The 18 Series MOSs are the Special Forces careers within the United States Army Special Forces.
These MOSs are commonly associated with the:
• Green Berets
• Army Special Forces
• Special Operations Forces (SOF)
18 Series MOS
There are currently 9 primary 18 Series MOS’s commonly associated with Army Special Forces.
Officer
18A – Special Forces Officer
Enlisted
18B – Special Forces Weapons Sergeant
18C – Special Forces Engineer Sergeant
18D – Special Forces Medical Sergeant
18E – Special Forces Communications Sergeant
18F – Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant
18X – Special Forces Candidate
18Z – Special Forces Senior Sergeant
Warrant Officer
180A – Special Forces Warrant Officer
• 1 Officer MOS
• 7 Enlisted MOS’s
• 1 Warrant Officer MOS
Total: 9 MOS’s
Today, we will discuss the different jobs in the US Army Special Forces, otherwise known as the Green Berets. In the Army, a job is referred to as an MOS, which stands for Military Occupational Specialty. In the Special Forces community, you can find yourself in a decent selection of different career fields.
In the Special Forces community, their MOS codes are in the 18 series. There are 9 of these MOSs within the 18 series, meaning there are 9 different fields you can be in. However, there are only 4 enlisted MOSs that are entry level.
18X MOS – Special Forces Candidate
But even before those entry-level jobs, we’re going to discuss our first one, the 18X-ray. You might be familiar with an 18X-ray contract, which is the contract civilians receive guaranteeing them a shot at the SF pipeline. An 18X-ray is a Special Forces candidate.
You will have this designation until you complete your assigned MOS training and receive your Green Beret. While this is an 18-series designator, you’re not there yet.
Entry-Level Enlisted Special Forces MOS’s
Now we’re going to move on to the 4 entry-level enlisted MOSs that a Soldier can receive.
18B MOS – Special Forces Weapons Sergeant
The first one we’re going to go over is an 18 Bravo, which is a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. As a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant, you will be the subject matter expert on a whole slew of weapons in your ODA.
To give you the quick scoop on what an ODA is, it is a 12-man team that Special Forces operates in. As an 18 Bravo, you’ll operate and maintain a wide variety of United States, allied, and foreign weaponry.
18B are proficient in the operation and tactical employment ranging from light weapons, pistols up to .50 caliber M2 machine guns, heavy weapons such as the 60, 80, and 120mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, and anti-aircraft missiles.
They employ conventional and unconventional warfare tactics and techniques in individual and small arms infantry operations. The MOS training for 18B is about 14 weeks long. And during that you’ll learn all about several different weapon systems and how to repair them.
You’ll be the jack of all trades when it comes to weapons, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to train other members in your ODA when you cross-train.
18C MOS – Special Forces Engineer Sergeant
18C MOS is a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. 18Cs are expert builders who use their construction know-how to create buildings and field fortifications, and not only that, they are skilled in all areas of demolition, including landmine warfare and improvised munitions.
As an 18C, you’ll perform and teach tasks in demolitions, explosives, field fortification, bridging, rigging, reconnaissance, and civil action projects; read maps, overlays, photos, charts, and blueprints; carry out demolition raids against enemy targets such as bridges, railroads, fuel depots, and critical components of infrastructure; and employ warfare tactics and techniques in infantry operations.
You’ll become a Construction and Demolition Specialist if you find yourself in this career field. The training for an 18C is 10 weeks in length.
18D MOS – Special Forces Medical Sergeant
Now we’re on to the 18D MOS. If you’re familiar with our website, you’ve probably heard us mention this before, as they go through the same medical training as Navy SARCs.
18D are Special Forces Medical Sergeants and are considered to be the finest first response and trauma medical technicians in the world. They go through the gold standard of SOF medicine training at SOCM, which is the Special Operations Combat Medic Course, in addition to SFMS. Their MOS-specific training is the longest out of the 4 entry-level MOSs.
You’ll find yourself there for over a year, and it is academically challenging. They’re primarily trained with an emphasis on trauma medicine while also having a working knowledge of dentistry, veterinary care, public sanitation, water quality, and optometry. They maintain their medical licenses and skills annually.
18E MOS – Special Forces Communications Sergeant
18E are Special Forces Communications Sergeants. They provide conventional and unconventional tactical communications support during the full range of special operations missions.
As an 18E, you will operate every kind of communications gear, organize, train, advise, and supervise in the installation, utilization, and operation of communications equipment, and establish and maintain tactical and operational communications.
MOS Selection Process
Okay, so we just went over with you the 4 entry-level enlisted SF MOSs. The decision of which MOS and foreign language, which we won’t get into here, you will be trained in is based upon your personal background, aptitude scores, and personal desire. But, ultimately, it will be up to the needs of the Army.
Advanced Special Forces MOS’s
Now we’re going to go over the ones that you may find yourself in further in your career.
18F MOS – Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant
Next up is the 18 Foxtrot, which is the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant. Remember, this isn’t something you can just up and join as.
You’ll have to spend time in Special Forces before you can become one, a minimum of 2 years in an ODA to be specific, and you’ll be selected by the detachment chain of command if you want to be an 18 Foxtrot.
As a Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant, you’ll collect intelligence for special missions by employing conventional and unconventional warfare tactics and strategies, both in preparation for special missions and during operations, and provide tactical guidance to Army personnel.
To put it simply, you’ll be the intel guy. In order to become an Intelligence Sergeant, you’ll have to go through the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant Course, which is 14 weeks in length.
18Z MOS – Special Forces Operations Sergeant
Next up is the 18Z, which is the Special Forces Operations Sergeant, otherwise known as the Team Sergeant.
This guy is the most experienced member in the ODA. They supervise all administrative, operational, and training requirements of the ODA. With their knowledge, expertise, and vast amount of experience, they advise the commander and staff on all matters pertaining to enlisted personnel and manage the daily activities and operations of the unit. It’ll take years to get to this point.
Officer and Warrant Officer MOS’s
Now on to the officer side of the house.
18A MOS – Special Forces Officer
First up is the 18A, the Special Forces Officer. They are the team leaders of an ODA. As an SF officer, you will have several duties including training, resource management, mission and logistics planning, and working with US and foreign government agencies.
Like any officer career field, you will be less hands-on and play more of an administrative role. Typically, 18 Alphas will do a tour with an ODA and then find themselves in a staff position afterwards.
While they’re the ones overall in charge, the team sergeant is the one making things happen.
180A MOS – Special Forces Warrant Officer
And then last but certainly not least, there’s the 180A, the Special Forces Warrant Officer. These guys are subject matter experts in unconventional warfare operations and intelligence fusion and planning and execution at all levels across the operational continuum.
They advise commanders on all aspects of special operations and are responsible for the integration of emerging technologies. SF warrant officers primarily serve as the assistant detachment commander and may serve as the detachment commander or commander of specialized teams.
Later in their careers, they will serve as staff operations warrant officers within the SF Group and at higher commands within SF, Army SOF, and Joint SOF staffs.
Special Forces Cross-Training
Okay, so we just went over with you all of the different MOSs of Special Forces. Here’s the thing, they cross-train a lot. While you might be an 18B, everyone is going to know how to shoot a gun. You might be an 18C, but everyone knows how to breach, use C4, etc.
The point is, no matter what you do as a Green Beret, you will be trained in a wide array of areas and you will be a highly trained Soldier. We didn’t even get into the language training you will receive in the pipeline.
Additional Special Forces Resources
Want to know more about the SF pipeline? Its requirements? If you do, you’re in luck.
We’ve done some articles on Army SF, comparing them to the Rangers, MARSOC, and going over them as a whole. If you want to learn more about them. Click here.