Special Units of the U.S. Army (Green Berets)

10. 08. 2004

Right at the beginning it is necessary to explain that no unit is not called "The Green Berets". It is only the nickname of the special forces, who wear green berets now. It was at one of these units was to serve John Rambo...

Members of these units openly say that in movies and books about Rambo are presented differently. Let's take a look at what are the special units of the U.S. Army, in fact.

Do not let me brief but necessary turn. It's a bit of confusion in the concept of "special units". Due to this confusion also created speculation about which unit is better. I will try to explain the structure of special operations in the US armed forces.

U.S. Army has besides ground forces and airborne units. These are referred to as "fire partitions". Known 82nd and 101st are deployed in places where the need to intervene quickly and to demonstrate the power. It is a unit which, after the jump move and behave like normal army. Their commitment is to a somewhat higher level than conventional ground troops.

Then we have the so-called. Special training units and Rangers Rangers. This is a program to maximize the efficiency of combat operations teams. Rangers are light infantry, which is used like paratroopers, but focus on exploring and fighting in small groups.

We'll also find Special Forces - Special Forces (forces). These are used for non-traditional combat operations and operations other than war. It is a 12-member group, which are used as advisors in third world countries, leading a resistance movement or the unit for a long stay away in the rear of enemy. Of these units are allotted 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) that are used for anti-terrorist actions outside the United States, the special nature of interventions and other actions that the US government will report.

The Navy has a structure similar to this part. These USMC infantry, reconnaissance units RECON Marines and SEAL. For counterterrorism operations in the US is responsible for the FBI or the special police SWAT teams of each country.

Sometimes they called "special unit" of all these units, but these generally better to call it, as a unit for special operations.

History

The history goes back to special units II. World War. Considered as the beginning of the 1st Special Service Force. In reality, however, the special unit as we know it today, a child of the "Cold War".

The 10th SFGA began to be grouped in 1952 in the famous Fort Bragg paratroopers hatchery. Then soon he moved to Bad Tolz, Germany (then West). This unit was designated as the 10th, although it was actually the only time.

The purpose why this unit was, was that in Eastern Europe controlled by the USSR were already available to the resistance movement, and so this unit should act in case of war as a guerrilla base section, which will create the country resistance movement. The deployment was envisaged, even if the armies of the Warsaw Pact start moving towards the west. These troops would remain in Bavaria and support the local resistance movement.

Many actions have been carried out under the supervision of the CIA, which was given a series of qualified people. By the way, special forces soldiers spoke in a Bavarian dialect that exercises paratroopers is commonly regarded as local farmers and often made fun of them in English. From time to time, then paratroopers amazed that they come reports that do not react kindly to local residents.

The real war, however, was putting the war in Vietnam. Special Forces soldiers were the first into the tangled conflict and were among the last to leave Vietnam. More or less they were there both before and after.

The main component is the so-called special units. "A-Team". These "A-Teams" on the strength of 12 men organized resistance movements of tribal highlanders. It is interesting that these tribes make up 20% of the population, but occupy about 70% of the territory!

Incidentally, jihovietnamští mountaineers were other residents of countries considered inferior. To how uncomfortable situation probably got special forces soldiers, when they were reassigned under the Vietnamese leadership that drives their resistance movement literally contemptible, I certainly do not need to explain.

Yet even the worst war ever end, so i ended the war in Vietnam. Followed by Grenada, the Persian Gulf, Somalia and the former Yugoslavia. So much for history, but let's look at the selection of members of special units of the U.S. Army.

Tender - SFAS and SFQC

SFAS – Special Forces Assessment and Selection – As you can see, Americans are keen on shortcuts. This abbreviation is used for a 23 day selection course associated with preparing for SFQC - Special Forces Qualification Course Before you get to SFAS so you have to be specialists if you are ordinary soldiers. Regarding the officers, they must achieve at least the rank of "1st Lieutenant." You are then invited to a personal interview, where you explains how the 12-member group, which are the cornerstone of the special forces, and how will the training and what is expected of you. You are asked to justify its decisions. The condition is also absolute integrity. It is definitely impossible to get into special units of different guys, whom nothing is sacred.

The first week includes a variety of psychological and physical tests. Psychologists can take you to the interview and will determine whether you are mentally unstable person. The soldier must meet the standards of the Army physical test for the age of 17-21 years and get at least 206 points. Must to swim 50 meters in uniform and overcome the 24 km with 25 kg heavy backpack and weapons.

The second week is made up of more marches, but there is an increasing obstacle course consisting of obstacles burdening upper body. As part of the navigation section entitled "STAR". It is 18 km over hilly terrain and water bodies. Not to walk on roads or clearings and proceed at night regardless of the weather. It's nedelší route in the military, he must not miss the soldier himself with a heavy backpack.

The third week focuses on the art of leadership and cooperation. The candidates are divided into 12-membered groups that must react to certain stressful situations. They are faced with a problem and it is evaluated how and at what time it will resolve. For example, the task is to move the lift at a distance of 18 km. One of the hardest tasks is "Sandman". Two moving 100 l sacks are filled with sand and represent the downed pilots. Its mission is to deliver...

It is quite common that soldiers dropping 15 kg of its weight, regardless of the food stuffs them into the top mine. It is also mentally challenging. Instructors argue that for those three weeks they manage to break them. To continue SFQC is selected on average 50% of applicants.

After SFAS still not under water. You have to undergo parachute training if you do not have a well trained commander of a small group. For those who will signalman it means to participate in the 8-week course Morse.

Once you get into SFQC undergo 80-hour course and commander of special operations. In the second stage, officers are 15 weekly briefing on doctrine, missions and possibilities of special units. Other soldiers choose one of four courses. 13 weeks long course weapon specialists or engineers, 21 weeks long course for signalman and a 45-week course for medic.

Course for weapons specialists - focus is on the operation of all types of weapons with which you may encounter. It is also important art fire support. Not only using ballistic computers, but also through bizarre handheld devices. The purpose is to be able to provide fire support all over the world.

Course for engineers - After completing this course you will be able to build bridges not only different, but also various latrine construction, starting and ending with the hospital. Part of this course is to pyrotechnics. Participants learn to deactivate more than 50 US and foreign landmines.

Course for signalman - signalmen must not only learn morse code as already mentioned, but need to know almost everything about the different means of connection. They must learn to use encryption and decryption tables and devices. It is also important to be able to make some repairs. Currently, training is also composed of satellite and digital communications.

Course for medic - the graduates of these courses are actually real doctor. After finishing a career in special units, a lot of them also dedicated to medicine. They are true professionals and their work often depends on the success of the operation. They are the main person in gaining "hearts and minds" of the indigenous population for the resistance movement. That they are really good at it proves his training conducted at casualty departments in US hospitals. There is no problem for them to pull teeth professionally, perform an operation for appendicitis and odrodit child. During the event you can not bounce ask the docent, how does this or that, and whether this is better than that.

After completion of these specialized courses followed stmelovací exercise 'Robin Sage'. Here they are tucked into real A-team and must prove that he can work in combat conditions. At the end of this exercise is to dream a Green Beret Special Forces badge with the inscription DE OPPRESSO pounds (liberation from oppression) and "fleches" units. A flush fabric substrate below the badge, and its color indicates to which unit you belong. 10th SFGA has, for example green.

If you think it's over all training, you are again wrong. Followed by a four to six-month course in the chosen language. Continues its free fall training or training of snipers. The specialty of these snipers is that they can delaborovat foreign ammunition and squish it to be suitable for their weapon. That they would run out of ammo, for them to solve.

Members of the U.S. Army Special Forces are actually a teacher and not a bunch of thugs. Thanks to them in many villages of the Third World water and sanitation, and many young children do not even know that their arrival into the world was a guy with a green beret. DE OPPRESSO LIBER!

Michal Uher (CZ), http://www.military.cz