06-05-2008, 08:01
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#1
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Administrators
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 2,264
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They've earned the right to wear the Green Beret
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=295701
Quote:
They've earned the right to wear the Green Beret
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor
“Welcome to the brotherhood,” Maj. Gen. James Parker told the Army’s newest Green Berets on Friday.
Parker is commanding general of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, which conducts entry level training for Special Forces, civil affairs and psychological operations soldiers.
The 236th Special Forces Qualification Course held its graduation ceremony at the Crown Arena before friends and family members from as far away as California, Mississippi and Washington, D.C.
The quality of the graduates is “the best we’ve ever seen,” Parker said.
Family members snapped photographs and pointed videocameras as the graduates walked across the stage and received handshakes from dignitaries.
The graduates include officers and enlisted soldiers who receive specialized training in weapons, engineering, medicine and communications.
In some cases, the soldiers have been training for up to two years for the right to wear the green beret.
“His most powerful weapon is between his ears,” Parker said.
The class of 142 soldiers will join A-teams and serve in Special Forces groups that are oriented to the languages and cultures of regions around the world. Special Forces soldiers work in small groups in close contact with indigenous forces, often working through others to accomplish objectives.
“Read, study, push yourself,” Parker told the graduates, whose numbers include several sons of Special Forces soldiers.
The force is uniquely qualified to face the modern enemy, who does not wear uniforms, defend territory or engage U.S. military power head on.
“Your assessment never ends,” Parker said.
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Dan is offline
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06-07-2008, 11:11
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: America, the Beautiful
Posts: 3,193
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Congrats!
Look at all them E-5s! Way to go.
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Warrior-Mentor is offline
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06-07-2008, 12:45
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 13,080
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Sharp Looking Troops
I noticed the greens and the jumps boots.
Remember and view them while you can.
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Pete is offline
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06-07-2008, 13:27
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#4
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Area Commander
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: OK. Thanking Our Brave Soldiers
Posts: 3,614
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Warrior-Mentor
Look at all them E-5s! Way to go.
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(All SF Men are cuties, IMHO!  )
Congradulations, and thank you for your willingness to serve gentlemen!
Holly
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echoes is offline
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06-07-2008, 13:46
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Warrior-Mentor
Look at all them E-5s! Way to go.
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Based on the rank, and the lack of combat patches, I would say that they are probably all 18Xs in that pic.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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06-07-2008, 20:55
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#6
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Midwest
Posts: 7,134
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Congratulations to all who graduated, and thank you for stepping up to serve.
__________________
My Heroes wear camouflage.
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Gypsy is offline
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06-08-2008, 08:11
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#7
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Asset
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: The Boxx
Posts: 46
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Very inspiring...
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Blakeslee is offline
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06-08-2008, 13:17
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#8
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SF Candidate
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: AK
Posts: 81
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These stories add fuel to the fire.
Awe inspiring and motivating.
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Philkilla is offline
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06-10-2008, 19:17
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#9
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Administrators
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 2,264
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Following the Green Beret
Following the Green Beret
By Cherish Washington
USASOC Public Affairs
Quote:
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, June 3, 2008) – Donning the green beret, receiving the sacred Special Forces tab and the continuation of a legacy.
As Staff Sgt. Thomas R. Biddle graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course on May 30, his father, 1st Sgt Thomas C. Biddle, a first sergeant for Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), watched on with pride.
Being Special Forces is an honor in itself, but to be a father-son duo in the same unit is even more of a rarity. 1st Sgt. Biddle and his son are both apart of 1st SWTG(A) and the timing worked out in a perfect manner.
Twenty-one years ago 1st Sgt. Biddle stood in the same place, joining the regiment as a Special Forces medical sergeant. Although the ceremony has become much more elaborate since then, the honor is the same.
“I am happy that they are giving these young Soldiers more recognition upon graduation. This becomes a life-long profession for many of them and it should start out with significant recognition.”
1st Sgt. Biddle has made Special Forces a life-long career. He has served as a medic for 16 years in 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and 1st SWTG(A). He then went on to serve as the assistant operations sergeant for two years on Operation Detachment-Alpha 792. Before becoming the HHD, 1st Bn, 1st SWTG(A) first sergeant, he held the position of team sergeant on ODA 775.
Naturally, it was a proud moment for 1st Sgt. Biddle when he learned his son would follow in his footsteps.
“I am proud that he is following in my steps and hope that he can learn from the experiences I have had in this career,” said 1st Sgt. Biddle. “It is my hope that I can share the many lessons I have learned over the years to aid him in having the most rewarding career possible. It is extremely hard for me to not be the ‘meddling father’ but I think I can control myself and let him forge his own path. After all, he has arrived at where he is of his own accord, and I am sure he wants to make his own way and form his own reputation in the future.”
Staff Sgt. Biddle always knew Special Forces was not only in his blood, but in his heart as well. “I always knew I wanted to be a Green Beret, but wanted to have time and experience in the regular Army beforehand,” said Staff Sgt. Biddle.
“I wanted to be a Green Beret so I could have the opportunity to do my job in the Army in a more independent manner without the constraints of traditional military thinking,” said Staff Sgt. Biddle.
Just because Staff Sgt. Biddle is dedicated to Special Forces it did not make the Special Forces Qualification Course, SFQC, easy. There were many obstacles that he had to overcome.
“The biggest obstacle was probably trying to keep up with the fast paced learning environment of the SFQC,” he said. “You commonly hear the SFQC learning experience referred to as ‘drinking water from a fire hose. A lot of dedication and constantly reminding myself to stay focused on the task at hand helped me overcome this obstacle.”
Nevertheless, Staff Sgt. Biddle crossed the stage as a Special Forces weapons sergeant and was greeted by his father. He said he could not have made it that far without help from his family and friends.
“I’m most grateful for the support of my family and the opportunity to share the experience of the SFQC with a good group of Soldiers,” he said.
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Dan is offline
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06-10-2008, 19:17
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#10
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Administrators
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 2,264
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father and son
1st Sgt. Thomas C. Biddle congratulates his son, Staff Sgt. Thomas R. Biddle, during the Special Forces Qualification Course graduation ceremony, May 30, 2008 at the Crown Auditorium. US Army Photo by Janice Burton.
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Dan is offline
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06-10-2008, 21:05
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#11
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Area Commander
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hobbiton
Posts: 1,211
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Good on ya Dad! 
S
__________________
"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal to your tasks."
-- Phillip Brooks
"A man's reach should exceed his grasp"
-- Robert Browning
"Hooah! Pushing thru the shit til Daisies grow, Sir"
-- Me
"Malo mori quam foedari"
"Death before Dishonour"
-- Family Coat-of-Arms Maxim
"Mārohirohi! Kia Kaha!"
"Be strong! Drive-on!"
-- Māori saying
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Scimitar is offline
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06-10-2008, 22:01
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#12
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 4,541
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Quote:
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Just because Staff Sgt. Biddle is dedicated to Special Forces it did not make the Special Forces Qualification Course, SFQC, easy. There were many obstacles that he had to overcome.
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He apparently did well at overcoming...as evidenced by the new ARCOM he's sporting.
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Razor is offline
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06-10-2008, 22:01
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DFW Texas Area
Posts: 4,741
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan
1st Sgt. Thomas C. Biddle congratulates his son, Staff Sgt. Thomas R. Biddle, during the Special Forces Qualification Course graduation ceremony, May 30, 2008 at the Crown Auditorium. US Army Photo by Janice Burton.
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
If they are not on here, someone at FB please make it so!!!
Take care.
Martin
__________________
Martin sends.
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Ambush Master is offline
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06-10-2008, 22:58
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#14
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: In transit somewhere
Posts: 4,044
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Outstanding job to all the young men who graduated.
__________________
In the business of war, there is no invariable stategic advantage (shih) which can be relied upon at all times.
Sun-Tzu, "The Art of Warfare"
Hearing, I forget. Seeing, I remember. Writing (doing), I understand. Chinese Proverb
Too many people are looking for a magic bullet. As always, shot placement is the key. ~TR
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x SF med is offline
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06-11-2008, 16:49
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#15
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 13
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Coy!
You dog. Congrats, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. When is the son going to shave his head?
Frank A
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Roughneck 91 is offline
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