SPECIAL FORCES PRIOR SERVICE APPLICANTS

PRIOR SERVICE (In-Service recruits) ENLISTED

REQUIREMENTS
NOTE: Requirements can vary slightly with each state/National Guard Special Forces unit, based on current unit needs.

• Must be a minimum age of 20; maximum age is 36 (waiverable, based on military qualifications and individual evaluation)
• Must be a U.S. citizen (non-waiverable)
• Must be in the pay grade of E-4 to E-6; E-7s must have no more than 12 years' time in service (TIS) and nine months' time in grade (TIG) when applying 
• Must have completed an MOS-producing course/school at least one year prior to applying
• Must have a General Technical (GT) score of 110 or higher (waiverable); if you do not have the required score, then you will need to take the AFCT/ASVAB to attempt to raise your line scores
• Must complete a PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) while achieving 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, 2-mile run 15:12 or less, 6 pull-ups
• Must be able to meet medical fitness standards for military service, Airborne and Special Forces, as outlined in Chap. 5, AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness
• Must be either Airborne-qualified or willing to volunteer and qualify for Airborne training
• Must possess or be eligible for a secret security clearance
• Must not be barred to re-enlistment or be under suspension of favorable personnel action


• Must not have been convicted by court-martial or have disciplinary action (Article 15/NJP) noted in your official military personnel file (OMPF) under the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice


• Must not have any drug- or domestic abuse-related law violations
• Must be able to swim 50 meters unassisted, wearing boots and the Army combat uniform (ACU), prior to beginning the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC)


• Must not have been terminated from Airborne, Ranger, or Special Forces duty, unless termination was due to extreme family problems or a medical condition that has been resolved
• Must be able to reclassify from current MOS into Career Management Field 18 series (CMF 18)
• Must have a minimum of 36 months' remaining TIS upon completion of the SFQC; otherwise, must extend or re-enlist before starting SFQC
  
  

TRAINING TIMELINE

• Basic Combat Training (BCT): 10 weeks, if not prior service Army, Marines, Navy SPECOPS or Air Force SPECOPS/Security Force
• Advanced Individual Training (AIT), if not Army MOS-qualified (for prior service)
• Special Forces Readiness Evaluation/Assessment Drill (SFRE/SFAD); NG SF unit "try-out"
• Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS): Three weeks at Fort Bragg, NC
• Airborne School (if not Airborne qualified) – Three weeks at Fort Benning, GA
• Warrior Leader Course/Common Leadership Training (WLC/CLT) [NCOES E-4 and E-5]: Three weeks at Fort Bragg, NC
• Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC): 53 weeks at Fort Bragg, NC

The entire training timeline is 18 to 27 months, depending upon attendance to Airborne School, WLC, HALO and SF MOS.

PRIOR SERVICE (In-Service recruits) OFFICER

REQUIREMENTS
NOTE: Requirements can vary slightly with each state/National Guard Special Forces unit, based on current unit needs.

• Must be a minimum age of 20; maximum age is 36 (waiverable, based on military qualifications and individual evaluation)
• Must have completed BOLC-A (OCS/ROTC) and BOLC-B (Basic Branch training) and have been successful in your branch assignments prior to application for Special Forces
• Must be in the rank/pay grade of 1LT/O-2 (preferably promotable) or CPT/O-3 with less than two years' time in grade (TIG) as an O-3 upon completion of SFAS
• Must have enough time remaining as a captain to complete SF training and serve a minimum of three years in an SF unit
• Must complete a PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) while achieving 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, 2-mile run 15:12 or less, 6 pull-ups
• Must be either Airborne-qualified or willing to volunteer and qualify for Airborne training
• Must be able to swim 50 meters unassisted, while wearing boots and the Army combat uniform (ACU)
• Must have a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score of 85 or higher, or a minimum 1/1 Listening and Speaking as measured by the two-skill Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
• Must be able to meet medical fitness standards for military service, Airborne and Special Forces, as outlined in Chap. 5, AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness
• Must have a secret security clearance and be eligible for a top secret security clearance
• Must not have any drug- or domestic abuse-related law violations
• Must not have been terminated from Airborne, Ranger or Special Forces duty, unless termination was due to extreme family problems or a medical condition that has not been resolved.
• Must be able to reclassify from current branch into Special Forces branch Career Management Field 18 series (CMF 18)
• Must be either a Special Operations Captains Career Course (SOCCC) or resident Maneuver Captains Career Course (MCCC) graduate, before enrollment in the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course (SFDOQC); normally, officers will attend the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) before resident SOCCC attendance

TRAINING TIMELINE
Current/Prior Service Officer

• Special Forces Readiness Evaluation/Assessment Drill (SFRE/SFAD); NG SF unit “try-out”
• Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS): Three weeks at Fort Bragg, NC
• Airborne School (if not Airborne-qualified): Three weeks at Fort Benning, GA
• Either resident Maneuver Captains Career Course (MCCC): 16 weeks at Fort Benning, GA, or Special Operations Captains Career Course (SOCCC): 12 weeks at Fort Bragg, NC
• Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC): 53 weeks at Fort Bragg, NC 

The entire training timeline takes 18 to 22 months, depending upon attendance to Airborne School, HALO and MCCC/SOCCC.