How to Become a Green Beret

President Kennedy called the Green Beret "a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom." The U.S. Army's Special Forces work in A-Teams, 12-member units, in the spirit of the Green Beret motto, "De Oppresso Liber" - to free the oppressed

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Memory Improvement Books
• Career Counseling
• College Guides
• Academic Counselings
• College Catalogs
• SAT Preparation Books
• Foreign Language Tape
• SAT Study Guides
• College Applications
• Online Career Search
• U.S. Army In Action Videos
• Special Forces Videos
• "Tae-Bo Workout" video

1. Prepare yourself physically and mentally, and keep yourself in top condition.

2. Remember Special Forces team members generally are closely involved with allied forces. Familiarize yourself with military history, politics and international relations.

3. Remember also that Special Forces troopers are fluent in at least one of 11 languages other than English. Take a foreign language in school.

4. Develop your body - run for endurance, train with weights, become a proficient swimmer.

5. Join the U.S. Army.

6. Choose a suitable military occupation specialty. Army journalists, clerk-typists, chaplain assistants and soliders performing similar duties, while valuable, don't receive the training necessary to become a Green Beret.

7. Apply for paratrooper training.

8. Apply for Army Ranger training.

9. Become a dedicated professional soldier - strive to exceed the expectations of your leaders, and apply for advanced training.

10. Reach the rank of E-4 (Specialist or Corporal).

11. Contact the Special Operations Recruiting Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

12. Prepare yourself for the Special Forces application requirements. For example, a candidate must make a 12-mile road march carrying a 55-lb rucksack and a weapon in 4.5 hours.

13. Remember that the application process will evaluate your physical ability, duty performance, psychological stability and security clearance.

14. Appear before the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Assessment and Review Board.

15. Attend the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course.

16. Attend the Special Forces Qualification Course.

Tips & Warnings

• Special Forces can trace their history back to Rogers' Rangers of the American Revolution.
• Special Forces duty can be as much intellectual and diplomatic as it is war fighting. Many of the enlisted personnel are college graduates.
• Special Forces units are designed to operate either unilaterally or in support of and combined with indigenous military and paramilitary forces.
• Enlisted personnel are trained as weapons, communications, engineering, or medical specialists.
• The 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups are National Guard units.
• Officers and enlisted personnel must pass the same tests.
• A Special Forces candidate must be a U.S. citizen; be an active-duty, male soldier; be airborne-qualified or volunteer for airborne training; be able to swim 50 meters wearing boots and battle-dress uniform; score a minimum of 206 points on the Army physical fitness test; meet medical fitness standards; and be eligible for a "secret" security clearance.

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[sfjedi2k2]

on 9/22/2008 Please don't think for one second that the journey to become a Special Forces soldier is easy in any way , shape, or form. To think that what this site posts makes it sound easy is ridiculous. It's a journey no one can truely understand noe comprehend the vastness or depth in which you have to be mentally, morally fit. It's not fun and games, it's a life of selfless service. You need to have the moral forttude to do the right thing no matter where you are and who's watching or not watchinng. One must understand that the roll we are put in is frst and foremost man hunter, second diplomat and you must have the ability to switch between warrior and humanitarian in an instant. Please think long and hard before you get into this career path. Only less than one percent make it per class. Only the best will ever join the MENS club. The Green Beret is in my soul the highest award that the Army c

[PFCStanton]

on 8/27/2007 This road is long, and I've read, and heard that it is very tough. I have Sgts that talk about how tough the Army Special Forces are. People try to discourage me, but I swear with the survival of my tour in Iraq I will join the 18x program. I will not join to waste the time of the professionals that teach the courses, but I will join to test myself. This is a test that I have, and if I fail I will know that I gave it my best, and I will learn and try again. Thank you for your comments everyone. All the same...I understand that the journey I'm about to go on is a hard one, but I will not listen to those who think I shouldn't go. These are the steps I take toward being the best man that I can be for myself, as well as others.

on 6/30/2006 There's only one guide specifically designed to help you attain your goal of becoming Special Forces Qualified. The book, Get selected for Special Forces, is written by the former Commander of the Special Operations Preparation Course, which prepares future SF Candidates for SF Assessment and Selection (SFAS).

on 11/22/2005 Think seriously about what you are about to do. Do not take this lightly. This is the elite path that few walk on. "100 soldiers we'll test today, only 3 win the green beret." Do not waste the time of these professionals.

For those that are chosen, It will change your life forever, I swear to God.

on 11/22/2005 Great advice. I would like to comment on the program itself. The training is like no other, and it is meant for people willing to take the challenge and not give up. You must persevere, even if it breaks you. That's the only reason I'm no longer in the program. Do not take this lightly. This program is not for everyone. Because not everyone can do it, the Green Berets are the top 1 percent of the Army. If you think you belong there, go for it. If you think you belong there, go for it - but understand that the road is long, and it will not be easy.