Civilian to National Guard Special Forces Officer

Commission as an Officer

The road to become a Special Forces Officer as a civilian is long. Candidates should first understand there is no guaranteed path to becoming a Special Forces Officer as a civilian. However, with an 18X contract, civilians can sign a contract to enlist and attend Special Forces Assessment and Selection. Generally, officers are required to serve at least three years prior to attending Special Forces Readiness Evaluation (SFRE) or Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFRE).

Civilians must commission as an officer in the Army National Guard. After becoming a First Lieutenant promotable to Captain or a Captain with two years TIG, candidates may contact SF National Guard to submit a packet for Special Forces Readiness Evaluation (SFRE).

Requirements

  • Pay grade of O-1(P), O-2, or O-3 and in the targeted year group for the captain’s board
  • Must have at least a SECRET security clearance prior to final packet approval and meet eligibility criteria for a TOP SECRET clearance
  • Must have completed the Officer Basic Course
  • Must have been successful in your branch assignments prior to applying to SF

Physical Requirements

Top candidates will have the following fitness scores:
Push Up – 80
Sit up – 80
2 Mile Run – 12:30
Pull Up – 15
5 Mile Run- 35 minutes
12 Mile Ruck w/55lbs – 2 hours 36 minutes (13 minute mile pace)

Initial Training Pipeline

Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS)
3 weeks – Fort Bragg, NC

Special Forces candidates are pushed mentally and physically and assessed on intelligence, physical fitness, motivation, trainability, judgment, and influence. Surviving the 21 day selection course is not enough -a candidate must be selected to continue to the SF Qualification Course.

Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC)

Intro to Unconventional Warfare
6 Weeks

– SF Culture
– Introduction to Unconventional Warfare (UW)
– SF Principle Tasks & Mission Command
– Land Navigation
– SF History
– Adaptive Leader Methodology
– Method of Instruction
– Wellness Screening and Assessment
– Family Programs
– ARSOF Core Attributes

SUT/SERE
13 Weeks

– Small Unit Tactics (SUT)
– Advanced Marksmanship
– Special Forces Common Skills
– Urban Operations
– Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE)
– Military Decision Making Process (MDMP)
– Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)

MOS Training
16 Weeks

– 18 A: Detachment Officer Course
– 18 B: Weapons Sergeant
– 18 C: Engineer Sergeant
– 18 D: Medical Sergeant *
– 18 E: Communications Sergeant

* 18 D Medical Sergeants must complete the Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) Course as part of their training. Total medical training will be just over 1 year.

Robin Sage
4 Weeks

– UW Practicum
– Guerrilla Warfare
– Support of a Resistance Movement
– Air Operations
– Deliberate UW Mission Analysis and Planning
– SF Infiltration and Exfiltration Techniques
– Rapport Building
– Negotiation and Mediation
– Advanced Special Operations Level 1 (PE)
– Language and Culture Application

Language and Culture
25 Weeks

– CAT 1 & 2:
French, Indonesian-Bahasa, Spanish.
– CAT 3 & 4:
Arabic, Chinese-Mandarin, Dari, Korean, Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Russian, Tagalog, Thai, and Urdu
– Control of Interpreters
– Progressive PT Program

Graduation and MFF
5 Weeks

– Regimental Indoctrination
– Operational Group Assignment
– Introduction to Group Command Team
– Individual Academic Achievement Awards
– Award of the Special Forces Tab and “Green Beret”
– Credentialed as an SF Officer or NCO
– Military Free Fall Parachutist Course (4 weeks)