Green Berets: Personnel Training
The special forces, as interpreted in the US military regulations, are strategic multifunctional forces capable of responding quickly to various emergency situations anywhere in the world. These forces, known as the “green berets,” are specifically designed to wage non-traditional wars in other countries through the formation, preparation, armament and leadership of local rebel and guerrilla forces. That is why knowledge of foreign (local) languages and military-geographic study are important for them.
The main organizational unit of the special forces of the ground forces is the operational detachment "A" or, as it is also called, the command "A". A typical team includes 12 special forces:
- commander (captain).
- detachment technician (non-commissioned officer).
- Sergeant Specialist on operational issues (master sergeant).
- operational assistant and intelligence sergeant (sergeant 1 class),
- two specialist sergeants arms (1 class sergeant and headquarters sergeant),
- two engineering training sergeants (1 class sergeant and staff sergeant).
- two sergeants - medical specialists (sergeant of the 1 class and headquarters sergeant),
- two communications sergeant-specialists (class sergeant of the 1 class and headquarters sergeant).
The training of American special forces includes three major stages: the assessment and selection of candidates, the qualification course of special forces and language training.
The first stage is the assessment and selection of candidates. It takes three weeks. Candidates from among the US military who expressed their desire to join the special forces, seconded to Fort Bragg (North Carolina) in the Center and the school of the American Army. John F. Kennedy. During these three weeks, candidates are barred from all contacts with the outside world, including even phone calls to families or friends. The purpose of this stage is the selection of soldiers with the qualities of special forces soldiers.
In the first phase of this phase, the physical qualities, psychological motivation of candidates and their ability to withstand stress are assessed. The program includes: psychological tests, assessment of physical condition, swimming, running, obstacle course, full-motion marches, military orientation on the terrain. After the first phase, the evaluation committee decides which candidate to admit to the second phase of testing.
The second phase involves the assessment of leadership and collectivist qualities. The new evaluation committee determines which candidate can be admitted to the second stage of the training of special forces.
In general, the stage of evaluation and selection of candidates is considered quite difficult in terms of physical activity. Upon admission, candidates must score 206 points on a single scale of the army physical condition test for the 17-21 age group of the year, as well as swim 50 meters in clothes and shoes. By the end of the first stage of preparation, that is, after three weeks, candidates must score at least 220 points According to the existing statistics, 50% of candidates are eliminated during the selection and evaluation stage of candidates.
The second stage is the qualification course of special forces.
By the end of the first stage of training "green berets" candidates are determined with their future specialty in four military occupational specialties:
MOS 18В - weapons specialist
MOS 18C - Engineering Specialist
MOS 18D - Medical Specialist
MOS 18E is a communications specialist.
As a rule, the choice of a future specialty is made by the candidate himself, based on the existing need (distribution list). Regardless of the profile chosen, all candidates gain knowledge and practice in all four military occupational specialties, and over time the veteran of the “green berets” 8 perfected all four specialties.
After all the trainings and tests of the first stage are completed, the candidates return to their units and wait for the call to transfer to special forces. It usually lasts from a few months to a year.
The duration of the special forces qualification course is 24 weeks. However, future medical specialists are tentatively sent to 31 weekly preparatory medical training courses in Fort Houston (Texas), and communications experts to the 8 weekly preparatory courses in Fort Bragg.
Qualification courses for special forces consist of two main phases: training in the main military accounting specialty (13 weeks) and final training (9 weeks). All training and exercises are held at Fort Bragg.
In the course of training in major military occupational specialties, candidates master the following key aspects:
- weapons specialists - tactics, use of anti-tank weapon systems, small arms of all types of American and foreign production, shelter shooting, man-portable air defense systems, fire system, general arms fire control.
- engineering training specialists - construction skills, field shelter construction, demolition work;
- medical specialists - traumatology and surgery;
- communication specialists - mastering all communication systems and theoretical bases of communication, practical training on establishing and maintaining communication on a global scale.
During the second phase of training, candidates improve their knowledge and practical skills in the field of survival, navigation and orientation, unit tactics, aviation operations support, operations planning, fire training. The culmination of this phase and the entire second phase of training in general is the training, planning and implementation of the operation to support the partisans - the "Robin Sage" exercise in the forests of North Carolina. The exercise is conducted as part of real "A" teams in "hostile terrain." The cadets must quietly penetrate into the specified area, meet at the appointed place and at the appointed time with the "partisan" detachment, establish themselves in it, provide assistance in training, equipping and arming the "partisans" and prepare the detachment for special operations. The "enemy" are the CIA and the FBI. the police, local residents are "informants" and even the "partisans" themselves, ready to betray and sell the "green berets." During the qualification course of the special forces, all candidates are determined with regional specialization, and their personal desire the personnel bodies try to take into account as much as possible. The third stage of training of young special forces soldiers and their future service will depend on regional specialization.
Currently, the US Army Special Forces have five special forces, each of which consists of three battalions and support and support units:
The third stage is language training. Depending on the complexity of the language, classes last from 17 to 23 weeks. Usually 95% candidates successfully pass all tests.
Retake tests allowed. Language training is aimed at imparting foreign language skills to cadets, since in the future they will have to train guerilla units in the country of the language being studied. The focus is on oral speech, the perception of foreign speech by ear and the study of military terminology. Every day, cadets receive 6-7 hours of classroom work and homework.
At the end of language training, special forces are sent to 30 days for an internship in the relevant groups according to their language specialization.
This concludes the preparation of the Green Berets at Fort Bragg, and they are assigned to their future duty stations.
The main organizational unit of the special forces of the ground forces is the operational detachment "A" or, as it is also called, the command "A". A typical team includes 12 special forces:
- commander (captain).
- detachment technician (non-commissioned officer).
- Sergeant Specialist on operational issues (master sergeant).
- operational assistant and intelligence sergeant (sergeant 1 class),
- two specialist sergeants arms (1 class sergeant and headquarters sergeant),
- two engineering training sergeants (1 class sergeant and staff sergeant).
- two sergeants - medical specialists (sergeant of the 1 class and headquarters sergeant),
- two communications sergeant-specialists (class sergeant of the 1 class and headquarters sergeant).
The training of American special forces includes three major stages: the assessment and selection of candidates, the qualification course of special forces and language training.
The first stage is the assessment and selection of candidates. It takes three weeks. Candidates from among the US military who expressed their desire to join the special forces, seconded to Fort Bragg (North Carolina) in the Center and the school of the American Army. John F. Kennedy. During these three weeks, candidates are barred from all contacts with the outside world, including even phone calls to families or friends. The purpose of this stage is the selection of soldiers with the qualities of special forces soldiers.
In the first phase of this phase, the physical qualities, psychological motivation of candidates and their ability to withstand stress are assessed. The program includes: psychological tests, assessment of physical condition, swimming, running, obstacle course, full-motion marches, military orientation on the terrain. After the first phase, the evaluation committee decides which candidate to admit to the second phase of testing.
The second phase involves the assessment of leadership and collectivist qualities. The new evaluation committee determines which candidate can be admitted to the second stage of the training of special forces.
In general, the stage of evaluation and selection of candidates is considered quite difficult in terms of physical activity. Upon admission, candidates must score 206 points on a single scale of the army physical condition test for the 17-21 age group of the year, as well as swim 50 meters in clothes and shoes. By the end of the first stage of preparation, that is, after three weeks, candidates must score at least 220 points According to the existing statistics, 50% of candidates are eliminated during the selection and evaluation stage of candidates.The second stage is the qualification course of special forces.
By the end of the first stage of training "green berets" candidates are determined with their future specialty in four military occupational specialties:
MOS 18В - weapons specialist
MOS 18C - Engineering Specialist
MOS 18D - Medical Specialist
MOS 18E is a communications specialist.
As a rule, the choice of a future specialty is made by the candidate himself, based on the existing need (distribution list). Regardless of the profile chosen, all candidates gain knowledge and practice in all four military occupational specialties, and over time the veteran of the “green berets” 8 perfected all four specialties.
After all the trainings and tests of the first stage are completed, the candidates return to their units and wait for the call to transfer to special forces. It usually lasts from a few months to a year.
The duration of the special forces qualification course is 24 weeks. However, future medical specialists are tentatively sent to 31 weekly preparatory medical training courses in Fort Houston (Texas), and communications experts to the 8 weekly preparatory courses in Fort Bragg.
Qualification courses for special forces consist of two main phases: training in the main military accounting specialty (13 weeks) and final training (9 weeks). All training and exercises are held at Fort Bragg.
In the course of training in major military occupational specialties, candidates master the following key aspects:
- weapons specialists - tactics, use of anti-tank weapon systems, small arms of all types of American and foreign production, shelter shooting, man-portable air defense systems, fire system, general arms fire control.
- engineering training specialists - construction skills, field shelter construction, demolition work;
- medical specialists - traumatology and surgery;
- communication specialists - mastering all communication systems and theoretical bases of communication, practical training on establishing and maintaining communication on a global scale.
During the second phase of training, candidates improve their knowledge and practical skills in the field of survival, navigation and orientation, unit tactics, aviation operations support, operations planning, fire training. The culmination of this phase and the entire second phase of training in general is the training, planning and implementation of the operation to support the partisans - the "Robin Sage" exercise in the forests of North Carolina. The exercise is conducted as part of real "A" teams in "hostile terrain." The cadets must quietly penetrate into the specified area, meet at the appointed place and at the appointed time with the "partisan" detachment, establish themselves in it, provide assistance in training, equipping and arming the "partisans" and prepare the detachment for special operations. The "enemy" are the CIA and the FBI. the police, local residents are "informants" and even the "partisans" themselves, ready to betray and sell the "green berets." During the qualification course of the special forces, all candidates are determined with regional specialization, and their personal desire the personnel bodies try to take into account as much as possible. The third stage of training of young special forces soldiers and their future service will depend on regional specialization.
Currently, the US Army Special Forces have five special forces, each of which consists of three battalions and support and support units:
The third stage is language training. Depending on the complexity of the language, classes last from 17 to 23 weeks. Usually 95% candidates successfully pass all tests.
Retake tests allowed. Language training is aimed at imparting foreign language skills to cadets, since in the future they will have to train guerilla units in the country of the language being studied. The focus is on oral speech, the perception of foreign speech by ear and the study of military terminology. Every day, cadets receive 6-7 hours of classroom work and homework.
At the end of language training, special forces are sent to 30 days for an internship in the relevant groups according to their language specialization.
This concludes the preparation of the Green Berets at Fort Bragg, and they are assigned to their future duty stations.
Information