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Originally posted by SinePariDonster:
http://www.military.com/forums/0,15240,165888,00.html?ESRC=army.nl


Interesting article by MG James Guest

"In April 2007, USSOCOM put out a 20-minute DVD celebrating its twentieth anniversary. Even though Special Forces personnel make up the greatest part of the USSOCOM forces, the U. S. Army Special Forces are never once mentioned in this DVD. Although Special Forces is the oldest force in USSOCOM and has been the USSOCOM workhorse since its inception, not one Green Beret is seen in the montage of photographs.

Colonel Banks is not mentioned in the historical overview, or General Yarborough, or General Healy. There is no reference to Colonel Bull Simons, to Colonel Charlie Beckwith, nor to General Joe Lutz. Yet without these men, the path to the present day in United States "special operations" would be difficult to imagine. [b]Most amazingly, the DVD makes no reference to President John F. Kennedy, who supported the establishment of Special Forces in 1961.[b]

Will Special Forces exist ten or twenty years down the road? What can we do to ensure the continuing existence and contribution of the Green Berets?

It is time to fight again, this time for the preservation of the force. If we do not protest the poor stewardship of the U. S. Army and USSOCOM leaders concerning U. S. Army Special Forces and its unique capability, we will certainly see this capability diminish."



http://www.military.com/forums/0,15240,165888,00.html?ESRC=army.nl

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I would put a Marine Corps Infantry Squad against any SEAL team and wipe the floor with them, any Ranger platoon and wipe the floor with them.

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Originally posted by 13710321:
I would put a Marine Corps Infantry Squad against any SEAL team and wipe the floor with them, any Ranger platoon and wipe the floor with them.

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Originally posted by RingosRule:
CCNCCC@aol.comBefore there ever was an official Green Beret, we had a hand full of professional soldiers who lurked around corners, trees, and any other form of concealment. These warriors were primarily led by the man who made a dream come true. Enter Colonel Arron Bank (Father of Special Forces) of WWII clandestine warfare fame and expertise. Col. Bank sent word to those he knew and the cadre for the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was born. Eventually Tenth Group moved to Germany, where they took up house keeping in Flint Kaserne, home of the Bavarian SS. Left at Fort Bragg, NC, was some of the original and new cadre to train those who would make up the 77th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Over a few years, Group recruited and trained some of the Military's best who soon spread their wings over the world going where no soldier had been before doing what no sane person would attempt. Early on, we went where ever there was a crisis requiring military expertise. We learned the language, customs, taboos, and in general the culture of the host country, long before we ever set foot on their soil. This was not just an eight hour a day training process, it went on into the night, and in some cases six days of pre-mission isolation training. It wasn't anything to go to work in the morning and not return for six months, or at the shortest, twelve to twenty-four hours later. TRAINING WAS NEVER ENDING!
WHEN YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST, YOU GIVE YOUR BEST!
We had another area of expertise, public relations, or any other term one might use and that was assisting in crisis off post and in isolated areas. We also had the Special Forces Demonstration Team, aka "The Dog and Pony Show" who presented an official display of the talents of the Special Forces Soldier. Soon our demonstration area became known as Disney World to those who participated in the "show." It was this team and show that General William Yarborough (Father of the Green Beret) brought President Kennedy to witness and following the detachment duties, presented the President with a Green Beret. Thus entered the process of THE official GREEN BERET¹. Many of us had them from trips to Germany or South East Asia, where I obtained mine. I seriously doubt if any continuous member of that Demonstartion Detachment would forget his spiel: "I am the Detachment Senior Radio Operator Supervisor, my duties include: establishing, maintaining, and supervising the communications with highter headquarters. I am also responsible for the training of indigenous personnel in the operation of radio equipment and other methods of communications. I am responsible to the Detachment Commander for our encription pads, I assist other team members in any manner I can. I am cross trained in Intelligence Gathering, Demolitions, and some Medical aspects. I have a working knowledge of Spanish, German, Laotian, and speak English."

Even in the early years, the Special Forces Soldier alinated the Conventional Army Rank and File. Because of their expertise in infiltration and evasion, we were able to gain access into many denied areas. If for no other reason then to indicate the lack of security for sensitive areas. There are many General Officers who hated us with a passion, and did all within their power, and then some, to downplay our authanticity or validity to the common goal of the United States Army. One such General was General Abrhams, who became the brunt of our escapades in Texas, Oklahoma, and Germany. On the flip side of the coin, we had a few who not only respected our abilities, but admired our audacity and skill. It was these Officers whom we welcomed into our camps with open arms, and a salute of course.

However, I dare say our detractors far outnumberd our admirers, and was able to turn the tide against us, with full force. Yet, as it is we have been able to persevere and overcome. That is until present day and time when it is time for The United States Special Forces to rise and shine and stand ground. Can the United States Marine Corps meet the standards of Special Forces? I seriously doubt it, because of their demeanor. They are not, now nor will they ever become able or capable of entering a host country's hinterland converse with the population, train, supervise, and assist their own army in combat or peaceful doings, in their native tongue, living, eating, and becoming part of their culture while working with them. It takes a very special type person to be able to arrive with that necessary to assist in medical care, construction assistance, agricultureal assistance, improving what they already have but lack the knowledge and skill to make it work better. It takes a special type person to be able to sit down with his host and eat the same food as they are, when it is all that they have, and you know it, when not to will indicate a lack of respect for the host. This is one of the things that is Special about Special Forces and I fail to ever see any other element in the United States Military arsenal be able to duplicate.

There is no way on Earth a sane person would attempt to duplicate something which is already a proven product other then to show a force of superiority while actually casting a pale of ignorance, injustice, and petty jealousy not to mention the "because I can" when asked why. I find it strange in this day of the new, younger, and professional Soldiers who were still in diapers, in most cases, when all these annamosities were unraveling, to carry the grudge of their predessors to this extreme. In addition to the ambiguous turn of events in overthrowing Special Forces the Navy and USMC have sucessfully declared war with the members of and veterans of Special Forces

Where are our former comrades in arms and leaders some who came up through the ranks to attain honor, prestige, and hopefully wisdom? "REMEMBER THE ALAMO?" HELL YES! NOW it is time to REMEMBER MACVSOG, REMEMBER Phu Bia, FOB1, CCN, Kontum, FOB2, CCC, CCS, Khe Sahn, Dak To and ALL those who gave it all, some still there."

There is one way and one way only that the USSOCOM, at McDill AFB, Tampa, will ever become absolute, and that is to be governed by General Officers who met the standards to become a Special Forces Officer and have had "Boots on the ground" with SF ODAs, SF Companies and Battalions and has reached the Grade of General, making the Commander of USSOCOM a four star billit, with a three star deputy commander and so on down the line with appropriate General Officers commanding the Special Forces Regiment, Ranger Regiment, Air Force SOF, SEALS, and Marine Corps SOF. Those members of the other SOF elements who wish to attend and qualify for the SFAQ would be able to attend without a branch transfere, unless they elected to do so, of course. Likewise, any member of each SOF Branch would be able to attend cross training in HALO and SEAL schools as well as the Ranger Academy.

It is my most sincere feeling that highly trained SOF organizations such as this would be much more effective then those stabbing each other in the back. Cross trained teams would be much more effective and coordiantated then they are now. There is room enough for all the elements mentioned, but I fail to see nothing but failure if Special Forces is eliminated, or dwindled dowm to "Scout Platoons" for some glorified pencil pusher. Remember, the Rangers were designed to move in, kick *** and hold the ground, the Marines were designed to move through rapidly killing everything in sight, then call for resupplies. SF on the other hand was created to infiltrate by any means possible, as silently as possible hoping the enemy is ignorant of their presence. Blend in with the natives and train them to go out and silently kill the enemy if possible, if not "nuke 'em with C-4" and move on. No one can do it any better then SF.

Who am I to rant on so boldly? My name is Ringland, US ARMY 1950-1976, 66th CIC Group (Col.Yarborough, CMDR) 1956-59, USSF, 1960-1973 where I have more time on the dog and pony show then I care to remember, and 7 years of platform time teaching PsyOps, Survival, UW, Radio Communications, mountain climbing, skiing-downhill and cross country. I was also one of O'Neil's students and teacher of a form of martial arts. After three years of hell with a conventional unit, I retired as a First Sergeant with nine years in grade and transfered back to SF, seventeen years before my son retired from SF, having spent his last five years teaching HALO. OH, just in case one wonders, I have two and a half years of Special Operations with White Star, FOB1 and FOB2 (1961/67-69) "Take care, stay safe, keep smiling, and happy hunting." Ringo Sends

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Originally posted by RingosRule:
CCNCCC@aol.comLikewise, any member of each SOF Branch would be able to attend cross training in HALO and SEAL schools as well as the Ranger Academy.
Ringo Sends

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In a "Foreign Legion" we would still have a "Cadre" of regular US officers that would be the heart of the Foreign Legion and continue the traditions of the Green Berets. Maybe they would operate more like a CIA "Case Officer" supervising and coordinating the activities of the Legionaires that have been inserted into the local population and recruiting new ones or hiring local "contractors". Of course the big question is how is their mission defined, who are they under, where do they get their assets and funding, who do they answer to, where would they draw their initial "Cadre". Also what would you do with the current SF/SOF units? Tough questions that will most likely have a political solution rather than a common sense military one.

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The only concern I would have would be in the FID & MTT mission as the regular Army is proving that they can do this as well with seasoned and experienced NCO's and Officers in the MITT team concept, while language is still a barrier, you could probably hire a terp or 2 and still be at a much less expensive product than when a SF team deploys somewhere.