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

By David Devaney

David K. Devaney SgtMaj USMC Retired 2009 City of Hit Iraq with PTTDavid was born in Geneva New York and graduated from Geneva High School in 1980. He joined the Marine Corps on a guaranteed Infantry contract in April of 1983. After graduating boot camp he was stationed in Hawaii with 3rdBattalion 3rd Marines (3/3). While assigned to 3/3 he held billets as a rifleman, fire team leader, and squad leader. During 1986 Corporal (Cpl) Devaney was selected as a member of Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Platoon, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine. Upon graduation of Scout Sniper School he was assigned to the Scout Sniper Section of 3/3 STA Platoon. During his second deployment as a Scout Sniper with 3/3 he was promoted to Sergeant (Sgt). After a tour on the drill field from 1989-1991 Sgt Devaney returned to STA 3/3 were he deployed two more times. During 1994 Sgt Devaney was selected to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) and ordered to III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), Special Operation Training Group (SOTG); while at SOTG SSgt Devaney was assigned as a Reconnaissance and Surveillance (R&S) and Urban Sniper Instructor and Chief Instructor. At the time III MEF SOTG Instructors were members of Joint Task Force 510 (JTF 510 CT); a Counter Terrorism Task Force. In 1998 he deployed to Operation Desert Fox with Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/4 and was attached to Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 572/594 as a sniper. SSgt Devaney deployed again, during 2000, with ODA 135/136/132 to Malaysia as member of JTF 510, working with the Malaysian National Police. After leaving SOTG Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Devaney was assigned to Company A 1st Battalion 7th Marine, and spent much of his time training the Scout Snipers of 1/7. Just before the invasion of Iraq, in 2003, he was selected to the rank of First Sergeant (1stSgt) and led 270 Marines, sailors, and soldiers during combat – receiving a Bronze Star Medal for destroying the enemy and their will to fight. During 2004 1st Sgt Devaney was ordered to duty as the Inspector Instructor Staff 1st Sgt for 2nd Beach and Terminal Operations Company, Savannah, Georgia. During 2007 he was selected to the rank of Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) and received orders to Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 (VMAQ-4) stationed at Cherry Point, NC. There he trained a CADRE which in turn trained a massive Quick Reaction Force in combat operations. After two more deployments to Iraq SgtMaj Devaney received orders to Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, VA. SgtMaj Devaney retired from the Marine Corps on 31 December 20013. He now works as an adjunct combat instructor at the “Crucible’’ in Fredericksburg, VA. David is also on the Board of Directors of the Marine Corps Scout Sniper Association. David’s published work: Books Devaney, D.K. (2007). Surviving combat: Mentally and physically (3rd edition). 29 Palms, CA: USMC. Devaney, D.K. (2015). They Were Heroes: A Sergeant Major’s Tribute to Combat Marines of Iraq and Afghanistan. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. Articles Devaney, D.K. (2011) Enough Talk of Suicide, Already! Proceedings Magazine. Devaney, D.K. (2011) Can PTSD Be Prevented Through Education? Proceedings Magazine. Devaney, D.K. (2012) PTSD Is Not Cancer. The Marine Corps Gazette. Devaney, D.K. (2012) Women in Combat Arms Units. The Marine Corps Gazette.

One thought on “Army Special Forces – A Marines Perspective Diatribes of a Knucklehead”
  1. SF guys like working with Marines. They know their business and they are disciplined. You can count on the Marines.

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