What would SF be like as a female going through? What is it like in general?

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 22:25:55 -0500

I'm a female (obviously) but it's been a dream of mine to a part of something more than just the bare minimum. And in the Army, to me, that's special forces.

Just wanted details if anyone has gone through it. But what would it be like as a female going through? and what is it like in general? like basic requirements and the kind of stuff I'd be faced with if I was chosen?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 14 at 2019 10:41 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 22:41:18 -0500

Don’t tell, Women are in various SF organizations. Women can be very effective in ‘situations’!

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Feb 14 at 2019 11:11 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 23:11:33 -0500

Look at some YouTube clips about SFAS (Special Forces Assessment and Selection). Food and sleep deprivation are the norm along with severe interpersonal, physical and psychological challenges. Even at the end, cadre may disqualify anyone they see as culturally unfit.

If memory serves, I saw a previous post of yours elsewhere asking about dealing with significant running soreness. If this is the case, don’t even think about SF until you can recover and push yourself to extreme level of fitness.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2019 11:36 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 23:36:44 -0500

You need to be just as good as any man. Never be a liability, be an asset.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 15 at 2019 12:45 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 00:45:01 -0500

SF qualified (tabbed) females have not happened yet. I am tracking the first woman made it through SFAS in November 2018, which is the first gate. So not a lot of people to give you feedback at this point.

There are women who serve in various capacities through out Special Operations Command. Unsure how much response you'll get due to OPSEC.

Edit: if you intend to pursue selection for SF as an officer, it is a slightly different route. You can't enter SF as a 2LT "off the street". You go to SFAS as a senior 1LT/Junior Captain. They regulate it by officer year group (YG).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 2:28 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 02:28:11 -0500

Not sure why you think that's SF, but OK. Don't fall for the recruiting hype. The number one reason people leave SF is because it's not what they thought it would be - this is coming from the guy who reenlisted SF and also transitioned them from the active component into the reserves.

You'll probably fail.
You need to understand that before you make your decision and to make your plans.
That's not because you're a woman. Chances are that you will be pushed through selection until a significant number of females have accessed into special forces. Until that time, everything you do short of quitting, will be reviewed by a higher level commander through the lens of, "from a far left senator perspective, does this look like we discriminated against someone for being female?" So, you will actually have a better chance of making it through selection and the Q course than some of your male comrades. Even so, most people will quit at some time...greater than 90%. Of course, "you" won't, but that's what everyone says.
Once that happens, you become needs of the Army. It may be infantry, cook, or supply. Whether you were injured, quit, or failed academic standards, the Army will put you into whatever MOS no one else wants.

This is my suggestion: pick a support MOS that is common in an SF group and ask for Airborne in your contract. With a Secret Security Clearance, 100 GT and Airborne you can reenlist after your first assignment for an assignment at an SF group. You can see first hand what a group is like and how an ODA operates. Once you are there, you can attend selection without the threat of getting a new job if you fail.
You may find SF isn't the route for you, not everyone enjoys the mission of training foreign nationals. The Army is the foundation of almost all the special operations, SF is just one of many. In fact, of the special, it's the largest in the Army. There are 24,000 SF in the Army. We also have Rangers, Night Stalkers, Delta, Great Skills, PSYOPS, Civil Affairs, Cultural Support Teams, Asymmetric Warfare Group, USASED, JSOC (actually joint, not Army), and many other special missions units you've never heard of.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Feb 15 at 2019 6:52 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:52:01 -0500

You want to get into Special Operations Force, get an Intell MOS and be the best in the career field. If, you are good, you will be asked if you are interested several years down the road. There is a Selection process which you would have to go through and the PROCESS IS CONTINIOUS. Only the best are selected.