Green Beret Selection Process
The Green Berets are an elite Special Forces unit of the United States Army. Becoming a Green Beret is a demanding process. If successfully completed, it allows an enlisted soldier to attain one of the most difficult achievements in the United States Armed Forces: a posting with a Green Beret unit and the right to wear the namesake distinctive headgear.
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Initial Requirements
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To qualify for even applying for Green Beret Special Forces training, a potential applicant must pass a number of requirements. Applicants must be men between the ages of 20 and 30, citizens of the United States and have a high school diploma. They must score at least 107 on the general section and 98 on the combat section of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test and receive a passing score on one of two language tests. Applicants must qualify for high-level security clearance and volunteer for and pass airborne training. Minimum scores of 229 overall points with at least 60 points in each area of the Army physical fitness test are required as well as completion of the Army Pre-Basic Task checklist.
Applying for Special Forces Training
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Once a soldier has achieved these goals, as well as the minimum rank of E-4 or Corporal, he may apply for Special Forces training. The candidate must apply to the Special Forces Recruitment Group at Fort Bragg for consideration for Special Forces training. This unit will determine if the applicant is qualified to attempt to pass the selection process. Once selected as a possible candidate, the soldier begins a series of qualification sessions.
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Special Operations Preparation Course (SOPC)
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This course, which lasts 30 days, is a preparatory course for soldiers who will attempt to complete the Special Forces selection process. A heavy emphasis on physical training and skills necessary for land navigation help prepare applicants for the next step.
Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SAFS)
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This process is a 24-day-long training course designed to test the limits of each applicant's endurance and ability, both physically and mentally. It is extremely rigorous and difficult and many potential Special Forces candidates do not complete this phase. Soldiers who complete the process are selected for the next phase.
Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC)
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This course, which consists of five sections, gives the candidate the necessary skills to perform as a Green Beret. The five segments are extremely difficult and many fail to complete it. The first section consists of training in land navigating, tactics and live-fire exercises. The second section involves special skills training and may differ for each soldier. The third section involves training in operating as a part of a Special Forces unit and includes a field exercise. The fourth section is a test of foreign language skill, which is very important because every Green Beret is expected to be fluent in at least one foreign language. The final phase is a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape course that teaches and tests the skills necessary for Special Forces soldiers in enemy territory. Upon completing and passing all of these requirements, a soldier is accepted as a Green Beret.
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