Joining the Army Special Forces

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Rangers prepare to parachute into Lake Lanier, Georgia.
U.S. Army Rangers take off in a UH-60 Black Hawk before parachuting into Lake Lanier, Georgia, May 11, 2016. (Staff Sgt. Justin P. Morelli/U.S. Army)

For the first time in many years the Army is recruiting civilians to join the U.S. Special Forces. This means that you can enlist on a Special Forces contract, which puts you in the pipeline for the required Special Forces training program.

Army Special Forces Qualifications

To become part of the Army's Green Berets, you need to be mentally and physically tough, endure difficult training and face challenges head-on. In addition, to qualify for the Special Forces contract, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Meet the minimum age requirement of 20 years old
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Have a high school diploma
  • Achieve a General Technical score of 110 or higher and a combat operation score of 98 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

Tip: Scoring high on the ASVAB is key to being able to join an elite team, such as the U.S. Special Forces. It also makes a difference when it comes to enlistment bonuses and choosing your military occupational specialty. Visit our Ace the ASVAB section to learn how to make sure you qualify for the bonuses and career options you deserve.

  • Qualify for a secret level security clearance.
  • Qualify and volunteer for Airborne training
  • Take the Defense Language Aptitude Battery or Defense Language Proficiency Test
  • Achieve an overall minimum score of 229 on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT).

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