Understanding Special Forces

[Sdiver]

Here's an article I saw floating around FB.

James Bond to Rambo: Understanding Special Forces

http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/james-bon...pecial-forces/

They are the first ones in and the last ones out. The human mind is their most valued weapon, and they use it to devastate the enemy. They operate in the shadows and rarely write books. The work they do is covert, and they are famous for implementing guerrilla warfare – training a small, indigenous force to fight a much larger enemy. They are the descendants of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and they work with their own intelligence.


“It’s funny how the movies make us look like Rambo, and they make the British look like James Bond,” said one retired Green Beret. “You can teach anyone how to be a killer; we are warrior-politicians.”

Warrior-politicians might be the best description of how Green Berets are trained. Much of what they do involves working with politicians of local governments. This might also be what best distinguishes them from the Navy SEALs. However, working with local governments and behind enemy lines only contributes to the danger Green Berets face.

[Richard]

I always thought "Warrior-Diplomat" a better description, but preferred to describe myself as a "Foreign Policy Implementation Specialist."

Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe.

And so it goes...

Richard

[Team Sergeant]

"They are the first ones in and the last ones out. The human mind is their most valued weapon, and they use it to devastate the enemy. They operate in the shadows and rarely write books. The work they do is covert, and they are famous for implementing guerrilla warfare – training a small, indigenous force to fight a much larger enemy. They are the descendants of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and they work with their own intelligence."

Great, now we'll all be on the do not fly list......

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

"They are the first ones in and the last ones out. The human mind is their most valued weapon, and they use it to devastate the enemy. They operate in the shadows and rarely write books. The work they do is covert, and they are famous for implementing guerrilla warfare – training a small, indigenous force to fight a much larger enemy. They are the descendants of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and they work with their own intelligence."

Great, now we'll all be on the do not fly list......

lolol That's right!

[Dragbag036]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

"They are the first ones in and the last ones out. The human mind is their most valued weapon, and they use it to devastate the enemy. They operate in the shadows and rarely write books. The work they do is covert, and they are famous for implementing guerrilla warfare – training a small, indigenous force to fight a much larger enemy. They are the descendants of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and they work with their own intelligence."

Great, now we'll all be on the do not fly list......

I have sat with a few "smart fellers" and we all would ask ouselves, "If every SF dude was proficient at every task in our METL, how formidable they would be? Just look at what guys do with the small amount of training they receive on various TTP's.

[Old Dog New Trick]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

The human mind is their most valued weapon,.

I learned that while staring at goats!

[Scimitar]

According to Brig. Gen. Edward M. Reeder Jr., the U.S. Army Special Forces commanding general at Fort Bragg, N.C., there have been nearly 300 Green Berets killed and 1,000 injured since the beginning of the war on terror. To those of us who are citizens, these numbers are shocking. But for the humble men who wear the green beret, they fully understand the danger of their business. Kalani Matthews, a former Marine who became a Green Beret later in his career, makes this very clear.

Some interesting stats,

USASFC(A) casualty stats when compared to current strength
- 1.4% killed (1:71)
- 4.5% wounded (1:22)
- 5.9% total casualty (1:17)

Compared to total force
- 1% of total force but
- 4.5% of total deaths (4.7 x great death rate then total force)
- 2.0% of total wounded (2.1 x greater wounded rate)