Special Forces Qualification Course Graduation and Attrition Statistics for Soldiers Selected for Training in FY89-FY91.

The Special Forces Qualification Course SFQC Longitudinal Database tracks individuals and cohorts of individuals through the Special Forces SF assessment and training pipeline--from the Special Forces Assessment and Selection SFAS program through each attempt to successfully complete the SFQC. This report addresses six questions concerning individual graduation, attrition and recycle rates over time and across SF Military Occupational Specialties MOS for SFAS candidates selected from classes conducted between fiscal year FY89 and FY91. Three results are especially noteworthy. First, examination of graduation rates shows 18D training to be the most difficult to complete, especially for lower ranking soldiers i.e., Specialists. Second, there is a downward trend in graduation rates from FY89 to FY91. This decline is especially pronounced for the medic training track. Third, results show that soldiers from combat arms, as opposed to non-combat arms, backgrounds were more likely to succeed at the SFQC. The potential impact of these results for forecasting how many soldiers will make it through the selection and training pipeline and for identifying soldiers who are most likely to succeed is discussed.