Chosen Soldier - Dick Couch [72]
“OK, Captain, you chose to engage the tribesman and ignore the girl. Tell me, what was your thinking?”
“I had a mission to get information,” Captain Smith began, “and I did what I could to carry it out. As for the girl, I felt there was nothing I could do for her right then. She’s about five-two, in her late twenties, and there’s a small mole on her left temple. When I get to a radio or back to a rear area, I’ll report it.”
“OK,” the psychologist replies as he takes notes. “And in retrospect, what do you think you could’ve done differently or done better?”
Smith considers this. “When she refilled my tea, I might’ve asked for her name—maybe introduced myself and see if she would tell me. Then I’d have a name to report.”
“OK, that’s reasonable,” the psych replies neutrally. “Let me brief you on your next problem.”
Candidate-Captain Smith heads off for his next dilemma, and the psychologist returns to the shadows near the fire to wait for the next officer. Later on, each officer will be debriefed by the team of psychs working this series of SAREs. At that time, they’ll have a full discussion of the possible range of responses and the merits of the one chosen by each officer candidate. Those who elect a clearly inappropriate course of action may be asked to address that position at the commander’s review board.
During the last few days of Phase I, the lives of the members of Class 8-04 are driven with continuing interviews, equipment maintenance and overhaul, and barracks cleanup. The remaining candidates are notified by their cadre sergeants that they fall in one of two categories: successful candidates who will move on to Phase II of Special Forces training, and those who will appear before the commander’s review board to have their fate determined—relief for the former, angst and apprehension for the latter. First Sergeant Sarno musters the successful candidate at the assembly area outside the barracks.
“All right men, congratulations. We didn’t vote you off the island. I hope to see all of you back out here in the future for Phase II and again for Phase IV. I can’t say welcome to the brotherhood just yet, but each of you’ve shown that you’ve got what it takes to become a Green Beret. So now it’s your job to stay focused and stay fit between now and when you begin Phase II. Phase II is hard; prepare yourself for it. Again, while you’re to be congratulated on your selection for Special Forces training, remember, it’s just that—selection. The real training begins when you come back for Phase II and small-unit tactics. Now, as you savor this moment, be mindful of your classmates and teammates whose fates are yet to be decided. Some will be joining you in Phase II, and some will not. Those who will not, let them leave this training with dignity. Good job, all of you.”
The commander’s review board is an impressive gathering of Special Forces talent. The board is chaired by the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Jackson. Joining him are Captain Walt Carson, Command Sergeant Major Frank Zorn, and First Sergeant Billy Sarno. There are three other men on the board for SFAS Class 8-04: Captain John Block and First Sergeant Stewart Donnally from Phase II, and Sergeant Major Del Mallick from Phase IV. These men will decide the fate of some thirty enlisted soldiers and six officers who’ll appear before them. Unlike the 18X Pre-SFAS board, this review board has a clear mandate to assess and select men for Special Forces. It is very serious business.
The board begins with a single stack of training records. They review each of them in light of a number of criteria—among them, demonstrated performance, future potential, intelligence, maturity, personality,