What it takes to be in Special Forces

If you possess boundless ideas and creativity and you always think of new ways to
organize and strategize, the Army wants to talk. Warfare today has new rules and calls for
a different type of Soldier's new warrior.
You need to be mentally superior and creative, highly trained and physically tough. Alone
and part of a team, you'll work in diverse conditions, act as a diplomat, get the job done
in hostile situations and, at times, establish residence in a foreign country for months.
These Soldiers are part of the Army's Special Forces (SF)'the Army's most specialized
experts in Unconventional Warfare.
To become part of the Army's Green Berets, you need to be mentally and physically
tough, endure difficult training and face all challenges head-on. In addition to that, you
must:

• Be a male, age 20-30 (Special Forces positions are not open to women)

• Be a U.S. citizen

• Be a high school diploma graduate

• Achieve a General Technical score of 110 or higher and a combat operation score
of 98 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

• Qualify for a secret security clearance.

• Qualify and volunteer for Airborne training

• Take Defense Language Aptitude Battery or Defense Language Proficiency Test

• Achieve a minimum of 60 points on each event and overall minimum score of 229
on the Army Physical Fitness Test

Benefits and Payment

Besides being part of the world's most highly trained force, other benefits include:

• Enlistment bonus of up to $20,000

• Up to $71,424 to further your education

• Camaraderie
 • 30 days vacation

• Complete medical and dental care

• Specialized Army training

• Leadership skills

Going unnoticed during their missions is critical for Green Berets. It's important for them
to be organized in small, highly trained groups. This way they get things done in a quick
and effective manner.
Special Forces groups are organized in small teams of 12 men — a.k.a. Operational
Detachment Alpha (ODA). A typical Green Berets Team structure usually consists of two
each of the following: Weapons Sergeants, Communications Sergeants, Medical
Sergeants and Engineering Sergeants. A Commander, Assistant Commander (Warrant
Officer), Operations/Intelligence Sergeant and Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge
(NCOIC) complete the team. These teams can change according to the type of mission.
Each Soldier in an ODA is specially trained and cross-trained in different disciplines. See
below for a brief job description for each ODA team member.

Team Members of Special Forces

SPECIAL FORCES OFFICER (COMMANDER) (18A)
Each ODA needs a team leader on missions. The 18A is a Commander (Captain) responsible
for mission organization, outfitting the team and debriefing the mission objectives.
WARRANT OFFICER/ASSISTANT DETACHMENT COMMANDER (180A)
To back up the 18A leading the team, the 180A acts as the Assistant Detachment Commander.
He prepares to take the lead whenever the Captain is absent or non-functional, or if a mission
calls for the ODA to be split in two teams
WEAPONS SERGEANT (18B)
Special Forces Weapons Sergeants are the weapons specialists. They're capable of operating
and maintaining a wide variety of U.S., Allied and other foreign weaponry. Some of your
tasks might include maintaining proficiency with all foreign high-density light and heavy
weapons; selecting weapons placements and sites; assigning targets and areas of fire.
ENGINEERING SERGEANT (18C)
Special Forces Engineering Sergeants are specialists across a wide range of disciplines. Some
of your tasks may include working in demolitions, explosives, land and water navigation
duties, field fortification, bridging, rigging, reconnaissance and sabotage operations.
MEDICAL SERGEANT (18D)
Special Forces Medical Sergeants are considered to be the finest first-response/trauma
medical technicians in the world. Though they're primarily trained with an emphasis on
trauma medicine, they also have working knowledge of dentistry, veterinary care, public
 sanitation, water quality and optometry.
COMMUNICATIONS SERGEANT (18E)
Special Forces Communications Sergeants operate every kind of communications gear, from
encrypted satellite communications systems to old-style, high-frequency (HF) Morse Code
systems. They also have serious computer/networking skills and know several computer
languages.
ASSISTANT OPERATIONS/INTELLIGENCE NCO (18F)
Since many SF missions require being behind the lines in hostile areas, each team is given an
18F Intelligence Specialist. The 18F collects and evaluates information for transmission, and
supplies vital data on the enemy.
OPERATIONS SERGEANT (18Z)
The Operations Sergeant is responsible for the overall organization, functionality and training
of an SF team. He makes sure the team is outfitted correctly and supports the ODA
commander (18A).

United States Navy SEAL

In times of war or uncertainty there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our
Nation’s call. A common man with uncommon desire to succeed. Forged by adversity, he
stands alongside America’s finest special operations forces to serve his country, the
American people, and protect their way of life.I am that man.
My Trident is a symbol of honor and heritage. Bestowed upon me by the heroes that have
gone before, it embodies the trust of those I have sworn to protect. By wearing the
Trident I accept the responsibility of my chosen profession and way of life. It is a
privilege that I must earn every day.
My loyalty to Country and Team is beyond reproach. I humbly serve as a guardian to my
fellow Americans always ready to defend those who are unable to defend themselves. I
do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily
accept the inherent hazards of my profession, placing the welfare and security of others
before my own.
I serve with honor on and off the battlefield. The ability to control my emotions and my
actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men.Uncompromising
integrity is my standard. My character and honor are steadfast. My word is my bond.
We expect to lead and be led. In the absence of orders I will take charge, lead my
teammates and accomplish the mission. I lead by example in all situations.
I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be
physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get
back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my
teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.
We demand discipline. We expect innovation. The lives of my teammates and the success
of our mission depend on me - my technical skill, tactical proficiency, and attention to
detail. My training is never complete.
We train for war and fight to win. I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of combat
power to bear in order to achieve my mission and the goals established by my country.
The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required yet guided by the
very principles that I serve to defend.
Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I
am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my
resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail.
Birth of the Navy SEALs
The U.S. Navy SEALs were established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a small,
elite maritime military force to conduct Unconventional Warfare. They carry out the
types of clandestine, small-unit, high-impact missions that large forces with high-profile
platforms (such as ships, tanks, jets and submarines) cannot. SEALs also conduct
essential on-the-ground Special Reconnaissance of critical targets for imminent strikes by
larger conventional forces.

SEALs are U.S. Special Operations Command’s force-of-choice among Navy, Army and
Air Force Special Operations Forces (SOF) to conduct small-unit maritime military
operations which originate from, and return to a river, ocean, swamp, delta or coastline.
This littoral capability is more important now than ever in our history, as half the world’s
infrastructure and population is located within one mile of an ocean or river. Of crucial
importance, SEALs can negotiate shallow water areas such as the Persian Gulf coastline,
where large ships and submarines are limited by depth.

The Navy SEALs are trained to operate in all the environments (Sea, Air and Land) for
which they are named. SEALs are also prepared to operate in climate extremes of
scorching desert, freezing Arctic, and humid jungle. The SEALs’ current pursuit of
elusive, dangerous and high-priority terrorist targets has them operating in remote,
mountainous regions of Afghanistan, and in cities torn by factional violence, such as
Baghdad, Iraq. Historically, SEALs have always had “one foot in the water.” The reality
today, however, is that they initiate lethal Direct Action strikes equally well from air and
land.
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