Special Forces

**antimony** · 17 Jul 08,, 20:13

Originally Posted by Knaur Amarsh

This is very suspicious,Antimony

)

How did u reach the link?

Not googling for "The world's largest organ", were you?

Not "The world's largest organ", I googled for the "The world's largest pipe organ"

It works like this:
You play with your hands at one end, stuff (air, in case you thought anything else) comes out the pipe

)

:P

**Knaur Amarsh** · 17 Jul 08,, 20:19

Originally Posted by antimony

Not "The world's largest organ", I googled for the "The world's largest pipe organ"

It works like this:
You play with your hands at one end, stuff (air, in case you thought anything else) comes out the pipe

)

:P

Ah, I find it doubtful that anyone would be googling around for the world's largest pipe organ :P Are you a music connoisseur?

Am sure you are well acquainted with its salient features by now

)Anyhow its your story and I reckon you'll stick to it

**Officer of Engineers** · 17 Jul 08,, 20:22

**** Groan ****

**sourkraut115** · 17 Jul 08,, 21:52

while I have a great deal of respect for special operators, and believe they play a crucial role in CT and COIN operations, I tend to be an old fashioned conventional forces fan myself; I don't blame the operators for all of the Hollywood fanfare, but I think they would be the first to note that without conventional forces (both maneuver and support units) to do the dirty, long-term, and often dull work that wins wars, there would be little point in special operations units.

I do like the idea of giving conventional infantry units, and junior leaders, more chance to use initiative and become self-reliant in the manner of SF units (if not to that extreme).

On the police side, I know that SWAT is very exciting, but who ever saw a SWAT guy take a larceny from auto report, or break up a domestic? I regard that as more realistic police workthan taking doors. They do, however, serve a very useful purpose on those few occasions that they are really needed.

**Blue** · 17 Jul 08,, 22:34

Wow. I guess I haven't seen this thread since its been dead for almost a year. Well, to be honest, it is difficult for me to give an unbiased opinion, since well, everyone knows that US Army Green Beret is the one and only original and that among those 7th group is the absolute tops!!

)

I could go on all day about this and comment on what I have read so far. In one of the earlier posts the topic was Delta Force. I can't say exactly what their role is today because even my old job is not the same as it was 20 years ago. The way I hear it now a lot has changed and there are way more of us than used to. When I talked to the recruiter last they are now letting spec4s in. In my day you had to be an NCO E-5 or above. I also read an article on SOF recently where GBs now fall under socom and are actually getting phased out. Pity! IMO it is an example of political correctness, you know, lower the curve so everyone can make an "A".

I have an old friend who was a LTC in delta and was on the Iranian hostage rescue mission (Eagle Claw). He has some interesting stories. He was also one of the reasons I chose my path. He actually went to high school with my father and afterwards He went to the Army and My Dad went Navy.

I would contribute this tidbit though, and a little research may net you some amzing facts. IMO, the warsaw pact nations as a whole, esp Russia and Poland, focus on strict martial discipline. Thier training can be brutal and I think it makes them very tough in a direct contact situation. Thier H2H skills are superb and they have almost a scary determination to them. I've seen it.

**sourkraut115** · 18 Jul 08,, 01:10

I will agree that accepting recruits straight out of basic into "special forces" seems like a bad idea. I can understand doing this for the Ranger battalions, which are essentially elite conventional forces, but SF units operate in a very different environment. While some highly motivated individuals have presumably done pretty well going directly into SF, I really think that a disservice is done to these men by not giving them time to learn how a conventional war is fought and how regular units operate. Send the super-motivated recruits to the Rangers and to conventional airborne/air assault/light infantry units, then choose candidates for SF once they've demonstrated competence and motivation for four years (and cleaned a latrine or three for humility). Then again, I'm probably jealous of the beards and ball caps.

**Blue** · 18 Jul 08,, 04:33

Originally Posted by sourkraut115

SF units operate in a very different environment. While some highly motivated individuals have presumably done pretty well going directly into SF, I really think that a disservice is done to these men by not giving them time to learn how a conventional war is fought and how regular units operate. Send the super-motivated recruits to the Rangers and to coventional airborne/air assault/light infantry units, then choose candidates for SF once they've demonstrated competence and motivation for four years (and cleaned a latrine or three for humility). Then again, I'm probably jealous of the beards and ball caps.

I couldn't agree with you more. I was young and moved very quickly into rank. I was super motivated, very smart, could do anything but follow orders. I was very immature and it resulted in my getting out instead of retiring in '05 like I planned. I know I wasn't the only one with this kind of story and it seems the Army went even further in the wrong direction in this respect. We had a lot of people drop after getting assigned at that time. HMM??

**yasirkarim** · 24 Aug 08,, 17:19

I think Afghan people are best fighters,without any proper training they are fighting world third superpower, ( After Britain & Russia ).

**Knaur Amarsh** · 24 Aug 08,, 17:36

Originally Posted by yasirkarim

I think Afghan people are best fighters,without any proper training they are fighting world third superpower, ( After Britain & Russia ).

**~~bengalraider~~** · 24 Aug 08,, 18:19

Originally Posted by yasirkarim

I think Afghan people are best fighters,without any proper training they are fighting world third superpower, ( After Britain & Russia ).

could you quit comparing the taliban and al-qaeda ( i know most of al-qaeda is arab) fighters to actual special ops forces , by doing so you are insulting all countries special ops .

**24RIMA** · 28 Aug 08,, 03:02

I will say the US Special Forces or the SEALS.
They are always in combat, that's why.
The French Légionnaires are not too bad as well....
The 1st RPIMA, 3RD AND 8RPIMA are very well trained , those guys are in Afganistan at the moment. They just lost 10 of their men in an ambush last week.
Most of them were 22/24 years old

**Blue** · 28 Aug 08,, 04:51

Originally Posted by bengalraider

could you quit comparing the taliban and al-qaeda ( i know most of al-qaeda is arab) fighters to actual special ops forces , by doing so you are insulting all countries special ops .

Thanks BR, I appreciate your POV on this!

**24RIMA** · 28 Aug 08,, 05:07

I have always admire the US for what they did on the Beach of Normandy 1944. You guys are the best in the field, I mean it.

**Blue** · 28 Aug 08,, 05:20

Originally Posted by 24RIMA

I have always admire the US for what they did on the Beach of Normandy 1944. You guys are the best in the field, I mean it.

Thanks for the grats to our boys that gave all on your soil in the name of freedom. Some Americans feel the French have forgotten the sacrifice. Good to hear from you on that. I have three great uncles that I never knew because they thought your freedom was as important as thiers and mine. Let us remember and honor them and lest we forget thier cause. Welcome to the WAB my friend!

**24RIMA** · 28 Aug 08,, 05:38

Thank you very much for the warm welcome, but my generation has never forgotten those Paratroopers who came out of the sky of Normandy and from the Channel Sea that rainy day of June 6 1944. My mother was 12 years old at the time, her house was less than 50 miles away from Utah Beach, manner of facts, she ate her first chewing-gum on an American tank...She will never forget the joy in seeing the first Americans soldiers entering her village.
Everytime she talk about it , I feel that I was there, in that small tiny village.
She remember the US Infantry coming first , than the British a week later.
My next trip, the beach of Normandy with my kids, I want them to know why we have a better world today. I honor you great uncles for what they beleived in.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.