subject: Nuances Of Special Forces Training [print this page] This article refers to Army Green Beret training when it uses the term Special Forces training. The one thing that sets the Green Berets apart is that you have to be very intelligent to become a Special Forces troop. This is by no means an affront to any troops anywhere whether they are special operations or not. The Green Beret first of all must be at least bilingual. He also must be technically proficient in at least two specialties. His job is not to just go out and kill the enemy. He has to be adept at going into an area and organizing the indigenous population into a fighting force whether they have the will or the training to become an effective fighting force. There are also a multitude of other operations that the Special Forces troop may be utilized to perform, therefore he must also be flexible. The officers in these forces are trained in everything from riding a camel to dealing with guerrilla warfare and terrorism. The reason behind the name Green Beret is because of the distinct and identifying head gear which these soldiers wear.
The selection process for the Green Berets is an ordeal which goes on for 24 days. The preparation course is designed to test the physical endurance and mental toughness of the trainee. The minimum physical requirement for acceptance is a score of 260 on the Army Physical Readiness test for the 17 to 21 year old age group. This just gets you into SF training, it is not the total physical requirement top become a Special Forces Soldier. You must have great physical endurance more than anything else to complete the physical requirements of Special Forces Training. The minimum time spent in Green Beret training is 55 weeks, and training can continue for up to 95 weeks.
The first phase of Special Forces training takes place in Fort Bragg North Carolina and is intensely physical in its nature. It involves pull-ups, push-ups, running, swimming, running an obstacle course, rucksack marches and orienteering exercises.
Q-Course is the leadership evaluation of the candidates. This phase of training tests the leadership of candidates by placing them in charge in small group environments and exposing them to specific situations. Candidates are evaluated as to how they respond to different situations and their leadership skills. This is an extremely rigorous regime and cadets are occupied the whole day, from time even before dawn to after dusk. They are kept in situations which are stressful which severely taxes their mental abilities and toughness.
Real time training simulates real life army scenarios and how the cadets adapt to them. This training uses mock situations which replicate the tasks that troops will have to accomplish when they deal with foreigners in the culture of their own countries and their own social mores. The soldiers get Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training (SERE) during this time. This is extremely brutal training which replicates the conditions that a troop would be exposed to if he is captured and becomes a prisoner of war.
Post training primarily consists of training in unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism activities among other topics. The candidate who completes Special Forces training must be physically and mentally tough, and highly motivated to serve in this capacity. Not many who begin Special Forces training complete the course. Green Berets are tested in real life conditions more often than the average person realizes. We dont hear much about their actual exploits because the nature of most of their missions is highly sensitive.Military Ring Express
