Army Special Force Qualification Course (Q Course) (2024)

This is the stuff legends are made of. Tales of heroism by men behind enemy lines simply known by the head gear they wear… they are the Green Berets. US Army Special Forces are elite soldiers that specialize in Foreign Internal Defense. But, before you can dream of wearing the coveted Green Beret, you must first pass Assessment and Selection, then successfully complete the competitive and demanding Special Forces Qualification Course.

If you possess boundless ideas and creativity and you always think of new ways to organize and strategize, the Army wants to talk. Warfare today has new rules and calls for a different type of Soldier—a new warrior. You need to be mentally superior and creative, highly trained and physically tough. Alone and part of a team, you’ll work in diverse conditions, act as a diplomat, get the job done in hostile situations and, at times, establish residence in a foreign country for months. These Soldiers are part of the Army’s Special Forces (SF)—the Army’s most specialized experts in Unconventional Warfare.

Each SF volunteer will receive extensive training in a specialty that prepares him for his future assignment in an SF unit. SF units are designed to operate either unilaterally or in support of and combined with native military and paramilitary forces. Levels of employment for Special Operations forces include advising and assisting host governments, involvement in continental United States-based training, and direct participation in combat operations.

The Special Forces Qualification Course teaches and develops the skills necessary for effective utilization of the SF solider. Duties in CMF 18 primarily involve participation in Special Operations interrelated fields of unconventional warfare. These include foreign internal defense and direct action missions as part of a small operations team or detachment. Duties at other levels involve command, control, and support functions. Frequently, duties require regional orientation to include foreign language training and in-country experience. SF places emphasis not only on unconventional tactics, but also on knowledge of nations in waterborne, desert, jungle, mountain, or arctic operations.

Special Forces Qualification Course – SFQC

The SFQC teaches and develops the skills necessary for effective utilization of the SF Soldier. Duties in CMF 18 primarily involve participation in Special Operations interrelated fields of unconventional warfare. These include foreign internal defense and direct action missions as part of a small operations team or detachment. Duties at other levels involve command, control, and support functions. Frequently, duties require regional orientation, to include foreign language training and in-country experience. The SF places emphasis not only on unconventional tactics, but also knowledge of nations in waterborne, desert, jungle, mountain, or arctic operations.

After successful completion of SFAS, officers who have not already attended their Advanced Course will attend either the Infantry or Armor Career Captain’s Course. Enlisted Soldiers will return to their home station and await receipt of PCS orders to Fort Bragg, NC. Including SFAS, the SFQC is comprised of six phases. SFAS is considered Phase One. All of remaining phases are as described below:

Army Special Forces Q Course SFQC (Phase II): Individual Skills – During this phase of SF training Soldiers in-process at Fort Bragg and begin their SF training. This phase is approximately 13 weeks in duration and includes training in Small Unit Tactics, SF Tactics, Survival Skills and Language and Cultural Training.

SFQC (Phase III): MOS Qualification Phase – During this phase of SF Training Soldiers will receive MOS training for their newly assigned Special Forces MOS. Training for this phase is approximately 15 weeks and includes additional language training, SF Common tasks, Advanced Special Operations Techniques (ASOT), and Interagency Operations.

SFQC (Phase IV): Language Training – Based on each Soldier’s individual language skills, he will advance through language training to prepare him to serve in SF. Additionally, while receiving language training Soldiers will be trained in warrior skills, such as Combatives. This phase may be up to 14 weeks in duration or may be exempted if the Soldier already possesses an appropriate SF language. Select Soldiers may have the opportunity for advanced language training based on individual language proficiency and the needs of SF.

SFQC (Phase V): Collective Training Phase – During this phase Soldiers will hone their newly acquired SF skills in a realistic Unconventional Warfare (UW) culmination exercise. This phase is approximately 4 weeks in duration.

SFQC (Phase VI): Out-Processing and initial assignment:

Special Forces Combat Gear