Baseline Differences Between Successful and Unsuccessful Candidates During Special Forces Qualification Course for a Canadian Military Special Operations Unit

The assessment, selection and training of Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel is no small task. Significant resources are allocated into the system for developing future Operators. The high attrition rate represents a potential inefficiency and an opportunity for critical examination of existing approaches. Little research is available to determine whether combine like metrics collected at baseline have any predictive value for successful completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). The current study examined a battery of performance metrics, lifestyle and demographic information collected at the beginning of a qualification course for a Special Operations Unit within Canada. The present analysis explored whether those who successfully completed the qualification course differed within the baseline metrics collected from those who were unsuccessful. In this single year of data, there were no significant differences between the successful and unsuccessful groups of candidates on the course. It also appears that the population selected were exceptionally homogenous within the metrics collected. The present study will provide valuable insight for the Chain of Command regarding of the composition and abilities of those entering their unit.