Special Forces Teams are among the most specialized combat forces in the Army. They experience rigorous mental and physical training in order to carry out their missions in a quick and extremely effective manner. The Special Forces Engineer is a crucial member of this team and must be ready to perform a variety of tasks anywhere in the world on a moment's notice.

Special Forces Soldiers in the Army will conduct offensive raids, demolitions, intelligence, search and rescue and other missions from air, land or sea. Special Forces Engineers are specialists across a wide range of disciplines, from demolitions and constructions of field fortifications, to topographic survey techniques.

Some of your duties as a Special Forces Engineer may include:

• Perform and teach tasks in demolitions, explosives, field fortification, bridging, rigging, reconnaissance and civil action projects
• Instruct and perform land and water navigation duties
• Interpret maps, overlays, photos and charts
• Plan, teach and perform sabotage operations
• Carry out demolition raids against enemy military targets, such as bridges, railroads, and fuel depots
• Employ warfare tactics and techniques in infantry operations
• Conduct offensive raids or invasions of enemy territories
• Evaluate terrain
• Read, interpret and prepare combat orders

Special Operations Forces have very demanding physical requirements. Good eyesight, night vision, and physical conditioning are required to reach mission objectives via parachute, land or water. Also required is excellent hand-eye coordination to detonate or deactivate explosives. In most instances, Special Operations Forces Team Members are required to be qualified divers, parachutists and endurance runners.

Due to the wide variety of missions, Special Operations Engineers are trained swimmers, paratroopers and survival experts, as well as trained in many forms of combat. Training for the Special Operations Engineer consists of 44 weeks of formal classroom training and practice exercises. Some of the skills you learn are:

• Physical conditioning, parachuting, swimming and scuba diving
• Using land warfare weapons and communications devices
• Handling and using explosives
• Bomb and mine disposal

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to work as a team member
• Readiness to accept a challenge and face danger
• Ability to stay in top physical condition
• Interest in weapons and artillery
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations

As a Special Operations Engineer, you're trained to defend against dangerous forces. The skills you acquire during your training as a Special Operations Engineer will prepare you for a future civilian career in law enforcement. People depend on police officers and detectives to protect and defend their lives and property. A Special Operations Engineer is perfectly suited for positions such as these. Also, the extensive leadership training you'll receive will enable you to move directly into practically any civilian management position in the corporate world.

• Psychological Operations Specialist (37F)
• Special Forces Communications Sergeant (18E)
• Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D)
• Special Forces Weapons Sergeant (18B)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.