"The Sun Never Sets On America’s Special-Operations Forces " Topic

"Over the past year, special-operations forces have landed in 81 countries, mostly to train local troops to fight so Americans don't have to.

MAO, Chad—"Is this good?" yelled the U.S. Special Forces sergeant. "No!"

He waved a paper target showing the dismal marksmanship of the Chadian commandos he was here to teach. Dozens of bullet holes intended for the silhouette's vital organs were instead scattered in an array of flesh wounds and outright misses.

The Chadians, with a reputation as fierce desert fighters, were contrite. They dropped to the fine Saharan sand and pounded out 20 push-ups. "Next time, we're going to shoot all of the bullets here," one Chadian soldier said, gesturing toward the target's solar plexus.

Such scenes play out around the world, evidence of how the U.S. has come to rely on elite military units to maintain its global dominance…"
Full article here
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Amicalement
Armand

I'm curious what "regular" training/capture/kill missions we are running inside the borders of the People's Republic of China…

Can't read the article without registering. So what targets are worth attacking in Canada? Universal healthcare advocates? Left-leaning socialists? The welfare state? Rocky and Bullwinkle?
I say we begin special operations against the USA. We'll send highly trained covert operatives to teach them manners and how to apologize correctly to us for sending their covert operatives up here!

Desperately trying to justify their continued massive structure after the impending pullout in Afghanistan.

I encountered a US special forces soldier helping to run vertical assault training in the UK alongside the RM trainers; perhaps that accounts for the inclusion of the UK on that map.

Nothing in the US?

I bumped into a bunch training in Spain this year…….didn't make it on the map………..

US Spec Ops forces traditionally/frequently/always are all over the planet. Doing all kinds of missions from training locals to actual "wet work". Many times you never hear about it.

tuscaloosa
Desperately trying to justify their continued massive structure after the impending pullout in Afghanistan.

So bitter tuscaloosa … the US Spec Ops forces in A'stan are small at this point compared to previously. US Spec Ops Forces have grown, with the increase of radicalized islamic terrorism, etc. … They are the most effective force in combatting insurgents as well as many other types of combat ops, etc. … At one level of another. And for some of you who are not Yanks. US Spec Ops forces train with other countries Spec Ops frequently. So if they are in your country, they are cross-training, etc., with your local SF, etc. … As well as drinking your beer, chasing your women-folk, etc., etc. !

I say we begin special operations against the USA. We'll send highly trained covert operatives to teach them manners and how to apologize correctly to us for sending their covert operatives up here !

Rod … that is not very PC ! LOL ! They training with you SF typs and drinking you beer, chasing your gals, etc., etc. …

So what targets are worth attacking in Canada?

Attacking? Just your pubs.

So, are they also taking part in looking for the Nigerian Christian schoolgirls taken by Boko Haram then? The 60 or so that escaped on their own and managed to make it back home said that the others were being taken to North African Muslim nations for sale. I see a lot of North Africa unshaded on that map.

I guess their clients didn't care for male Christian schoolchildren a couple of months before the attack on the girl school, because some of those boys were beheaded while the rest were burned alive. I don't remember if the even got a hashtag.

Dan

They may be … they have trained and assisted a number of armies in the region. Some missions are classified.

Not Pakistan, Yemen nor Djibouti – something wrong here or maybe drones don't count. Not Israel?

Some missions may be/are classified.

There was a time when Russia would have been one of the countries on that map.

Earlier I said: "I guess their clients didn't care for male Christian schoolchildren a couple of months before the attack on the girl school (April 2014), because some of those boys were beheaded while the rest were burned alive (February 2014). I don't remember if the even got a hashtag."

When in fact a couple of US news outlets did mention the horrific acts perpetrated on those 29 innocent school boys (February 2014):

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And the boys school that was bombed in November 2014, that killed 50 boys and injured many more:

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But maybe we are simply putting all our eggs on the drone basket:

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I think that's why USAJobs had a lot of openings last year for highly proficient video game players! The links took you to a third party DoD recruiter site.

They must by now have become our new joystick and mouse-clicking replacements (with the occasional "munchies"), of virtual pilots, special forces and intelligence all wrapped up in one "neat" package.

Dan
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There was a time when Russia would have been one of the countries on that map.

I've seen US SF wearing Russian jump wings/insignia on the right side of their uniform. That is the side where foreign awards are worn. So they must have trained/jumped with Russian Paras/Spetsnaz in the past.

They must by now have become our new joystick and mouse-clicking replacements (with the occasional munchies), of virtual pilots, special forces and intelligence all wrapped up in one "neat" package.

Maybe … However, drones as very useful. But have some limitations. ID'ing those school girls, is like many of the problems we see in insurgent/COIN warfare. Since no one is wearing a uniform or some way to ID them as any other than non-combatants in the area. Or in this case these girls are dressed like every other female in the region. To islamists standards, after their capture. It is going to be hard to get a positive ID. Plus they are most likely scattered or sold, etc., it makes the job almost impossible … Plus as we see in recent events, saving hostages from terrorists is one of the most difficult and dangerous mission any Spec Operators can under take.

Legion4,

Believe me, I'm with you brother! I truly believe drones have many uses. But we need to rely on multiple options.

Drones can't do everything that needs to be done, as you stated, "Or in this case these girls are dressed like every other female in the region. "

In a situation like that, it's an empty gesture and a wasted asset.

Dan

This is nothing new and 81 is about average (remember much of the work is foreign internal defense…advisory missions. There are training exchanges (that's where the foreign wings come from) and even missions that are simple medical Civilian assistance. Many missions at all times in every direction, most of them non lethal.

There are also many SOF units that come to the US for training and exchanges as well. In active duty or reserve SF units one can be kept very busy.

Los

In a situation like that, it's an empty gesture and a wasted asset.

Probably … sometimes … the bad guys win a turn or two …

There are also many SOF units that come to the US for training and exchanges as well. In active duty or reserve SF units one can be kept very busy.

Yes, you can see a plethora of foreign uniforms at Bragg and Benning on any given day.

Given that the source is SOCOM, the disclosed areas are places where they have been in the media, got caught or have an ongoing PR campaign. The interesting stuff is happening where they don't admit to being there!

The interesting stuff is happening where they don't admit to being there!

Yep, as I said,

US Spec Ops forces traditionally/frequently/always are all over the planet. Doing all kinds of missions from training locals to actual "wet work". Many times you never hear about it.

Hence the term "Covert Ops" …