# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/special-forces-officers
- SOC code: 55-1017.00
- Career family: Military
- Median annual pay: not reported
- Projected growth: not reported
- Openings a year: not reported
- Typical entry education: not reported
- Bright outlook: no

## Also called

Advanced Seal Delivery System, Combatant Diver Officer, Combatant Diver Qualified (Officer), Commanding Officer, Special Warfare Team, Control and Recovery, Combat Rescue, Control and Recovery, Special Tactics, Executive Officer, Special Warfare Team, Parachute/Combatant Diver Officer, Parachutist/Combatant Diver Qualified (Officer), Sea-Air-Land Officer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4304) (CIP 4304, 513 colleges)
- [Homeland Security](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4303) (CIP 4303, 337 colleges)
- [Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2902) (CIP 2902, 85 colleges)
- Military Systems and Maintenance Technology (CIP 2904, 8 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [George Mason University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-mason-university-1065) | Homeland Security | $91,928 | $143,972 | $20,250 |
| [Champlain College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/champlain-college-508) | Security Science and Technology | $68,425 | $101,401 | $28,520 |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Security Science and Technology | $58,252 | $98,996 | $20,500 |
| [Florida State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Security Science and Technology | $60,178 | $93,841 | $15,125 |
| [Robert Morris University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/robert-morris-university-2246) | Security Science and Technology | $64,104 | $90,206 | $26,000 |
| [Mercyhurst University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mercyhurst-university-1646) | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $52,770 | $86,597 | $25,000 |
| [Norwich University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/norwich-university-1970) | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $77,627 | $85,184 | not reported |
| [Grand Canyon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/grand-canyon-university-1108) | Homeland Security | $65,237 | $84,553 | $22,916 |

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.