Question about U.S. Army Special Forces?

Question

Prior to enlisting in the service in the 60's I had investigated the army as an option and read quite a bit of literature on special forces. Army brochures described the process of enlisting for airborne then applying for special forces. They described ranger training and then further specialized training. A few years ago I ran into a former green beret and we had a conversation about our vietnam experiences. I mentioned a friend by name who was in SF and his SF group. This guy said "Oh, that was an airborne group". I said of course, they're all airborne. He told me I was incorrect. Since then others have told me this guy was correct..that not all SF were airborne. In light of the info I had before that by definition SF were special trained airborne rangers can anyone explain this to me? If all SF groups weren't airborne then, are they now? What about rangers? Back then they weren't all airborne. Are they now? Can one go to ranger training without having done jump school?

Just always been curious about this.

I wonder if it might be that while to be in special forces you had to be airborne that not all SF groups were on airborne status?

Semper Fi jokerkid613....To show you how much things have changed....I knew guys who were in 1st Force Recon Co. that werent jump qualified. They needed them faster than they could train them.

Answer 1

let me try and clarify this for you, Rangers or a separate entity from the Special Forces although they are both Special Operations Groups and work together on many occasions, also not all but many of those in Special Forces are former Rangers that have gone on to the Q-course and have become Special Forces. All Rangers and Special Forces must be jump qualified there are no exceptions, now with that being said not all are in what is called and Airborne Regimental system that is designated as being on jump status.but whether they call the unit Airborne or not all Ranger company's and Special Forces groups are Airborne.

Answer 2

As far as Ranger school, you can go there without being airborne qualified. If you want to be in Ranger battalion then you do have to be airborne qualified. You go to jump school first then to Ranger Indoctrination Course and if you make it you go to the unit.

Special Forces groups are all airborne now. You have to pass airborne school and be on jump status throughout SF training and your time in Group if you make it through the training. You can go to SF selection without being airborne qualified, but if you are selected and want to continue with SF training then they will send you to jump school before any other training after selection.

As a side note, it isn't accurate to think of SF as special trained rangers. Although SF does get a lot of training beyond most military units, one thing that really sets them apart is that they are Force Multipliers. That basically means that they go in as a team and work with the indigenous population, training them and advising them. Basically a small SF team of Americans can go in and build a fighting force out of the people in that country. They learn the language and culture and integrate themselves with those people, no one else in the military does this, not Rangers, not SEALS. SF teams were first in Afghanistan as well as Iraq.

Answer 3

I was recon in the Marines and becuase the corps has no money we had to go to the ARMY's jump school I even got to wear a ranger tab inside the brim of my cover (hat). Anyway, every SF guy I ever ran into, there and in SERE school, had been through Jump school. From what I understand Ranger school is a prerequisite of SF and ALL rangers have to go through airborne training. I wouldn't imagine anyone would make it to SF without having gone airborne first.

Answer 4

at the begining not all sf groups were airborne.the 10th group in germany was one.but some members were airborne qualified but the group itself wasnt on jump status.the 5th sf group was responsible for viet nam and was airborne capable.groups are split up into a teams and b teams with a teams being in the field.some of these teams were dual qualified sf/ranger units for specialized recon work in the north and cambodia.most randers in vietnam went through the recondo school in viet nam.
now all sf and rangers are airborne qualified but you can go to both training courses with out doing jump school first.

Answer 5

The difference with Rangers is attending the school vs. being assigned to the Ranger Regiment. Although it's somewhat rare airborne school is not a prerequisite to attend Ranger school. Individuals who have attended Ranger school and not attended Airborne school are forever know as "leg Rangers." In my 20 years in the Army I worked with hundreds of Ranger qualified guys and only met one "leg" Ranger...

SF is one of the few MOS's in the Army where jump school and ability to maintain jump status is a requirement for the MOS. No such thing as a "leg" SF qualified soldier.

Answer 6

My brother was SF. I was under the impression all SF were jump qualified--that's not to say that each group is considered an airborne group. And because a soldier transfers from one group to another, it wouldn't be practical if they had to send soldiers to additional training.

Answer 7

As far as I've ever been able to tell, you can go to SF and Ranger school without going to airborne school, but you have to go through airborne at some point.

Answer 8

I never knew any who were in special forces that were not jump qualified. It was only a 3 week course at Benning and the Rangers are trained there at Benning as well!

Most of them are crossed trained to do several jobs.

SF today I don't know. Especially since most troops now use helicopters!

Answer 9

snipers also ,recon, my uncle was in Nam from 53 to 64 he was a lifer also . Sometimes they trained for jumps with the airborne.Also intelligence ,communications. And im sure it depended on the missions

Answer 10

sf in evert branch..not all ab