Last Updated on August 28, 2023

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The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D) is commonly referred to as “Delta Force,” America’s frontline in counter-terrorism defense. Modeled after the British Army’s Special Air Service (SAS), Delta routinely conducts broad-spectrum counter-terrorism operations around the globe at a moment’s notice, against any enemy, in every conceivable environment. To join Delta Force, you do not need to be an experienced Special Forces operator. All military members that meet the pre-requisites are sent an information letter and invited to attend a briefing. Members of Delta Force are recruited from all branches and specialties of the Military. Traditionally, those with backgrounds in combat arms specialties that are Ranger or Special Forces Qualified have higher passage rates. However, it is not necessary to join or complete Special Forces training before applying to Unit selection; you can become an operator if you’re a cook as long as you pass.

Part1Preliminary RequirementsDownload Article

1. 1Enlist in the Army. You must have a minimum of four years in Service to qualify for Delta Force, so your first step in becoming a Delta Force operative is to enlist in the Army as a regular soldier and work steadily to rise through the ranks. Take and pass the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) and qualify for security clearance with your recruiter and discuss your ambitions to join Delta Force.
   • All applicants for SFOD-D must be male, at least 22 years old, have a general technical score of 110 or higher. You must attain the rank of E-4 through E-8, with at least four years in service, and have at least two years remaining on your contract to qualify.^[2]
   • To get started on the right foot, talk to your recruiter about your eventual desires to end up in an elite unit like Delta Force, so you’ll be advised correctly. For the most part, you’ll want to volunteer for a combat arms job, to qualify more quickly for more advanced training and specialization.
   • For the most part, Delta Force soldiers are Green Berets or Rangers first, then are recruited out of their specialization. Make joining the special forces your first goal.
2. 2Attend Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT). OSUT combines Army Basic Training and Infantry AIT (Advanced Individual Training) in one 14-week course, giving you the fundamental skills to transition from a civilian into a soldier, and a specialized soldier at that.^[3] If you want to end up in Delta force, you should go into OSUT expecting to develop your proficiency in a variety of field tasks, including:
   • Weapon and vehicle operation and maintenance
   • Land reconnaissance
   • Map reading and navigation
   • Minefield safety
   • Communications equipment operation
   • Preparing fighting positions
   • Constructing barriers
3. 3Attend Airborne Training at Fort Benning. Special Forces troopers who eventually want to join Delta Force must qualify for and complete airborne training, in addition to AIT and other specialized training.^[4] This is a voluntary training that some soldiers elect to take to “earn their wings,” becoming paratroopers. It’s four weeks of jump training, starting on the ground and eventually moving to completing a series of jumps at an altitude of 1,200 feet (365.8 m).^[5]
4. 4Attend a Special Operations Preparation Course (SOPC). These four-week courses typically lead up to the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) program, which you must pass to be admitted to Special Forces training and continue your rising in the ranks.
   • The SFAS program assesses and selects Soldiers for attendance at the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). This program allows Special Forces an opportunity to assess each Soldier’s capabilities by testing his physical, emotional, and mental stamina.
   • Once you pass the SFAS, you’ll move on to the SFQC. The SFQC teaches and develops the skills necessary for Special Forces. The enlisted applicant’s SFQC training will be scheduled upon successful completion of SFAS.

Part2SFQC TrainingDownload Article

1. 1Pass the individual skills phase of training. During this period, soldiers are trained on specialized skills necessary to Special Forces work. Training is 40 days long and covers land navigation, cross-country map exercise, and small unit tactics. The specifics subjects and methods of the training process aren’t public, and will be made more clear to soldiers who are admitted.
2. 2Complete your Military Operational Specialty (MOS) training phase. Training for this phase is 65 days and culminates with a mission planning cycle, during which you’ll put your leadership skills to the test, as well as hone your particular specialities and skills that you’ve been developing over the course of your training. Different soldiers, depending on their experience, training, and specialities, will have different responsibilities during MOS.^[6]
3. 3Complete the Collective Training Phase. During this 38-day period, Soldiers are trained in Special Operations (SO) classes, Direct Action (DA) Isolation, Air Operations, Unconventional Warfare classes, and receive Isolation training. This is one of the most mentally tough and physically strenuous training sequences in all of the United States military. You’ll be put to the test and expected to perform at a high level. Many soldiers scrub out.
4. 4Receive language training. Language training is required for all incoming Delta soldiers and expected of advanced-level Special Forces soldiers from all backgrounds. Typically, languages are assigned in relation to the score from the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB), which you’ll take during your training.

Part3Standing OutDownload Article

1. 1Make it clear what you want. The military respects ambition and rewards skill and dedication. If you want to join Delta Force, make it clear to your commanding officers and other ranking officials. This is the best way to be recruited to train and possibly qualify for part of this elite unit. If you leave your desire a secret, it’s unlikely you’ll be tasked with joining up. Be honest about what you want.
   • Get to know your COs and other ranking officers very well. It’s no understatement to say, like anything else, there’s a political element to getting promoted and getting what you want in the military. Make friends in high places and you’ll have someone’s ear, and also have a good line into what other COs and ranking officers expect from the soldiers. Keep an ear out for tips and tricks. Talk to the right people.
2. 2Be trainable. Your job during the selection phase is to show your potential and train-ability under stress. Focus on giving every task that you are faced with 110 percent effort and never ever quit. You are not expected to be a super-soldier right off the starting line, but you are expected to be considerably above average and to remain committed to improving your skills and being a teachable soldier.^[7]
   • Remember, once you’re admitted, you’ll be trained extensively, and put to the test mentally and physically. You just have to get there. If anyone asks if you’re ready, your only answer should be “Yes, sir.”
3. 3Get in your peak physical condition. Delta Force soldiers need to be beyond fit. Even if you haven’t enlisted as an infantry soldier yet, it’s a good idea to start getting into your peak physical condition, focusing specifically on building endurance and cardiovascular strength.
   • Practice walking for very long distances (30mi or more) with a weighted (60lbs) rucksack. Try for 15 minute miles, though you will be expected to travel at a much faster pace during Selection.
4. 4Practice your land navigation skills in private. Land navigation skills are key to successfully completing the Delta Force selection course. Know how to use a compass and map intimately, practicing your skills as often as possible. If you’ve already got that down, it’s one less thing you’ll have to focus on learning during training, so you can focus on improving other aspects of your candidacy.
5. 5Reapply if you’re not accepted the first time. The majority of applicants to Delta Force will be rejected and most accepted applicants have previously applied. Of all the people in the army, only a fraction of them become Airborne Rangers and Green Berets. Of all the Airborne Rangers and Green Berets, only a fraction of them are selected for Delta Force.

Delta Force | The Complete Guide

The 1^st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1^st SFOD-D) is the U.S. Army’s elite, Tier 1 special operations unit. Founded in 1977, the 1^st SFOD-D force has had several titles within the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) over the years, including Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), Army Compartmented Element (ACE), “The Unit,” and Task Force Green. While Delta Force is administratively under the Army, it is operationally controlled by JSOC. Delta specializes in Counter-terrorism, Direct Action, Hostage Rescue, and Reconnaissance. They are often tasked with carrying out high-risk operations that are often classified and directed from the highest levels of the U.S. government. Delta recruits heavily from the Special Forces and the 75^th Ranger Regiment communities.

Joining Delta Force

There is no pathway to go from civilian to Delta Force operator. In order to apply for Delta selection, an individual, at a minimum, must enter the Army, have the rank of E-4 through E-8 or O-3 through O-4, and be 21 years old. In addition, he must be Airborne qualified or volunteer for Airborne training, must have a certain ASVAB score, be capable of obtaining a Secret security clearance, have no disciplinary action recorded on his file, and have at least two and a half years remaining in his military obligation.

As stated before, most Delta Force operators come from the Special Forces and the 75^th Ranger Regiment. In June 2006, General Downing briefed the U.S. House of Representatives that 70 percent of Delta Force’s operators come from the Army Special Operations community.

It’s important to note that you are not required to be a member of Special Forces or of the 75^th Ranger Regiment in order to apply for Delta Force. Furthermore, based on contract obligations and approvals, special operations members in other branches can submit a package to go through Delta selection.

Selection

All things Delta Force are shrouded in secrecy, including the training pipeline. Eric Haney’s book “Inside Delta Force,” provided a good insight of Delta’s training and selection process. Delta selection is known for its arduous land navigation and rucking evolutions. One of the tests involves an 18-mile, all-night land navigation course, accompanied by a 40 pound ruck. As the candidates progress through selection, the weight of the rucks increase, while the timeline to complete the land navigation courses decreases. The final test of selection, also known as “The Long Walk,” involves a 40 mile march with a 45 pound ruck. The time limit to complete this “walk” is kept secret. Only the selection course’s Officer in Charge and senior Non-Commissioned Officer know the time limit.

Not only must candidates complete a rigorous physical selection process. They are also evaluated mentally. Candidates are put in front of a review board, including psychologists, instructors, and the Delta Force commander. The candidates are confronted with many questions, and each response is broken down and analyzed. Of course, the goal here is to wear the candidate out and to evaluate how he handles overwhelming mental pressure. After the questioning, the Delta commander informs the candidate if he has been chosen to attend Delta’s Operator Training Course (OTC). The attrition rate is very high for Delta selection, often hovering around 90 percent.

The Operator Training Course

The OTC is an ever-evolving, six-month training course. There are six training blocks within the course.

The first block is Marksmanship. This block starts out with candidates learning how to shoot at stationary targets without aiming. Once they perfect this skill, the targets increase in range and begin to dynamically move. Candidates then transition into close quarters engagement, learning the fundamentals of room clearing. As the candidates progress, multiple hostiles and hostages are added into the mix.

The second block is Demolitions and Breaching. During this phase, candidates learn how to pick an array of locks found on safes, cars, and buildings. They also learn advanced demolition techniques and how to build bombs and explosives with commonly available items.

The third block is Combined Skills. In this phase, candidates combine the skills they learned in the first two phases and put them to practice in dynamic Direct Action, Counter-terrorism, and Hostage Rescue takedown exercises. They execute these simulations in buildings, aircraft, and other locations. During this phase, all candidates go through sniper training. They also learn how to implement and utilize communications equipment, segueing into effectively establishing a Tactical Operations Command. The final segment of this phase sees the candidates return to the shoot house. During the hostage training exercises, fellow students roleplay as the hostages. The goal in this is to build camaraderie and trust between the candidates.

The fourth block is Tradecraft. In this portion of training, candidates learn how to conduct espionage and collect intelligence. In addition, candidates learn how to execute dead drops, pick-ups, signaling, and surveillance.

The fifth block is Executive Protection. Here, students learn the same techniques used by the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and the United States Secret Service. Candidates attend an advance driving course to learn how to effectively maneuver and drive defensively and offensively. Part of Delta’s mission is to provide security for VIPs and diplomatic personnel.

The sixth and final block is a Culmination Exercise. Candidates are tested on all the skills they have learned over the course in a dynamic and fluid environment.

The Delta Force Organization

Delta Force was inspired by and is similarly structured to the British’s elite SAS unit. The unit is stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. According to Sean Naylor’s “Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda,” there are about 1,000 soldiers assigned to Delta, with Delta “Operators” making up around 250-300 of the personnel.

Sean Naylor’s “Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command,” breaks down the general operational structure of Delta Force:Read Next: Know a SEAL from a Night Stalker: a breakdown of US Special Operations units

• A Squadron (Assault)
• B Squadron (Assault)
• C Squadron (Assault)
• D Squadron (Assault)
• E Squadron (Aviation)
• G Squadron (Clandestine)
• Combat Support Squadron (EOD, Medical, Intelligence, and others)

There are three troops in each Assault squadron. Two of the troops are dedicated to Direct Action and assault style operations. The third troop specializes in Reconnaissance and Surveillance, often involving penetration behind enemy lines. Sniper elements are attached to this troop as well.

Delta Force Weapons

For years, Delta used the infamous Colt M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol. Years ago, Delta operators were issued the same standard pistol that all other members in the Army were given. The gunsmiths at Delta went to work to upgrade and modify the 1911, to fit the operational needs of the Delta Force community. The result was a state of the art, 100 percent reliable pistol. Recently, Delta Force, just like so many other special operations units, has shifted to the 9mm Glock 19. The Glock 19 is considered an exceptionally reliable, light, and user-friendly pistol.

Another very effective and perfected weapon that Delta utilizes is the HK 416, built by Heckler and Koch. The 416’s design resembles the M4, but is different in many ways. Delta Force and HK worked together to develop the rifle. Their goal was to design and produce an elite and reliable assault rifle. The biggest change made was to implement a short-stroke gas piston system which is utilized on other HK weapons systems. The rifle comes in four different barrel length sizes” 10.4″, 14.5″, 16.5″, and 20″. The HK 416 is a popular weapon among JSOC operators and is often carried by members of the Naval Special Warfare’s Development Group.https://dcc275785d3865f704424542435e7605.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Delta Force History

Army Special Forces was coming off the Vietnam wave. The Special Forces community had seen a lot of combat, but its specialty was Unconventional Warfare, which involved training, supporting, and fighting alongside friendly armies against a common enemy.

Charlie Beckwith, Delta’s father, was a Special Forces officer and Vietnam War veteran. He had spent time as an exchange officer with the British’s elite 22^nd Special Air Service (SAS) regiment during the Malayan Emergency, a conflict that in many ways paralleled America’s war in Vietnam.

Beckwith outlined why the U.S. needed a dedicated Direct Action assault unit, something that the Special Forces group did not explicitly specialize in at the time. Initially, Beckwith’s request for an SAS style unit was denied.

But as the 1970s saw an exponential increase in terrorist attacks, requiring elite specialized units capable of striking and taking down terrorist groups, Beckwith’s requests finally approved.

The Pentagon and top Army brass tasked Beckwith to head the unit. Beckwith and others wrote up the “Robert Redford Paper,” a document explaining that the selection and training would be broken up into four separate phases. Beckwith told the Army he would need two years to prepare and establish a fully functional and formidable unit.

Delta Force was officially established on November 19, 1977. Yet, to fill the two years’ void until soldiers made it through Delta selection, Beckwith assigned Colonel Bob “Black Gloves” Mountel of the 5^th Special Forces Group to stand up a temporary unit. In 1978, Mountel pulled from a group of volunteers and put them through a six-month course involving land navigation and rucking with heavy loads in tough, mountainous environments. The purpose was to test these candidates physically and mentally. Delta Force was fully stood up in the fall of 1979, just in time for the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Delta Force Missions

In the Iran Hostage Crisis, 53 Americans were captured and held in the embassy in Tehran. In April of 1980, Delta Force was tasked with taking over the embassy and rescuing the American hostages. The mission was called Operation Eagle Claw. Unfortunately, the operation was a complete failure. A helicopter crashed during refueling, killing eight people. The mission was littered with mistakes and issues; the assault element never made it to the embassy. The aviation failure was the birth of the 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, a dedicated aviation unit for special operations.

In 1993, Delta operators were present at the infamous Battle of Mogadishu, better known as Black Hawk Down, which was a part of Operation Gothic Serpent. During this operation, Delta Force operators, Army Rangers, and other special operations units found themselves engaged in an extensive firefight after two Black Hawks were shot down during a mission to capture high level targets. During the fighting, five Delta Force operators were killed. Two of them, Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon, were killed while securing a Black Hawk crash site. They were both posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Kicking off the war in Afghanistan, Delta operators were some of the first boots on the ground. Working under JSOC, Delta Force was attached to Task Force Sword, a secretive unit that was assigned to take down high level al-Qaeda and Taliban targets. Another portion of Delta operators worked as special reconnaissance teams. Two to three man teams would go deep behind enemy lines, setting up observation posts and gathering intelligence, to support Task Force Sword. Delta would go on to be involved in many high-profile operations and dangerous missions in Afghanistan.

Delta saw major action in Iraq. They were the first to enter western Iraq and were pivotal in taking down the Haditha Dam. They participated in both battles in Fallujah and Ramadi. Later, in 2008, they participated in the Abu Kamal raid. Delta made huge sacrifices in Iraq. By 2009, the casualty rate for the Delta command was 20 percent and 50 percent of the operators that went to Iraq received a Purple Heart.

In January of 2016, Delta operators participated in Operation Black Swan, where after a firefight in Los Michos, Sinaloa, Mexico, they captured “El Chapo” Guzman, the Sinaloa Cartel leader.

More recently, in October 2019, Delta conducted Operation Kayla Mueller, to take down Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS. Eight helicopters loaded with Delta Force operators and additional support aircraft traveled through Iraqi, Russian, and Turkish airspace to get to their target in Syria. Upon arrival, they gave Baghdadi the option to surrender, which he did not do. With that, Delta breached the compound wall. Baghdadi fled down a tunnel and detonated a suicide vest, killing himself, two of his children, and injuring two Delta operators and a military working dog.