National Guard SF
National Guard SF is the U.S. Army National Guard's recruiting and training platform for the 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups, organizing, training, and deploying Green Beret operators for global and domestic missions under dual federal and state authority.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What National Guard SF does
National Guard SF is the U.S. Army National Guard's recruiting and informational platform for the Special Forces program, specifically supporting the 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups (Airborne). The organization recruits, trains, and deploys Special Forces operators organized into Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) teams of approximately 12 soldiers, each specializing in advanced weapons, language, demolitions, combat medicine, and advanced combat tactics. Core mission capabilities span unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, direct action, foreign internal defense, and special reconnaissance, with operational deployments both overseas and domestically. The platform exposes a structured training pipeline including the 18X Initial Entry Program for civilians, the one-day Special Forces Evaluation (SFE) for civilian screening, the multi-day Special Forces Readiness Evaluation (SFRE) for serving military members, the 3-week Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) at Fort Liberty, NC, and the 53-week Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) covering Special Operations Fundamentals, MOS training, the Robin Sage Exercise, and 16–24 weeks of language training. Supporting offerings include Special Forces Support positions across engineering, aviation, signal, intelligence, medical, transportation, and quartermaster MOS fields, plus downloadable training plans, preparation resources, and documentation.
The organization operates under dual federal-state authority — federal Title 10 for overseas deployments alongside active-duty forces and state Title 32 for domestic disaster response (hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes) — a structural capability no active-duty counterpart replicates. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, with 1,001–5,000 personnel, and was effectively founded in 1961 when President Kennedy authorized the Green Beret as the official headgear and prioritized Special Forces development, leading to the creation of the 19th and 20th Groups in the Army National Guard (lineage traces to the OSS Jedburgh teams of World War II and the first official Special Forces Group activated in 1952).
National Guard SF is not a commercial entity. It is a component of the U.S. Army National Guard under the Department of Defense, funded through federal appropriations and state budgets with no pricing model, no external customers, and no revenue mechanics in the conventional sense. Its "distribution" runs through state Army National Guard recruitment channels across the United States (with units for the 19th Group in states such as Texas, Utah, Colorado, and West Virginia, and the 20th Group in states such as Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and North Carolina) and through the State Partnership Program linking units to partner nations including the Philippines, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia. Operational technology investments include advanced combat technologies (drones, robotic mules, night vision goggles, thermal imaging devices), a Ku/Ka satellite communications suite integrated on HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, and a Smart Ambulance System for emergency response. The organization's counterdrug operations are credited with removing approximately $15 billion in illicit narcotics from American communities in the most recent reporting year, and its operational tempo is structured around 6 months of deployment within every 36 months.
National Guard SF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Guard SF
- Website
- https://guardsf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- National Guard SF is the U.S. Army National Guard's recruiting and training platform for the 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups, organizing, training, and deploying Green Beret operators for global and domestic missions under dual federal and state authority.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Guard SF industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Military Special Operations
- NAICS
- National Security and International Affairs (928), National Security (928110), National Security (92811)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Special Operations & Counterterrorism (BPAIAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Military Operations & Force Readiness (BPAIAHAA)
Keywords
Where National Guard SF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
National Guard SF business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
National Guard SF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Guard SF is the official recruitment and informational platform for the U.S. Army National Guard Special Forces, supporting the 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups (Airborne). It provides the Special Forces training pipeline, including the 18X Initial Entry Program for civilians, one-day Special Forces Evaluation (SFE) screening, multi-day Special Forces Readiness Evaluation (SFRE) for serving military members, the 3-week Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) course, and the 53-week Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). The platform also lists Special Forces Support career positions across multiple military occupational specialties (engineering, aviation, signal, intelligence, medical, transportation, quartermaster).
Product overview
National Guard SF is a recruiting and information platform for the Army National Guard Special Forces program, specifically supporting the 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups. The portfolio centers on military training pipeline products: the 18X Initial Entry Program for civilians, Special Forces Evaluation (SFE) for one-day civilian screening, Special Forces Readiness Evaluation (SFRE) for multi-day military assessment, Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) as the 3-week gateway course, and the 53-week Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) for MOS qualification. Supporting offerings include Special Forces Support positions across various military occupational specialties (engineering, aviation, signal, intelligence, medical, transportation, quartermaster), plus downloadable training plans, preparation resources, and documentation. The platform functions as a recruitment gateway linking prospective candidates to state-specific Special Forces units.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 19th Special Forces Group: One of two Special Forces Groups in the Army National Guard, represented by blue states on the organizational map. Provides unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, direct action, foreign internal defense, and special reconnaissance capabilities.
- 20th Special Forces Group
- Special Forces Support
Products and services
- 18X Special Forces Candidate Program Initial entry training program for civilians and sister branch service members interested in joining Special Forces through the Army National Guard. Includes 11X OSUT, Special Forces Preparation Course (SFPC), SFAS, Airborne training, and SFQC.
- Special Forces Evaluation (SFE) A one-day screening event open to civilians and service members to assess readiness for Special Forces training. Includes hand-release push-ups, pull-ups, plank, and ruck march (8-12 miles).
- Special Forces Readiness Evaluation (SFRE) A multi-day evaluation event for currently serving military members to measure potential as a Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) candidate. Includes team events, 12-mile ruck, ACFT, 5-mile run, swim, and land navigation.
- Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) A 3-week assessment and selection course at Fort Liberty, NC designed to test survival skills with intense physical and mental training. Gateway to the Special Forces Qualification Course.
- Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) A 53-week qualification course at Fort Liberty, NC covering Special Operations Fundamentals, tactical skills, MOS training, Robin Sage Exercise, and language training (16-24 weeks).
- Special Forces Support Career Path Support positions within Special Forces units including 18 Series (Green Beret) roles and various MOS support positions across engineering, aviation, signal, intelligence, medical, transportation, and quartermaster fields.
Quantifiable outcome
- Counterdrug operations helped remove $15 billion in illicit narcotics from American communities last year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use National Guard SF
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
National Guard SF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
National Guard SF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
National Guard SF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Green Beret Foundation: Nonprofit organization providing direct support to U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers and families. An ecosystem participant adjacent to the National Guard SFGs, offering transition, education, medical, and casualty support services to the same community.
Broad incumbents
- U.S. Army Recruiting Command: The U.S. Army's primary recruiting organization responsible for bringing civilians into both active duty and reserve components including the National Guard. The guardsf.com site functions as a specialized recruiting platform within the broader USAREC ecosystem.
- United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM): Unified combatant command overseeing all U.S. special operations forces across Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The top-level SOF headquarters that funds, organizes, and directs the activities of all SOF units including the National Guard SFGs.
- U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC): Major command that oversees all Army special operations forces, including Special Forces, Rangers, Special Operations Aviation, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations. Provides the institutional framework and parent command above the 19th and 20th SFGs.
Direct peers
- U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC): Marine Corps component of U.S. Special Operations Command providing special operations forces with capabilities including direct action, special reconnaissance, and foreign internal defense. A peer elite U.S. SOF formation.
- United Kingdom Special Air Service (UK SAS): The UK's premier special operations unit conducting counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and special reconnaissance. Functionally and doctrinally comparable to U.S. Army Special Forces, serving as an international peer in the SOF community.
- Naval Special Warfare Command (U.S. Navy SEALs): U.S. Navy component of U.S. Special Operations Command providing maritime special operations, including counter-terrorism and direct action. A peer U.S. SOF formation with overlapping unconventional warfare and foreign internal defense missions, though oriented toward maritime environments.
- 75th Ranger Regiment: U.S. Army's premier large-scale special operations light infantry unit, headquartered at Fort Benning. Provides direct-action raid capability and is a peer elite SOF formation within U.S. Army Special Operations Command alongside the Special Forces Groups.
- Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC): U.S. Air Force component of U.S. Special Operations Command providing specialized air mobility, aerial refueling, precision strike, and combat aviation support. Operates platforms like the CV-22, AC-130, and the HC-130J Combat King II mentioned in the company's technology stack.
- U.S. Army 1st Special Forces Command: Active duty counterpart commanding the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 10th Special Forces Groups. Performs the same unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, and counter-terrorism missions as the National Guard SFGs, with full-time federal availability versus part-time Guard availability.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Guard SF social profiles
Digital presenceNational Guard SF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Guard SF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
National Guard SF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Guard SF M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Guard SF
What does National Guard SF do?
National Guard SF is the official recruitment and informational platform for the U.S. Army National Guard Special Forces, supporting the 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups (Airborne). It provides the Special Forces training pipeline, including the 18X Initial Entry Program for civilians, one-day Special Forces Evaluation (SFE) screening, multi-day Special Forces Readiness Evaluation (SFRE) for serving military members, the 3-week Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) course, and the 53-week Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). The platform also lists Special Forces Support career positions across multiple military occupational specialties (engineering, aviation, signal, intelligence, medical, transportation, quartermaster).
Is National Guard SF a public or private company?
National Guard SF is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was National Guard SF founded?
National Guard SF was founded in 1961. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is National Guard SF based?
National Guard SF is headquartered in Birmingham, United States, in the North America region.
Who are National Guard SF's main competitors?
Green Beret Foundation is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are U.S. Army Recruiting Command, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Direct peers are U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), United Kingdom Special Air Service (UK SAS), Naval Special Warfare Command (U.S. Navy SEALs), 75th Ranger Regiment, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and U.S. Army 1st Special Forces Command.
Does National Guard SF have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Guard SF.
What industry is National Guard SF in?
National Guard SF's product category is Military Special Operations. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAHAH, Special Operations & Counterterrorism, with a secondary code of BPAIAHAA, Military Operations & Force Readiness. Its NAICS code is 928.