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.

Even then, a Green Beret is still eighty weeks (one year, eight months) or more away from their first mission. For all American Green Beret trainees, it is time to go to Fort Bragg, NC. The first phase of training is airborne training. During this phase, a soldier will learn a variety of helpful skills and abilities that will aid in paratrooping. First, they will learn how to safely jump from heights. Next they are taught how control the release and flight of a parachute. Last they are taught how to safely land after a jump.

The next course is survival skills training. Here a green beret will further sharpen his wilderness survival skills. This focuses more on orientation, navigation, and travel. A Green Beret will learn how to use a compass and map accurately together. After that, Green Berets will learn how to navigate rough and wooded terrain. Finally they learn how to both climb and rappel steep hills and mountainsides. Also, soldiers increase strength and endurance.

Green Berets are not just for action, though. They are also trained to be diplomats. International aid training deals with helping developing host-nation military stay stable and free. Green Berets help train, advise, and assist these nations. Green Berets are also trained area oriented in that places specific native culture and language.

After training, an official Green Beret must know what technology they have available to them, and must know how to use them. A Green Beret must have different equipment for each type of mission and location. Also, because there is so much that is unpredictable in war, a green beret must be readily equipped with the latest and most efficient technology.

Parachuting technology is vital to reconnaissance, sabotage, Intel, and other secret missions. For different missions and conditions, different parachuting techniques are required. First of them is called High-altitude, Low-opening, or HALO for short. HALO jumps allow a Green Beret to pass through radar screenings virtually unnoticed and undetected. Second of these techniques is called High-Altitude, High-Opening, or HAHO for short. HAHO allows a Green Beret to have a fifty mile “flight” zone before touchdown. For HALO jumps, a supply of oxygen is required to survive. A HALO helmet will supply that oxygen to a jumper. To land safely, an MC-4 parachute can be used to prevent a Green Beret from splattering all over the ground. An MC-4 parachute is also very resilient to extreme weather conditions. And last, helicopters. Helicopters are extremely useful for parachuting because they are fast and can be used for nearly any kind of transportation.

Communications are quite possibly one of the most important pieces of Green Beret operations. Long range communications such as radio equipment and text messaging are often used with satellite computers. Also, they use tactical satellites for communication. Another satellite relying technology is the Global Positioning System, more commonly known as GPS. GPS can locate any Green Beret anywhere, any time.

For water based missions, stealth is the most important factor. That is where a kayak comes into play. The kayak’s sleek design helps it to be fast and go unnoticed by enemy radar. When transportability is more important than stealth, a seasoned Green Beret will always vie for an inflatable boat. The inflatable boat is light, easy to carry and transport, and is pretty inexpensive. When it comes down to a one man, one river situation, a Green Beret’s best bet is a simple re-breather. The re-breather is a simple underwater breathing device, but it is extremely useful for stealth.

Now there is one more step before a Green Beret can officially join the ranks. He must choose what field of expertise he will specialize in. he can choose one of these five fields; communications, demolitions and engineering, medical, weapons, or operations and intelligence. If a Green Beret chooses to become an expert in communications, he will become responsible for the relaying of information. He will learn codes, ciphers, and secret communications techniques. He will also be able to repair, handle, and care for radio and communications equipment. If he takes up demolition and engineering, a Green Beret will become an expert at destroying buildings with explosives and booby traps. He will also be able to build those buildings and structures. One that takes on medical courses will be able to operate on site, treat injuries, pull teeth, and give out medicine. If a Green Beret chooses weapons, he will extensively study weapons such as machine guns, pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles. He will also sharpen his aim and accuracy. Finally, if a Green Beret chooses operations and intelligence, he will function as part of the brain of the Green Berets. He will learn secret communications, sabotage, spying, code breaking, and secret photography.

Finally, Green Berets can be part of the action. There are many choices as to what they can do, so here are a few. First off is Direct Action, or DA. Direct action handles overt and covert operation against enemy forces. They also seize and destroy targets, and capture or recover personnel or material. Next is counter terrorism, or CT. counter terrorism units use offensive measure to help stop and prevent terrorist attacks and events. Another task to be carried out by Green Berets is foreign internal defense, or FID. These units help establish help establishing host-nation military groups keep a stable and insurgency free government for the people. Last is special reconnaissance, or SR. Special reconnaissance teams focus on gathering info on enemies and the local populace. Special Reconnaissance teams also infiltrate enemy lines.

The Green Berets lead hard, relentless lives. They are warriors of the toughest, most versatile kind. They are elite men, but they are not many. Prerequisites, qualification, and training make it extremely difficult for the average person to make it into the Green Berets. Furthermore, Green Berets must risk their lives in the line of duty nearly every day that they are on the job. Their lives are impacted by all these things, but the Green Berets still stand tall.