This was prepared for an advanced recruitment course as a mid-term. This is a case study on military selection strategy.

1. ISRAELI SPECIAL FORCES: SELECTION STRATEGY
THE ALPHA ACTION PLAN
(BASE IN A HBR CASE STUDY)

2. ISRAELI SPECIAL FORCES: SELECTION STRATEGY
THE ALPHA ACTION PLAN
I. Description of the selection strategy
i. Internal Process
ii. External Processes
iii. Comparing Training Time
iv. Experts Speak
II. Diagnostic and solution
i. Central Issue
ii. Diagnostic and Solution
III. Conclusion
"Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well”
2

3. I. DESCRIPTION OF
THE SELECTION
STRATEGY

4. I. INTERNAL
PROCESS
A. Required Characteristics of an Israeli Special Forces
Soldier
1. Intelligence
2. Performance under physical and mental stress
3. Technical skills
4. Self discipline
5. Perseverance
6. Ability to accept authority
7. Endurance
8. Courage
9. Adaptability & Teamwork
10.Reliability
11.Responsibility
12.Physical fitness
13.Improvisation skills
14.Motivation

5. B. ISRAELI SPECIAL FORCES CANDIDATE
EVALUATION PROCESS (EXHIBIT 1)
1 day initial
screening
2 days
physical/mental
test for
paratroopers
5 days
physical/mental
test for SF unit
4 months basic
training
8 months
advanced training
8 months
specialized
training
16 months
operational service

6. I. INTERNAL
PROCESS
C. Selection and Recruitment
1. Search for the best candidates among the mass of new enlistees
2. Lengthy and complex process (see Exhibit 1)
3. Personal interview to candidates ages 17
4. Candidates meet the health and IQ requirements for service as elite
infantry soldiers are offered the opportunity to test in the
“Paratroopers’ Regiment:
1. 2 DAYS TEST TWO TIMES PER YEAR BEFORE THE ANNUAL
DRAFT DAY
2. (physical and mental) 4,000 candidates are reduced to 400
future draftees who qualified for paratrooper training
3. (selection challenge) 400 arrive to the paratroopers’ basic
training camp to begin their three year military service
4. Offer to become part of the Special Forces
5. 350 respond and register to the five day testing program
6. They are divided into groups of 30 soldiers
7. 20 are selected for the Special Forces Unit

7. I. INTERNAL
PROCESS
D. Selection Process
1. 11 recurring drills (lasting several hours under severe
weather constraints under mental and physical
pressure)
2. Rest periods are short, limited sleeping hours and food
breaks
3. 5th day only 100 participants are remaining
4. Last day only 20 or 22 are selected to start the 20-
month Special Forces Training track, the rest return to
the paratroopers’ regiment

8. II. EXTERNAL DATA0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
SAS UK Navy Seals USA Shayetet Israel Alpha Group Russia
4 MOST DANGEROUS SPECIAL FORCES WORLDWIDE

9. II. EXTERNAL DATA
SAS United Kingdom Special Force Selection Process
Requirements:
1. Prior military experience or reserve
2. 39 months of service remaining
3. Age: 18 to 32, no older than 35 years of age
Selection Process:
1. Pass rate of only 10%
2. 2013: 3 casualties
3. Twice per year
4. Test of physical strength and endurance over challenging geographic places
worldwide; including the Jungle of Brunei.
5. About 6 WEEKS to complete
6. 2 attempts with personnel failing with Return to Unit
Selection Phases:
1. Special Forces briefing courses (1 week)
2. Aptitude Phase (4 weeks)
3. Jungle ITTP and SOP Training ( 9 weeks)
4. Employment Training (14 weeks)
Only on successful completion of Employment Training will volunteers be "badged" and posted to an
operational Sabre Squadron within 22 SAS

10. II. EXTERNAL DATA
Navy Seal Special Force Selection Process
Requirements:
1. Seals spend over a year in a series of formal training environments
before being awarded the Special Warfare Operator Naval
2. For naval officers must attend and graduate from their rating's 24-week "A"
School known as Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) school, a basic
parachutist course
3. Then, a 26-week SEAL Qualification Training program.
Selection Process:
1. US Citizen
2. Age: 18 to 29 years of age male
3. Vision 20/75 correctable 20/20
4. Must pass the SEAL Screening test and drug test
5. Good moral character
Selection Phases:
1. Must pass the PST (Physical Screening Test) swimming 500 yd/12.30 minutes
2. Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School in Great Lakes, Illinois (8 weeks)
3. Parachute Jump School (3 weeks)
4. SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) (26 weeks)
5. SEAL Troop (TRP) Training (12-18 months deployment) (three phases)

11. III. COMPARING TIME IN TRAINING
# 1 SAS UK: 8 MONTHS
Intense worriers trained in worldwide
geographically challenge areas
Highlight: Dessert Storm Airstrike
#2 Navy Seal USA: 25 MONTHS
Intense navy training at individual, unit
and task force
Highlight: Death of Osama bin Ladem
#3 Israeli Special Forces: 36 MONTHS
Highlight: Entebbe Hostage Rescue
ISRAEL
SPECIAL
FORCES
36 MONTHS
NAVY
SEAL USA
25
MONTHS
SAS UK
8
MONTHS
11

12. II. DIAGNOSTIC AND SOLUTION
i. Central Issue: Time
Slide # 11 clearly demonstrates that the time taken to train an ISRAELI Special Force worrier is
the longest compared with the #1 and #2 most powerful worldwide special forces:
1. Israel Special Forces: 36 months
2. SAS UK: 8 months
3. Navy Seals: 25 months
As explained by Gunnery Sergeant Bocanegra, this intense physical activity for such a long period of time
will lead to unnecessary burn out that will be reflected later during service.
As he explained the body can take years to recuperate from severe physical activity.
Nevertheless, Sergeant Buster thinks that he does not want to change the “recipe” of the Israeli Special
Forces, he agrees that there is room for improvement.
Both Sergeants agree that the selection process needs to be an intense practice due to the demand of the job
and casualties should always be expected since worriers or soldiers must be always ready for the unexpected.
12

13. II. DIAGNOSTIC AND SOLUTION
13
ii. Solutions – A Holistic Approach
Selection and Recruitment Process:
i. This can take only 2 times per years instead of three as SAS does. This waiting period in between
will allow to have a bigger pool of candidates to select from.
i. Implement different types of less intense physical and mental trials at the beginning of the process so there will be
more than 10% future draftees. Less intensity physical trials will lead to less casualties; especially at the beginning of
the process. Less casualties means less liability, something that must be looked at carefully.
ii. The new required characteristics of an Israeli Special Forces will focus on the 4 pillars that enfold a person as a
whole: ability to tap the infinite intelligence (Motivation), the mental capacity (Intelligence), the emotional capacity
(Endurance) and the physical capacity (Physical Fitness).
Selection Challenge:
i. Utilize new “SFAS” (Special Operation Recruiting Battalion, USA) assessment courses which observes a soldier as a
“Whole Man”. This selection process assesses each candidate for six attributes that are important for all Special
Forces Soldiers: intelligence, trainability, physical fitness, motivation, influence, and judgment. Many worldwide
special forces are taking the SFAS training. This will avoid the “Common Evaluation Mistakes” providing a more
accurate grade in each drill. This is aligned with point ii under Selection and Recruitment Process.
ii. Less drills: There are many drills that are not understood by the candidates and the reason of taking them.
These drills ought to be reviewed and study in detail to see which ones really add value to the evaluation process.

14. ISRAELI SPECIAL FORCES CANDIDATE
ALPHA ACTION PLAN
1 day initial
screening
2 days
physical/mental
test for
paratroopers
5 days
physical/mental
test for SF unit
5 months medium-
advanced training
7 months
specialized
training
12 months
operational service
NEW TIME: 24 MONTHS
(Note: Navy Seal USA: 25 months)

15. III. CONCLUSION
CARMEN BOCANEGRA
CFB2005@NYU.EDU
954 248 7912* MIAMI, FL - EMIGRANT, MT
"Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well”