Special Forces Assessment and Selection

The Special Forces career management field (CMF) 18 includes positions concerned with the employment of highly specialized elements to accomplish specifically directed missions in times of peace and war. Many of these missions are conducted at times when employment of conventional military forces is not feasible or is not considered to be in the best interest of the United States. Training for and participation in these missions are arduous, somewhat hazardous, and often sensitive in nature. For these reasons, it is a prerequisite that every prospective Green Beret successfully completes the 19-day SFAS course and is selected for Special Forces training.

The Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) course is one of the most grueling selection processes in the Army. The multiweek course is run by the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg/Camp Mackall, NC. The SFAS course is designed to predict successful completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) reliably and for service in the 1st Special Forces Regiment. SFAS utilizes an individual-focused assessment process that is designed to select candidates who are capable of meeting the requirements of the SFQC (trainable) and suitable for service in the regiment.

SFAS is a systematic procedure for evaluating candidates against job-related dimensions specific to the Special Forces regiment and the operational environments in which they serve. The job-related dimensions are the Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) attributes derived from a collaborative effort that includes input from 12 SOF models and working groups and an SOF symposium. The assessment process is both performance- and behavior-based. The objective performance-based assessment is conducted in two distinct phases: individual inventories and individual application. The subjective behaviorally based assessment is conducted in a team application phase. The team application phase is designed to produce observable and measurable behaviors that can be related to the ARSOF attributes. The measurements are applied with weighted effects to the ARSOF attributes to develop a whole-man profile used to assess and select Special Forces candidates holistically.

Suitability to attend SFQC is determined by assessing the Soldier's ability throughout SFAS on the attributes of intelligence, physical fitness, motivation, trainability, judgment and influence.

At the end of the program, a board meets to select those Soldiers most qualified to attend SFQC (selection at SFAS is good for 24 months).

Be prepared for anything at SFAS. This is the place where "your mind is your best weapon." Perfect physical condition alone will not get you through SFAS. SFAS also allows each Soldier the opportunity to make a meaningful and educated decision about SF and his career plan.

When you report to Fort Bragg, NC, you should be at 100 percent physical ability with zero percent stress level. Any of the following might cause you stress while attending SFAS and lead to failure:

• Your spouse or family is not in agreement with you
• You have financial problems at home
• You or a family member has medical problems
• You're not sure SF is what you want
• You have low self-esteem or a lack of motivation
• You are not in top physical shape for SFAS
• You attend SFAS just to escape your present unit or duty assignment