 Air Force Special Warfare is the Department of Defense's Ground Combat Force. It specializes in the application of air power and consists of seven career fields, combat control, para-rescue, tactical air control parties, special reconnaissance, combat rescue officers, special tactics officers, and tactical air control party officers. AFSPEC war operators conduct some of the most physically demanding and mentally challenging missions in the U.S. military. In line with these unique requirements, an underlying principle is that human capital is our competitive advantage. To that end, our rigorous training pipeline can last up to two years and intentionally builds airmen who are physically and mentally prepared to face these challenges. The AFSPEC war community values certain characteristics, traits, and qualities. These characteristics are crucial to being a successful operator, and they're emphasized throughout the Special Warfare training pipeline. Let's discuss them. DRIVE is absolutely foundational, and it can be defined as initiating action and persisting to accomplish tasks and goals. This effort has to be geared toward meeting and accomplishing a high standard, simply trying and not quitting is insufficient. Someone who has the kind of drive valued by AFSPEC war might be described as reliable, persistent, and has someone who takes initiative. DRIVE can be cultivated by paying attention to details, exercising self-discipline, and working hard to accomplish goals that require sustained effort. Stress Tolerance An operator's career hands them all kinds of stressors, both on and off the battlefield. In the face of an immediate stressor, maintenance of physical composure and cognitive functioning, like attention and memory, is absolutely crucial. You can improve your stress tolerance by learning how to control your responses to things like time pressure, uncertainty, chaos, and ambiguity. PROBLEM SOLVING When faced with a challenge or problem, what is your approach? How do you define the problem, come up with ideas about possible solutions, test those out, and decide which is the best course of action? These are all aspects of problem solving, another quality essential to successful AFSPEC war operators. No matter your AFSC, you will be put in unique situations that require strong problem solving skills. TEAMWORK AFSPEC war operators are not lone wolves. They must be able to function well in team environments. This is more than just popularity. Think about how you interact with others to work toward a common goal, how you adapt to your role as a leader or follower on the team, and how you contribute to an environment in which the team operates smoothly and effectively. Work on this by paying attention to teams in which you participate, and notice how you can continually strive to improve your teamwork. COMMUNICATION High quality information exchange can mean the difference between resounding mission success and complete mission failure. Some types of communication play a crucial role in team functioning. Here, we're really talking about more formal communication skills. Can you logically and purposefully organize your thoughts? Can you tailor your communication to make sure the receiver of the information understands it? Can you use the right terms, correct grammar, and appropriate pronunciation to make sure your message gets through? TRAINABILITY We don't expect new students to have existing skills related to AFSPEC war. We do, however, want people who are motivated to learn and open to the challenge of developing their knowledge base. Think about how you currently approach challenges related to learning and executing new skills. What are your weaknesses and strengths in those areas? How strong is your motivation to learn and grow? INTEGRITY Last, but certainly not least, AFSPEC war values integrity. Our operators often navigate ambiguous circumstances in which they're called upon to make independent decisions. Can we trust you to do the right thing when nobody is looking? Do your behaviors reflect an honest, fair, and ethical worldview? Think about these characteristics that are so important to the AFSPEC war community. Do these align with your values and motivations? How can you leverage your strengths or mitigate your weaknesses to become the best possible candidate to join Special Warfare? To learn more about Air Force Special Warfare, please visit