13 Hours The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Official Trailer #1 (2016) Michael Bay Movie HD

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Terrorist Attack on America: a “Red Team” Exercise (Part 1)

As a Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant (18 Fox), it is part of the job to understand the enemy and learn everything you can about him so you can try to predict what they will do. Part of this is playing Red Team during Course of Action (COA) development, and some of it comes into play during the planning for the mission.

In preparing the Concept of the Operation (CONOP) and planning, one of the 18F’s duties is to come up with the enemies Most Likely COA (MLCOA), and Most Dangerous COA (MDCOA). It could focus on a specific target that you are going after, the Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTP’s) that have been historically utilized, the location of these attacks, personal knowledge of the target and numerous other factors. MLCOA is usually not as dangerous as the MDCOA which, by its nature, usually takes the “worst case” option.

I would like to consider these two COAs on what a terrorist attack on the United States by Islamic Militants would look like. The point of this article is not to say they are coming right now, or that any of these attacks will certainly take place. This is simply an analysis of what a potential attack would look like, period.

The MLCOA will have a few categories, from unaligned Jihadist working on his own, to professionally trained cells working under direction of a State, or Non-State actor, under a unifying strategic plan. The MDCOA is actually the scariest, not only by the amount of casualties it could potentially account for, but the ease with which it could be done, plus there are some indicators that point to a test run that was done last year, but the authorities still don’t know who was behind it.

READ MORE: AT HAVOK JOURNAL

Matisyahu - One Day (YouTube Version)

Special Forces Primer: Lesson 2 - Foreign Internal Defens

First off, I apparently wasn't clear enough in my first article. SF = SPECIAL FORCES/GREEN BERETS ONLY!!!! 

After reading some Facebook comments, there seems to be a couple of other misconceptions. Please check out the US Special Operation's Command (USSOCOM)  structure. This  is an excellent high-resolution organizational chart that shows each and every unit under USSOCOM and where they fall. SF is not under JSOC, and I chose not to write about Delta Force/CAG because I was never in that unit. It is not my place to explain them. 

Because of our two recent conflicts, people tend to think that FID is the same thing as COIN and that anyone can do it. While many times there is a counter insurgency reason to conduct FID, there doesn't have to be.

During COIN, FID is a tool that can be used to better prepare Government Forces, whether military, law enforcement or helping a staff even up to the Cabinet level. In active war zones, FID can be used to create a unit from scratch, like in Iraq, or used to bolster the forces already there. During peace time, FID is used to conduct training specifically asked for by the Host Nation (HN).

In my previous article, I explained why not everyone can do COIN and many of the same lessons apply to FID. The unit conducting it must have an understanding of cultural differences and the ability to work with units that run the gamut, from barely off the farm to highly trained CT forces.

As with UW, knowing the language is important. There are many people who can do great things, but get them in front of a group of people who aren't American, and attempt to teach them how to do even the basics, and they either choke, get frustrated or pissed off. Whoever is conducting the training needs to be able to know what instructional method will work the best, and then be able to articulate that into another language and culture, many times without the use of PPT. Acting like a Drill Sgt screaming at them will most likely do the exact opposite of what you intended. Let’s be honest, if it was easy, the Coast Guard would be doing it.

Due to the rampant misunderstanding of Foreign Internal Defense (FID), it has been disrespected and mocked by the DA side of SOF, because it isn't as “sexy.” Ironically, it can be argued that FID is the most important mission in the U.S. global arsenal, especially since the wars are winding down. FID is a major tool that the U.S. has for fighting and preventing future wars or conflicts. Other SOF units are beginning to see this, which is why there has been an increase of improving UW/IW/FID capabilities.

But it is so much more than teaching people to wipe their ass and march in a straight line.

Foreign Internal Defense

Participation by civilian and military agencies of a government in any of the action programs taken by another government or other designated organization to free and protect its society from subversion, lawlessness, insurgency, terrorism, and other threats to its security. Also called FID. (JP 3-22)

I feel that FID should be broken down into two sub-categories, "Peace Time FID" and "Combat FID."

Combat FID

Special Forces/Green Berets have been going into combat with units that they have trained since they were created. Laos, Vietnam, El Salvador, Afghanistan and Iraq to name just a few. Many of the units had never previously existed and in fact were stood up by ODAs, They were created, trained, and when they are sufficiently trained, conduct combat ops.The ODAs mentored them through multiple deployments year after year. Many times SF soldiers made repeat trips and worked with the same FID partners,  

Lara Logan in Iraq

Whether you are talking about the Nungs or Rhades in Vietnam, or the multi ethnic elite ICTF in Iraq, the basics are all the same.

 US/ICTF firefight in Iraq

In the case of building a professional capability into the HN military, the final goal is for them to conduct operations on their own, with no U.S. forces involved. ICTF Unilateral ops (if you don't like haji music, turn the volume down). 

During the early stages, the Special Forces Soldiers will conduct all phases from training, planning, rehearsals and they will be in charge on the ground and lead the combat operation. As the HN force becomes better trained, the Special Forces soldiers will step back into a more advisory role, but still be with their FID partners through every phase from planning, to boots on the ground. They are with them, shoulder to shoulder with the HN, fighting and dying next to each other while acting as a liaison between the HN and U.S. assets. ( CAS, artillery, ISR or medevacs)

The end state of Combat FID is that you are attempting to work yourself out of a job. My crowning achievement with combat FID happened in 2008. My team was working in Baghdad with the 36th Commando Bn, which is a part of the Iraqi Special Operations Force (ISOF). We had received word that there was an HVT that the CFs had been trying to get for years, but he was constantly moving between Iraq and Iran, never sleeping in the same place for two nights in a row. This cat was slippery. We found out that he was going to be staying at the Baghdad hospital and submitted a CONOP; ready to roll when it was time. Our plan went all the way up to the General's staff where it was denied, because the target was in a hospital and it wasn't worth the potential PR nightmare if something went wrong.

As the 18F, I went to my Team Leader and Team Sgt after they had told me, and I made the recommendation to unleash our barbarians on the world, with no adult supervision. It was a risk because it had already been denied, but in '08 ISOF was coming into their own, and they had their own ROEs and launch requirements outside of the U.S. Chain of Command. As long as those conditions were met, they didn't need U.S. permission to go. My leadership talked it out and agreed.

We got the word and went down to the Bn leadership and briefed them on the mission and the situation. I told the commander that this was a chance for him to highlight the capabilities of his unit, police up a very bad man, and everyone would know that his unit was able to do this mission with no American support. (See what I did there? Because I had worked closely with them, I knew their capabilities, strengths, weakness and insecurities. Even though he was nervous going out without us, I knew exactly what buttons to push and what kind of motivation he needed to go out and get the guy that I wanted them to get. See The importance of rapport)

It was a completely unilateral Iraqi mission. We advised them on the planning and helped with Intel, but when they left the compound it was with a convoy of about 20 trucks, personally led by the Bn Cdr. It was a nervous night for my team leadership and me. If things went sideways, there was a very good chance that the hammer would come down on us. Even if you are completely right and justified, if a 3-star is pissed off, there's no ballistic protection that will save you.

A few hours later they came back, and I watched the Commando Bn CDR escort his prisoner into the detention facility. I could see the pride for his men even though he was trying to keep his face professional. They infiltrated into the gated hospital, surrounded the building this motherfucker was hiding in, and captured him without firing a shot or doing any significant damage to the hospital. It was funny because, even though I wanted to go out myself and be on the target with them, I had the exact same pride for the boys that he had.

Peacetime FID

Peacetime FID is best utilized when the HN agencies that are involved are already somewhat capable and are asking for U.S. assistance to get training in basic tasks; or when they are requesting specialized advanced training, usually by USSOF conducting Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET). They are normally requested and approved through the Department of State, who then pass it to DOD.

When FID is requested and approved, it is usually in support of the overall strategic goals of the United States Government, because it provides a friendly Government with the capabilities to handle any internal or external threats with minimal direct U.S. involvement, while maintaining legitimacy of the Government and the respect of the local populace.

Peacetime FID is not a tactic for those who demand immediate gratification. It is a tool to be developed over many years, and used to create relationships between individuals and units at the operational level. The trust and respect that is built takes time, but when successful, it allows the U.S. to have not only regional experts who have been there many times, but also locals who have had good experience and look favorably on the U.S. When Peacetime FID done right, it prevents the need to send large conventional forces into hostile action because the situation deteriorated due to the inability of the HN military or Security Forces to handle it.

This is a great 40 min video showing SF working with the ANA Commando's and Afghan Special Forces.

Lesson 3 will finally answer the most asked question on the internet: “Who is better, SEALs or SF, Rangers or SF, any SOF unit, U.S. or Coalition vs. SF”... just kidding, I’ll answer it now. The answer is, and always will be, the Special Forces/Green Berets. (Although I may not be completely impartial.)

JADE HELM: Mastering your mom's, domain

Big Boy Rules: Part 2 "Warrior Worldview"

"If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared"- Niccolo Machiavelli

Many people prefer to talk about a code, philosophy or trait. These are all synonyms for Ethos. Ethos is a "shared fundamental traits: the fundamental and distinctive character of a group, social context, or period of time, typically expressed in attitudes, habits, and beliefs." A lot has been discussed on this subject, so for the time being I'll skip it. Instead, I want to talk about the Warrior's "worldview."

Why a worldview? A worldview is the overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world. This is important to whether you are trying to understand yourself, trying to help a loved one or have a heart for vets and want to help them.

It is important because the Warrior views the world differently than others. Their calling is different from the calling of other people who desire to serve, whether as a first responders (police/firemen/EMTs), social workers or preachers, or simply desire to protect, defend or improve their neighborhood, town, state or society (I prefer to just use tribe). How they do it is much different from the Warrior. They are inwardly focused, they usually work within the tribe, living among their people to make this change.

The Warrior is outwardly focused, defending or strengthening his tribe through both defensive and offensive actions. I think the major difference between a Warrior and others is their view toward violence. A police officer is capable of violence in defense of himself or others, but it is always a last resort. When the warrior is called by his tribe, all other options have already been used. The warrior is the last resort, so his primary option is violence.

“There are no substitutes for violence of action and volume of fire. Move forward and shoot, always forward and shooting. The enemy will choose to fight and die or live and run. Either way, move forward and shoot and he will fear you absolutely.”- Otto Skorzeny

A warrior is home in the chaos and carnage of the battlefield. War is his calling, and he fulfills this calling in the death and utter destruction of his enemy. He wins when his enemy, completely broken, begs for mercy and throws his weapons down in surrender.

The Warrior uses whatever instrument of death is available to kill as many of his foe as quickly and violently as possible. It is why we are taught when initiating an ambush, to always open up with the most casualty-producing weapon. We don't announce ourselves and then ask for them to surrender. We use speed, surprise and violence of action to kill, maim and destroy. The more violence at the onset, the more disoriented the enemy will be, which prevents them from being able to effectively retaliate, and therefore easier to kill. 

Everyone who has gone through bayonet training during Basic will recognize the chant....

"WHAT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE BAYONET?" "TO KILL, KILL, KILL WITHOUT MERCY!!!" 

"WHAT MAKES THE GREEN GRASS GROW?" "BLOOD!!! BLOOD MAKES THE GREEN GRASS GROW!!!"

It is used as an attempt to motivate and create the Warrior spirit within new recruits. It is an attempt to teach them what they are now a part of. They are not made to be peacekeepers, nation builders or police. They are made and will be used to close with and kill the enemy. To shoot, stab or beat their foe until only one walks away. It is a calculated culture of violence.

FM 23-25 WAR DEPARTMENT BASIC FIELD MANUAL, BAYONET from Sep 1943 states:

THE SPIRIT OF THE BAYONET: The will to meet and destroy the enemy in hand-to-hand combat is the spirit of the bayonet. It springs from the fighter's confidence, courage, and grim determination, and is the result of vigorous training. Through training, the fighting instinct of the individual soldier is developed to the highest point. The will to use the bayonet first appears in the trainee when he begins to handle it with facility, and increases as his confidence grows. The full development of his physical prowess and complete confidence in his weapon culminates in the final expression of the spirit of the bayonet—fierce and relentless destruction of the enemy. For the enemy, demoralizing fear of the bayonet is added to the destructive power of every bomb, shell, bullet, and grenade which supports and precedes the bayonet attack.

3. PRINCIPLES OF BAYONET FIGHTING: a. The bayonet is an offensive weapon. With it, aggressiveness wins. Hesitation, preliminary maneuvering, and fencing are fatal. The delay of a fraction of a second may mean death.  

b. The bayonet fighter attacks in a fast, relentless assault until his opponent is destroyed. He takes instant advantage of any opening; if the enemy gives no opening, the attacker makes one by parrying his opponent's weapon and driving blade or butt into him with killing force.  

c. As the throat area is especially sensitive to attack by the bayonet, an opponent will act instinctively to protect this area from a thrust. By threatening his opponent's throat with the point of the bayonet, the attacker will frequently cause him to uncover other vulnerable parts of the body. Other sensitive parts frequently exposed to the attacker's thrust are the face, chest, abdomen, and groin.

That is the Warrior worldview - aggression, violence, destruction, attack, killing - all words that are seen in a negative light in today's civilized, PC world. It is why the Warrior is feared, even by his own people.

The police go out and attempt to either prevent crime, or to incarcerate those who have broken the societal code. It is their code to keep the peace or protect and serve (as it states on their vehicles), not to kill and destroy. It is why police snipers only shoot to save a life, whereas a military sniper goes and kills without warning someone who may not be actively fighting.

They are two very different ways to look at the world, as they should be. Both police and Warriors will run to the sound of gunfire, but their reasons are different. They are different because of their worldviews. The police officer goes to help and protect, and he will stop the perpetrator either through arrest or, as a last resort, to kill. At the sound of gunfire, the Warrior comes alive. His heart rate increases, adrenaline surges and senses are heightened. He runs toward it because that is where he belongs, that is where he wants to be. It is his chance to go toe to toe with his enemy once again. His chance to do what he was made for: killing his enemy.

Why does this matter? Why did I spend so much time defining these two things? I did it in hopes of helping people who may be struggling with some of the same things I did. People whose guts tell them that there is nothing wrong with them, but all "the Normals" keep saying they need help. They need to see a shrink, be on medication, go to the VA to get put on disability for PTSD.

The Normals seem to think they know better than us what we need. I'm hoping to share some of my story in order to help a certain group of Vets who are struggling, but don't need to be. I'm hoping that the thoughts which I write down will allow someone to change how they look at their experience.

I've been blessed by people around me who have helped me gain greater insight into who I am, and why I am this way. Some are beliefs that I've had since before I joined the military, and others are relatively recent. I have put them together in a way that makes sense to me, and I hope they make sense to others. Some of the things that I have and will share are things that I haven't shared with many people. Not because I'm ashamed, but because most people won't understand. I've stopped caring how the Normals will judge or look at me.

It is part of my journey and one of those stories not many people know. It won't be pleasant, to some but it will resonate with others. It is why the definition of Warrior and explaining the Warrior worldview were important to this process.

In Part 1, I used the famous line from the movie Conan where he says, “crush your enemies, see them driven before you and to hear the lamentation of their women.” That line has stuck with me, because every time I heard it, it brought up something that I had struggled with for many years. The part about lamentation of their women. I know that sound. I've heard it. Lamentation is more than sadness or crying - it is the sound of utter loss, regret and horror. It is defined in the bible as, "To mourn; to grieve; to weep or wail; to express sorrow." And it is the book traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah, who is lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem which is the most important and holy city to the Jews. It is more than an emotion, it is the sound of someone who has had a piece of their soul ripped out.

We had hit a target north of Baghdad in the middle of a densely populated town. We landed a couple miles away, and had walked into town and surrounded the house where our target was reported to be. We set up blocking positions on the corners of the block, set the charge, and initiated.

The target was located in a town that was, shall we say, not overly friendly. As soon as we breached all hell broke loose. It was like a kid kicking an ant hill. Armed men rushed out of their house attempting to protect the man we were after. The blocking positions on each corner opened up and they began falling.

It was unfortunate that they decided to fight in the street right outside their homes. The wives and children were just inside the doors and saw what was happening to their men, but could not go to them. For the rest of the time that we were on target, the night was punctuated by the roar of gunfire and the lamentations of those whose loved ones were laying dead, bleeding in the streets. As we moved off target and walked down the street and out of town, we stepped over and around the bodies strewn all over.

I said I had struggled with this, but not for the expected reasons. I struggled because I felt like I should be bothered by it, but wasn't. In fact, all I felt was pride. Pride in a successful mission, pride that we had been better than our enemy, and pride that we got the guy we were going after. This was our sixth attempt at him, he had always managed to get out right before we got there. The epic firefight almost seemed fitting as a final chapter in our pursuit of him.

I questioned why I wasn't bothered. In my gut I knew that I wasn't broken, but I couldn't explain why this or any other experience I had didn't keep me awake at night, or cause me to suffer the vivid nightmares and flashbacks that you hear so much about. Even without talking about this with people, I kept getting told that anyone who deployed so much was bound to be affected, encouraging me to get help, get fixed. They sensed the difference in me and just assumed I needed to be fixed.

I was really close to believing them, too. I was different than before, I've deployed so much that maybe there really was something wrong with me. Even in my doubt, my gut kept telling me that I was fine. How does one go against everyone and everything and instead trust their gut.

It wasn't until I was talking to a former Army psychologist who explained the difference between PTS and PTSD that I had my "AHA" moment. That is when I started writing and wrote The Stigma of PTSD. In Part 3, I begin talking about the real issue that many have. The guilt of what they have seen or did. The loss of brothers and the survivor's guilt that so often comes with it and the "horrors of war" that are destroying so many of us.

I don't claim to have a magic spell that will fix everyone, hell it might not help anyone. I very well could just be that fucked up, but I don't think so. I'm hoping that, if nothing else, it lays a seed for people to come back to and think about. Maybe it will help people accept and embrace the Warrior that they are. Not to be ashamed of their experience, but to be proud of it, to truly understand and believe that it is the nature of war to be ugly and learn to accept it. Honor the sacrifice of the Warriors who didn't make it home and let go of the guilt that does not belong to them.

Author's Notes

I hope no one thinks that I am saying once you hang up the uniform you are no longer a warrior. Once you have made that choice it is who you are until you meet your brothers on the other side. The only way it is lost is if you violate the code, bring dishonor on your society or tribe. Much like shunning or in the case of SF, revoking their Tab. It lets them, and everyone else in the society, know that they have brought shame or dishonor on their tribe.

I used police officers, not to minimize them, what they do, or their sacrifices, but as a way to contrast the difference of view between them and the Warriors. I also used them because I know many cops view themselves as Warriors, which I personally think is a bad thing, because of my views of what a Warrior is.

I purposefully avoided traits of the Warrior like loyalty, courage, honor, fidelity, honesty or strength. As with the first essay, I wanted this worldview to be able to be used for any Warrior throughout history. mercy for some would be a good trait, for others mercy was considered a weakness.

Big Boy Rules: Part 1

I started this project trying to help certain people who, due to combat experience, are struggling with things they saw or did. Some call it PTSD, and the new term being tossed around is Moral Trauma. I wanted to help people learn to change their thinking, how they view themselves and the world. This project kind of got a little out of hand and became a multi-part essay, titled Big Boy Rules.

To get to my end state I decided that certain definitions and concepts had to be defined and, in some cases, corrected.

What is a warrior? (PART 1 of Big Boy Rules)

I’m sick and tired of people stealing our words and culture and bastardizing powerful ideals to make money. I think it’s time that we as a warrior society take back our language and culture, and take pride in who we are and what we have done. If anyone can develop the “Warrior Ethos” to lose weight, be a better businessman or overcome some hardship, it lessens our sacrifice and calling. If anyone can be a Warrior, what makes us so special? If getting the kids ready for school is a “battle” when a neighbor has a “violent” coughing fit; then lessens our experiences, blood, sweat and loss and they don't mean as much.

What is a warrior? Webster’s states that a Warrior is "a man engaged or experienced in warfare."

At its essence, you can’t have a warrior without the possibility of war. Unfortunately, the word has been hijacked from its true meaning. The emasculation and feminization of the modern world either seeks to demonize certain traits or characteristics as old fashioned, or it attempts to steal certain words that historically have meant one thing but, due to overuse, the true visceral meaning is watered down. Anyone who dares contradict the modern meaning is vilified as being insensitive, ignorant or my favorite, unenlightened. They will either attack you for using “hate speech”, or say that you are “inciting violence” when you say something as simple as “targeting.” Or they will go the opposite way, and try to over use them so they aren't as powerful, just like fucking hipsters and beards.

Society overuses the word "warrior" trying to get rid of the image of a man engaged in combat. It is now a yoga pose - The Warrior is “any of a number of standing poses in yoga in which the legs are held apart and the arms are stretched outwards.” Do a google search and you find spiritual warriors, warrior cats, Greenpeace has the “Rainbow Warrior.” If you don’t like breast cancer you can be a “Warrior in Pink,” or if you are fighting diabetes you can be a “Diabetes Warrior.” All are attempts to dilute the power of that one little word.

I saw this quote from Moreihei Ueshiba, who is the founder of the art of Aikido: “The Way of the Warrior has been misunderstood. It is not a means to kill and destroy others. To smash, injure, or destroy is the worst thing a human being can do. The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent such slaughter — it is the Art of Peace, the power of love.’

Well I have one little word for Mr. Ueshiba.....Bullshit! I know he is a high highfalutin, enlightened, eastern martial arts master who's buddy buddy with the fucking Buddha himself, and his intense lifelong study has put him on a higher plane than us mere fucking mortals. But he can take that toy wooden sword, stick it up his ass and spin. Ask an ancient Viking, Knight or Mongol if being a warrior is truly the “art of Peace, the Power of love?” After they finished kicking your ass, they would throw you out and go back to drinking.

A popular police blog says, “Warriors are persons who risk life and limb to protect their countries, communities, families and friends: in short, they protect others. We believe a warrior is a protector of all life — including the lives of criminals and enemies — if possible.” I will let a quote from a famous movie give my reply to that nonsense…

"Conan! What is best in life?"
"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you and to hear the lamentation of their women."
"That is good! That is good." Conan The Barbarian

The goal when coming up with my definition was that it would apply to every culture throughout history that had a Warrior society, and it would meet these three criteria:

1. Why did they do it?
2. Who did they do it for, and
3. Make sure the definition fits any group, as long as it was seen from the perspective of that society's values and norms.

So what, in my opinion, is a warrior? 

“A Warrior is someone who is called to war for the benefit of his people.”

A Warrior’s life is dedicated to and preparing for war. He craves the opportunity to test himself in a righteous battle. When a soldier only ever trains, it’s like an athlete who devotes his life to the game, but only ever sits on the bench.

For those of us who had joined before 9/11 this was talked about, but only between brothers, and never where outsiders could overhear. Constant training in the skills of combat, yet never knowing if you would be able to “play in the game,” was frustrating, and if the wrong person heard these thoughts they looked at you as if you were fucked up and needed to be hospitalized.

People who joined after 9/11 never had to think about this because our country had been attacked, and they were going to get a chance to play. They didn't have to come to this understanding; they knew they were going to war, which is why they joined.

In a few years, warriors will once again have to go through these mental gymnastics. They will see the CIBs and combat patch, and secretly wish for their chance. It is one reason why Warriors are drawn to SOF. They have the hardest and most realistic combat training, and they will be the first ones to taste combat because they are the tip of the spear. In today’s society this type of thinking is frowned upon. The yearning for war and the desire to test yourself is seen as aberrant behavior.

For those of us who went and came back, we are looked at by some as if we are dangerous or damaged. If our stories are told, both the good and the bad, they are met by sadness and pity. People say they are "sorry" for what we had go through. Their sympathy is offensive to me, I neither want nor need it.

The Warrior's life is lonely. People sense that there is something different about them. Loved ones try to change them, friends don’t understand and coworkers sense there is something “off.” They act like a domesticated animal when it senses a predator in the area.

This is why a Warrior seeks the company of his brothers. They are the only ones who understand and can relate. Brothers are the ones who can sit and listen without shock, sadness, horror or pity. Without judgement or disgust. How can a therapist understand and help you if he/she looks at you like you are “broken” and need to be fixed. I’m not saying there isn't a time and place to get professional help, because there is, but pick your doctor carefully.

If you have a healthy view of combat already, seek out and try to help those who are struggling. That is what this brotherhood is all about.

Not all who join the military are Warriors. People join for many reasons, and the Warriors couldn't do their job of killing, mayhem and destruction, if they had to worry about everything else, too. Being a soldier is a career, but being a Warrior is a calling. I don’t know if Warriors are born, created or a combination of both, but when a man understands and embraces his true nature, that is when the Warrior comes out.

Many who came in before 9-11 did it for the sole purpose of either a career, or for the college, and usually avoided the combat arms. Post 9-11, this still happened, but no one who joined can say they didn’t know what they were getting into. People who joined and signed up for the combat arms, knowing we were at war, were either lied to by their recruiter, didn't know exactly what they were getting into, or they knew and were searching for something that was inside them and they wanted to see if they met the standards of those who came before, and the heroes they looked up too.

As I said, I don’t know if a Warrior is born or created, but for me, I think I was born fucked up. Everything should have been against me treading this path. My dad was a preacher and I grew up in a wonderful Christian home. My mother’s family were Mennonites from Kansas. My father never owned a gun, in fact I had to buy my first gun, a .22, with money I earned.

I always wanted to join the military, I played with GI Joes till I was 13 and had more camo than a surplus store. I played army in the woods with all of my free time and I read any and every book about war I could find. I went through a phase in the 6th grade where I was reading books on mercenaries, and then I started in on Vietnam and devoured everything I could on the SEALs and Green Berets. To this day those men are my heros, and I get a little excited when I meet them (like a normal person would act when meeting a celebrity).

My parents, God bless them, started to become worried, because they sensed something different in me, I believe they thought it was a darkness or sickness. It was something they weren’t familiar with, and they sensed I was different. Different enough to be worthy of their concern.

I think what cinched it for them happened when I was about 16. There was this stray dog that kept coming around causing problems. It didn't matter how many times we forced it out or drove it miles away, he always came back. My dad asked if he could borrow my .22 because he planned on shooting it. I looked at him and just knew it would be much harder for him to do it than me, but it had to be done. I looked at him and said I’d do it. I took the dog into the woods with my gun and a shovel, shot it and buried it. It wasn't easy, because I absolutely love dogs, but it was something that had to be done. I swear after that, my parents were scared that they were raising a psychopath. They thought that I wanted to do it, like I got some sick kind of satisfaction out of it, not that it was a job that needed doing, and I was the best qualified.

I understand not fitting in and being different. It’s why I said being a warrior can be a lonely path. I thank God I married a woman who sees that part of me, and instead of trying to change it, or thinks I’m broke. She honors and respects it for the calling that it is. She has let me deploy and deploy because she knows that is where I belong. I love her for it, and I am lucky to have found a partner like her. She defends me when family talks about me not being home for my family, and doesn't let them put me down.

I want your thoughts and opinions on this. I know many people will disagree with me on this, but I hope it will resonate with the Warriors, and maybe help them realize that, even though they may be different, they most certainly aren't broken or damaged.

Understanding "Jade Helm" Part 2: Why We Need This Kind of Training

If you missed Part 1 of this series, you can read it here.  And if you are not familiar with Special Forces history I recommend looking at my article Special Forces Primer: Lesson 1 – Correcting Misconceptions:

Special Forces traces its roots as the Army’s premier proponent of unconventional warfare from the Operational Groups and Jedburgh teams of the Office of Strategic Services. The OSS was formed in World War II to gather intelligence and conduct operations behind enemy lines in support of resistance groups in Europe and Burma. After the war, individuals such as Col. Aaron Bank, Col. Wendell Fertig and Lt. Col. Russell Volckmann used their wartime OSS experience to formulate the doctrine of unconventional warfare that became the cornerstone of the Special Forces. In June of 1952, the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was established under Col. Aaron Bank. Concurrently with this was the establishment of the Psychological Warfare School, which ultimately became today’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Special Forces Soldiers first saw combat in 1953 as individuals deployed from 10th SFG (A) to Korea.

For eight or nine years Special Forces was getting further and further away from their roots. As the GWOT progressed, Special Forces commanders were only giving lip service to UW. Instead they focused more and more on DA. During this time there were people within the community screaming, that we can’t lose our UW skills. Behind closed doors there was intense and extremely heated debates. From the team rooms to the highest level of command, up and down the hallways there was the argument on UW vs DA.

With Iraq over in 2011, and (at the time) what looked like U.S. troops being pulled out of Afghanistan, coupled with the downsizing of the military, Special Forces Command finally realized the need to rebuild their UW capabilities, and use the lessons we learned from over a decade of war. In July of 2012, LTG Charles T. Cleveland took command of the United States Special Operations Command (USASOC) and in April of 2013 released ARSOF 2022.

LTG Cleveland said in a 2014 interview:

Last year, USASOC took a major step forward by introducing ARSOF 2022 as our blueprint for the future. ARSOF 2022 sought to clarify the narrative for Army special operations, provide direction to the force, and establish a process for future force development that leads to better support of joint force commanders in the future environment. It set in motion a number of changes primarily focused on the tactical aspects of our business and exploring the beginnings of SOF operational art.

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