Editing Delta Force (section)

=== Selection process ===
Selection is held twice a year (late March to late April, and late September to late October) at [[Camp Dawson (West Virginia)|Camp Dawson]], West Virginia, and lasts four weeks. [[Eric Haney]]'s book ''[[Inside Delta Force]]'' described the selection course and its inception in detail. Haney wrote that the course began with standard tests including [[push-ups]], [[sit-ups]], and a {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on}} run, an inverted crawl and a {{convert|100|m|yd ft m|adj=on|order=out}} swim fully dressed. The candidates were then put through a series of [[land navigation]] courses, one of which required them to travel {{convert|18|mi|km}} at night while carrying a {{convert|40|lb|kg|adj=on}} rucksack. With every successive challenge, the distance to cover and the weight of the rucksack are increased, while less time is allotted. The final challenge was a {{convert|40|mi|km|adj=on}} march with a {{convert|45|lb|kg|adj=on}} rucksack over rough terrain that had to be completed in an unknown amount of time; this was also colloquially known as "The Long Walk".{{Sfn|Satterly|Jackson|2019}} Haney wrote that only the senior officer and NCO in charge of selection were allowed to see the set time limits, but all assessment and selection tasks and conditions were set by Delta training cadre.{{Sfn|Beckwith|Knox|2000}}{{Sfn|Haney|2002}}

The mental portion of the testing began with numerous psychological exams. Each candidate was then called to face a board of Delta instructors, unit psychologists, and the Delta commander, who asked the candidate a barrage of questions and then dissected every response and mannerism to exhaust the candidate mentally. The commander then approaches the candidate and informs him if he has been selected. Those who passed the screening process underwent an intense six-month Operator Training Course (OTC), to learn [[counter-terrorism]] and [[counter-intelligence]] techniques, and training with firearms and other weapons. Participants were allowed very little contact with friends and family for the duration.{{Sfn|Haney|2002}}

In an interview, former Delta operator [[Paul R. Howe|Paul Howe]] mentioned the high attrition rate of the Delta selection course. He said that out of his two classes of 120 applicants each, 12 to 14 completed the selection.<ref>{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |date=18 July 2013 |title=Delta Force Tryouts |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59fL6ej_B-I |access-date=18 February 2014 |publisher=[[Military.com]] |via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}} Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/59fL6ej_B-I Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130824032919/http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=59fL6ej_B-I Wayback Machine].</ref>{{sfn|Bowden|1999|p=35}} Former [[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEAL]], DEVGRU and Delta operator Kevin Holland stated that in his selection class 120 candidates started, 16 passed and eight finished OTC.<ref>{{cite web |title=From SEAL Team 6 to Delta Force MSgt Kevin Holland A Story of Courage |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK0ciF-nqb4&pp=ygUNa2V2aW4gaG9sbGFuZA%3D%3D |publisher=YouTube | date=2 February 2022 }}</ref>

The [[Central Intelligence Agency]]'s secretive [[Special Activities Center]] (SAC) and more specifically its [[Special Activities Division|Special Operations Group]] (SOG), often works with&nbsp;– and recruits&nbsp;– former operators from Delta Force.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Waller |first=Douglas |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004145-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430130158/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004145-1,00.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 April 2009 |title=The CIA's Secret Army: The CIA's Secret Army |date=2003-02-03 |access-date=2015-12-06}}</ref>