Army Special Forces – A Marines Perspective
Diatribes of a Knucklehead
During 1982 the movie “Rambo: First Blood” was released. Most people knew little about the “Green Berets” except what they learned from the Rambo movie and the 1968 movie titled the “Green Berets;” this included me. During a deployment to Okinawa in 1986 I had my first encounter with an Army Special Forces soldier. Our Scout Snipers were digging a semi-permanent sniper hide and I looked up to see a Green Beret standing there watching. He was on Camp Hansen (Okinawa) looking for Marine Scout Snipers to deploy with his team on a mission in another country. He was a SFC (Sergeant First Class), way senior to my boot Corporal ass. This dude was cool as hell; introduced by his first name. He spoke to all of us like we were equals. His ODA took two of our Sgts with them on a deployment.
During 1987/88 we were again deployed to Okinawa and again 1st Battalion 1st Special Forces Group (First of the First) came looking for Scout Snipers to deploy with them. They again took two of our Sgts. This deployment the entire platoon was exposed to the SFG soldiers often. This is when I learned that almost all of the SF dudes we met and worked with had college degrees and could speak at least one foreign language. US Army SF dudes are the smartest soldiers I have ever met; in the world.
I will say the movie Rambo really was a farce; BS. Seldom do you meet a SF dude that is all jacked up like a Rambo (muscles). Any real operator does not have the time to go hit the gym for 4 hours a day. Do not get me wrong, they are strong and they are bad asses, but they are not Rambo – the Hollywood ghost.
During 1997 I was assigned to JTF-510 and we deployed to Thailand to stage for a NEO (Non-combatant Evacuation Operation) into Cambodia; Operation Bevel Edge. SSgt Mark Anderton and I (also a SSgt) were assigned as a Scout Snipers in support of C-1-1 (Charlie Company 1st of the 1st). This was the only operation I have ever been involved in that actually did full blown rehearsals before an operation. We always did rehearsals, but these rehearsals were off the hook; actually, flying in MC-130s for the actual flight time and deploying onto the Thai airfield; as if we were in Cambodia. Once again the SF dudes were outstanding. Their snipers loved us (Marine Scout Snipers) because if we were in sniper support it freed them up to kick doors with the direct action element.
During 1998 we had four SF soldiers from ODA 135/6 attend our urban sniper course. They did well and again came looking for Marine Scout Sniper support. They took one of our GySgts and deployed to Thailand for a few months.
Also during 1998 I deployed with the 31st MEU in support of Operation Desert Thunder/Operation Southern Watch. After the UN inspectors ran out of Iraq to Kuwait my Scout Sniper partner (Woody) and I were attached to ODA 594/72 Operation Desert Fox and then our team was attached to the Kuwaiti 6th Brigade. The 1st SFG soldiers were always very good and professional, but I think the 5th Group dudes were serious meat eaters. I think the major difference was because of where each group operated. 1st Group had mostly friendly Asian countries while 5th Group covered North Africa and South West Asia; much more hostile areas.
During 2000 I was attached to an ODA for a deployment in Asia. We were there to train their National Asset. Another ODA trained the door kickers while four SF dudes and I taught urban sniping. After living with the SF dudes I found them to be just like Marines; wise asses and bad asses.
During the 2003 invasion of Iraq we had a small SF element attached to our Company. As a matter of fact SFC Steve B. became one of our most valuable assets in Baghdad; he could speak Arabic. Steve took over an Iraqi Bath (Saddam’s Bath Party) house and we provided about 20 Marines in support of his operations. Our Marines worked hard for him, but they loved being attached to an SF team. I stopped by daily to check on them and take care of some issues, like detainees. The SF team liked the Marines so much, they kept them in-charge of security even though an army infantry element showed up with much more senior soldiers; we had a Cpl in charge, they brought a bunch of Sgts and a SSgt.
Also during 2003 while our unit was stationed in An Najaf I often worked with the ODAs that housed themselves at the University. Great dudes that were always helpful. It was amazing that I was in 1,000 man reinforced battalion and could not get anything I wanted, but 20 SF dudes provided for my needs on many occasions.
The moral of the story is: SF dudes are smart and tough and I would walk side by side with any of them any day.
PS: People need to stop comparing SEAL and SF; they are apples and oranges – different missions.
SF DKD
SF guys like working with Marines. They know their business and they are disciplined. You can count on the Marines.