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NousDefionsDoc · 01-27-2005, 19:36

MarineCorpsTimes.com
January 26, 2005

SecDef To Decide Fate Of Special Operations Unit

By Gidget Fuentes, Times staff writer

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The fate of the Marine Corps’ first special operations detachment rests with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who will determine if the 18-month trial run will yield a permanent Marine place in the commando ranks.

Rumsfeld was expected to meet with Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee and Army Gen. Bryan D. Brown, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, this week to discuss the detachment’s future.

“Their joint recommendation is that SOCOM will say that we have no requirement for another unit,” said a senior Marine officer familiar with the ongoing discussion and who asked not to be named.

Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment 1, an 85-member unit based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., activated in summer 2003 and deployed last year to Iraq as part of a Navy special warfare squadron that included SEAL commandos.

Created as a two-year “proof of concept” force, the detachment was developed following a fall 2001 memorandum of understanding between the Corps and SOCOM intended to foster broader cooperation.

The memorandum was signed during Gen. James Jones’ tenure as commandant; Hagee is said to be less of a fan of the idea. And a less-than-supportive view from SOCOM — a command predominantly comprised of Army forces, could all but seal that fate, the senior Marine officer said.

“They want to make sure it stays Army green,” he said, adding that Brown “does not want us around.”

As originally envisioned, Detachment 1 would have grown into at least two other units that would operate jointly for regional combatant commanders. The unique team includes Marines from the reconnaissance, intelligence and Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company communities, among others.

The possible tabling of the Corps’ SOCOM detachment comes amid continued high demand for special operations forces for missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in the larger hunt for terrorists worldwide. There also is strong congressional interest in growing the number of special operations troops. The Army wants to increase the number of Special Forces soldiers by as many as 10,000, according to some reports.

Members of the detachment have continued training since their return from Iraq. Their combat deployment was touted as a successful tour, but could wind up in the “so what” category if the decision is made to scrap the detachment, a prospect that frustrates members.

“No matter what we did, it was irrelevant,” the senior Marine officer said.

Gidget Fuentes is the San Diego bureau chief for Marine Corps Times.

01-27-2005, 19:36	#1
NousDefionsDoc Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: LA Posts: 1,653	SecDef To Decide Fate Of Special Operations Unit MarineCorpsTimes.com January 26, 2005 SecDef To Decide Fate Of Special Operations Unit By Gidget Fuentes, Times staff writer OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The fate of the Marine Corps’ first special operations detachment rests with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who will determine if the 18-month trial run will yield a permanent Marine place in the commando ranks. Rumsfeld was expected to meet with Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee and Army Gen. Bryan D. Brown, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, this week to discuss the detachment’s future. “Their joint recommendation is that SOCOM will say that we have no requirement for another unit,” said a senior Marine officer familiar with the ongoing discussion and who asked not to be named. Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment 1, an 85-member unit based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., activated in summer 2003 and deployed last year to Iraq as part of a Navy special warfare squadron that included SEAL commandos. Created as a two-year “proof of concept” force, the detachment was developed following a fall 2001 memorandum of understanding between the Corps and SOCOM intended to foster broader cooperation. The memorandum was signed during Gen. James Jones’ tenure as commandant; Hagee is said to be less of a fan of the idea. And a less-than-supportive view from SOCOM — a command predominantly comprised of Army forces, could all but seal that fate, the senior Marine officer said. “They want to make sure it stays Army green,” he said, adding that Brown “does not want us around.” As originally envisioned, Detachment 1 would have grown into at least two other units that would operate jointly for regional combatant commanders. The unique team includes Marines from the reconnaissance, intelligence and Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company communities, among others. The possible tabling of the Corps’ SOCOM detachment comes amid continued high demand for special operations forces for missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in the larger hunt for terrorists worldwide. There also is strong congressional interest in growing the number of special operations troops. The Army wants to increase the number of Special Forces soldiers by as many as 10,000, according to some reports. Members of the detachment have continued training since their return from Iraq. Their combat deployment was touted as a successful tour, but could wind up in the “so what” category if the decision is made to scrap the detachment, a prospect that frustrates members. “No matter what we did, it was irrelevant,” the senior Marine officer said. Gidget Fuentes is the San Diego bureau chief for Marine Corps Times. __________________ Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home. He knows only The Cause. Still want to quit?
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