each event, using the standards for 17-21 age group.  
  8. Must be able to meet medical fitness standards as outlined in Chap. 5, AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness.
  9. Must be eligible for a secret security clearance.

Officer Requirements

Requirements for SFQC/CMF18 Officers are:

  1. Must be a 1LT or CPT.
  2. Must have completed the Officer Basic Course and have been successful in your branch assignments prior to application for Special Forces.
  3. Must have enough time remaining as a captain to complete SF training and serve a minimum of three years in an SF unit.
  4. Must be airborne qualified. If not airborne qualified, the applicant must volunteer for airborne training.
  5. Must have passed the APFT with a minimum of 240 points overall, with no less than 80 points in each event, using the standards for 17-21 age group.
  6. Must be able to swim 50 meters unassisted, while wearing the full Army combat uniform with boots.
  7. Must have scored at least 85 on the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) or have met USAJFKSWCS language school graduation standards on the DLPT, in an SF-required language (other than English).
  8. Must have met the medical standards for SF training per AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness.
  9. Must have a secret security clearance and be eligible for a top secret security clearance.
  10. Must be a resident MCCC graduate, by the time of enrollment in the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course (SFDOQC). Normally, officers will attend the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) before resident MCCC attendance.

Training and Timeline

The following courses are required to complete the Special Forces Qualification Course in order to attain the Career Management Field 18 (CMF 18). Timeline and courses will differ for officers and prior service.

  1. Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT) – 13 weeks (For Non-Prior Service [NPS])
  2. Advanced Individual Training (AIT), if not Army MOS qualified (For Prior-Service)
  3. Airborne School – 3 weeks
  4. Special Forces Preparation Course (SFPC) – 3 weeks (For NPS only)
  5. Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) – 3 weeks
  6. Warrior Leader Course/Common Leadership Training (WLC/CLT) [NCOES E4 & E5] – 3 weeks

    7. Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC)

  7. Phase I:    SF Orientation – 2 weeks [SF mission, training, career paths, etc.]
  8. Phase II:   Language and Culture* – 18-24 weeks
  9. Phase III:  SF Individual Training – 12 weeks [TCS, SERE-C, SF CST, Land Nav]
  10. Phase IV:  SF Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Training – 14 weeks 18A, B, C, E; 46 weeks 18D
  11. Phase V:   SF UW Cumulative Exercise (Robin Sage/CULEX) – 4 weeks
  12. Phase VI:  Graduation – 1 week

* Candidates are required to take a Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) at the end of language training.