Special Forces Qualification Course
The Special Forces Qualification Course (dt. Special Operations Forces Qualification Course ) is the crucial selection process for inclusion in the US Special Forces ( Green Berets ) of the US Army , which adjoins the Assessment and Selection Course (dt. Special Forces occupation and Selection Course ) who has previously proven the applicant's basic physical, mental and character suitability.
Special Forces Qualification Course
Qualification
After the SFAS course has proven the possible physical, mental and character suitability of the aspirant, the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) begins the actual qualification and training of the soldier, with whom he all skills and experience are imparted that he later brings to his team. Although only a few fail here, this is the final filter. Only after successful completion does the applicant receive "his" green beret. This advanced course is divided into three phases:
Phase 1
In phase one, the basics of infantry combat management are once again deepened to ensure that all aspirants, including those from other branches of service, have the same skills. This 39-day course is the last chance to weed out unsuitable applicants before starting the comparatively very expensive specialization in phase two.
Phase 2
In phase 2, the group of applicants is reassembled according to the activity codes defined for the individual, such as deployment planning for officers and warrant officers (roughly comparable to an officer in the military-technical service ), intelligence (reconnaissance), pioneering, weapons, medical services and telecommunications.
Depending on the area, the training for the individual specializations (core competencies) can take between half a year and a year. The leadership courses for officers, warrant officers and intelligence are held by the JFK Special Warfare Center in part at other Army training facilities. The medical sergeant's course, on the other hand, is carried out by the Special Operations Medical Training Battalion (dt. " Medical training battalion for special operations") in Fort Bragg, which also trains the paramedics of the Delta Force and the Navy Seals. The main focus of this very extensive training, which is much more extensive than that of a civilian paramedic, is trauma medicine . With a one-year duration, this is the longest specialization course. The later paramedics also go through internships in civil emergency clinics. The telecommunications sergeant course is held predominantly in Fort Gruber, Oklahoma . In addition to all kinds of telecommunications technologies , basic knowledge of electronic data processing is also taught.
Phase 3
During phase 3, which lasts 38 days, operations planning, battlefield reconnaissance, airborne operations, attack and isolation techniques and intercultural communication are trained.
Then the aspirants are made familiar with the basics of unconventional warfare and combat. At the end of the course, there is a very extensive and complex field exercise called the Robin Sage . All the skills learned are tested as part of this largest and most expensive long-term exercise for the special forces. The preparation, planning and implementation of this maneuver begins on the 16th day and thus takes up more than half of phase three. The practice area, called Pineland , covers an area of several hundred square kilometers and is a civil agricultural area north of Fort Bragg and west of Camp MacKall. During this battle simulation, a 75-day mission is compressed to a duration of 15 days. Up to 12 ODAs (trains) have to infiltrate an enemy-controlled area in various ways in order to establish contact with the guerrilla movement operating there, gain their trust (“negotiate”) and ultimately train and lead them. This indigenous "resistance movement", the so-called G-Force , is played by veterans of the unit. Then joint guerrilla operations and finally the support of an invasion by conventional forces, or the cooperation with them from an ambush, are simulated. After the “successful campaign”, a demobilization of the guerrilla forces with a final exfiltration (removal from the operational area) of the individual ODAs is played out.
literature
- Tom Clancy , John Gresham: Special Forces - The special forces of the US Army. Heyne, Munich 2002 ISBN 3-453-86912-5 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ The SFQC consists of five phases (II-VI). If you complete this training, you will be a Special Forces Soldier, one of the Army's experts in Unconventional Warfare. at goarmy.com . The whole procedure see on the specified website. (accessed June 17, 2008)