Can Women Join The Special Forces? | The Facts About

Yes, women are permitted to join U.S. Special Operations Forces, though very few have passed the rigorous selection process to date.

Ask anyone whether women can join the Green Berets or other special operations units, and you’ll probably get a quick “no” — or a story about how the policy technically changed years ago. The 2015 Pentagon decision to open all combat roles to women was a major shift, but most people assume nothing actually changed.

The truth is more layered. Women are allowed to try out for every Special Operations Forces (SOF) role in the U.S. military, including Army Special Forces, Naval Special Warfare, and Air Force special tactics. But actually passing selection is a different challenge, and the numbers so far reflect just how demanding these programs are.

Policy Is Open, Reality Is Narrow

The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) began actively changing policies after 2016 to allow women to compete for all SOF positions. The official door is wide open. No branch bars women from trying out based on gender alone.

That figure comes from military data — and it covers multiple career fields, not just Army Special Forces.

The number who have actually passed selection and earned a beret or tab is far smaller. A 2024 review noted that only a handful of women have ever qualified for Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS), and even fewer completed the program.

Why So Few Women Have Succeeded

The gap between policy and outcomes isn’t about discrimination — it’s about the physical and mental demands of selection. Here are the main obstacles the evidence points to:

• SFAS physical demands: Candidates must climb obstacles 20 to 30 feet high using rope, swim in boots and the Army Combat Uniform, and ruck cross-country with a minimum 45-pound load. These tasks test raw strength and endurance in ways that disproportionately affect smaller candidates.
• Pullup and push-up standards: Women now must complete the same number of pullups or push-ups as men for certain jobs, which raised the bar for female candidates.
• Cultural and retention barriers: A 2024 study outlined 42 recommendations specifically designed to address obstacles facing female soldiers in special operations units and to retain top female talent once they qualify.
• Low application numbers: Fewer women attempt SOF selection compared to men, so even at equal pass rates, the absolute number of successful women would be low.

These factors together mean that even motivated, fit women face a steep climb. But the military is actively studying how to improve the pipeline without lowering standards.

What Training Actually Looks Like

The Army’s Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) is the best-known gateway. It’s a multi-week event held at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, where candidates are evaluated on physical tasks, land navigation, team problem-solving, and psychological resilience. The pass rate for all candidates — male and female — hovers around 30 to 40 percent historically.

Physical events include the ones mentioned above, plus timed runs, obstacle courses, and ruck marches over rough terrain with a heavy pack. The official 54 women entered training number from MilitaryTimes shows that even getting a slot to attend selection is a win — many candidates wash out before assessment even begins.

Other SOF branches have similar assessment programs: Air Force Special Warfare’s selection, Navy SEAL training (BUD/S), and Marine Corps Critical Skills Operator selection. Each has its own physical benchmarks, but all demand exceptional endurance, strength, and mental toughness.

These benchmarks are minimums — candidates who barely meet them rarely pass selection. Most successful candidates exceed every number significantly.

How the Standards Are Changing

The military standards landscape has shifted twice in the last few years. First came the 2025 Pentagon elimination of gender‑differentiated fitness tests for combat roles. Then Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s October 2025 directives added daily physical training, strict height‑weight requirements, and biannual fitness testing for all service members.

1. Same pullup/push‑up standards. Women in combat roles now must meet the same pullup and push‑up counts as men. This was a major change from the previous gender‑normed tests.
2. Increased ruck and run requirements. Hegseth’s standards emphasized longer ruck marches and faster run times across all branches, raising the bar for everyone.
3. Biannual testing with consequences. Service members who fail the new fitness tests twice risk administrative separation, which increases the pressure to maintain a high baseline fitness year‑round.

These changes were justified as necessary for combat readiness, but female combat veterans have publicly questioned whether the new benchmarks are based on job‑task analysis or tradition. The debate is ongoing within the Pentagon and Congress.

What It Means for Women Considering SOF

For a woman who wants to try out for special operations, the message from SOCOM is clear: apply. The military has removed policy barriers, and command has funded programs like the Special Operations Career Development course for women. But the physical preparation required is extreme and requires years of dedicated training.

Per CNAS’s commentary on women in ARSOF, the actual number of women who succeed remains very low — but the think tank argues that success should be measured by opportunities, not quotas. The 2024 study’s 42 recommendations aim to improve mentorship, equipment sizing, and leadership support without diluting standards.

Meanwhile, the number of women vying for special operations positions is slowly increasing. Defense officials expect that as more female soldiers reach the required fitness levels and as cultural barriers erode, the pipeline will widen — but it will happen gradually, not overnight.

The Bottom Line

Women can join the Special Forces — the policy allows it, and a small number have proven it’s possible. But the path is extremely demanding, and the current environment of rising physical standards makes it a moving target. Anyone serious about attempting selection should start training at least 12 to 18 months in advance and seek mentorship from current or former special operators.

If you’re a woman considering this career path, your best first step is to contact a special operations recruiter who can connect you with pre‑selection programs and help you benchmark your current fitness against the real requirements — not the rumor mill.

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