Chosen Soldier - Dick Couch [105]
“To success in Phase III!”
Author’s Note: Soldiers selected for Phase II who are coming from combat support and combat service support units, like 811’s Sergeant Aaron Dunn, are now being sent to the Special Forces Preparation Course prior to Phase II. They will join the X-Ray soldiers for this pre–Phase II, small-unit-tactics training. Soon after completion of Class 1-05’s Phase II, SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) training was made a part of the Phase II curriculum. Those 280 soldiers from Class 1-05 who complete Phase III and IV will take their SERE training after they complete Phase IV. Special Forces SERE training will be addressed later in this book.
EARTH TO SPACE. An 18 Echo candidate sets up his PSC-5 satellite radio for a commo shot during Max Gain, the 18 Echo final field problem in Phase III.
CHAPTER SIX
THE 18 SERIES
With the exception of those who will train to become 18 Delta Special Forces medics, the new Phase II graduates crowd into the large auditorium of Aaron Bank Hall, the sprawling special operations academic facility at Fort Bragg.
“On your feet!” a cadre sergeant barks, and the class rises as one.
A crisp, wiry sergeant in a freshly starched uniform strides quickly to the front of the large room. “Good morning, men. Take your seats. Welcome to Phase III. My name is Gary Baxter, and I’m the 4th Battalion command sergeant major. The colonel will be with us soon, but I wanted a moment with you before he arrives. First of all, congratulations on successfully completing Phase II. We know you’re tough, and we know you can function in a tactical environment. Now you have to get down to the serious business of learning your trade. A few things to keep in mind. Fort Bragg is not Camp Mackall. This is a military post, and we live with a number of regular Army commands on this base. Stay straight, neat, and have a military haircut at all times. We’re all soldiers. Be in a correct uniform at all times.” The command sergeant major pauses to measure his audience. “This is an academic environment, and you have liberties during this phase that you don’t have in the other phases of this course. Don’t abuse them. You’ve all come too far to let an off-post incident or a DUI get you kicked out of here. I don’t want to see you in my office. And you don’t want to see me, so don’t get sent for. Think about your goals, men, and why you came here. Don’t blow it.” Baxter glances to his right to a figure who seemed to have materialized along the wall. He is a short man with dark hair and a quiet manner. “Gentlemen, the battalion commander. Ten-HUT!”
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Sandoz makes his way to the center-front of the auditorium. He surveys the men in his audience—the men he is charged with training. Sandoz commands the 4th Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group. After a moment of introspective silence, he speaks to them in a measured, clear voice.
“Gentlemen, let me echo the command sergeant major’s welcome. Phases I, II, and IV are all essential in your journey to become a Special Forces soldier. But Phase III makes you a Green Beret. Over the course of the next three months, you’ll receive the skill-based training to qualify you for your MOS. For you enlisted men, as weapons, engineering, and communications sergeants, and for you officers, as detachment leaders. My cadre are very passionate about their job as trainers. I’m going to ask each one of you to match their passion and dedication with your very best effort. Make no mistake about this, men, you are training for war. What you learn here will mean the difference between mission success and mission failure. It can also mean life or death for you and your teammates. This is a deadly serious business.
“My cadre are all experienced, proven Green Beret instructors. They can train any soldier in any army. But their efforts can only do so much. You have to bring the right attitude to this training. You have to want