Special Forces Requirements
For In-Service Recruits:
Male Soldiers (SPC/CPL through SFC) desiring to volunteer for SF duty should contact the Special Operations Recruiter Battalion (SORB) (Commander , USAJFKSWC, (AOJK–SP–R), Ft Bragg, NC. 28307–5200. Direct inquiries to the recruiting center; comm: 910–432–1818 or DSN: 239–1818) provided they:
(1) Must be an active duty male Soldier.
(2) Must be a U.S. citizen (non-waiverable).
(3) Must be a high school graduates or have general education development (GED) certificates.
(4) Must have a GT score of 107 or higher.
(5) Must be airborne qualified or volunteer to attend airborne training.
(6) Must be able to swim 50 meters wearing boots and battle dress or Army combat uniform prior to beginning the SFQC. All Soldiers will be given a swim assessment at the SFAS course.
(7) Must be able to score a minimum of 229 on the APFT, with no less than 60 points in each event, using the standards for age group 17–21.
(8) Must be able to meet medical fitness standards as outlined in AR 40–501.
(9) Must be eligible for a SECRET security clearance.
(10) No Soldier, regardless of MOS or basic branch will be recruited if he is unable to reclassify from his current MOS or basic branch into CMF 18.
(11) Not currently serving in a restricted MOS or branch.
See 18X enlistment option for intial-entry
Additional criteria exclusive to enlisted applicants:
(1) Stabilization of current drill sergeants and detailed recruiters will not be broken.
(2) Specialists, corporals, and sergeants that successfully complete the SFAS Course will normally have their retention control points waived to attend the SFQC. Upon successful completion of SFQC, they will be allowed continued service. Staff sergeants approaching their retention control points will not be allowed to apply. SPC/CPL through SSG must have no more than 14 years TIS when volunteering for SFAS. Sergeants first class must have no more than 12 years TIS and 9 months time-in-grade when applying for the SFAS Course and they must be either airborne or ranger qualified. Sergeants first class must attend the SFAS Course within 90 days of volunteering and also be able to have a PCS to the SFQC within 6 months of selection from the SFAS Course.
(3) Soldiers on assignment will not be allowed to attend the SFAS Course without their branch’s prior approval. Soldiers on orders to a short tour area will be allowed to attend the SFAS Course if a deferment is not required. These individuals will be scheduled for the next available SFQC after their date eligible for return from overseas. Soldiers who volunteer for the SFAS Course prior to receiving assignment notification will be deferred to allow for SFAS Course attendance.
(4) Outside Continental United States based Soldiers may attend the SFAS Course in a temporary duty (TDY) and return status anytime during their tour. Upon successful completion of the SFAS Course, Soldiers will be scheduled for the next available SFQC provided they have completed at least two-thirds of their overseas assignment obligation and have received approval from the United States Army Human Resources Command for curtailment of the remainder of their overseas tour obligation. Soldiers serving on a short tour will not have their assignment curtailed.
(5) Continental United States based Soldiers may attend the SFAS Course in a TDY and return status anytime during their tour. Upon successful completion of SFAS, Soldiers will be scheduled to attend SFQC ensuring that they will have completed at least 1-year time on station prior to PCS.
(6) Must have a minimum of 24 months remaining TIS upon completion of the SFQC.
All applicants must not:
(1) Be barred to reenlistment or be under suspension of favorable personnel action.
(2) Have been convicted by court-martial or have disciplinary action
noted in their official military personnel fiche under the provisions
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Article 15). This provision can
only be waived by the Commanding General, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special
Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) on a case-by-case
basis.
(3) Have been terminated from SF, ranger, or airborne duty, unless termination was due to extreme Family problems or a medical condition that has been resolved.
(4) Have 30 days or more lost time under 10 USC 972 within the current
or preceding enlistment.
f. Completed applications should be forwarded to the recruiting station
responsible for servicing the designated area. The application will be
forwarded to the SORB (Commander, USAJFKSWC, ATTN: AOJK–SP–R, FT Bragg,
NC 28307–5200 for final review and formal
review and formal scheduling for attendance at the SFAS Course.
Soldiers must successfully complete the SFAS course before they can attend the SFQC. Soldiers will attend the course in a TDY and return status and normally attend at anytime; however, the following exceptions apply:
(1) Soldiers on OCONUS AI must have their career branch’s approval to attend but will not be scheduled for SFQC until completion of their prescribed tour.
(2) Soldiers on AI to dependent–restricted short tour may attend SFAS if a deferment is not required but will not be scheduled for SFQC until completion of their prescribed tour.
(3) Soldiers who volunteer for SFAS prior to receiving AI will be deferred to allow attendance at the SFAS course. Graduates’ assignment to the SFQC will take precedence over any assignment conflict provided the Soldier volunteered for SFAS prior to receiving AI.
(4) Soldiers who volunteer for SFAS prior to receiving deployment orders will be deferred to allow attendance at the SFASC provided their unit has not requested and received an exception to policy for operational needs. Soldiers volunteering for SFAS after receiving deployment orders will deploy with their unit, except as exempted by AR 600–35.
Upon successful completion of the SFAS course, Soldiers will be evaluated for placement in the most applicable SFQC. Soldiers will be rescheduled for SFQC, as required, through the USAJFKSWCS SFQC coordinator and AHRCEPA-C. Prerequisites for the SFQC are in ATRRS course catalog. Soldiers will be scheduled for the next available SFQC provided:
(1) A second PCS in the same fiscal year is not required for OCONUS–based Soldiers.
(2) Soldiers who are CONUS-based have completed at least 12 months TOS prior to PCS to school.
i. Soldiers must obtain at least an interim secret clearance (based on initiation of an entrance national agency check (ENTNAC)) prior to starting the SFQC and be able to obtain a final secret clearance prior to graduation.
j. Upon successful completion of the SFQC, graduates will be credited with Warrior Leader Course (WLC) and BNCOC (Advanced Leader Course) attendance as applicable.
k. Upon successful completion of SFQC, service remaining obligation for CMF 18 duty is 24 months.
l. Voluntary requests for reclassification may be submitted after completion
of 24 months in a CMF 18 duty
assignment. However, Soldiers will not be released from CMF 18 duty assignment
or scheduled for training prior to completion of 36 months SF duty.
m. All requests for deletion or deferment of Soldiers on assignment instructions in CMF 18 must be submitted to HRC for approval.
Soldiers will be terminated from SF duty, CMF 18 MOS withdrawn, and reported for reclassification and assignment when:
(1) They request termination from SF duty or airborne status.
(2) They refuse to jump from an aircraft while it is airborne.
(3) Their security clearance is withdrawn.
(4) They lose physical qualifications.
(5) They fail to fulfill professional requirements or are found unsuitable, as evidenced by any of the following (not all inclusive):
(a) Civil convictions (whether or not an appeal is pending resolution) for a felony offense or an offense involving moral turpitude or any other conviction for civilian criminal offenses that result in suspended or unsuspended punishments of more than 6 months confinement or a fine in excess of $5,000.
(b) Initiation of any adverse administrative elimination action for reasons specified in AR 635–200.
(c) Repeated failure to perform MOS– or ASI–related duties after counseling and rehabilitative reassignment.
(d) Any other act or series of acts inconsistent with the integrity, professionalism, and conduct required of a SF Soldier.
Article Last Modified: February 26, 2011
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