Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
I can chime in on Army stuff:
Rangers: There's the Regiment and then tab holders. For the Regiment, most rangers are 11-series, though there are a variety of support MOS as well. One can enlist for a Ranger option specifically, meaning one goes to Infantry Training, then Airborne, then the Ranger Indoctrination program, and if successful joins the Regiment as a Ranger. After some time in the Regiment and proving leadership capability, one can then attend Ranger School, which is a leadership course focused on patrolling (ambushes, raids, etc), and not really a "Spec Ops"-focused skill course, but it does award the Ranger Tab. Regiment Rangers get their "Spec Ops"-specific skills on the job in the Regiment and subsequently by attending special schools. Others joining the Regiment volunteer and are generally interviewed first, then must attend Airborne and ROP/RIP before joining the Regiment. "Tabbed" Rangers throughout the force have just graduated from Ranger School. They are mostly combat arms, E4 and above, and male-only, but have gotten a slot and attended Ranger School, but do not have to serve in the Regiment. Ranger School graduates wear the Ranger Tab; those assigned to the Regiment wear the tan beret (and all leaders in the Regiment are required to be tab-wearers). While all Regiment Rangers are Airborne qualified, it is possible to be a "Leg Ranger" and attend and pass Ranger School and receive the Ranger Tab without being Airborne qualified (though this is rare).
Special Forces: One can currently enlist directly for SF, though the traditional route is to volunteer for SF after reaching E5 (for enlisted) or CPT (for officers). Direct enlistees go to Infantry training, Airborne, the SF Assessment and Selection (SFAS), and if they pass then go on to the Qualification course for the specific MOS (18B Weapons, 18D medic, 18E communications, 18C demolitions). After passing the Q course they go to language training, then join an A-team and get subsequent specialty training from there (HALO, Scuba, sniper, etc). The traditional route has experienced E5 and above volunteer, then go to SFAS, and if successful the Q-course and remaining route. One can be any MOS to volunteer for SF, though most are Infantry background (or other combat arms). Senior SF NCOs can become SF Warrant Officers to become team 2ICs and intel/ops specialists. Officers can start in any branch (must be male), must volunteer for and be selected for SF as a CPT(P), and attend SFAS. If successful, they attend a basic branch career course (usually Maneuver), then the Q-course, etc. SF units also have "other MOS" support MOS (like logistics/supply) that must be Airborne but are otherwise not specially selected, and are not "SF-qualified" (meaning they do not wear the "long Tab" -- the "Special Forces" tab and Green Beret that only Q-course graduates wear).
Delta: Delta operatives are recruited from the Army at large and do not have to be either combat arms or other SF background (though combat arms and Ranger/SF are the majority of backgrounds). Volunteers must be E5(P) or branch-qualified CPT and above, so these are all experienced folks usually with a minimum of 8 years of service behind them already. If they pass initial screening (psych interviews and physical fitness test), they are sent to a grueling selection course, and those passing enter operator training and are taught the specific CT skills that Delta performs, and eventually receive other specialty training. Delta also has a support squadron consisting of specially selected "other MOS" personnel (all the sorts of specialties that support other units: intel, personnel, communications, logistics, etc, etc) -- they are carefully screened to ensure they are the best of their field, but do not go through the operator selection course or operator training, and are not considered operators. All Delta operatives and support personnel are required to be Airborne qualified (those not Airborne at selection are sent to the course).
Other Army "Spec Ops" fields include Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs, and the aviators of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, all of which fall under the US Army Special Operations Command at Ft Bragg NC. PSYOPS and CA are entry MOS for enlisted and secondary career fields for officers, and are their own units. SOAR aviators are chosen from highly experienced pilots and other aviation personnel; the 160th provides specialty aviation support for special operations of all types and flies uniquely configured aircraft and missions.
Hope that helps some.
Rangers: There's the Regiment and then tab holders. For the Regiment, most rangers are 11-series, though there are a variety of support MOS as well. One can enlist for a Ranger option specifically, meaning one goes to Infantry Training, then Airborne, then the Ranger Indoctrination program, and if successful joins the Regiment as a Ranger. After some time in the Regiment and proving leadership capability, one can then attend Ranger School, which is a leadership course focused on patrolling (ambushes, raids, etc), and not really a "Spec Ops"-focused skill course, but it does award the Ranger Tab. Regiment Rangers get their "Spec Ops"-specific skills on the job in the Regiment and subsequently by attending special schools. Others joining the Regiment volunteer and are generally interviewed first, then must attend Airborne and ROP/RIP before joining the Regiment. "Tabbed" Rangers throughout the force have just graduated from Ranger School. They are mostly combat arms, E4 and above, and male-only, but have gotten a slot and attended Ranger School, but do not have to serve in the Regiment. Ranger School graduates wear the Ranger Tab; those assigned to the Regiment wear the tan beret (and all leaders in the Regiment are required to be tab-wearers). While all Regiment Rangers are Airborne qualified, it is possible to be a "Leg Ranger" and attend and pass Ranger School and receive the Ranger Tab without being Airborne qualified (though this is rare).
Special Forces: One can currently enlist directly for SF, though the traditional route is to volunteer for SF after reaching E5 (for enlisted) or CPT (for officers). Direct enlistees go to Infantry training, Airborne, the SF Assessment and Selection (SFAS), and if they pass then go on to the Qualification course for the specific MOS (18B Weapons, 18D medic, 18E communications, 18C demolitions). After passing the Q course they go to language training, then join an A-team and get subsequent specialty training from there (HALO, Scuba, sniper, etc). The traditional route has experienced E5 and above volunteer, then go to SFAS, and if successful the Q-course and remaining route. One can be any MOS to volunteer for SF, though most are Infantry background (or other combat arms). Senior SF NCOs can become SF Warrant Officers to become team 2ICs and intel/ops specialists. Officers can start in any branch (must be male), must volunteer for and be selected for SF as a CPT(P), and attend SFAS. If successful, they attend a basic branch career course (usually Maneuver), then the Q-course, etc. SF units also have "other MOS" support MOS (like logistics/supply) that must be Airborne but are otherwise not specially selected, and are not "SF-qualified" (meaning they do not wear the "long Tab" -- the "Special Forces" tab and Green Beret that only Q-course graduates wear).
Delta: Delta operatives are recruited from the Army at large and do not have to be either combat arms or other SF background (though combat arms and Ranger/SF are the majority of backgrounds). Volunteers must be E5(P) or branch-qualified CPT and above, so these are all experienced folks usually with a minimum of 8 years of service behind them already. If they pass initial screening (psych interviews and physical fitness test), they are sent to a grueling selection course, and those passing enter operator training and are taught the specific CT skills that Delta performs, and eventually receive other specialty training. Delta also has a support squadron consisting of specially selected "other MOS" personnel (all the sorts of specialties that support other units: intel, personnel, communications, logistics, etc, etc) -- they are carefully screened to ensure they are the best of their field, but do not go through the operator selection course or operator training, and are not considered operators. All Delta operatives and support personnel are required to be Airborne qualified (those not Airborne at selection are sent to the course).
Other Army "Spec Ops" fields include Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs, and the aviators of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, all of which fall under the US Army Special Operations Command at Ft Bragg NC. PSYOPS and CA are entry MOS for enlisted and secondary career fields for officers, and are their own units. SOAR aviators are chosen from highly experienced pilots and other aviation personnel; the 160th provides specialty aviation support for special operations of all types and flies uniquely configured aircraft and missions.
Hope that helps some.
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