What It Takes To Be In The Special Forces by Vivian Vallarsa
There are many forces that make up the United States Special Forces. Some of the most well known groups include the Navy SEALs, Green Beret, and the Delta Force. The special forces are military units trained to conduct special operations. They emerged in the early 20th century, with significant growth during World War II.
Special forces perform functions such as airborne operations, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, covert ops, direct action, hostage rescue, high-value targets/manhunts, intelligence operations, mobility operations, and unconventional warfare.
One example is the training required to be a Navy SEAL. Navy SEAL training is extremely demanding; therefore, you need to be in excellent physical condition and pass the physical screening test before you can be considered a SEAL candidate. The physical screening test consists of swimming, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and running. It is required to be able to swim 500 yards breast or side stroke in under 12:30, do 50 push-ups in two minutes, do 50 sit-ups in two minutes, do ten pull-ups with no time limit, and run one and a half miles in under 10:30.
If the requirements are met and a person is selected, they are then sent to the Navy Recruit Training Center where they start their 10-week Navy boot camp. If a person passes boot camp, they are then sent to the BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) Prep program in California where they then start pre-training.
At pre-training a person will take the PST again, and if they do not pass, they will be dropped from the program. BUD/S Prep is a five-week training program followed by a two-week Naval Special Warfare orientation program. The purpose of BUD/S Prep is to prepare for the BUD/S fitness test.
The BUD/S fitness test includes swimming 1,000m sidestroke in under 20 minutes, being able to do at least 70 push-ups, 60 curl-ups, 10 pull-ups, and run four miles wearing pants and shoes in under 31 minutes.
If this test is passed, recruits then need to complete the BUD/S seven month training challenge. Each phase includes timed physical condition tests. The time requirements become more demanding each week. BUD/S graduates then attend SEAL qualifications training. This is a six-month school that focuses on preparing recruits to become members of the SEAL team. This school includes training in diving, shooting, parachuting, small unit tactics and mission planning, and medicine and medical skills training.
Once the SQT SEAL training is complete, there is advanced training available which includes foreign language training, SEAL tactical communications training, sniper, military free-fall parachuting, jump master, and explosive breacher.
Special forces perform functions such as airborne operations, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, covert ops, direct action, hostage rescue, high-value targets/manhunts, intelligence operations, mobility operations, and unconventional warfare.
One example is the training required to be a Navy SEAL. Navy SEAL training is extremely demanding; therefore, you need to be in excellent physical condition and pass the physical screening test before you can be considered a SEAL candidate. The physical screening test consists of swimming, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and running. It is required to be able to swim 500 yards breast or side stroke in under 12:30, do 50 push-ups in two minutes, do 50 sit-ups in two minutes, do ten pull-ups with no time limit, and run one and a half miles in under 10:30.
If the requirements are met and a person is selected, they are then sent to the Navy Recruit Training Center where they start their 10-week Navy boot camp. If a person passes boot camp, they are then sent to the BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) Prep program in California where they then start pre-training.
At pre-training a person will take the PST again, and if they do not pass, they will be dropped from the program. BUD/S Prep is a five-week training program followed by a two-week Naval Special Warfare orientation program. The purpose of BUD/S Prep is to prepare for the BUD/S fitness test.
The BUD/S fitness test includes swimming 1,000m sidestroke in under 20 minutes, being able to do at least 70 push-ups, 60 curl-ups, 10 pull-ups, and run four miles wearing pants and shoes in under 31 minutes.
If this test is passed, recruits then need to complete the BUD/S seven month training challenge. Each phase includes timed physical condition tests. The time requirements become more demanding each week. BUD/S graduates then attend SEAL qualifications training. This is a six-month school that focuses on preparing recruits to become members of the SEAL team. This school includes training in diving, shooting, parachuting, small unit tactics and mission planning, and medicine and medical skills training.
Once the SQT SEAL training is complete, there is advanced training available which includes foreign language training, SEAL tactical communications training, sniper, military free-fall parachuting, jump master, and explosive breacher.