Army SFAS Calculator . Special Forces Selection Prep (Green Berets)

How SFAS Selection Works

The Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) is a 3-week evaluation at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) run by the 1st Special Warfare Training Group. It's the gateway to the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) . aka the Q Course . which takes another 12-24 months to earn your Green Beret.

SFAS doesn't grade you on a single PT test. It's an extended selection: long rucks, land nav (day and night), team events, a Star Course self-paced ruck, and a lot of watching how you break or don't. The published physical standards below are entry-level prep. If you're only at minimum, you will attrit fast.

SFAS Physical Prep Standards

Event	Minimum	Competitive
ACFT	500	540+
Pull-Ups	6	12+
5-Mile Run	40:00	≤ 35:00
12-Mile Ruck (45 lb)	3:00:00	≤ 2:45:00
CWST (15m ACU swim)	Pass	Pass

Plus land nav, team events, and the Star Course . a 40+ mile self-paced individual ruck with heavy load where cadre watch who keeps moving and who quits. SFAS is a gut check as much as a fitness test.

SFAS vs RASP: key differences

• Ruck weight: SFAS uses 45 lb base load. RASP uses 35 lb.
• Ruck volume: SFAS features the Star Course (40+ mi). RASP tops out around 18 mi events.
• Selection length: SFAS is 3 weeks. RASP is 8 weeks of continual assessment + training.
• Style: SFAS punishes mental breakdown (isolation, land nav). RASP punishes physical durability (continuous events).

How to prep each event

ACFT: Hit 540+ consistently before you ship. Focus extra on deadlift (heavy triples), SDC (sled work), and the 2MR (aerobic volume).

Pull-Ups: Weighted pull-ups twice weekly. Accumulate volume daily via greasing the groove. Target 15+ strict dead hang before SFAS.

5-Mile Run: Zone-2 aerobic base 3× per week plus one interval session. Tempo miles weekly. Sub-35:00 is the real goal.

12-Mile Ruck (45 lb): This is where candidates wash out most. Build to 12 mi @ 45 lb over 12-16 weeks. Practice in the same boots you'll wear. 13:30/mile pace is your target. Train the feet . blisters end careers.

CWST: 15m in ACUs + boots + rifle. Not technically hard. Candidates fail by panicking in gear. Practice in a pool wearing boots + fatigues . calm technique matters more than speed.

About this calculator

Scoring reflects published USAJFKSWCS prep standards. Official testing is done in the SFAS pipeline. Use this tool to benchmark . if you can't hit competitive scores, you'll waste your SFAS slot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the hardest event at SFAS?

Land nav and the Star Course. Candidates with strong PT scores get crushed by land nav failures . the cadre pays close attention to whether you can move independently, make decisions, and stay positive in isolation under load.

Is SFAS harder than RASP?

Different. RASP grinds you down with continuous cadre presence and physical events. SFAS isolates you and tests whether you can perform individually under prolonged stress. Both wash out 60-70% of candidates.

What's the 18X program?

The 18-series MOS contract that takes civilians directly into the Special Forces pipeline. If you enlist 18X, you attend Basic → Airborne → Pre-SFAS → SFAS → SFQC on orders. Most 18X candidates have to self-prep heavily because the pre-SFAS window is short.

How long to prep for SFAS from scratch?

12-24 months of disciplined training. Ruck volume is the limiter. You can build aerobic capacity in months but building durable feet + posterior chain to carry 45 lb for 40+ miles takes a year of consistent progressive loading.

Does SFAS run the ACFT?

Yes. SFAS candidates must pass an ACFT on arrival and again during selection. Score competitively or you're already behind.