SPECIAL FORCES (SF) PRIOR SERVICE ACCESSION PROGRAM

 

1. SYNOPIS: The Prior Service Accession Program is open to SF branch officers and CMF 18 qualified noncommissioned officers who previously served on active duty (AD) or in the Reserve Component (RC), and volunteer for Special Forces service in the AD component.

2. SCOPE: This program applies to all Special Forces qualified soldiers and SSI 18 officers who previously served on AD or in the RC, who request AD service in SF. United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), and United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWC) will follow the procedures outlined on this web page to screen, process, and assign prior service volunteers into Special Forces. The policy and procedure outlined herein is in coordination and concurrence with HQDA, ODCSPER, TAPC and USAREC.

3. GENERAL:

a. All personnel volunteering for service in SF require screening, assessment, and qualification. In order to accomplish this all soldiers must attend Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS), the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC), and language school.

b. All Special Forces qualified soldiers, enlisted and officer, not currently serving on AD in Special Forces require screening, assessment and revalidation prior to acceptance into the active component (AC) SF. This includes prior service personnel, personnel currently serving in the RC, and SF qualified personnel on AD, who are not serving in a CMF/SSI 18 skill.

c. Enlisted Personnel Accession Process. Volunteers will be assessed on AD under a conditional contract in accordance with USAREC policy. Conditions of contract will specify that upon successful completion of assessment and review board appearance, soldiers will serve on AD in CMF 18. Soldiers who do not meet assessment prerequisites or board criteria will be reclassified to another MOS as directed by TAPC IAW the needs of the Army. Assessment of the soldier's military records to include performance evaluations, academic evaluations, and administrative actions will be conducted by the Commander, USASOC and executed through a review board chaired by the CSM, USASOC. Volunteers will personally appear before the review board with complete application packets. Prior service soldiers accepted into CMF 18 will be assigned to active duty groups in order to provide the most impact and enhancement of operating inventory and operational readiness. Exceptions to this policy will be at the discretion of the CSM, USASOC.

(1) Screening and assessment process. An evaluation of the soldier’s physical ability, duty performance, psychological stability, and security clearance will be conducted by USAJFKSWCS, prior to board appearance. Screening and evaluation will be conducted at Fort Bragg by the 1st Special Warfare Training Group, USAJFKSWCS. The Special Operations Proponency Office (SOPO) CMF 18 Manager is designated as executive agent for the screening and evaluation process prior to review board appearance. Screening and evaluation criteria may only be modified by the Commander, USASOC. They are as follows

(a) Complete physical examination

(b) APFT (Minimum score of 240 points for age group)

(c) Psychological testing and evaluation

(d) 12 mile roadmarch with 55-lb ruck sack and weapon in 4.5 hours.

(e) Participation in a USAJFKSWCS 1st Special Warfare Training Group training event.

(2) RC soldiers who have recently graduated (within 1 year) from SFQC will be exempt from the APFT and the 12 mile road march if they can provide documentation of completion of these events during SFQC. Any issues concerning this specification will be resolved by the CSM, USAJFKSWCS.

(3) USASOC Assessment and Review Board.

(a) The board is conducted at Fort Bragg, NC and will be convened once candidates have completed assessment and evaluation criteria.

(b) Review Board composition is as follows:

(1) President of the Board -- CSM USASOC.

(2) Members: CSM USAJFKSWC, CSM USASFC, Group CSM, SGM USASOC DCSOPS, CMF 18 Manager.

(c) The USASOC Psychologist will provide the review board with documentation concerning a candidates psychological stability.

d. Officer Personnel Accession Process. Special Forces qualified officers who volunteer to re-enter the Active Component as Special Forces officers must go through a two phased process. An initial screening will be conducted at Fort Bragg followed by an officer accession board. Officer boards will be established at the call of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, based on worldwide requirements. Applicants who are Army National Guard (ARNG) soldiers must have the approval of their State Adjutant General (AG), prior to volunteering.

(1) Screening Process. An evaluation of physical ability, performance of designated key tasks and mental stability will be conducted, at Fort Bragg, NC. The following items will be reviewed during the screening process:

(a) Complete physical examination

(b) APFT

(c) Psychological evaluation

(d) 12 mile road march with 55-lb ruck sack and weapon in 4.5 hours

(e) Copy of college transcripts verifying bachelors degree or higher.

(f) USASOC Review Board.

(2) Officer Accession Board. USAR/ARNG officers who previously served on AD, or in the RC, and request service in the Active Component will also appear before a board. The board will be convened at USASOC and will have, at a minimum, a Special Forces qualified USASOC representative in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. The USASOC Psychologist will advise the board. Selected officers will be considered for conditional voluntary indefinite (CVI) status provided otherwise eligible.

e. Waiver. Waivers to this policy will be submitted in writing to the Commander, USASOC as required.

4. Summary. Applicants who are approved by respective review boards will be accessed into AC Special Forces in accordance with TAPC and USAREC guidelines. Applicants failing to successfully complete any portion of the above criteria will not be considered for reevaluation for a minimum of 12 months. Questions concerning individual application should be directed to the POC for this program, Master Sergeant Bennett, CMF 18 Manager, Special Operations Proponency Office, USAJFKSWCS, DSN 239-8423/9002.