Green Berets

Silently he extracts a satellite powered text messager from his pack and readies his M-4 carbine. His message is short and simple. It reads, “Captain Johnson, I have spotted enemy troops. Location is zone 8, sector 7.” As the man returns the device to his pack, a cold gust whips at him, so he tightens and readjusts the Green Beret that rests on top of his head. This man is a sharpshooter for the American Special Forces and Operations, more commonly known as the Green Berets. Many factors impact the lives of these soldiers, including requirements for qualification, the magnitude of training, tasks that Green Berets must undertake, and the chain of command.

Now, of course, it is not like anyone can just volunteer and then, boom, you are in. in fact it is actually the very opposite of that. There are many prerequisites that must be met before acceptation into the Special Forces. First off, women can just forget about it. Secondly, anyone who is retires or just got their driver’s license should walk away, too. Only men in good physical condition (good enough to pass the Special Forces physical fitness test) age seventeen to thirty-five are accepted. On top of that, applicators must have a high school graduates degree and must be a promotable first lieutenant and above.

Even then, most approved applicators do not become Green Berets. A major prerequisite is called Special Forces Assessment and selection, or SFAS. In SFAS, there are three phases, each about a week long. Phase one is comprised of many extensive mental and physical tests and examinations. Phase two includes more physical tests like walks, marches, physical strength and endurance tests, and the “Star” land navigation course. Phase three, the final phase, tests both individual leadership skills and group working skills. Boards are held after weeks one and three to monitor progress and status. Monitor progress and status. In the end, only about fifty percent of all applicants graduate from SFAS.

Still, not all soldiers who make it through SFAS go on to be Green Berets. There are still just a few more qualification tests left before a soldier can become a Green Beret. First, endurance is tested. In this test, prospective Special Forces soldiers must carry a forty-five pound backpack for a twelve mile march in less than three hours. Next, survival skills are tested. This time, soldiers must survive alone in the wilderness for three days with very few supplies. They are given a knife, a book of matches, rain gear, and a chicken or a rabbit. On top of all that, this test must be completed in any weather condition.