Special Forces Training
The US Special Forces, otherwise known as the Green Berets, have six primary missions with unconventional warfare as the most important one. The other primary missions were added later gradually. A Green Beret is expected to undergo training on a regular basis. Soldiers are expected to undergo Special Forces training over the course of their entire career.
Special Forces Qualification Course
The Special Forces Qualification Course, or SFQC, is the initial formal training program to gain entry into the Special Forces. It is informally known as the Q Course and has four training phases. The length of this course will depend on the primary job field of each individual applicant. Soldiers who graduate from the course will be assigned to an Operational Detachment Alpha, or A-Team, which is a 12-man team. All candidates will have to go through this stage of Special Forces training.
Phase I – Assessment and Selection
As the name of this phase of Special Forces training indicates, this is the selection stage where soldiers are considered for qualification to attend the Q Course. The following are the basic requirements for a soldier to become eligible for SFQC:
Must be male ages 20 to 30
At least a high school graduate
Must be a citizen of the United States
Get a combat operation score of 98 and a General Technical score of 110 on the ASVAB
Must volunteer and qualify for Airborne training
Must be qualified to get a secret security clearance
Must score 229 in the Army Physical Fitness Test as an overall minimum and get a score of at least 70 on each of the events
Should take either the Defense Language Proficiency Tests or Defense Language Aptitude Battery
Note: There are a couple of ways for a soldier to be qualified for assessment and selection. One way is via direct entry through the Initial Accession program, available through the National Guard and Active Duty. Another way is by being an existing US Army soldier with a rank of E-4 or even higher, O-3 rank, or promotable to O-3.
SFAS Training
The actual training takes place in Camp Mackall. Soldiers should expect it to be demanding both physically and mentally. It is estimated that 40% of candidates who attend SFAS will be successful. Those who are unsuccessful are Voluntarily Withdrawn and others are Medically Dropped. Soldiers who are Medically Dropped have the opportunity to recycle into the course and try once more. Those who are Voluntarily Withdrawn no longer have the opportunity to join the Special Forces.
Phase II – Group, Specialty, and Language Assignment
Those who enter this phase and the rest of the training will continue training in Fort Bragg and will be assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group. Language selection will depend on a soldier’s results in DLAB. This phase will either take 18 or 24 weeks of rather intensive language training.
Phase III – Small Unit Tactics
This phase of the Special Forces training will take 13 weeks. Soldiers will get block instruction on small unit tactics. Training will include instruction on ambushes, raids, recons, patrols, and other strikes. It is expected that soldiers who graduate from this training to plan, lead, and execute such operations. Soldiers will also undergo a three week level C course also known as SERE.
Phase IV – Specialty Training
This is the final training stage of Special Forces training. Those who pass this stage will eventually graduate from the course. In this stage of the training, soldiers will undergo training in the Special Forces specialties. Those who graduate from training will undergo a four week unconventional warfare exercise. Here, the graduates are expected to apply all the training they have received.
Other Special Forces Training
After completing the Q Course, soldiers may attend advanced skills training. During their term of service, Special Forces soldiers conduct non-combat operations to keep them sharp. These soldiers also participate in the training of allied forces on special operations.