Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS): The Pain of Team Week

In SFAS you will feel the pain as individuals, but you cannot hope to pass unless you think and act as a team.

So, you’ve volunteered for Special Forces, and you’re gearing up for Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). Now’s the time to prepare for the grind ahead. These tips will help you achieve the level of physical fitness needed not just to pass the course but to excel.

You’ve passed the Land Navigation course. It wasn’t easy, but you discovered you’re pretty good at navigating. If you can navigate in Hoffman, you can navigate anywhere.

Welcome to Team Week

Now, you’ve reached Team Week. You’ve probably heard the horror stories about how tough it is. The truth is, you will be thoroughly tested. The tasks are hard, and you’re going to be worn down, especially if the weather doesn’t cooperate and the trails get muddy. But, like Land Navigation, thousands of guys have passed it, and so can you.

Special Forces 2 — *A Special Forces candidate crawls through a water obstacle during SFAS at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. (DVIDS)*

Team Week involves a series of tasks that candidates must accomplish within a set time. The Special Forces cadre will watch and evaluate your ability to solve problems, work as part of a team, and lead peers under physical and mental stress. These traits are crucial in your Special Forces career. And nothing will get you non-selected quicker than failing to work in a team.

Teamwork is Essential

Trust me, the cadre is always watching. During Team Week, I watched not only the candidate in the leadership position but also his teammates. Are they supporting him or just slacking off during breaks?

If you’re good at lashing, be prepared to stay busy. Successful teams quickly identify members skilled in certain areas. You’ll build some funky conveyances during Team Week. The better they’re lashed together and engineered, the quicker you’ll finish.

When it’s your turn to lead, be a good leader. You’re not the smartest guy in the room. Your teammates have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Use it. Listen to their ideas because you all have to cross the finish line together. Get everyone involved and pulling together.

Always Be a Leader

In Special Forces, you’re expected to perform above your pay grade. Always be a leader, regardless of your position. Support the guy in charge to the best of your ability because he might be supporting you next. This is reflected and tested in SFAS.

Candidates during SFAS — *Candidates push a jeep through a sandy firebreak. (DVIDS)*

Selection never ends. After SFAS, you’ll move on to the Q-course, earn your Long Tab, and wear the Green Beret. But you’ll forge your reputation every day. On an A-Team, everyone must pull together and trust each other completely. You’re starting a new career field; get off on the right foot and never stop.

Stay Cool Under Pressure

Always remain calm. You’ll be tired, worn down, and physically exhausted, but a person who loses control makes mistakes. Stay cool, calm, and collected. As Kipling said,

“If you can keep your head when all about you,
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too.”

The Gray Man

The concept of the “Gray Man” gets a lot of attention. Some say it means keeping a low profile while doing your best. Others think it means flying under the radar and hiding behind the masses. Be yourself. The cadre will know by then what kind of person you are.

You joined Special Operations to be part of the top one percent of the military. That doesn’t mean beating your chest every time you accomplish something, but it doesn’t mean sliding under the radar, either. As a cadre member, I didn’t evaluate kindly those who tried that.

Final Thoughts

Team Week will test and push you; it’s a big gut check. Take it seriously, but keep a positive mental attitude, and you’ll be fine.

Don’t be afraid to inject some humor. It can relieve stress and lighten the load. But use it in moderation.

Failures during Team Week usually stem from a lack of endurance, poor tactical troop-leading procedures, not being a team player, and poor leadership by example. These are preventable. Physical fitness not only helps you pass the events but also provides a better stress-coping mechanism. And Team Week will be stressful.

Don’t be late, don’t be light, don’t be last. And above all else… good luck!

**This article, originally written by Jonathan Weiss, has been reviewed and updated by the SOFREP News Team.

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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.