how to become a green beret

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how to become a green beret

The U.S. Army’s Elite Force: How to Become a Green Beret

Each branch of the U.S. military is known to have its own elite forces in addition to their regular enlisted units. And for the Army’s Special Operations units, including the highly prestigious Green Berets.by Ethen Kim Lieser

Each branch of the U.S. military is known to have its own elite forces in addition to their regular enlisted units. And for the Army’s Special Operations units, including the highly prestigious Green Berets.

But how do you become one of these soldiers who regularly take on terrorists through quiet, guerilla war-style missions in foreign countries?

You may have the desire to become one, but not surprisingly, it is very difficult.

If you’re still willing to pursue that dream, know that you can qualify for assignment to the Green Berets straight from basic training. If you’re an enlisted soldier, you must have a pay grade of at least E-3, be able to get a secret security clearance, be airborne qualified, have a ASVAB General Technical score of at least hundred ten, and have served for at least thirty-six months after graduating from training.

You must also be a U.S. citizen, be twenty years old by your ship date to Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT), and not have reached your thirty-second birthday prior to the same ship date. As for the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA), you must meet the minimum standard of forty-nine push-ups, fifty-nine sit-ups, 15:12 two-mile run, and six pull-ups.

If you’re still eager to go ahead with the process, know that the road ahead will be increasingly arduous. But there are indeed rewards awaiting all Green Berets.

“Special Forces Soldiers receive many additional benefits for their enhanced capabilities, special skills and advanced training,” Army’s website states.

“The most important benefits include job satisfaction, camaraderie, increased responsibility and a sense of pride in belonging to an elite Army unit. Special Forces Soldiers also enjoy increased financial benefits. Special Forces Soldiers receive special duty assignment pay, language pay, parachute pay and special-skills pay such as military free-fall, combat diver or demolition pay.”

Now you’ll head off to complete intense training in six stages over sixty-three weeks. The first trial is a two-week Special Operations Preparation Course, or SOPC, which focuses on preparing potential candidates for the actual Special Forces Assessment and Selection—known as the first official phase of Green Beret training.

Then you will participate in the Special Forces Qualification Course for another sixty-one weeks. Each phase is designed to build upon an expertise in the following areas: small unit tactics, Combat Marksmanship (CMMS), advanced Special Forces tactics, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training, language and cultural training, unconventional warfare, and Military Free Fall (MFF).

For the month-long fourth phase, known as Robin Sage, all candidates will be organized into squads and placed into a fictional country called Pineland, which is made up of several counties spanning North Carolina. Pineland is dealing with much political turmoil, and candidates must navigate the region to complete a specified mission.

Know that all of the major work and training is completed by the sixth phase. At this point, which involves a week of out-processing, you will finally have the opportunity to proudly put on that Green Beret.

How to Prepare for Army Green Beret Training

Green Berets perform evacuation exercise
U.S. Army Green Berets assigned to Special Operations Command Europe conduct a rotary wing asset infiltration, exfiltration and casualty evacuation exercise, utilizing a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, in Stuttgart, Germany, April 6-8, 2021. (Yvonne Najera/U.S. Army)

If you want to wear the green beret of the Army Special Forces, be warned: It takes more than the ability to do hundreds of push-ups. To make it in the Special Forces of any branch of the U.S. military, you need intelligence, an outstanding record of previous military service (at least three years) and very high motivation. But now, a new program will enable you to go straight to the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) after Army Boot Camp — skipping the three-year wait. Ask your local Army recruiter for more details.

My next few columns are for those of you who think you have what it takes to go Special Forces. I can give you the requirements for each service and a workout that will help you get physically prepared for the advanced training. As for those other qualities, you’re on your own.

Getting Into SFAS

The first step to wearing the green beret is to pass the SFAS course. To get into this course, you must meet some basic physical fitness requirements by scoring a minimum of 260 on the Army physical fitness test for the 17-21 age group. Remember, that’s the minimum score.

If you’re serious about applying for Special Forces, however, never settle for the minimum score in anything. Since the Green Berets are so selective and competitive, it helps to stand out in as many areas as you can. I recommend that you work toward these goals in your Army PFT:

  • Complete the two-mile run in at least 12-14 minutes
  • 100 sit-ups in two minutes
  • 100 push-ups in two minutes

Accomplishing these goals will bring you close to a perfect score of 300 and increase your chances of being selected for SFAS.

The three-week SFAS course, taught at Fort Bragg, N.C., consists of two phases. During the first, the physical phase, you will be expected to PT (running, swimming, sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups), run an obstacle course and participate in rucksack marches and orienteering exercises. The second phase measures your leadership and teamwork abilities.

Next Step: The Q Course

After completing SFAS, you will be selected by the Army SF instructors to attend the “Q Course,” the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). Depending on your occupational specialty, this course will last from six months to a year; the medical and communications courses last longer.

Daily training at the SFQC takes its toll on your body since your day usually starts very early and ends late. While you are training for the Q Course, you should adopt the attitude of a marathon runner. Be ready for the long haul but take each day one at a time. Most people who quit the course lack the ability to focus through the fatigue and stress that accompanies such training.

The Workout

If Army Special Forces is your goal, here’s a good starter workout that may help you reach it.

Swimming: Never Swim Alone

  • Two to three times a week, 1,000 to 2,000 meters each time.
  • One day a week, try to swim wearing cammies and boots for 100 meters.
  • Wear fins when swimming half the time as well.

Running:

  • Four to five times a week, 3-5 miles as fast as you can.
  • Twice a week, do rucksack marches carrying a 30- to 50-pound load marching 5-15 miles at a fast walking pace.

PT: Every Other Day

  • Pull-ups, 75 to 100 repetitions (seven to 10 sets of 10 reps).
  • Push-ups, 200 to 300 repetitions (10 to 15 sets of 20 reps).
  • Sit-ups, 200 to 300 repetitions (five to 10 sets of 40 to 50 reps).

It’s always a good idea to check with your physician before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have been inactive for a while or if you have certain medical conditions.

More Army Special Forces Articles:

  • Army Special Forces overview
  • Army Green Beret training
  • Army Ranger PFT
  • Preparing for Army Ranger School
  • Weight gain for Ranger School
  • Army Airborne PFT
  • All Army Special Forces articles

Many of my favorite PT programs to train for the Army PFT can be found in the following Military.com links:

  • Pull-ups/flexed arm hang
  • Push-ups and sit-ups
  • Running
  • Swimming
  • Prepare for ruck marches

Other related Army fitness articles:

  • Army basic training PFT requirements
  • Army weight standards
  • Army fitness workout plan
  • Army Ranger fitness
  • Performing for the Special Forces
  • Physical fitness test anxiety

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