QUALIFICATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF BEING A SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER
GREEN BERET REQUIREMENTS & BENEFITS
Special Forces Soldiers receive many additional benefits for their enhanced capabilities, including special skills and advanced training. They also have the benefit of an increased operational tempo, and the ability to embark on the most varied and sensitive missions the Army has to offer.
To become a Special Forces Soldier, you must also meet a number of strict entry requirements. On this page, you’ll learn about the requirements you must fulfill, and some of the benefits you will receive in the Special Forces.
SPECIAL FORCES ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST
Civilian recruits, current Army Soldiers, and Army officers must fulfill different initial requirements to join Special Forces. To determine your eligibility, please read the following information carefully:
Joining the Army as a Special Forces Soldier
If you are interested in joining the Army and becoming a Special Forces Soldier, you must meet the following basic requirements:
- You must be a U.S. citizen
- You must be at least 20 years old by your ship date to Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT) and not have reached your 32nd birthday prior to the same ship date
- You must be an active duty or Army National Guard Soldier
- You must qualify for airborne training
- You must meet the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) minimum standard of 49 pushups, 59 sit-ups, 15:12 (two-mile run), six pull-ups
- You must be eligible for a Secret security clearance
Enlisted Personnel (Currently Serving)
- You must have a minimum rank of E-3 and must be 20 years old at the start of Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) with a waiver
- You must not be older than 36 years (waiverable) for SFAS attendance
- You must be eligible for a Secret security clearance
- You must be airborne qualified or volunteer for airborne training
- You must have no more than 14 years time in service (E-3 to E-6)
- You must have no more than 12 years time in service and nine months time-in-grade when applying for the SFAS course (E-7).
- You must be either Airborne or Ranger qualified (E-7).
- You must have an ASVAB General Technical (GT) score of 110 (105 with a waiver) or a minimum Combat (CO) score of 105 (waiverable)
- You must pass a Special Forces physical in accordance with AR 40-501
- You must be able to reclassify from your current MOS or branch
- You must have a minimum of 36 months remaining time in service at the time you graduate SFQC
- You must not have 30 days or more lost time under USC 972 within your current or preceding enlistments.
- You must be a first lieutenant or captain to attend Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). First lieutenants must be promotable to captain before attending the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC).
- You must have a security clearance and meet eligibility criteria for a top-secret clearance
- You must not have disciplinary information on file.
- You must have a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score of 85 or higher.
BENEFITS AND REWARDS
Special Forces Soldiers receive many additional benefits for their enhanced capabilities, special skills and advanced training. 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.
- Specialized training
- Unique missions
- Specialized duty pay
- More than $50,000 to further your education
- 30 days of vacation per year
- Complete medical and dental care
- Leadership skills
- Initial entry and reenlistment bonuses
Learn about the primary missions of a Special Forces Soldier
Learn more about the SFQC and SFAS, the main training pathways to become a Green Beret
