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By Root 1676 0

Still, the U.S. Army, like most standing armies, has its problems and resentments with elite units, even though Army SOF elements are funded differently and often have a separate chain of command. And these fine young captains and first lieutenants who put in for Special Forces, no matter what their accomplishments, may be moving down a path of no return. Burning their bridges is perhaps putting it too strongly, but this breach of faith with their conventional branch may not be soon forgiven if they are unsuccessful at SFAS and have to return to their old unit. In some ways, the defection on the part of these officers represents a bold move on their part—trading a secure place for the uncertain. And in the final analysis, is this not one of the qualities the Special Forces are looking for in their leaders?

This rivalry and resentment doesn’t exist in the Navy and Air Force SOF components. The Navy SEAL teams and Special Boat Teams don’t threaten the blue-water Navy. Most officers come from the Naval Academy or college ROTC, and most of the enlisted men come from boot camp. Those officers and petty officers who apply for SEAL training from the fleet don’t do so in the numbers or at the experience levels as their Army counterparts who request to go to Special Forces Assessment and Selection. It is much the same with the Air Force Special Tactics Teams and the 1st Special Operations Wing. Neither of these service-related SOF components threaten their parent service, nor do they drain off talent and experience like Army Special Forces. Not even the Rangers pose this issue with “big Army”; indeed, most senior infantry and armor commanders wear Ranger tabs. There’s also the question of job description. Neither the blue-water Navy nor the regular Air Force have an interest in doing the work of SEALs or the Special Tactics Teams. Big Army is often colocated with Special Forces, both here at home and on deployment. Some Army and Marine Corps senior officers believe that with a little training, experience, and funding, they can cover the Special Forces mission. I couldn’t disagree more strongly. I personally had no idea of just how difficult the SF mission was, nor the intensive skill set required to do the job. It took me ten months at Fort Bragg and Camp Mackall to appreciate what it takes to be really proficient at foreign internal defense and unconventional warfare. Hopefully, the needs of our nation in the global war on terror will bring these inter- and intra-service rivalries into perspective.

In Chosen Soldier, you will meet and come to know the officers and enlisted soldiers who want to become Green Berets as we follow them through SFAS in chapter 4. But first, we need to talk about the third input or component to current Special Forces training. I’m talking about those men who have been recruited “off the street” for Special Forces training. These are the ones I often call the civilians and some in the Army refer to as the SF Babies. Neither term is accurate. First of all, when they arrive at Fort Bragg to begin their journey to selection, they’re already soldiers—airborne-qualified infantrymen, albeit fresh out of basic training. Many of them will go on to become Special Forces soldiers—outstanding Green Berets. The majority will, for one reason or another, find themselves in the 82nd Airborne or the 4th Infantry Division or the 75th Ranger Regiment, where they will serve out their enlistments. Some of those who don’t make it on their first try in SFAS will be back to try again. They will join the legion of combat veterans from conventional Army units who want to serve in Special Forces.

This program, which began in 2002, takes men off the street—from high school, college, or civilian jobs—and brings them into the Army for the sole purpose of turning them into Special Forces soldiers. In many ways, these young men are like their counterparts who enlist in the Navy to become Navy SEALs. Big Army and blue-water Navy love these programs. Those who do not become Green Berets or SEALs make superb soldiers and sailors, and