 Editor in Chief Bill   | 28 Jul 2021 2:30 p.m. PST |
Seems like all you hear these days is SEALS, SEALS, SEALS… |
 Legion 4  | 28 Jul 2021 2:50 p.m. PST |
US ARMY SPECIAL FORCES, the "Green Berets" are very much alive and well. SOCOM has all branches of the US Military's Spec Ops Forces under it's command. Many time ops include a mix of units from the various branches. US ARMY SF has units all over the world doing things like training local forces to hunting down terrorists. Many of the missions are very much classified. And the US ARMY SF is rated as one of the top/best Spec Ops force in on the planet. This link covers it nicely … link SEALS, SEALS, SEALS No doubt the SEALs are very, very good at what they do. And at times they work with US SF, etc. Who do you think flies the SEALs, etc., into places like Pakistan to service UBL ? The US ARMY's 160th SOAR/Special Operation Aviation Rgt. link Again they are some of the best chopper pilots, etc., in the world. They also recently had a few MV-22s, IIRC. The only Army unit that has those AFAIK … I had a former SEAL in my Mech Co. at Ft. Benning, GA. He was in the USN. When his time was up he went to ARMY ROTC and RANGER School. Yes a SEAL AIRBORNE RANGER … Very rare to see anyone with a SEAL Trident & Ranger Tab on his uniform. He was very, very, good at pretty much anything he did … He was an 2LT so I taught him about Leadership, etc.. But all the missions of dismounted Light and Mech Infantry Ops. He was again, very, very, good …👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 I digress … but once the media got a hold of the news of very successful SEAL Ops. They ran with it. And their reputation is very well deserved. So yes, "Green Berets", RANGERs, SOAR, SEALs, USAF CCTs & PJs and USMC Raider units[did I miss any ?]. Work together in many cases. And truth be told … what we see/hear in the media, etc., about any US Spec Ops units is only the tip of the very the tip of the ice berg … We have no idea what is going on, who, where, when, etc. with highly classified forces & ops … |
| arealdeadone | 28 Jul 2021 4:42 p.m. PST |
Green Berets are still active in dozens of countries' forever wars which serve no US national interest save boosting some US officer careers and justifying a $50 USD billion black budget in the US for which there is no transparency or accountability. A few were killed in Niger in 2017 when they were ambushed by insurgents. |
| USAFpilot | 28 Jul 2021 4:46 p.m. PST |
Legion 4 +1 Green Berets are still here. SEALs do a lot of ‘direct action' missions; which were plenty in the age of terrorism. SEALs don't do counterinsurgency like the Green Berets who speak the local language and work with the locals. I think Army Special Forces is a larger organization than the SEALs and have more diverse mission sets. |
| Stryderg | 28 Jul 2021 7:46 p.m. PST |
They are so good, no one knows where they are! ?? |
| raylev3 | 28 Jul 2021 9:25 p.m. PST |
SEALS carry out small (in scale) missions with their teams. The Army's Special Forces (Green Berets) are primarily used to train and operate with foreign elements. SF and SEALS have two different missions and operational methods. Killing Osama is sexier than training foreign militaries. This is an oversimplification, but Legion 4's link above has more info. |
| David Manley | 28 Jul 2021 9:47 p.m. PST |
SEALs have better PR. Who killed Bin Laden again? :) |
| Striker | 28 Jul 2021 11:27 p.m. PST |
Even before OBL the SEALs were past masters of good PR. And who can forget the power of Charlie Sheen as an advertisement. |
| Oberlindes Sol LIC | 29 Jul 2021 1:41 a.m. PST |
Well, the Green Berets had John Wayne and George Takei, but they haven't had a movie in a while. |
| Red Jacket | 29 Jul 2021 4:27 a.m. PST |
There are still silver wings upon his chest… |
| Legion 4 | 29 Jul 2021 10:44 a.m. PST |
I got a could of sets of wings myself 😁 … 😎 But I was not Ranger or SF qualified. No way would have passed either course … 🙁 A few were killed in Niger in 2017 when they were ambushed by insurgents. Yes IIRC, it was only one and he was not SF qualified yet. However still very sad. He was in service to his country, doing his duty. RIP Soldier … But as we know … wings, berets, tabs, etc., won't stop bullets … |
| Legion 4 | 29 Jul 2021 4:49 p.m. PST |
serve no US national interest save boosting some US officer careers and justifying a $50 USD USD billion black budget in the US for which there is no transparency or accountability. Sounds bitter & negative again about the US Military and the US Gov't in general. Regardless, those that volunteer to join the Army, then to go thru Special Forces, Ranger, etc., training, etc., really don't it for $. USD You'll never get rich in the military. Unless you are of very high rank. Which are few compared to the total numbers. Of course I'm sure we all know that … As far as the Black Budget … why do you think toilet seats & hammers cost $300 USD-$600 + each? |
| arealdeadone | 29 Jul 2021 5:50 p.m. PST |
Sounds bitter & negative again about the US Military and the US Gov't in general. Deploying special forces to 90 countries without a clear mandate or mission let alone a rational reason is stupid. It also completely anti-democratic, unnaccountable and non-transparent as Congress has no oversight on these.*
I would make the same comment about Russia or China if they were doing it.
As far as the Black Budget … why do you think toilet seats & hammers cost $300.00 USD USD-$600 + each? Those come out of the normal defence and procurement budgets (US spends about $753 USD billion on defence in 2021 including Energy department who control elements of nuclear program). The $50 USD billion black budget is purely for special operations and other secret missions. No congressional oversight whatsoever. *Link: link Unless you are of very high rank A goal any career officer is pursuing especially the one's ordering the strikes such as General Stephen Townsend who actually authorised the strikes (no, it wasn't Biden). Trump administration gave regional commanders authority to act as they pretty much please without referring to civilian command structure (ie the President) – Biden's team is still apparently working on fixing this but process is not yet finalised. Looks good on General Townsend's resume to have a few active combat ops under his belt including some undefined missions in Africa which serve no purpose. |
| Legion 4 | 31 Jul 2021 6:44 a.m. PST |
Well ardo … since none of us know what is really going on as it is classified … your comments may be inaccurate. But we will never know.
apparently working on fixing this but process is not yet finalised. Not likely to happen … Can't say more or the DH … You seem to know what the US gov't & military leadership are thinking. But again we see & know very little about what goes on at that high level. IMO you are making a guess(s) based on what you know vs. what is really going on. You or I don't work in the Pentagon … |
