Special Forces

BENEFITS OF A SPECIAL FORCES CAREER

*Click each benefit to learn more

Increased Family Time
SF operators experience a minimum 1:2 Dwell Time
Station Longevity
Because SF Groups are regionally aligned, SF operators become experts in their specific Area of Operations. To keep the expertise where it matters most, SF operators PCS less than the average military member.
World-class training facilities and coaches
SF employs THOR3 (Tactical Human Optimization Rapid Rehabilitation and Reconditioning) strength coaches and equip the Group facilities with top of the line training and recovery equipment. The result: SF Groups have access to the same caliber of performance optimizing tools that college and professional athletes utilize for both body and mind.

Advanced Skills Training

Unique Real-world Missions
With a wide area of mission sets, no operation looks just like the last. The SF ODA conducts Unconventional Warfare (UW), Foreign Internal Defense (FID), Security Force Assistance (SFA), Special Reconnaissance (SR), Direct Action (DA), Counter-Terrorism (CT), Counter-Proliferation (CP), Psychological Operations (PO), and Information Operations (IO).
Accelerated Promotions
SF NCOs out-pace their peers in promotions, meaning that becoming SF qualified fast-tracks you in your career.
Special Duty Pay
Depending on position assignment, current and qualified SF Soldiers can be eligible to receive additional monthly pays such as Special Duty Assignment Pay ($300-450), language pay ($150-1000), Static Line Parachute ($150), Military Free Fall ($225), Scuba ($215), Demolition ($150), and others.
Army National Guard Opportunities

Whether already in the Army National Guard or a Soldier looking to transition from active duty, 19th SFG(A) and 20th SFG(A) provide avenues to continue to serve as an SF Operator.
*Click the Unit Crests below to reach their team

19th SFG (A) 20th SFG (A)

Meet SF Prerequisites

Officer Requirements
- Pay grade of O-1(P), O-2, or O-3 and in the targeted year group for the captain's board
- Must have at least a SECRET security clearance prior to final packet approval and meet eligibility criteria for a TOP SECRET clearance
- Must have completed the Officer Basic Course
- Must have been successful in your branch assignments prior to applying to SF
Inter-Service Transfers
Service Members from the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, and reserve components of the Army are authorized to attend Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). Click here for more information.
Enlisted Requirements
- You must have a minimum rank of E-3 and must be 20 years old at the start of Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) with a waiver
- You must not be older than 36 years (waiverable) for SFAS attendance
- You must be eligible for a Secret security clearance
- You must be airborne qualified or volunteer for airborne training
- You must have no more than 14 years time in service (E-3 to E-6)
- You must have no more than 12 years time in service and nine months time-in-grade when applying for the SFAS course (E-7)
- You must be either Airborne or Ranger qualified (E-7)
- You must attend the SFAS course within 90 days of volunteering and be able to PCS to the SFQC within 6 months of selection at SFAS (E-7)
- You must sign a Master Sergeant (MSG) declination statement prior to attending SFQC (E-7)
- You must have an ASVAB General Technical (GT) score of 100 or above
- You must pass a Special Forces physical in accordance with AR 40-501
- You must be able to reclassify from your current MOS or branch
- You must have a minimum of 36 months remaining time in service at the time you graduate SFQC
- You must not have 30 days or more lost time under USC 972 within your current or preceding enlistments
Required Documents
The following documents are required to be returned to your recruiter. For questions or clarification, please contact your recruiter. If you have not yet spoken to a recruiter, click here to start the conversation. Packet Documents can be downloaded here.
- ARSOF Volunteer Statement
- Soldier Record Brief
- PFA Card
- SFAS Physical with EKG
- Waiver Documents (where required)
Prepare to Train
View a comprehensive training regimen and tips from SF trainers in the SFAS PT handbook - here.

View or download the SFAS packing list in Excel here

Attend SF Qualification Course

Assessment & Selection
Selected candidates return to their units before PCSing to attend the Qualification Course

* duration: 24 days
Phase I: MOS & SERE
- Detachment Commander's course
- Weapons Sergeant's course
- Engineer Sergeant's course
- Communication Sergeant's Course
- Fundamentals of SERE

*duration: 15 weeks
Phase II: Tactical Skills

- Demolitions
- Foreign internal defense
- Small unit tactics
- Weapons marksmanship
- Mission planning
- Tactical communication

*duration: 7 weeks
Phase III: Robin Sage
- Advanced mission planning
- Unconventional warfare
- Application of CMF 18 tasks in a collective environment

*duration: 3 weeks
Phase IV: Language Training
- Language training in 1 of our 14 core languages
- Cultural studies in target language region of origin
- Regional studies

*duration: 16-24 weeks

Be a Member of an SF ODA

18A: Detachment Commander
Unconventional Warfare expert. Master planner responsible for advising and leading indigenous and joint forces.
180A: DETACHMENT WARRANT*
The detachment warrant officer serves as the Assistant Detachment Commander or commands in the absence of the Detachment Commander during split-team operations and may command during composite team operations. The Assistant Detachment Commander provides technical, tactical, and operational expertise; provides advice and assistance to the Detachment Commander and detachment personnel across the special operations continuum; and is an experienced subject-matter expert in Unconventional Warfare.
18Z: OPERATIONS SERGEANT*
The Operations Sergeant is the senior enlisted member of the detachment, who has gained previous ODA experience as an 18B, 18C, 18D or 18E. Responsibilities of the Operations Sergeant include advising the Detachment Commander on all operations and training matters and providing leadership, tactical and technical guidance, and professional support to detachment members. With guidance from the Commander, the Operations Sergeant assigns specific tasks, supervises the performance of detachment tasks, and prepares plans, orders, and reports.
18F: INTELLIGENCE SERGEANT*
The Intelligence Sergeant, who also serves as the Assistant Operations Sergeant, is a senior SF NCO that attended the 18F MOS producing course, after gaining ODA experience as an 18B, 18C, 18D, or 18E. The Intelligence Sergeant is responsible for all aspects of intelligence, counterintelligence, and protection for the ODA and its indigenous forces. They plan, coordinate, and conduct continuous collection planning and intelligence analysis in preparation for and during all detachment operations.
18B: Weapons Sergeant
Tactical mission leader. Operates and maintains a full range of U.S., Allied, and other foreign weaponry.
18C: Engineer Sergeant
Expert in all aspects of demolition, construction, and target analysis.
18D: Medical Sergeant
Trauma medicine specialist. Highly trained in clinical, dental, and veterinary care.
18E: Communications Sergeant
Technical expert in all means of communication from encrypted satellite systems to field communications equipment.

* 180A, 18Z, and 18F are MOSs and positions only filled by previously 18-series qualified and experienced Soldiers

Military Free-Fall (HALO) Teams	Free-Fall ODAs are trained to high standards in military parachuting, including High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) oxygen-assisted parachute insertion. All members of a MFF ODA will have gone through Military Free-Fall and two members of a MFF Team are MFF Jumpmasters.
Combat Diver/SCUBA Teams	Trained in amphibious infil/exfil, including small boat ops and SCUBA diving. All members of a Combat Diver Team will have passed the SF Diver Q-Course.
Mountain Teams	Mountain ODAs have been trained in mountaineering and associated disciplines such as horsemanship and cold-weather operations.
Mobility/Mounted Teams	Mounted ODAs specialize in the use of the Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV).


19th SFG (A)	20th SFG (A)

SPECIAL FORCES

BENEFITS OF A SPECIAL FORCES CAREER

Some special detachments consist of:

Meet SF Prerequisites

Attend SF Qualification Course

Be a Member of an SF ODA