The US Army offers a variety of training programs for its soldiers, ranging from basic to advanced. Some of these programs are designed to test the physical and mental limits of the candidates and prepare them for the most challenging missions. Here are the top 10 hardest Army schools in the US, based on the difficulty of the curriculum, the selection rate, and the attrition rate.
Top 10 hardest Army schools in America
The article ranks the 10 most insane Army schools in the US by how tough they are. The schools are Airborne School, Air Assault School, Pathfinder School, Sniper School, Mountain Warfare School, Sapper Leader Course, Ranger School, Special Forces Qualification Course, Combat Diver Qualification Course, and Delta Force Selection Course. The article describes what each school teaches, how long it lasts, and what the pass and fail rates are. The article also explains why each school is hard physically and mentally, and what skills and qualities are needed to succeed.
10. Airborne School
Airborne School is a three-week course that teaches soldiers how to parachute from military aircraft. The course consists of three phases: ground, tower, and jump. In the ground phase, soldiers learn the basics of parachute equipment, landing techniques, and safety procedures. In the tower phase, they practice exiting from a 34-foot tower and a 250-foot tower using a harness and a cable. In the jump phase, they perform five static-line jumps from a C-130 or C-17 aircraft at an altitude of 1,250 feet.
Airborne School is not very hard physically, but it requires a lot of courage and confidence to overcome the fear of heights and jumping out of a plane. The course has a selection rate of about 90% and an attrition rate of about 10%.
9. Air Assault School
Air Assault School is a 10-day course that teaches soldiers how to conduct air assault operations using helicopters. The course consists of three phases: combat assault, sling load, and rappelling. In the combat assault phase, soldiers learn how to prepare for and conduct helicopter missions, such as insertion, extraction, and resupply. In the sling load phase, they learn how to inspect, rig, and hook up external loads to helicopters. In the rappelling phase, they learn how to rappel from helicopters using different techniques and equipment.
Air Assault School is physically demanding, as it involves running, ruck marching, obstacle courses, and rappelling. The course also requires a lot of attention to detail and memorization of facts and procedures. The course has a selection rate of about 80% and an attrition rate of about 20%.
8. Pathfinder School
Pathfinder School is a three-week course that teaches soldiers how to establish and operate drop zones, landing zones, and pickup zones for air assault operations. The course consists of three phases: helicopter landing zone operations, drop zone operations, and pathfinder operations. In the helicopter landing zone operations phase, soldiers learn how to select, mark, secure, and control landing zones for helicopters. In the drop zone operations phase, they learn how to select, mark, secure, and control drop zones for parachutists and cargo. In the Pathfinder operations phase, they learn how to plan, coordinate, and execute Pathfinder missions.
Pathfinder School is academically challenging, as it involves a lot of calculations, measurements, maps, charts, and signals. The course also requires a high level of physical fitness and endurance. The course has a selection rate of about 60% and an attrition rate of about 40%.
7. Sniper School
Sniper School is a seven-week course that teaches soldiers how to become expert marksmen and scouts. The course consists of three phases: basic sniper skills, fieldcraft skills, and advanced sniper skills. In the basic sniper skills phase, soldiers learn how to shoot accurately and consistently at long ranges using different rifles and ammunition. In the fieldcraft skills phase, they learn how to camouflage, stalk, observe, and report enemy activity using various techniques and equipment. In the advanced sniper skills phase, they learn how to engage moving targets, multiple targets, and urban targets using advanced tactics and techniques.
Sniper School is very hard mentally and physically, as it requires a lot of concentration, patience, discipline, and stamina. The course also requires a high level of shooting proficiency and fieldcraft skills. The course has a selection rate of about 50% and an attrition rate of about 50%.
6. Mountain Warfare School
Mountain Warfare School is a two-week course that teaches soldiers how to operate in mountainous terrain and cold weather conditions. The course consists of two phases: summer and winter. In the summer phase, soldiers learn how to climb, rappel, cross rivers, navigate, and survive in mountainous terrain. In the winter phase, they learn how to ski, snowshoe, build shelters, and fight in cold weather conditions.
Mountain Warfare School is physically exhausting, as it involves a lot of hiking, climbing, and skiing in high altitudes and harsh environments. The course also requires a lot of adaptability and resilience to overcome the challenges and hazards of mountain warfare. The course has a selection rate of about 40% and an attrition rate of about 60%.
5. Sapper Leader Course
Sapper Leader Course is a 28-day course that teaches soldiers how to perform and lead engineer missions in support of combat operations. The course consists of two phases: general subjects and patrolling. In the general subjects phase, soldiers learn how to perform and instruct various engineer tasks, such as demolitions, breaching, bridging, mining, countermining, mountaineering, waterborne operations, and land navigation. In the patrolling phase, they learn how to plan, execute, and lead engineer reconnaissance, raids, ambushes, and other combat patrols.
Sapper Leader Course is extremely hard physically and mentally, as it involves a lot of running, ruck marching, obstacle courses, and field exercises with minimal sleep and food. The course also requires a lot of leadership skills and technical knowledge to accomplish the engineering missions. The course has a selection rate of about 30% and an attrition rate of about 70%.
4. Ranger School
Ranger School is a 62-day course that teaches soldiers how to become elite light infantry leaders. The course consists of three phases: Benning, Mountain, and Florida. In the Benning phase, soldiers learn the fundamentals of squad and platoon tactics, leadership, and physical fitness. In the Mountain phase, they learn how to operate in mountainous terrain and conduct airborne and air assault operations. In the Florida phase, they learn how to operate in swamp and coastal environments and conduct amphibious and riverine operations.
Ranger School is notoriously hard physically and mentally, as it involves a lot of walking, crawling, climbing, and fighting with little sleep and food. The course also requires a lot of courage, determination, and teamwork to overcome the stress and adversity of the training. The course has a selection rate of about 20% and an attrition rate of about 80%.
3. Special Forces Qualification Course
Special Forces Qualification Course is a six-month to the two-year course that teaches soldiers how to become Green Berets, the Army’s elite unconventional warfare specialists. The course consists of six phases: orientation, language, small unit tactics, survival, unconventional warfare, and specialty training. In the orientation phase, soldiers learn the history, mission, and organization of the Special Forces. In the language phase, they learn a foreign language relevant to their assigned region. In the small unit tactics phase, they learn advanced combat skills and techniques. In the survival phase, they learn how to survive, evade, resist, and escape in hostile territory. In the unconventional warfare phase, they learn how to plan, conduct, and support guerrilla warfare and resistance movements. In the specialty training phase, they receive additional training in their chosen specialty: weapons sergeant, engineer sergeant, medical sergeant, or communications sergeant.
The special Forces Qualification Course is very hard physically and mentally, as it involves a lot of running, ruck marching, swimming, shooting, and field exercises with high standards and expectations. The course also requires a lot of intelligence, creativity, and adaptability to master the diverse skills and tasks of the Special Forces. The course has a selection rate of about 10% and an attrition rate of about 90%.
2. Combat Diver Qualification Course
Combat Diver Qualification Course is a six-week course that teaches soldiers how to become combat divers, the Army’s elite underwater operators. The course consists of four phases: diving theory, open-circuit diving, closed-circuit diving, and maritime operations. In the diving theory phase, soldiers learn the physics, physiology, and medicine of diving. In the open circuit diving phase, they learn how to dive using standard SCUBA equipment up to 130 feet deep. In the closed circuit diving phase, they learn how to dive using rebreather equipment up to 130 feet deep. In the maritime operations phase, they learn how to perform underwater reconnaissance, infiltration, exfiltration, demolition, and recovery missions.
The combat Diver Qualification Course is extremely hard physically and mentally, as it involves a lot of swimming, breathing, holding breath, diving, and performing tasks underwater with limited visibility and communication. The course also requires a lot of discipline, confidence, and professionalism to follow the strict procedures and standards of combat diving. The course has a selection rate of about 5% and an attrition rate of about 95%.
1. Delta Force Selection Course
Delta Force Selection Course is a six-week course that selects soldiers for the Army’s most elite counter-terrorism and direct action unit known as Delta Force or 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D). The course consists of three phases: physical fitness test, land navigation, and aptitude test. During physical fitness test phase, soldiers have to pass a series of demanding physical tests, such as running, swimming, push-ups, sit-ups, and ruck marches. During land navigation phase, they have to navigate through unfamiliar terrain with a map and compass, day and night, under various weather conditions. During the aptitude test phase, they have to undergo psychological evaluations, interviews, and scenario-based exercises that test their problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership skills. The course is highly secretive and requires soldiers to have world-class athleticism, endurance, and intelligence.
conclusion
the US military offers some of the most challenging and realistic training programs in the world. From the Colombian Lancero course that tests the physical and mental endurance of Army Green Berets, to the Navy SEAL training that teaches underwater demolition and parachuting skills, to the Air Force Pararescue School that prepares airmen to rescue fallen warriors in any environment, these courses are not for the faint of heart. Only those who have the courage, determination, and resilience to overcome the toughest obstacles can earn the title of US commando. These are the top 10 hardest Army schools in the US, and they are what make the US military one of the most elite fighting forces in history.