Special Forces Training Preparation
The Special Forces (SF) are the Army's well-known Green Berets. The selection and training program to become a member of that Army special operations community is extremely rigorous. In order to become a Green Beret, you have to go through a number of initial pre-Special Forces training programs before attending the actual course. If you're a civilian, the work necessary to be ready for the attempt to become a Green Beret takes a number of different forms.
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Misconceptions
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Being a Green Beret is more than just about being physically fit. Joining Army Special Forces requires great dedication on a soldier's part in order to succeed. Pre-basic training work on physical fitness is always recommended, of course. But Green Berets are about more than just physical excellence. Often, these men are required to exercise a great deal of mental acumen as well. That's why the Army sends SF course attendees to foreign language training. They're taught to be quick thinkers, in other words.
Pre-Special Forces Army Training
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Special Forces soldiers come from the Army's infantry ranks. In the past, hopeful SF trainees had to be experienced soldiers. Nowadays, though, the Army's allowing men to sign up for the training when they enlist. Special Forces training preparation begins with nine weeks of Basic Combat Training (boot camp) first. After that, a month of training to become an infantryman occurs. From there, hopeful SF soldiers go to airborne (parachuting) training. Given that, the need to be physically and mentally tough is self-evident.
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Features
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The SF selection course puts hopeful SF trainees into very stressful situations. After all that, there are still two SF assessment and selection courses soldiers attend to make it to SF training. Both require a level of physical and mental strength new enlistees might not be used to. In addition, the second course puts hopefuls into many different stressful situations. That's why working very hard during boot camp, infantry and airborne training is smart. Doing so helps improve chances of success during SF training.
Warning
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Learning a foreign language can help mentally prepare for SF training. Even before reporting for boot camp, most hopeful SF soldiers begin working hard to improve their physical fitness. They also begin cultivating strong training habits that usually stay with them during the entire process. Often, they cut out sleeping in until all hours of the day. They also try to eat healthfully and start eliminating other habits like smoking and alcohol usage. Lastly, they begin improving their minds by taking up a foreign language.
Considerations
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Several tests have to be passed before heading off to Special Forces training. The pipeline for Special Forces training preparation runs through the infantry. That means SF is open to males 20 to 30 years old only. Additionally, candidates have to possess a high school diploma, not a GED. And they also have to achieve a minimum 107 General Technical score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVB). Plus, there's a special language aptitude test that has to be passed. Failure to meet any requirement results in disqualification.
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