ASSESSMENT & SELECTION -AFSPECWAR
A&S is intentionally designed to be the most rigorous experience one will encounter in their life. It serves as a means to separate the weak, and unworthy from those who possess the necessary qualities. Many individuals will choose to quit or will not meet the requirements. Only those who genuinely exhibit a desire to join the elite ranks will thrive. The select few who remain focused, display unwavering mental and physical resilience, and demonstrate the attributes valued by AFSPECWAR will be rewarded with an immersive training pipeline and a career that will profoundly transform their lives.
Air Force Special Warfare prides itself on recruiting, training, and equipping the most exceptional individuals who embody excellence. The objective of the AFSPECWAR Assessment and Selection (A&S) course is to identify and select the finest candidates for enlisted roles such as Pararescue, Combat Control, and Special Reconnaissance, as well as officer positions like Special Tactics Officer (STO) and Combat Rescue Officer (CRO).
A&S PREP Course
The A&S Preparatory Course acts as a prerequisite to A&S, readying applicants for assessment and selection's rigorous demands.
Moreover, candidates must achieve various PT benchmarks before embarking on A&S. These include:
- Performing the Operator Fitness Test
- Treading water for four minutes (Hands in Water)
- Underwaters- 25m, three consecutive times in full uniform at a 3:00 interval
- 20m Mask and Snorkel Recovery
- Bobbing
A&S BREAKDOWN
A&S is 4 weeks long and broken down into 2 Segments: Field Phase & Selection Phase
Field Phase-2.5 Weeks- Candidates will experience the field, where they will spend their nights sleeping in cots with sleeping bags. Training is intense and continuous, and includes an array of challenges such as surface swimming, water confidence, grass & gorilla drills, running, rucking, calisthenics, and extended training days, with no days off.
Selection Phase- 1.5 Weeks- At this stage, candidates will undergo a series of tests including surveys, critiques, and interviews. Instructors will combine all relevant data and select only those candidates possessing desired career field attributes. Based on their performance and preference, enlisted candidates will be assigned job titles such as Pararescue, Combat Control, or Special Reconnaissance.
*TACP & TACPOs do not attend A&S due to not having a Water Confidence Requirement for their respective Career Fields*
A&S Continued & info
The Chapman Annex of Lackland Air Force Base in TX is home to the Air Force Special Warfare (AFSPECWAR) A&S, where Pararescue, Combat Control, Special Reconnaissance, Special Tactics Officer and Combat Rescue Officers undergo joint training. Non-prior service candidates, fresh out of basic training, will undergo an 8-week AFSPECWAR prep course on the main side of Lackland AFB to gear up for A&S. The course curriculum covers water confidence techniques, rehabilitation, physical conditioning, nutrition, and other vital skills, all culminating in rigorous A&S training.
What to expect at AF A&S -General Overview
Cardiorespiratory:
Cardiorespiratory training is crucial for increasing oxygen transfer efficiency in the body. To achieve this, engage in activities that elevate the heart rate to a training level and maintain it for at least twenty minutes. Running and swimming are two training areas of utmost importance for anyone aspiring to join the Air Force.
Running:
During Selection, extensive running is a requirement. The runs will progress quickly, and after just a few weeks, they can be as long as 40 minutes or more. To prepare yourself, run 3-4 times per week for 15 to 25 minutes at a steady pace without having to stop or walk. It's critical that you can run 3 miles under 21 minutes before starting basic training if you wish to succeed in the program.
A variety of different runs will be conducted during training at this course. These runs include long, slow, distance, fartlek, indian sprints, interval training, and others. The type running you will be evaluated on is "all out" distance running. Our standard for evaluated runs is a sub 7- minute per mile pace depending on the distance.
Swimming:
During the Selection Course, one must swim every day. A typical session may require you to swim 2000 meters or more. To prepare for it, you should make it a routine to swim 500-1000 meters, 3-5 times per week. Before basic training, it's crucial to swim 1000 meters in 20-25 minutes doing the freestyle stroke.
Strength and Endurance:
A&S training and mission demands require exceptional strength and endurance. Strength is defined by your ability to exert powerful force, while endurance enables the continuation of this force over a prolonged period. Optimal preparation involves cultivating a balance of strength and endurance throughout your body. Effective approaches include targeted calisthenics and weight training regimes that engage all major muscle groups. If you are currently engaged in an established weight-training program, maintain it but adjust your workouts to develop strength and endurance (using 8-12 repetition sets). To keep things lively, consider incorporating LOTS of calisthenics into your workouts too.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT AF A&S - Calisthenics
Push-Ups:
This exercise is a two-count movement that serves as an essential part of the selection course as well as the IFT. To start, position your hands just over shoulder-width apart with arms straightened out, legs extended, and back flattened. Count one; lower your chest until elbows extend above shoulder blades. Count two; return to the starting position. Keep in mind, rest time is only allowed in the starting position. And as a benchmark before basic training, you should be able to perform 60-70 repetitions, well above the IFT standards.
Pull-Ups/Chin-Ups:
The two-count exercise: Grab the bar and hang, palms facing away (for pull-ups) or towards you (for chin-ups), hands spaced shoulder-width apart. Count one: pull your body upwards until your Adam's Apple reaches above the bar, with your chin parallel to the floor. Count two: return to the starting position. Remember to avoid manipulating or kicking legs during the movement, though bending them is allowed. As a tip, aim for 10- 15 reps of this exercise before beginning your basic training. Incorporating this exercise to your routine will aid in boosting your strength and performance over time.
*NOTE: It is preferred to do Pull-ups (as opposed to chin-ups), though harder initially, will use much larger muscle groups that will allow for more repetitions as you continue to grow and develop your back muscles.*
Sit-Ups:
This exercise is a two-count regimen that helps improve your core strength. To start, lay flat on your back with your fingers interlocked behind your head, knees bent to a 90-degree angle, and your feet held by a partner. As you move into the first count, sit up until your shoulders and hips form a perpendicular line to the ground and your biceps touch your knees. During the second count, slowly return to the starting position -- ensuring that your buttocks remain on the ground and your fingers remain interlocked. While performing this exercise, aim to complete 60-75 repetitions before basic training.
Flutter Kicks:
This exercise requires four counts and promises intense results which aid your finning. Begin by laying flat on your back with your legs together and about 6" off the ground while keeping your legs and knees straight. You can rest your hands under your thighs or buttocks. 1...2...lift your left leg up to an approximately 45-degree angle, making sure to keep it straight, while your other leg remains off the ground. Then, on the count of 2, simultaneously lift your right leg in the same manner while returning the left leg to the starting position. It's essentially scissor kicking! Remember, 4 counts equal 1 repetition.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT AF A&S - finning/ Fin Swimming
The AFSPECWAR fin sessions feature distance swims while utilizing Rocket" or "Jet" style fins. Swimmers take on a prone glide position with an arm locked out in front to guide them and the other arm trailing or in a side stroke fashion for propulsion. With flutter kick motion from the legs and knees locked, body movement is focused at the hips. Breathing works similarly to freestyle swimming; however, it only occurs on one side. It is essential to note that while the swimmer's body orientation is on their side, and they never on their back.
Procedure:
Finning is an event that demands leg and hip strength, discipline and a meticulous form to succeed in. For optimized performance in finning exercises, this procedure is an essential regimen to undertake.
Here's what you'll need to do:
- Get ready to start finning and occupy your lane.
- Begin the exercise on the command "Go" with a flutter kick using just your legs.
- Swim while keeping on one side or stomach, extending one arm as you go forward.
- When you reach the wall, turn around, and continue the swim with the same posture.
- Repeat this routine rigorously until you complete the required number of laps or until the instructor calls time.
To enhance your form, refrain from using freestyle strokes or dolphin kicks during fin swims. Additionally, in case of sprints, complete the specified distance as swiftly as possible, allowing for rest before continuing. The crucial part of this exercise is that you complete each swim with the correct technique and complete distance within the provided time. Failing to do so could result in being judged as unsatisfactory .
Equipment: Dive mask, Rocket/Jet fins, and booties
Finning is an event that demands leg and hip strength, discipline and a meticulous form to succeed in. For optimized performance in finning exercises, this procedure is an essential regimen to undertake.
Here's what you'll need to do:
- Get ready to start finning and occupy your lane.
- Begin the exercise on the command "Go" with a flutter kick using just your legs.
- Swim while keeping on one side or stomach, extending one arm as you go forward.
- When you reach the wall, turn around, and continue the swim with the same posture.
- Repeat this routine rigorously until you complete the required number of laps or until the instructor calls time.
To enhance your form, refrain from using freestyle strokes or dolphin kicks during fin swims. Additionally, in case of sprints, complete the specified distance as swiftly as possible, allowing for rest before continuing. The crucial part of this exercise is that you complete each swim with the correct technique and complete distance within the provided time. Failing to do so could result in being judged as unsatisfactory .
Equipment: Dive mask, Rocket/Jet fins, and booties
WHAT TO EXPECT AT AF A&S - WATER CONFIDENCE
The primary goal of the below training plan is to augment your water confidence, endurance, and composure to respond effectively to high-pressure scenarios. These underwater exercises at AFSPECWAR will evaluate various pool training maneuvers, ensuring comprehensive preparation for daunting events any water-related mission may present.
WARNING: The following water confidence exercise descriptions are included for your information only! Do not attempt to do these exercises unless you have a lifeguard standing by for safety. Doing these events may lead to "shallow water blackout". If this condition occurs a lifeguard must be immediately available to prevent brain damage or death.
Drown Proofing:
Equipment: mask, ropes or velcro hand/leg cuffs.
Note that Drown Proofing is an extensive exercise to be tackled in four crucial tasks. The first task involves a student being bound by their hands and feet, sitting at the deep end of the pool, and starting to bob upon hearing the command "enter the water." This step is then followed by the initial task of bobbing, where you sink to the bottom of the pool. As you reach the bottom, bend your knees, push yourself off the bottom exhaling, and rise back to the surface, inhaling to repeat the process.
The second step is about floating, where you inflate your lungs with air and relax as you tuck in your chin to your chest and bend forward at your waist, restricting yourself to a specified square. Once you require air, you crane your head over the water to breathe and resume the float position. No poolside or bottom touch is allowed to stay within the marked square area.
The third task focuses on traveling, where you advance a total of 100 meters underwater with dolphin kicks, without touching the bottom. Your head is at a 90-degree angle, moving from up to down in water, moving you through the pool, and propelling your feet and knees towards the pool's other end.
And finally, the final task requires one to complete underwater front and backward flips before grabbing a mask thrown to the bottom of the pool, with only your teeth being utilized. From there, complete another five bobs before the instructor calls "time," ending the exercise. To obtain satisfactory results, all tasks should be executed in sequence without any panic.
Mask and Snorkel Recovery:
Equipment: Mask, Snorkel, T-shirt, Booties.
Procedure:
To facilitate mask and snorkel recovery skills of the students for underwater confidence, and evaluate their control and clear communication under pressure.
The mask and snorkel exercise consists of the following steps and is accomplished one or two students at a time.
1. Mask and snorkel placement
The instructor will throw or place the student's mask and snorkel a specified distance from the student.
2. Underwater swimming
On the command "go", the student will leave the surface of the pool and swim underwater to the location of his mask and snorkel.
3. Mask and snorkel positioning
Upon reaching them, he will place the snorkel between his legs and position his mask on his face. Once positioned, he will clear the mask of water, retaining a small amount of air.
4. Controlled ascent
He will then make a controlled ascent to the surface with the snorkel in his mouth and left arm extended above his head with clenched fist.
5. Verification and evaluation
Once on the surface he will clear the snorkel and give the "ok" hand signal to the evaluating instructor. He will ensure he is facing the instructor and immediately demonstrate that his mask and snorkel are clear by looking up at the instructor and breathing through the snorkel. A small amount of water in the mask is permissible as long as it does not exceed the top of the nose indents.
6. Conclusion and grading
While on the surface, the student will not break the mask or snorkel seal until the exercise has been graded, and he is permitted to do so by the instructor. This exercise will be scored unsatisfactory if the student surfaces prior to clearing the mask or fails to satisfactorily perform in any of the above listed areas.
Note: A successful completion of this exercise is an important milestone for students learning underwater swimming.
Buddy Breathing:
Equipment: Face masks, one snorkel per 2 man team, T-shirt, booties.
This exercise is conducted in the deep end of the pool and requires utmost focus. When directed by the instructor, students will enter the water and on the command "start", they will display their survival float skills whilst buddy breathing from one snorkel. During the exercise period, students will maintain physical contact with their buddy by locking arms, and pass the snorkel between each other with one hand. However, students should be mindful of their buddies' limited air supplies and take only one breath before returning the snorkel to their buddy. It's essential to note that students will breathe solely through the snorkel and refrain from removing their heads from the water to inhale air.
The exercise period ends on the command "time", during which each student must maintain his face in the water, remain calm, and control himself, his buddy, and the snorkel. Failure to do so leads to an unsatisfactory score, and one warning for unsatisfactory performance will be given. The instructor may also include pool harassment, a more intense version of buddy breathing, where the students are put in stressful situations to test their composure. However, the same standards for the buddy breathing exercise apply to the pool harassment exercise.
Harrassment Includes:
- Take the snorkel (don't let him)
- Remove the face mask
- Attempt to separate partners (don't let him)
- Cut off your air supply for one or two breaths
- Splash water
- Push students underwater
- OTHER MANEUVERS AT HIS DISCRETION
Treading Water:
Equipment: T-shirt, booties.
Procedure:
To effectively assess a student's water treading skills, begin by having the student move from waist-deep water to deeper water. On the command "hands up", the student should raise their hands out of the water and demonstrate their ability to tread water using only their legs. The student must maintain hand position above the wrist and ensure their head does not break the water line for the evaluated period. This evaluation is crucial to measure an individual's water competence.
Weight belt swim:
Equipment: Mask, fins, booties, T-shirt.
Procedure:
This exercise requires moving from waist-deep water to the deep end of the pool, after which the student must continuously swim on one side, with the front arm extended, for the designated duration without switching sides or touching any part of the pool. Additionally, the student's back cannot be used as a swimming position.
To aid in breathing, students can use the opposite arm to perform a "recovery stroke" and lift their heads out of the water. Incorporating this routine can help build endurance and improve overall swimming technique.
Underwater Knots:
Equipment: 2 sling ropes per student, T-shirt, booties.
Procedure:
Prior to commencing the exercise, the pool is equipped with a long rope and weights, prepped upon the instructor's command. The training apparatus will be managed by the class leader who ensures the rope and aids are appropriately placed poolside. The rope will be tethered across the pool's maximum depth, secured in position by 25-pound weights on either side, tightly clasping the rope to the floor.
The exercise commences with students disseminated along the rope's length as they energetically tread water. Each candidate assumes two ropes - one held while the other is lodged in their swimming trunks. Upon the instructor's direction, each student will descend to the rope and tie the designated know or knots before surfacing. Knots will be fashioned precisely, ensuring that tails are between four and eight inches. The instructor will inspect students' knots to ascertain accurate completion. In the case of an incorrect tie, the student must repeat the protocol until satisfyingly completed. Failure to accomplish the task will culminate in an unsatisfactory score for the exercise.
Equipment Recovery:
Equipment: Mask, fins, booties, T-shirt, weight belt.
Procedure:
You will start in the shallow end of the pool, facing towards the deep end, with all equipment on. At the command "move to the deep end", you will begin treading water and moving towards the deep end. Once there, you will tread water for a specified time period.
Then comes the real test. At the command "ditch your equipment", you must make a clear water surface dive to the deepest part of the pool. You must ditch your gear with precision: fins together and pointed to the head of the pool, mask on top of the fins, weight belt neatly placed over the mask and fins. After ditching, you must make a controlled ascent to the surface with left arm over your head and give the "ok" sign to the instructor.
Next up, the command "recover your equipment" will be given. You must make a clear water surface dive to your equipment and don it with your weight belt first, fins second, and mask third. After that, you must clear your mask and make another controlled ascent to the surface. At the surface, give the "ok" signal to the instructor and swim to the head of the pool without touching any equipment on the way.
At the head of the pool, you will exit the water and sit on the pool edge with your hands on top of your head. Your equipment will be checked for proper configuration by an instructor. To satisfactorily complete the exercise, you must ditch your equipment correctly on one dive and make a controlled ascent. You must then don your equipment correctly on one dive and make a controlled ascent. The mask must be completely clear of water. The weight belt must have a right-hand release, and no strap can be twisted. The fins must be worn correctly with no twist in the straps.