Initial Screening / Requirements
The U.S. Army has actively recruited for Delta Force though it does not necessarily define it by the official title.
It has used other tactical terms to describe an elite, specialized unit considering new applicants.
Notices tend to state initial signup requirements for consideration like:
- Must be male in gender.
- Must be 21 years or older.
- Classified in grade of E-4 through E-8.
- Classified in grade of O-3 captains or 0-4 majors for officer positions.
- Received a high enough score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.
- At the time of application have at least two and a half years of service remaining.
Though the exact requirements for Delta Force are not heavily reported since it is such a classified organization, there are some known additional requirements for considering to attend a briefing on admission.
These include:
- Candidates must be airborne qualified, or having volunteered for airborne training.
- Candidates must be eligible for a security clearance level of Secret.
- Never convicted by court-martial or have disciplinary action placed in their official military personnel file.
The vast majority of what we know about CAG is based on the reporting found in Eric Haneys book Inside Delta Force.
Haney, who managed to cover the discreet force in unprecedented detail.
According to Haney, the selection for Delta Force begins with a physical endurance test.
Candidates must meet requirements regarding:
Sfqc Phase Ii: Small Unit Tactics And Sere Training
Phase II of the SFQC is Small Unit Tactics and is 13-weeks in duration.
There are typically 6 courses per year, with 240 candidates per course .
The purpose of Phase II is to act as an in-depth study of and practicum to US Army Special Forces small unit tactics, providing the tactical combat skills required to successfully operate as a competent team member of a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha . Topics covered include:
- Basic and advanced combat rifle marksmanship
- Small-unit tactics, at the Squad and Platoon level
- Special Forces common tasks or common skills training
- Urban warfare operations
- Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Level C training .
Sfqc Phase Vi: Graduation And Mff
Phase VI is the final phase of the SFQC and is comprised of 5-weeks of out processing, the Regimental First Formation where students don their green berets for the first time, the graduation ceremony and Military Free Fall Parachutist Course .
Graduation focuses on the graduation ceremony and out-processing, is 1-week in duration, and celebrates candidates achievements.
For the MFFPC, there are typically 14 courses per year, with 52 candidates per course . The course consists of two modules:
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Top 10 Things To Know Prior To Army Special Forces Training
Getting ready for Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection , the first step to attending the Special Forces Qualification Course, requires commitment and a near lifetime of preparation. I recently spoke to a Special Forces operator, and we discussed the top 10 things a SF candidate needs to know before taking the SFAS challenge. He spoke of many different elements you should focus on during your training preparation. Here is the top 10 list:
1. Have a solid running base
You not only will run everywhere you go, but you will be running quickly with a backpack. Shin splints, knee tendinitis and foot problems occur in those who do not have a running base of at least25-30 miles per week. Prepare your legs and lungs by putting in the miles. Run long distances and run them fast. The runs are no more than 10-12 miles at the very most, but we moved out. My SF buddy mentioned, “One day we took off, and I recorded we were running a 6:10/min mile.” He continued, “I am not sure if this is still the case, but if guys want to be successful, I would suggest they get out and do some intervals in addition to their longer runs.”
2. Build your leg endurance and muscle stamina
3. Strengthen your lower back
4. Land navigation skills are a must
Much of SFAS and the Q course is getting from point A to point B in the quickest amount of time possible. Know how to read a map and use a compass.
5. Ruck running
6. Shoulder PT
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7. Swim
8. Develop the right attitude
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The Armys Elite Forces: What To Expect If You Join Army Special Operations Rangers Green Berets Or The Soar Night Stalkers
Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces has its own elite forces in addition to their regular enlisted units. The Armys Special Operations units include the Rangers, the Green Berets and the Night Stalkers. Heres what Army soldiers can expect from a career as a member of one of these special forces units.
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Quick Frequently Asked Questions
What is Delta Force?
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Group, commonly known as Delta Force, is the US Armys elite special mission unit tasked with hostage rescue and counter-terrorism.
What branch is Delta Force?
While Delta Force is technically a branch of the US Army, they are a part of the Joint Special Operations Command, or JSOC.
How can you join Delta Force?
In order to join Delta Force, you first need to enlist in the Army and serve in the capacity of a special operations soldier. Potential Delta Force recruits are usually selected from the Green Berets, as well as the 75th Ranger Regiment.
How many Delta Force members are there?
According to some estimates, there are as many as 250 300 operators serving in a direct action and hostage rescue capacity.
When was Delta Force founded?
Founded by Colonel Charlie Beckwith, it was officially recognized on November 19, 1977.
Whats The Success Rate For The Army 18x Program
It is important not to give your hopes up about joining the Army Special Forces as a new recruit.
While the MOS 18X program is designed to fast-track recruits to Special Forces without having to serve a first or second tour with the regular Army, it is not always the case.
In fact, the success rate is not extremely high for MOS 18X recruits.
Very few new recruits without any previous military experience make it through the 18X program without dropping out.
Most recruits drop out at Airborne School or SFAS training.
The success rate is also not that high for current active-duty soldiers seeking a transfer to MOS 18X .
However, your best bet is to consider a MOS associated with special forces, such as Army Infantryman or Combat Engineer .
It is not to suggest that surviving MOS 18X is impossible, but very few new recruits make it all the way through.
The 18X recruitment option is a fantastic opportunity and quickest means of becoming SF , but it also has the baggage of representing the highest failure rate.
Youll need to remain disciplined and extremely committed while maintaining peak physical condition.
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What You Know And Who You Know
Attending foreign conventional and special-operations courses is about a lot more than training for the individual US special operator who is attending.
Special-operations operations are all about access and relationships, both of which are required for SOF units to succeed.
When Green Berets, Marine Raiders, or Navy SEALs attend a foreign course, they are expected to graduate if not as the honor graduate then at least at the top of their class. This sends a message to their foreign classmates about the quality of the US military and special-operations community.
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran , and a Johns Hopkins University graduate.
Factors For Increasing The Likelihood Of Success
In 2006, there were 22 explicit most common mistakes that could have hindered a candidates ability to successfully complete the SFAS course .
Further, The Army Research Institute has been able to closely correlate performance on the APFT and a 4-mile rucksack march with success in the SFAS Course. .
In 2006 the average reported :
- AFPT score for SFAS course graduates was 250 points: 229-250, 42% passed 251-275, 57% passed and 276 or higher, 78% passed.
- 4-mile loaded march time for SFAS course graduates was 61 minutes: 54 or less, 81% passed 55-64, 63% passed 65-74, 34% passed and 75-84, 10% passed.
Research published by the Army Research Institute for Behavioural and Social Sciences in 2010 states The SFAS performance event scores were strongest for predicting selection, followed by scores from cognitive ability tests, the Army Physical Fitness Test , and finally perseverance. .
The research suggests as many as 40% of candidates, on any given SFAS course, will voluntarily withdraw citing insufficient physical fitness. However, Beal goes on to inform us that approximately 15% of candidates who successfully completed the SFAS course and were selected for further training had similar or lower physical fitness and IQ scores than those who VW. These results suggest that there is an element of individual perseverance that reinforces a Soldiers willingness to stay the SFAS course, in spite of perceived or real limitations. .
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United States Army Special Forces Selection And Training
The Special Forces Qualification Course or, informally, the Q Course is the initial formal training program for entry into the United States ArmySpecial Forces. Phase I of the Q Course is Special Forces Assessment and Selection . Getting “Selected” at SFAS will enable a candidate to continue to the next of the four phases. If a candidate successfully completes all phases they will graduate as a Special Forces qualified soldier and then, generally, be assigned to a 12-men Operational Detachment “A” , commonly known as an “A team.” The length of the Q Course changes depending on the applicant’s primary job field within Special Forces and their assigned foreign language capability but will usually last between 56 and 95 weeks.
What Equipment Weapons And Gear Do Special Forces Soldiers Use
Special Forces Soldiers carry the most advanced equipment in order to complete the most sensitive missions, including: the lightweight all-terrain Ground Mobility Vehicle the 7.62mm x 45mm shoulder-fired, gas-operated MK17 SCAR select-fire modular weapon system with a free-floating barrel the advanced ram-air parachute specially designed for severe environmental conditions night vision technology the Re-Breather underwater breathing device to navigate rivers and streams unnoticed the M-4 Carbine rifle and the Nett Warrior situational awareness system for use during combat operations.
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Can You Enlist Straight Into Special Forces
Some recruits are selected to go through Basic Training after qualifying with a 100 in Combat and 110 on the General Technical portion of the ASVAB. Recruits that fail to complete Special Forces training are transferred to the infantry MOS.
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The Armys Green Berets: Duties Qualifications And Training
The Armys Special Forces soldiers known as Green Berets are military legends for service members and civilians alike. They take on terrorists through quiet, guerilla war-style missions in foreign countries. Green Beret teams operate in any environment, from city fighting to jungle warfare to desert scouting.
- Be able to get a secret clearance
- Be airborne qualified or volunteer for the training
- Have an ASVAB general technical score of at least 110
- Serve for at least 36 months after graduating from training
Youll complete that training in six stages over 63 weeks. The first trial is a two-week Special Operations Preparation Course. SOPC prepares possible candidates for the actual Special Forces Assessment and Selection the first official phase of Green Beret training.
Selected candidates will participate in the Special Forces Qualification Course for another 61 weeks. These courses teach languages, new MOS and other skills needed to pass the Robin Sage training test. This simulation tests candidates ability to complete missions through Pineland, a huge training ground in North Carolina that mimics a hostile foreign country.
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Royal Thai Army Ranger School
The Thai Ranger School is renowned for its toughness so tough that US special operators were banned from attending it for years because of the high risk of death.
Similar to the Lanceros course, the Royal Thai Army Ranger School lasts 73 days and is broken down into five phases: mountain, forest, swamp, maritime, and urban.
Students have to finish each phase to proceed to the next and are scrutinized for their ability to lead and be part of a team. Students are graded on their performance in every position in a patrol .
In December 2020, a Green Beret assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group was the first American service member to attend the course in more than 40 years. He not only graduated but was recognized as the distinguished graduate.
“It’s a lifetime bond here. I will always remember these guys and I will always keep in contact with them. It’s like brother-to-brother mentorship,” the Green Beret said afterward.
“As a Green Beret, we’re supposed to be masters of the basics. This course took me back to the basics. For instance, navigating off one map per platoon,” he said, contrasting that with the eight maps and GPS that Green Berets have when operating in Operational Detachment Alpha teams.
The Capability Of Special Forces Medics
Special Forces Medics among the best-trained and most respected medics in the military. Theyre trained to treat battlefield injuries, but theyre equally capable of walking into a village and establishing a medical clinic. They can perform physical exams, diagnose diseases, prescribe medicine for treatment, vaccinate villagers, perform minor surgery, deliver babies, treat infants and children, bandage wounds, perform some dentistry, and set broken bones. SF Medics are also trained in parasitology to identify nasty bacteria found in water wells.
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Us Army John F Kennedy Special Warfare Centre And School
The US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Centre and School constitutes the training centre and institution of US Army SOF. The USAJFKSWCS serves as the USASOC proponent for all matters pertaining to:
- Individual training
- Developing doctrine and all related individual and collective training material
- Providing leader development
- Developing and maintaining the proponent training programmes and systems and
- Providing entry level and advanced individual training and education for Special Forces, Civil Affairs and psychological operations soldiers.
More detailed information on USAJFKSWCS can be found here, scroll down to Section 5.0.
Do Special Forces Soldiers Receive Extra Pay
Special Forces Soldiers receive special duty assignment pay, language pay, parachute pay and special-skills pay such as military free-fall, combat diver or demolition pay. Their total benefits package includes more than $50,000 to further their education 30 days of vacation per year complete medical and dental care and initial entry and reenlistment bonuses, and more.
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Mos Training Phase Iv
The purpose of this phase is to train selected soldiers in the critical MOS, skill level tasks, and competencies required to perform the duties of a member of an SF ODA. Candidates passed the SF Orientation Course, Language, SUT, and SERE before entering Phase IV training. Any variation from these prerequisites requires a waiver from the Commanding General, SWCS.
18A â Special Forces Detachment Officer
This phase is intended to train selected officers in the critical branch tasks and competencies required to perform the duties of a detachment commander of a Special Forces ODA. The course focuses on the operational spectrum of problem analysis and resolution design associated with SF core missions across the elements of national power spectrum. Duties and functional-area familiarization of the 18 series MOSs: communications, engineer, medical, weapons, intelligence the military decision-making process special-operations mission planning adaptive thinking and leadership special reconnaissance direct action unconventional warfare foreign internal defense counterinsurgency operations military operations in urban terrain interagency operations warrior skills Advanced Special Operations skills OPFUND management elements of national power considerations culture in-depth core mission analysis information operations, planning and conduct of ODA training and three field-training exercises.
18B â Weapons Sergeant
18C â Engineer Sergeant
18D â Medical Sergeant
What Jobs Fall Under The 18x Designation
The enlistment code MOS 18X applies to your Delayed Entry Program status.
It allows you the opportunity to explore the Military Occupational Specialities of special forces.
The status enables you to depart for One Station Unit Training along with other specialty schools.
OSUT training for MOS 18X gets divided between new recruits and existing active-duty soldiers.
Active-duty personnel may request a transfer to attend Special Forces Assessment and SelectiON .
Meanwhile, new recruits select MOS 18X pre-enlistment to help speed up the SF pipeline.
The Army established MOS 18X to provide eager candidates with the means to join special forces without having to serve in the Army for a few years prior to qualification.
There are four entry-level Army Special Forces MOS:
- Special Forces Weapons Sergeants : Personnel use light and heavy infantry weapons and tactics.
- Special Forces Engineer Sergeants : Produces personnel in a wide range of specialties including demolition and logistics.
- Army SF Medical Sergeants : The military specialty focuses on elite first-response and trauma.
- Special Forces Communications Sergeants : The military specialty is elite in handling every type of communications system imaginable.
The U.S. Army determines Special Forces Military Occupational Specialties based on a few factors.
It does take into account your background, physical and mental aptitude, as well as the current needs of the military branch.
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