- Be a college graduate with at least a four-year degree.
- Be between 18 and 34 years old.
- Officer Basic Leadership Course (Or Additional Special Courses/Qualifications)
- Eligible for a Secret security clearance.
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
Special Forces Officer Versus Enlisted | Former Enlisted Green Beret
What does a Special Forces officer do?
An expertly trained person who directs teams during special operations is a Special Forces officer. These operations typically involve unconventional warfare and rapid-response situations that call for meticulous planning as well as in-depth familiarity with a variety of topics, including geography, armed forces, languages, and political structures.
A Special Forces officer will organize the mission, outfit his highly qualified team, and conduct the debriefing during a special operation. Because these teams are typically small, typically consisting of 12 men, they are mobile and can complete their missions quickly and covertly.
The Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets due to their distinctive headgear, have a variety of duties, but their main objectives are:
The experts who command the pertinent Special Forces units while carrying out these various missions, as well as other operations like humanitarian aid, hostage rescue, and peacekeeping, are known as Special Forces officers. Special Forces officers train people to carry out individual missions, conduct strategic and tactical planning for highly covert operations, and operate complicated communications equipment in addition to leading their teams.
These highly skilled individuals receive training in swimming, diving, emergency medicine, and parachuting in addition to their combat training. Special Forces officers receive training in foreign languages because their jobs frequently put them in contact with people from other cultures and soldiers from other countries, and it is advantageous for them to be able to speak multiple languages. Therefore, it’s also crucial that these professionals have tolerance for other people’s cultures and be able to quickly adapt when they’re in unfamiliar environments.
Average salary for a Special Forces officer
Training for Special Forces officers is demanding, demanding, and lengthy. Candidates must put their physical and mental capabilities to the test during training because they might encounter demanding and critical situations. Here are some actions you must take if you want to join the Special Forces:
1. Ensure that you adhere to the requirements
Before you consider enrolling in Special Forces training, you must meet certain standards and prerequisites. For instance, enlisted personnel currently serving must meet certain requirements in order to join the Special Forces, including being under 36 years old, being airborne qualified, and having an ASVAB General Technical score of 110.
First lieutenants and captains who are currently serving officers and first lieutenants who are promoteable to captains are both requirements for joining the Special Forces. Additionally, applicants must have a DLAB (Defense Language Aptitude Battery) score of at least 85.
2. Prepare yourself for training during Special Forces and Conditioning (SFPC)
SFPC is a two-week and three-day training program that serves as a pre-training period for candidates. Candidates receive physical training and learn practical abilities like map reading and land navigation during this 19-day performance-oriented course.
3. Get through the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) process
The Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) begins with a 24-day intensive course that acts as a selection period to determine which candidates will take the remaining courses. Candidates take part in a variety of long-distance land navigation courses during this time that include challenging terrain, long hours, heavy loads of equipment, and changing weather conditions.
Additionally, candidates must pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), numerous psychological tests, and swim evaluations.
4. Participate in the other four phases of the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC)
Candidates who successfully complete the selection course are given the opportunity to fill out a wish list, which allows them to specify their preferred Special Forces groups and the languages they would like to learn. They then go through these four phases of training:
You graduate as a Special Forces soldier once you have successfully completed all four of these phases.
5. Earn a promotion to Special Forces officer
For roughly eight years, you must demonstrate your devotion, toughness, resolve, and value to both your superiors and the other soldiers in order to become a Special Forces officer.
FAQ
How long does it take to become a Special Forces officer?
For roughly eight years, you must demonstrate your devotion, toughness, resolve, and value to both your superiors and the other soldiers in order to become a Special Forces officer.
What does it take to be a Special Forces officer?
The following are the general prerequisites for becoming a Special Forces officer, in no particular order: a commitment to maintaining peak physical fitness, high ASVAB scores in important areas, a four-year degree, and the capacity to succeed in demanding examinations and training environment demands.
How do I join the Special Forces?
20-36 years old. Clear the Army’s height and weight requirements and pass the fitness test a private first class, specialist, sergeant, or staff sergeant with a minimum rank of E-3. A minimum of 36 months must be left in service after graduation and no more than 12 to 14 years in service prior to training.
How long does it take to become a Green Beret officer?
You’ll complete that training in six stages over 63 weeks. The first trial is a two-week Special Operations Preparation Course. Potential candidates are prepared by SOPC for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection, which is the first stage of official Green Beret training.
