Enhancing U.S. Army Special Forces: Research and Applications.

Brooks, Judith E.; Zazanis, Michelle M.

doi:10.21236/ada339086

“…The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) conducted research for more than a decade in support of Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF). The results of these research efforts were published in the following areas of interest: (a) supporting manpower and personnel, (b) improving selection, (c) developing tools for assessment, (d) enhancing training, and (e) Soldier and leader professional development (see Brooks & Zazanis, 1997 for a complete review). While these research areas continue to be relevant and of interest to ARSOF leaders, ARI's investigations were conducted prior to the events of September 11, 2001.…”

Section: Prefacementioning

confidence: 99%

Diet Quality Is Associated with Physical Performance and Special Forces Selection

Farina

¹

,

Thompson

²

,

Knapik

³

et al. 2019

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) conducted research for more than a decade in support of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) assessment, selection, and training. This research was completed prior to the events of September 11, 2001. Leaders at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) at Fort Bragg, NC, requested that ARI begin updating research in support of Special Forces. This report documents a new effort to understand better the roles of cognitive ability, physical fitness, and performance events in the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) process. In addition, researchers identified a measure of perseverance, viewed as an individual Soldier characteristic, to include in the investigation at the SWCS's request. The 824 Candidates who participated in this research completed a series of cognitive ability tests, physical fitness measures, SFAS performance events, and the test of perseverance. The results showed that almost all the tests and measures included in the analyses contributed to valid predictions of Soldier success with SFAS, but that their individual strengths of prediction varied. The SFAS performance events provided the greatest predictive strength, followed by the cognitive ability and physical fitness tests. While perseverance provided a unique contribution, its role was incremental, at best, and should not be used as a criterion for selection decisions in isolation from the other measures. Taken together, the tests and measures form an empirically-sound foundation upon which SFAS decisions can be based. Once obtained and analyzed, the outcome data from the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) and subsequent training will provide a more complete view of how well the tests and measures included in this research predict long-term success in Army Special Forces.

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“…Also, due to their military training and added preparation for the SFAS program, the soldiers may have been in better physical condition and thereby in a better position to handle stress. It is known that physical fitness is significantly related to the completion of the SFAS program (Brooks, 1997). In this study, physical fitness correlated significantly with selection (r = .12, p < .05) and voluntary withdrawal (r = -.12, p < .05).…”

Section: Psychosocial Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Soldiers are evaluated objectively (time/distance of runs and ruck marches) and subjectively (evaluation of abilities and personal characteristics; Zazanis). Roughly one in four who meet the initial prerequisites for applying to SF actually become SF soldiers, with the largest amount of attrition occurring during the SFAS program (Brooks, 1997).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although they do not know everything about the program, they are well aware of what will be expected of them, and each soldier voluntarily chooses to begin the program. Brooks (1997) found that the soldiers who reported that they could meet training goals outlined in a SFAS handbook were twice as successful as those who reported being unprepared. Morgan et al note that even when people feel stress, they may have a high tolerance for a stressful situation as long as they feel they are accomplishing a worthwhile task.…”

Section: Psychosocial Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of Psychosocial Resources on Elite Soldiers' Completion of a Demanding Military Selection Program

Gruber

¹

,

Kilcullen

²

,

Iso‐Ahola

³

2009

Military Psychology

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The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of three psychosocial resources (social support, mattering, and self-efficacy), together and separately, on soldiers' completion of a physically challenging military program when controlling for the possible mediating effects of stress. A total of 380 male soldiers entering Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course served as subjects. Results showed that the psychosocial resources were significantly and positively related to the program completion. Expected stress and cognitive stress did not mediate this effect. Of the three psychosocial resources, only the effect of self-efficacy was statistically significant. Implications of the findings are discussed.

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The roles of perseverance, cognitive ability, and physical fitness in U.S. Army special forces assessment and selection

Beal¹

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) conducted research for more than a decade in support of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) assessment, selection, and training. This research was completed prior to the events of September 11, 2001. Leaders at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) at Fort Bragg, NC, requested that ARI begin updating research in support of Special Forces. This report documents a new effort to understand better the roles of cognitive ability, physical fitness, and performance events in the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) process. In addition, researchers identified a measure of perseverance, viewed as an individual Soldier characteristic, to include in the investigation at the SWCS's request. The 824 Candidates who participated in this research completed a series of cognitive ability tests, physical fitness measures, SFAS performance events, and the test of perseverance. The results showed that almost all the tests and measures included in the analyses contributed to valid predictions of Soldier success with SFAS, but that their individual strengths of prediction varied. The SFAS performance events provided the greatest predictive strength, followed by the cognitive ability and physical fitness tests. While perseverance provided a unique contribution, its role was incremental, at best, and should not be used as a criterion for selection decisions in isolation from the other measures. Taken together, the tests and measures form an empirically-sound foundation upon which SFAS decisions can be based. Once obtained and analyzed, the outcome data from the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) and subsequent training will provide a more complete view of how well the tests and measures included in this research predict long-term success in Army Special Forces.

show abstract

Enhancing U.S. Army Special Forces: Research and Applications.

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Diet Quality Is Associated with Physical Performance and Special Forces Selection

Diet Quality Is Associated with Physical Performance and Special Forces Selection

Effects of Psychosocial Resources on Elite Soldiers' Completion of a Demanding Military Selection Program

The roles of perseverance, cognitive ability, and physical fitness in U.S. Army special forces assessment and selection

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