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Law & Government

Special Forces

Implement unconventional operations by air, land, or sea during combat or peacetime as members of elite teams. These activities include offensive raids, demolitions, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and counterterrorism. In addition to their combat training, special forces members often have specialized training in swimming, diving, parachuting, survival, emergency medicine, and foreign languages. Duties include conducting advanced reconnaissance operations and collecting intelligence information; recruiting, training, and equipping friendly forces; conducting raids and invasions on enemy territories; laying and detonating explosives for demolition targets; locating, identifying, defusing, and disposing of ordnance; and operating and maintaining sophisticated communications equipment.

Median salary

$55,000

Typical range

$34k – $99k

Job outlook

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AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Special Forces

    Entry / Junior

    $34,100

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Special Forces

    Established

    $55,000

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Special Forces

    Senior

    $77,000

Key skills

A typical day

    Fields of study

    Any field

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