Dan
04-17-2007, 18:57
Special Forces Branch turns 20 years old
By Spc. Curt Squires
USAJFKSWCS PAO
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Apr. 16, 2007) – Special Forces Soldiers, past and present, assembled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the activation of the Special Forces Branch Thursday, at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum here.
While speaking from behind the same lectern President John F. Kennedy used when he visited Fort Bragg 46 years ago, Maj. Gen. James W. Parker, commanding general, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, shared his feelings about when the branch was activated.
“I remember being out at Fort Lewis when the branch was stood up. There were a lot of us … who were shocked to find a SF Branch being created,” he said. “It has not only helped the SF officer, but it has also helped the professionalism of the entire Special Forces career field, enlisted and warrant officers included.”
Parker reflected upon the original ceremony by reading several news articles that were released in the local newspapers following the activation of the branch 20 years ago.
When Parker finished addressing the past and present SF warriors, an order was given to cut the cake.
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. David Clark, the honorary sergeant major of the Special Forces Regiment and the oldest member of the regiment; and Sgt. David P. Fleury, the youngest member of the regiment, were on hand to cut the cake.
Fleury, who was born one day after Special Forces was activated as a branch, said it was an honor to cut the cake with Clark, and spoke of his ambitions for his career.
“I want to do everything I can to be an asset to my team,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. I have been training for the last couple of years and I am just looking forward to going down range to do some good things.”
Fleury joined the Army under the 18X program that allows new recruits to enlist directly into the Special Forces community. He is now an 18B, a Special Forces weapons sergeant, and recently graduated as the distinguished honor graduate of the Special Forces Qualification Course.
“Today’s SF Soldiers are 100 percent better than they were in my day,” said Clark. “They’re smarter, more lethal on battlefield, technology is better; they know the language and the culture. We are just putting out great kids!”
By Spc. Curt Squires
USAJFKSWCS PAO
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Apr. 16, 2007) – Special Forces Soldiers, past and present, assembled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the activation of the Special Forces Branch Thursday, at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum here.
While speaking from behind the same lectern President John F. Kennedy used when he visited Fort Bragg 46 years ago, Maj. Gen. James W. Parker, commanding general, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, shared his feelings about when the branch was activated.
“I remember being out at Fort Lewis when the branch was stood up. There were a lot of us … who were shocked to find a SF Branch being created,” he said. “It has not only helped the SF officer, but it has also helped the professionalism of the entire Special Forces career field, enlisted and warrant officers included.”
Parker reflected upon the original ceremony by reading several news articles that were released in the local newspapers following the activation of the branch 20 years ago.
When Parker finished addressing the past and present SF warriors, an order was given to cut the cake.
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. David Clark, the honorary sergeant major of the Special Forces Regiment and the oldest member of the regiment; and Sgt. David P. Fleury, the youngest member of the regiment, were on hand to cut the cake.
Fleury, who was born one day after Special Forces was activated as a branch, said it was an honor to cut the cake with Clark, and spoke of his ambitions for his career.
“I want to do everything I can to be an asset to my team,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. I have been training for the last couple of years and I am just looking forward to going down range to do some good things.”
Fleury joined the Army under the 18X program that allows new recruits to enlist directly into the Special Forces community. He is now an 18B, a Special Forces weapons sergeant, and recently graduated as the distinguished honor graduate of the Special Forces Qualification Course.
“Today’s SF Soldiers are 100 percent better than they were in my day,” said Clark. “They’re smarter, more lethal on battlefield, technology is better; they know the language and the culture. We are just putting out great kids!”