Special Forces

Background

When the military has difficult and dangerous missions to perform, they call upon special forces teams. These elite combat forces stay in a constant state of readiness to strike anywhere in the world on a moment's notice. Due to the wide variety of missions, special forces team members are trained swimmers, parachutists, and survival experts, in addition to being combat trained. Special forces team members conduct offensive raids, demolitions, intelligence, search and rescue, and other missions from aboard aircraft, helicopters, ships, or submarines.

What They Do

Special forces team members in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Carry out demolition raids against enemy military targets, such as bridges, railroads, and fuel depots
• Clear mine fields, both underwater and on land
• Conduct missions to gather intelligence information on enemy military forces
• Conduct offensive raids or invasions of enemy territories
• Destroy enemy ships in coastal areas, using underwater explosives

Physical Demands

The special operations forces have very demanding physical requirements. Good eyesight, night vision, and physical conditioning are required to reach mission objectives by parachute, overland, or underwater. In most instances, special forces team members are required to have excellent hand-eye coordination to detonate or deactivate explosives. In most instances, special operations forces team members are required to be qualified divers, parachutists, and endurance runners.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• Ability to work as a team member
• Readiness to accept a challenge and face danger

Helpful School Subjects

No information available.

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Because special forces team members must be prepared to go anywhere in the world they are needed, they train and work in all climates, weather conditions, and settings. They may work in cold water and dive from submarines or small underwater craft. Special forces team members may also be exposed to harsh temperatures, often without protection, during missions in enemy-controlled areas. Most of the time, however, they work and train on military bases or ships and submarines.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of up to 72 weeks of formal classroom training and practice exercises.

Course content typically includes:

• Bomb and mine disposal
• Handling and using explosives
• Physical conditioning, parachuting, swimming, and scuba diving
• Using land warfare weapons and communications devices

Additional training occurs on the job. Basic skills are kept sharp through frequent practice exercises under simulated mission conditions.

Civilian Counterparts

Although the job of special forces team members has no equivalent in civilian life, training in explosives, bomb disposal, scuba diving, and swimming may be helpful in such civilian jobs as blaster, police bomb disposal specialist, diver, or swimming instructor. The discipline and dependability of special forces are assets in many civilian careers.

Related Civilian Careers

• Commercial Divers
• Explosives Workers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 5,500 special operations team members. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new team members due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After training, they practice their skills under close supervision. With experience, they may supervise and train other team members. They may also work alone on certain missions. Eventually, they may become team leaders.