Applicants for membership in the Special Forces Association must provide supporting documentation to prove eligibility. The documentation provided should leave no doubt as to the applicant’s eligibility to avoid delays in processing. Applications received without documentation will be returned as incomplete.
For Decade and General Members: Supporting documents must accompany all applications submitted which provide undeniable proof of Special Forces qualification. Examples of documents include the DD-214, Graduation Certificate from SFQC/SFOC, orders assigning a SF MOS, and SF Tab orders. Form 20, ERB, or ORB demonstrating assignment history is recommended for Decade member applicants. More than one document substantiating qualification is recommended. Simply being assigned to a Special Forces coded position does not denote SF qualification. In some rare instances from the Vietnam era, proof of qualification may be difficult to obtain. The SFA can assist potential applicants in submitting for the awarding of a Special Forces Tab which will prove eligibility. The Special Forces Proponency office at Ft. Bragg reviews historical documents and documents provided by applicants to determines if personnel are eligible for awarding of the SF Tab based on AR 600-8-22 which states:
The SF Tab may be awarded retroactively to all personnel who performed the following wartime service.
- From 1942 through 1973. Served with a Special Forces unit during wartime and were either unable to or not required to attend a formal program of instruction but were awarded SQI “S”, “3″, or “5G” by competent authority.
- Prior to 1954. The SF Tab may be awarded prior to 1955 for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the following organizations:
- 1st Special Service Force, August 1942 to December 1944.
- OSS Detachment 101, April 1942 to September 1945.
- OSS Jedburgh Detachments, May 1944 to May 1945.
- OSS Operational Groups, May 1944 to May 1945.
- OSS Maritime Unit, April 1942 to September 1945.
- 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit (Alamo Scouts), February 1944 to September 1945.
- 8240th Army Unit, June 1950 to July 1953.
- From 1954 through 1975. Any company grade officer or enlisted member awarded the CIB or CMB while serving for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the following type organizations:
- SF Operational Detachment-A (A–Team).
- Mobile Strike Force.
- SF Reconnaissance Team.
- SF Special Project Unit.
For Associate Members:
Associate Membership may be granted only to those individuals who have contributed significantly to the accomplishment of an OCONUS mission of a deployed Special Forces regimental unit. Supporting documents must accompany all applications submitted demonstrating the assignment of the applicant and his significant contribution to the SF mission. Examples of assignment proof include the Form 20, ERB, ORB, or assignment orders to a Special Forces Unit or operation in direct support of Special Forces Operations. Additionally, the applicant must submit two letters of recommendation from SF/SFA members who have firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s significant contribution.
Widows of SFA deceased members and the immediate family members of Special Forces KIAs are eligible for associate membership. The immediate family of SFA KIA is defined as surviving spouse, widow/widower, children, parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters. Step and adopted children, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters are considered the same as biological children, parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters of SFA KIAs.
