Q&A for How to Join Delta Force

To join Delta Force you must also be a citizen in the United States and be enlisted in the U.S. Army.

7 to 8 months to be exact, including selection and the operator qualification courses.

Most Delta come from the Special Forces (Green Beret) so get into Special Forces. Most Special Forces come from Rangers or have at least gone through Ranger school. Other important qualities include: being very physically fit, being "trainable" - i.e listening carefully and asking smart questions, learning to think outside the box/on your feet. It's important to be disciplined but not too regimented in your thinking. Find ways to make yourself stand out, maybe you were a great Eagle Scout, track star, etc.

One way to move up the chain is by going to West Point. Taking ROTC programs at colleges that offer them can help you start at a higher rank. No amount of school will get you in D company.

Yes. However, officers are held to a much higher standard than regular infantry, both physically and mentally. They're usually the ones tasked with being the leaders of their respective training groups. They need to have excellent leadership skills as well as be the most dedicated and motivated soldiers throughout training. Any failure in upholding these standards and you will not be given entry into Delta Force.

Delta Force promotes equally based on attitude, leadership, self-motivation and experience in any U.S. Special Force such as the Rangers or SEAL.

You won't make it in any branch of the military being overweight. There are some thicker guys that make it, but it all depends on how good of shape you're in. The more weight you're carrying, the more likely it is that your knees won't hold up during training. Go on a diet, exercise your butt off, then join. Only a very few make D company.

Yes. Delta recruits from all branches of the US Military.

Yes, Delta only takes people who have already been in a special force, like Army Rangers, Green Berets, etc.

No. The Navy SEALs are part of the Naval special forces unit, and the Delta force is the Army's counter terrorism group. You cannot be a part of two different military branches.

The SAS are British Special Forces, and Delta Force are US Special Forces. They are similar, but from different countries. The SAS also do bodyguarding and are much harder to join.

Definitely not. You'd have to be top notch. Twenty-two is the age requirement.

Yes, Delta Force recruits from all special forces. If you are an officer, you will be held to much higher standards for assessment and selection.

Women are not allowed to be Special Forces Operators and therefore cannot be a member of SFOD-D. Having said that, however, they can call their branch manager and request to be attached in a support role within their MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).

First determine if you want to be an officer or deputy. Then decide if you want to stay a volunteer or eventually become full time. Then figure out how far you are willing to travel each time for work. Do you have special skills like computers, medical, other languages, etc.? Go on a ride along with agencies you think you might want to work for. Some larger agencies have their own training program, smaller ones don't, so look at community colleges for training.

Right now, the Army ordinarily does't allow women in combat roles, although in 2018 (or 2017), two women qualified for, and were accepted into, the Army Rangers. "Combat role" isn't just battlefield. It's any mission where the personnel are required to be combat-trained. Also, physical requirements and training in general are tougher than what most soldiers are likely to need in combat, giving some flexibility for differences between men and women. For Delta, requirements are far greater, and operators are virtually certain to routinely be in situations that are as tough or tougher than the training maximum.

No, you must be active duty and have at least 2 years left on your contract.

Honestly, it depends on the situation. Ask a Task Force Delta Ranger; I am sure he would give a very detailed answer.

No, you have to have a high school diploma. The Marines will barely let you in with a GED.

Yes, Delta has Marines. You can always transfer to the army but you'll be behind on promotion. Most Marines in Delta stay Marines (and after speaking to a former Marine, they stay in Delta until retirement).

Its okay to be thin. When I went through BUD/S, I was one of the smallest guys in the class but I was also working out a lot doing cardio. In SO and SF programs, the number one thing that helps is doing cardio and embracing the grind. These type of programs are marathons, not sprints.

They accept applications from all personnel in the US Military and on rare occasions outside military SOF units. If you are not in a combat arms job, go to BUD/S, get a deployment or two in, then seek DEVGRU or Delta.

No, you must be male to join. Most women who join Special Forces, like Rangers, don't even make it into the Rangers.

You'll need to be a American Citizen in order to join Delta Force. Most importantly you will need to enlist for the U.S. army for 4 years to join the Delta Force.

You must join the military first, but your police background may help with selection and training.

Probably about 4–10 years. Delta operators will often be older, in their mid 30s. They have gone airborne, ranger battalion and/or SF. If they have done all three they will be early thirties, retiring in their late thirties.

You would need to enlist in the US military, obtain security clearance, and pursue a pathway to join.

No. The reason is that Marines are Marines, and Delta Force are soldiers. Enlisted soldiers can join Delta Force though.

No. SFOD-D is an Army unit, which means you must be in the army -- even if you're MARSOC.