He completed in September the first phase of the SF Qualification Course or SF Assessment and Selection, which has a near 60-percent failure rate according to Globalsecurity.org. That makes it an achievement about which only a small few can boast.
If they fail or are simply aren't selected during the Special Forces assessment, they are re-assigned to infantry. It wasn't always this way. In the past, Special Forces typically wanted soldiers to be older and more seasoned in the regular Army before making the jump.
If I don't pass or complete SFQC what happens next? You may be provided the opportunity to "recycle" or re-enter training at some point in the SFQC pipeline. If not then active duty Soldiers will be reassigned to another unit / post based on your MOS and the needs of the Army.
Individuals who fail any of the above training courses will have their enlistment contracts renegotiated to the 11B ( Infantryman) MOS and will be reassigned to an Infantry unit. However, under the current policy, they will be allowed to retain any 18X enlistment bonus, unless disqualification is due to misconduct.
The failure rate for selection is high. Even those who make it to the very end of the course aren't guaranteed to be selected. So being last in any event isn't a good thing. But one event isn't going to sink you or your chances if you do well in everything else.
Historically less than half of the personnel attending SFAS fail to graduate, and this study indicates that of the 800 plus candidates that attempted the course only 31% successfully completed it. That study also demonstrated what caused the majority of candidates to fail.
This phase is approximately 13 weeks in duration and includes training in Small Unit Tactics, SF Tactics, Survival Skills and Language and Cultural Training.
RASP 1 has a 53% attrition rate. RASP 2 has a 74% attrition rate. SFAS has 64% and 51% attrition rates for enlisted soldiers and officers respectively, whereas SFQC has 35% and 27% attrition rates for the same categories. CCT selection has a 50% attrition rate with a further 27% rate for the Qualification Course.
300 potential Green Berets at a time attend the SFAS course which is held 4 times a year.
NON-PRIOR SERVICE (Initial Accessions): Anyone desiring to volunteer for Special Forces duty should contact the nearest recruiting office, provided they: Are 20 years of age by ship date to CMF 11 OSUT and have not reached their 35th birthday (waiverable).
ASVAB Line Scores and Army MOSMOSARMY JOB TITLEMinimum ASVAB Line Scores18XSpecial Forces RecruitGT:110 & SC:10019DCavalry ScoutCO:8719KM1 Armor CrewmanCO:8725BInformation Technology SpecialistST:95149 more rows
six yearsThe 18X contract is a long-term plan. It could potentially vary based on your personal discussions with an Army recruiter. However, most Army MOS 18X contracts are a minimum of six years. It allows plenty of time to complete training (plan on three years) along with a first permanent duty assignment.