Special Forces - Non-Prior Service Applicants

NON-PRIOR SERVICE (Initial Accessions): Anyone desiring to volunteer for Special Forces duty should contact the nearest recruiting office, provided they: 

• Are 20 years of age by ship date to CMF 11 OSUT and have not reached their 35th birthday (waiverable).
• Qualified for, and volunteer for, Airborne training (must have Airborne stamp on physical). 
• Be a U.S. citizen (non-waivable). 
• Have a minimum general technical (GT) score of 110 and minimum combat operation score of 100; if you do not have the required score, then you will need to take the AFCT/ASVAB to attempt to raise your line scores.
• Are a high school diploma graduate. General Education Development (GEDs) are waiverable on a case-by-case basis.
• Do not have derogatory or adverse information that would preclude the granting of a secret or top secret security clearance (provided within the Standard Form 86 (SF 86)). 
• Have an approved Special Forces physical prior to Special Forces Assessment and Selection and ability to complete a HALO physical during attendance in the SFQC. Female Soldiers must have a negative pregnancy test within 30 days of SFAS report date. 
• Complete Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber certification upon completion of the HALO physical. 
• Are enlisted in pay grade E-2 (based on HQDA exception for this option). 
• If already MOS qualified as 11B and Airborne qualified, will enlist under option 18 (U.S. Army First Assignment–No Training Enlistment Option) with assignment to Fort Bragg, NC, and once in-processed will start training with the Special Forces Preparatory and Conditioning (SFPC) course. 
• Have a physical profile rating of no less than 111221 and meet additional requirements for eyes and vision in accordance with AR 40–501 or be willing to undergo refractive eye surgery. 
• Are able to swim 50 meters wearing boots and an Army Combat Uniform (ACU) prior to graduating the Special Forces Qualification Course.
  
  

Like the active duty Army, the non-prior service Special Forces enlistment contract in the Army National Guard is referred to as an (18X) contract. The 18X contract is available in every state, and funding for travel to and from unit training is available once you qualify for Special Forces.  

SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING TIMELINE
No prior military experience (NPS)

The non-prior service Special Forces candidate contract (18X) guarantees the opportunity to "try out" for Special Forces. It does not guarantee that the recruit will be accepted into Special Forces. It only guarantees that the recruit will be given the opportunity to see if they have what it takes to become a member of one of the most highly skilled, combat-ready forces in the world.

Special Forces candidates will attend infantry (11B) One Station Unit Training (OSUT), which combines Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) and infantry Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in one 22-week course at Fort Benning, GA. Upon graduation, Special Forces candidates will attend the three-week Basic Airborne Training also at Fort Benning, GA. After Jump School, candidates are moved to Fort Bragg, NC, to attend a six-week Special Forces Preparation and Conditioning (SFPC) course, which consists of physical conditioning, map reading and land navigation instruction, land navigation practical exercises and common tasks training. Next is the three-week Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) program. The SFAS program assesses and selects Soldiers for attendance to the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC).

SFAS uses a "whole man" selection process that assesses each candidate for many attributes that are important for all Special Forces Soldiers. These attributes are intelligence, trainability, physical fitness, motivation, influence and judgment. If the recruit passes SFAS, he moves on to the SFQC. The SFQC teaches and develops the skills necessary for effective utilization of the SF Soldier. The training timeline for the Special Forces Qualification Course is currently 53 weeks.

There are four entry-level enlisted Special Forces Career Management Field/MOS programs (CMF 18). The decision of which SF MOS and foreign language you will be trained in is based upon your personal background, aptitude scores (AFQT and DLAB) and personal desire. But, ultimately, it will be up to the needs of the Special Forces unit.