SF captains should seek these courses prior to or during A-Detachment command. If not already Ranger qualified, they should attend Ranger training after a branch Captains Career Course. Typically, this will be the Infantry or Armor branch course. The formal designation of a functional area is based upon the needs of the Army, officer preference, military experience and civilian schooling. A SF officer can expect to contribute to Army Special Operations in a functional area capacity as well as in a branch capacity.
Some functional areas have extensive educational requirements.
ACS attendance will be a factor in Career Field designation, however it will be considered with all other contributing factors. A limited number of Special Forces officers will be accessed into the AAC each year at their 8th year of service. Throughout their career those officers selected for AAC will maintain strong links to SF branch and remain members of the First Special Forces Regiment. Further information on AAC is found in chapter 47. This board of senior officers will decide in which Career Field an officer is best suited to serve.