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[grigori]

Max_Tab,

GIven that along with UW, SF has combat divers, CQB teams(CIF) etc would it be correct for one to say that SF is the most versatile Special Operations unit in the entire US Military?

[Max_Tab]

Originally Posted by grigori

Max_Tab,

GIven that along with UW, SF has combat divers, CQB teams(CIF) etc would it be correct for one to say that SF is the most versatile Special Operations unit in the entire US Military?

In my opinion...without a doubt. No other unit SOF or conventional can go from velvet glove to hammer like an ODA. What I mean is talking to village elders, negotiating, building wells and schools (ie humanitarian assistance missions) to at the drop of a hat turning the switch and using controlled violence to terminate any threat. There are many other SOF units that are good at what they do, but they think every problem is a nail and they are the hammer. Conventional units get manipulated and played way to easy by the locals and are then considered weak. Locals will milk them for all they are worth but not do anything to stop the attacks.

It is a fine line to walk and due to SF training, experience, and cultural awareness we do it better than anyone else.

My .02

[grigori]

Originally Posted by Max_Tab

In my opinion...without a doubt. No other unit SOF or conventional can go from velvet glove to hammer like an ODA. What I mean is talking to village elders, negotiating, building wells and schools (ie humanitarian assistance missions) to at the drop of a hat turning the switch and using controlled violence to terminate any threat. There are many other SOF units that are good at what they do, but they think every problem is a nail and they are the hammer. Conventional units get manipulated and played way to easy by the locals and are then considered weak. Locals will milk them for all they are worth but not do anything to stop the attacks.

It is a fine line to walk and due to SF training, experience, and cultural awareness we do it better than anyone else.

My .02

Thank you sir, great explanation.

In today's day post "Neptune Spear" it is sad to see the media glorification of SMU's and the fact that SF are simply labeled as "they train foreign forces". What some people forget is that SF has played a major role in US SOF development in the past 50 years, just the simple fact that two JSOC units were ideas of SF officers is enough to prove your point(i.e your reply to my question).

Thank You.