Occupations/55-1017.00
Special Forces Officers
Lead elite teams that implement unconventional operations by air, land, or sea during combat or peacetime. These activities include offensive raids, demolitions, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and counterterrorism. In addition to their combat training, special forces officers often have specialized training in swimming, diving, parachuting, survival, emergency medicine, and foreign languages. Duties include directing advanced reconnaissance operations and evaluating intelligence information; recruiting, training, and equipping friendly forces; leading raids and invasions on enemy territories; training personnel to implement individual missions and contingency plans; performing strategic and tactical planning for politically sensitive missions; and operating sophisticated communications equipment.
O*NET does not list a job zone for this occupation.
AI automation risk
58%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
33%
Fewer uniquely human demands
Task orientation
41%
Mixed exposure
Core tasks
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.00
- Degree of automation2.00
- Time sitting3.00
- Originality (ability)3.00
- Conflict situations3.00
- Hands-on objects/tools3.00
- Outdoors / weather1.50
- Disease exposure1.50
- Decision freedom3.00
Top abilities
Essential skills
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 20 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Howard University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit | Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations 43.0304 | $33,200 | 53% | 65% | 1 yr $122,038 2 yr — Master's · CIP 43.03 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA · Public | Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations 43.0304 | $15,200 | 57% | 86% | 1 yr $103,078 2 yr $127,993 Master's · CIP 43.03 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public | Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations 43.0304 | $12,000 | 90% | 69% | 1 yr $62,192 2 yr $47,260 Master's · CIP 43.03 |
Boston University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit | Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy 43.0404 | $65,200 | 14% | 89% | 1 yr $49,962 2 yr $49,937 Master's · CIP 43.04 |
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL · Public | Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy 43.0404 | $6,500 | 25% | 84% | 1 yr $47,260 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 43.04 |
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND · Public | Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations 43.0304 | $10,800 | 83% | 66% | 1 yr $44,649 2 yr $42,682 Bachelor's · CIP 43.03 |
North Dakota State University Fargo, ND · Public | Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy 43.0404 | $10,900 | 96% | 68% | 1 yr $41,565 2 yr $37,568 Bachelor's · CIP 43.04 |
Austin Community College District Austin, TX · Public | Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy 43.0404 | $4,500 | 100% | 21% | 1 yr — 2 yr $31,839 Bachelor's · CIP 43.04 |
Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter, MN · Private nonprofit | Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy 43.0404 | $54,200 | 74% | 83% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 43.04 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public | Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations 43.0304 | $5,900 | 100% | 28% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Associate · CIP 43.03 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Intelligence, General 29.0201 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Master's · CIP 29.02 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy 43.0404 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 43.04 |