U.S. Military Takes Two Paths

[MRF54]

Originally Posted by x_sf_med

The unsexy, unglorious tasks that are the body of SF, are what set us apart from the conventional Army. These are the tasks that last the longest and make the biggest impression on the HN forces, and people. To train, advise, organize and assist.... isn't that the main focus of the mission statement?

Makes sense to me - less cost, less exposure, less risk, and establishes relationships (sic: tribal entities). And I agree 100%, there isn't anything reallllly sexy about a true counter-insurgency campaign.

I applaud those teams over there embracing their SF legacy and I hope that they will motivate generations of American's and Iraqi's to do what it takes regardless. SF is in a unique position of modern Western history!

Real, long-term, strategic planning and operations create dissonance to an officer trying to get through their "combat command." How many new books have been written by conventional officers telling everyone how to fight and win an unconventional campaign - ignoring the fact that the US Army has a whole career field & TO/E dedicated specifically for this task?

[x SF med]

Uboat -
just rephrasing so the sluggos could understand it's not all death and glory, it's behind the scenes and quiet for a great part of the mission.

[NousDefionsDoc]

Excellent thread, outstanding posts.

To what Colonel Sir said, I will add this quote:

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
(Paris Sorbonne,1910)

I think there are quite a few that know deep down in the dark recesses of their psyche that they don't have what it takes or have the balls to find out and it pisses them off and probably scares them more than a little to have to confront their weakness in the form of those that have on a daily basis.

Most people fear what they don't understand. And they hate what they fear.

That no-neck Captain probably scares the shit out of that LTC and the latter hates him for it.

I think many of them are also lonely (in a non-Navy way) and the rapport on a Team gives them cause for envy. That easy, relaxed respect that the NCOs have for a good Team Leader.

[Monsoon65]

Great article, but they always leave me scratching my head about how SF and the conventional Army can't seem to work together. If I were a commander with an SF team in my neighborhood, I'd do whatever I could to try to work together.

Same things happen in the AF. I'm with AFSOC, and a Guard unit to boot, and we always get some sort of static from Big Blue whenever we deploy. I have to rein in the kids when they get their hackles up when someone gives them trouble about one thing or another. As NDD said, I think they don't like it when they see how easily we work within the unit, officer and enlisted, operations and maintenance.

[jbq004]

Very interesting article. I am just a regular infanryman but I too feel the effects of these type of officers.

I am in Afghanistan right now serving conventionally in a Guard Infantry Unit. I do the less glamorous job and provide security for a Provincial Reconstruction Team. My PRT does MEDCAPS, Schools, Roads, Animal Stuff, & Training for local forces. If your not already familiar we have a Civil Affairs Team, Doctors, Engineers, ETC. I obviously can not speak for the couple of SF soldiers at this FOB, however, I have heard some talk about how ineffective our current LTC is. One of my ranger officers said to me in disgust that he was approached by one of the manuever officers saying how he'll do the killing stuff but not the PRT bull crap. My outfit is constantly looked down upon by the Infantry manuever element on this FOB, and the officers that lead them. They give the impression that the rebuilding and rapport part is a complete waste of time. They do not realize once we leave there needs to be a new system in place. I have been in country for about 1/2 a year and we have just began to combine the manuever element's combat operations connectically with our own. I know this sways a bit from the whole convential / non-convential discussion, however I just wanted to bring to light my small take on the current mentality of some Big Army Officers.