Navy

Naval Special Warfare Command

Naval Special Warfare (NSW) is comprised of approximately 8,900 total personnel, including more than 2,400 active-duty Special Warfare Operators, known as SEALs, 700 Special Warfare Boat Operators, also known as Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC), 700 reserve personnel, 4,100 support personnel and more than 1,100 civilians.

Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC or “WARCOM”) is a component command of the United States Special Operations Command (US SOCOM). WARCOM is headquarterd in San Diego, Calif. and leads the Navy’s special operations force and the maritime component of SOCOM.

First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA to Avenge 9/11- Review

Afghanistan

First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA to Avenge 9/11- Review

Looking for the Perfect Christmas Gift or Reading Material? Look No Further

Award-winning author Toby Harnden has crafted an incredible story of the first Americans to enter Afghanistan immediately after 9/11. His book, “First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA to Avenge 9/11,” was initially slated to be released on the 20th anniversary of the U.S. involvement. Still, during his detailed 17-month research into putting this book together, the Afghan government collapsed, and the Taliban returned to power once again.

Harnden was granted some incredible access to the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) employees, some of whom are still in government service. All of their stories and remembrances make for compelling reading. But as Harnden said, sometimes the best stories are the true ones. And this one is fantastic.

The Plan

The story begins on 9/11 when the members of al-Qaeda hijacked the planes and flew them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the one aircraft that was crashed into rural Pennsylvania. America is shocked and on its heels, reeling after ignoring some intelligence reports that the terrorists intended to bring death to America. Signals and intelligence were missed or not shared.

President Bush convened his National Security Council on September 13, and the Pentagon revealed that they had no war plan for Afghanistan. CENTCOM commander General Tommy Franks told the president it would take months to build up enough conventional troops for an invasion. CIA Director George Tenet turned the meeting over Cofer Black, an experienced Agency hand who had spent many years in Africa. The CIA’s plan was to infiltrate small numbers of Agency linguists and paramilitary officers along with some Green Beret A-Teams (ODAs) into Afghanistan to link up with the Afghan resistance, warlords from the Northern Alliance. Black sensed that President Bush wanted his pound of flesh.

“When we’re through with them, they will have flies walking across their eyeballs,” he said.

The President pondered for several seconds before asking, “Cofer, can we really do this?” Black stared back at the President for several seconds for theatric effect and said there wasn’t a doubt in his mind at all. Bush responded with, “That’s what I’m talking about. Go get ’em.”

And in the early days of the war, the successful ones, the CIA, would run the war effort. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld seethed over this. He later dragged his feet over any assistance until the military took over the war, pushed thousands of troops into the country in a mission completely opposite of what had worked, and ultimately turned the effort into a “goat rope.”

For an avid reader of all things OSS/SOE from World War II, the mission was a throwback and a fantastic legacy of those who paved the way for the organizations that became the CIA and Special Forces.

The Team

Team Alpha, David Tyson, and Mike Spann (top row far right). Photo courtesy of Toby Harnden

The book centers around “Team Alpha,” an eclectic group of Agency employees who entered Afghanistan on October 17, just a few weeks after the 9/11 attacks. Much of the book centers around CIA agents David Tyson and Mike Spann. They joined Northern Alliance warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum, who in a SOFREP podcast said the warlord was “straight out of central casting.”

Dostum was known as a thug. A brutal, bloodthirsty type whose own men were terrified of him. But, he was also quite shrewd. He could adapt to situations at the drop of a hat, like anyone who had survived the bloody politics of Afghanistan for so long could.

Tyson was an Uzbek linguist, which was invaluable as he had the ability to communicate easily with the Northern Alliance. The key to taking the country was taking the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. A precursor to the fall of Kandahar, Kabul, and the collapse of the Taliban government that occurred on Nov. 17, 2001.

The CIA/Green Beret team had built a great rapport with Dostum in a very condensed period of time. Much faster than is preached at “Robin Sage,” the SF UW exercise that every SF NCO and Officer must pass. The commander of the A-Team, Captain Mark Nutsch of the 5th Special Forces Group (5th SFG), and Tyson built a great relationship of trust with Dostum.

Dostum (white horse) with Northern Alliance fighters and U.S. troops. Photo courtesy of Toby Harnden

The Fortress

Rumsfeld was still trying to convince President Bush that all of the CIA’s efforts were stalled. But once Mazar-I-Sharif fell, he insisted that the war couldn’t be won with just Captains and Sergeants and started sending Colonels and Generals, who Harnden says were not needed nor appreciated. Dostum was told in short order that instead of Nutsch, he’d now deal with Nutsch’s battalion commander LTC Bowers. He, in turn, would be replaced with a two-star, Rear Admiral Bert Calland, the SOCCENT commander.

The Green Berets were pulled out from Team Alpha, and the military was pushing in green troops with no clue as to what was still going on. Before the country was even taken from the Taliban, the Pentagon was focused on stability operations.

Mike Spann and David Tyson find “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh in the throng of al-Qaeda prisoners at Qala-i-Jangi. Photo courtesy of Toby Harnden

During this time, Tyson and Mike Spann headed to the Qala-i-Jangi fortress outside Mazar-i-Sharif to interrogate hundreds of al-Qaeda fighters, who had supposedly surrendered, including U.S. citizen John Walker Lindh. But the al-Qaeda fighters had smuggled weapons, grenades, and suicide vests into the fortress.

They then started a violent uprising while Spann was interviewing a prisoner with dozens around him. As they rushed him, Spann killed numerous al-Qaeda fighters before being hit from behind. The prisoners then overwhelmed Spann before killing him with a pistol. Tyson attempted to get to his friend, but the sheer numbers of prisoners rushing him prevented that, despite the fact that he killed perhaps dozens.

Tyson made it a temporary safe spot in the compound with German journalists. Other American CIA, Green Berets, conventional troops, and a small contingent of British SBS (Special Boat Service, Britain’s equivalent to Navy SEALs) began an effort to rescue Tyson and Spann (who was considered missing) from the fort. The amount of detail and the personal accounts of the men who fought at Qala-i-Jangi is some riveting reading.

The Break Down

Harnden’s book is a fantastic read as he interviewed nearly all of the major players in the early, heady days of the Afghanistan invasion before the Pentagon and State Department turned it into a nation-building sh** show and tried to build a country based on our own model that would never work in Afghanistan.

Dostum, the pivotal warlord who was instrumental in the success, was pushed to the side and quickly ostracized by the government, especially the State Department. Harnden traveled to Afghanistan a year ago to interview the former warlord who was blocked from visiting the U.S.

“I was the one who fought against and defeated the Taliban in 2001,” Dostum said. “My soldiers were killed and wounded, but I was left behind and received nothing. If the Americans had listened to me, they would now have the upper hand on the battlefield and at the negotiation table.”

“I have no issue with CIA,” he says. “They never let me down. But US diplomats have not allowed me to act against the Taliban.”

The Page-Turner

If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the reader in the household or want to spend hours on end curled up in a chair with a great book, then pick up “First Casualty.” It is extremely well-written, meticulously researched, and an absolute page-turner.

It was a story that needed to be told, which is why the CIA was so helpful with Harnden in arranging for nearly all of the involved people to be interviewed. It is a story about personal sacrifice and incredible bravery and resourcefulness. But most of all, it is a story about “what could have been,” but like what occurred in Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal, to quote Charlie Wilson, “we f***ed up the end game.”

Army-Navy Game 2021, Keys to the Game And Key Matchups

The college football season can’t begin the bowl season and playoff without first the traditional Army-Navy game. This year is set for December 11 and will be held at MetLife Stadium with a CBS broadcast starting at 3 p.m. eastern time.

One of the oldest rivalries in college football, the two service academies will meet for the 122nd time, with the Naval Academy holding the edge 61-53-7. It is a streaky rivalry; the Navy won 14 in a row, many by a wide margin from 2002-2015. However, Army has won 4 of the last 5 contests, including a 15-0 shutout last year at West Point.

Army (8-3) – has already clinched its second straight Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, a three-way competition between Army, Navy, and Air Force. Navy lost to Air Force 23-3 in September. The Black Knights then beat Air Force in O.T. in November.

This Black Knights team is one of the best that Jeff Monken has fielded at West Point. They are a Top 20 scoring team and a Top 20 defense. Army averages 301.2 yards per game and over 5 yards per rush with their ground game.

Navy (3-8) – will miss a bowl game for the second year in a row under head coach Ken Niumatalolo and their third losing season in four years. The offense, specifically their scoring offense, has been an issue, especially earlier in the season.

While the Midshipmen have a potent running offense of their own averaging 228.7 yards per game, their passing attack has been woeful, totaling only 599 yards on the season. The Navy QBs have attempted 91 passes and completed 44 but have been sacked 29 times.

Every year, the two teams wear customized uniforms just for the game. This year, the Army is honoring Special Forces. They will be wearing the SF crossed arrows around their neck and have a patch of Task Force Dagger and where an Army name tape would go on a camouflage uniform. They’ll have the SF motto “De Oppresso Liber,” as well as the Special Forces crest on the crown of their helmets.

Army’s Special Forces themed football uniforms. US Army Photo

The Navy’s uniform this year will be honoring the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jet. The Navy’s website says about the uniforms, “Using one of the most famous naval career paths as an inspiration, the 2021 ‘Fly Navy’ uniform highlights classic American symbolism and the most utilized multirole fighter jet in aircraft carrier aviation, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet… the Super Hornet will remain the backbone of the carrier air wing well into the future.”

Navy’s F-18 themed uniforms. US Navy photo

So, let’s look at some of the key matchups:

When Army Has The Ball – Advantage Army:

The Black Knights running game is their bread and butter, and it all funnels through QB Christian Anderson, a dual-threat QB who is the team’s leading passer and the second leading rusher with 519 yards, an average of 5.9 yards per rush, and six touchdowns. Army’s leading rusher is running back Tyrell Robinson, who has carried the ball 89 times for 582 yards (9.9-yard average), with a long of 87 and three touchdowns. Army has four players with over 400 yards rushing.

The Black Knights throw the ball even less than the Midshipmen do, having only passed 85 times but have nearly double the yardage (1030 yards) with 10 TDs and 3 INTs. Army QBs have only been sacked six times. Their biggest threat in the passing game is Isaiah Dalton, who has caught 18 passes for 384 yards (21.3-yard average) with 3 TDs.

But it comes down to the running game. Neither of these teams is going to air it out; they live or die by the running game. Army’s rushing attack was superb in 2021, rushing for 3313 yards, a 4.9 yard average with 43 rushing touchdowns. If the Navy is going to keep this a game, they have to slow down the Army’s rushing attack.

Army’s rushing attack was #2 in the FBS. US Army photo

That will require a total team effort, but their big guy at stuffing the run is #54, linebacker Diego Fagot. In the past three years, he has 11 tackles for a loss in 2021 and has 34 TFL. The Middies need a huge game from him on Saturday. However, their rush defense has been good, allowing just 131.6 yards per game.

Army has averaged scoring 35.5 points per game, while Navy is allowing 29.6 points per game. If the Knights get anywhere close to that, it may be another long after for Navy.

When Navy Has The Ball – Advantage Army:

The Midshipmen have a good running game of their own, pounding the rock for 229 yards per game. Navy has two good fullbacks who can carry the pile, the chew, and the clock. Isaac Ruoss has carried 157 times for 608 yards (3.9-yard average) with 5 TDs. Carlinos Acie has carried 57 times for 546 yards (9.6-yard average), with two TDs.

Navy’s QB is Tai Lavatai, who has completed 54.5 percent of his passes with 5 TDs and 2 INTs. But he has a penchant for being sacked a lot, as have all of Navy’s QBs. Lavatai has also rushed for 309 yards on 150 rushes (just a 2.1-yard average), with 5 TDs. Navy’s most productive receiver is Chance Warren, with 10 receptions for 157 yards and 3 TDs. He has also been productive in the running game with 242 yards and a score.

The Midshipmen need their big FBs to keep Army’s defense on the field. Army has allowed only 103.7 yards per game on the ground. And like Navy, they have a big run stuffer, junior linebacker Andre Carter II. Carter is a big, athletic 6’7, 250-pound outside linebacker who has played outstanding for the Knights. A year ago, he was playing around 260, but this year, he lost some weight to improve his speed and conditioning. This year, he doesn’t have to come out as much. Carter has logged 15 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and an interception.

This one, like every year, comes down to who can be more physical, control the tempo and the line of scrimmage, and most importantly, finish drives by running the football. The Army is favored by 7.5 points. The over/under for this one is just 33, and it tends to go with the under every year.

The Navy will be looking to pull a big upset on Army this year. US Navy photo

But this one has a little different vibe to it. Although, as the old saying goes, “you can throw out their records” for this huge rivalry game, Army has a superior unit this year. Look for it to be close for a half and then the Black Knights ground game to eat the Navy up. Army 24-10

This rivalry is unique in that upon graduation, all of the players then join the same team. Some of the Army troops may find themselves in a tough spot somewhere in the world, and a Navy pilot will fly ground support missions for them. That’s where the rivalry may be bitter on the field but is full of respect off of it.

Go Army, Beat Navy.

Masturbation Puppet Shows, 300 Win Mag Rifle, and Staples in my Head: Welcome to Navy SEAL Sniper School

One day, as I stepped up to get into the bench seating area where we controlled the targets, someone yanked on a target. Between my inattention and his carelessness, the metal frame whacked me right in the head.

Oops. Suddenly there was blood everywhere.

This happened to be the day we were first sighting our .300 Win Mags. This was crucial: when first getting a new weapon we would have one day to dial it in, get all our elevations, and get the feel of the thing. I could not miss that day. I couldn’t miss any day. So they ran me out to the doctor’s, cleaned me up, slammed seven staples into my head, and ran me back to Coalinga. Within a few hours of the incident, I was back on the range, sighting in my new weapon. My head was pounding with every shot, and it felt like someone was nailing a steel spike into my skull. Tough. Deal with it. Adapt and overcome.

A few weeks later, right after finishing the shooting phase, Gabriele and I had our official wedding ceremony and reception. (We had managed to keep the secret from my family.) Fortunately, my hair had grown in just enough so that the staples didn’t show in my wedding pictures.

Along with the shooting drills, which kept us busy for up to eight hours a day, we also had extensive classroom work, which we did mostly during the heat of the day, sandwiched in between sessions on the range. We would get up early and shoot all morning, then do our classroom and practical exercises during the early afternoon hours, when the heat was at its height. In the later afternoon, we’d head back out onto the range and practice on the guns again.

Every few classes we would be tested on whatever we’d learned. As with the shooting tests, it was either pass or you’re gone, no in between.

One of our classes consisted of a series of drills called keep-in-memory exercises, or KIMs. As a sniper, there are times when you have only a brief glance at a situation, and you have to be able to fix it all in your memory almost instantaneously. These exercises were designed to hone our capacity for accurate snapshot memory.

The instructors would lay a tarp over an array of objects, bring us in and stand us in front of the covered array, and then yank off the tarp, giving us thirty seconds to look at everything and memorize it all before the tarp went back to cover everything. Then we’d have to write it all down. Or they would scatter a series of objects over a hillside, and we’d have to scan it quickly with our binoculars and in that brief glance pick out everything that was out of the ordinary.

We also did very detailed target sketches, similar to the KIMs: In a given amount of time, we would have to sketch a target in detail and also record all sorts of data. From which direction was the sun shining? What were the weather patterns? Where were possible helo insertion points? Helo extraction points? Exactly what was happening right around the area of the target? Digital cameras and laptops had not yet become the ubiquitous technologies they are today, and we had to do our field sketches and record all this information by hand.

Some of our most extensive classroom study was in the area of ballistics, including internal ballistics, external ballistics, and terminal ballistics.

Internal ballistics is what’s happening on the inside of the rifle. When your firing pin hits the bullet’s strike plate, it sets off an initial powder charge, and the exploding powder creates a rapidly expanding gas bubble, which propels the slug, or front portion of the bullet, through the chamber. It’s very much a miniature version of a rocket ship launch: Just as the rocket discards its boosters once it’s in flight, the rifle ejects the empty cartridge, sending only the relatively small front portion on its journey. In the rocket’s case, that’s the capsule that houses the astronauts. In the bullet’s case, it’s the death-dealing slug.

The inside of the rifle’s barrel is inscribed with a series of spiral grooves, or rifling (where the term “rifle” comes from). This puts a fast spin on the bullet, giving it stability in flight, much the way you put a spin on a football when you throw it. Internal ballistics has to do with how many twists there are in the barrel and their precise effect on the bullet, how fast the bullet travels, and how it’s moving when it exits the rifle.

This is where external ballistics takes over. Your bullet will start its journey at a velocity of over 2,000 feet per second. However, the moment it emerges from the barrel its flight path is already being influenced by its environment. Leaving aside for the moment the effect of wind, there is a universal drag created by the friction of that ocean of air the bullet pierces through in order to fly, combined with the downward pull of gravity. At a certain distance, different for different weapons and ammunition, your particular rifle bullet slows to the point where it passes from supersonic to subsonic. As it eats through the yards at rates of something like 1 yard every 1/1,000 of a second, the integrity of its flight path becomes compromised. A .308 bullet traveling at 2,200 feet per second will lose its flight-path stability to the point where it starts tumbling head over heels by about 900 or 1,000 meters out.

External ballistics is also about exactly what that flight path looks like. When you shoot a .308 at a target 800 yards away, you’re not shooting in a straight line; it actually makes a pretty big arc. Imagine throwing a football from the 50-yard line to the end zone. You don’t throw it straight toward the goal. Instead, you know you have to throw it upward so that it arcs through the air, hitting its high point at about the 25-yard line and then curving back down to reach the end zone. The same thing happens with the .308 bullet. You’re not shooting it in a straight line; you’re really throwing it up in the air so that it arcs and comes down where you want it to. Understanding exactly how that works can have a make-or-break bearing on successfully hitting your target.

For example, let’s say you’re shooting at something 800 yards away. In the terrain lying between you and your target, you notice a low-hanging bridge. From all appearances, that’s no problem. Your target stands at maybe 5’8″; you are lying on the ground, on your stomach; and the bridge is a good 10 feet off the ground at its lowest point. When you sight down through your scope at the target, you can see a clear pathway from you straight to the target. No problem, right?

Wrong. That bridge may not look like it’s in the way—but when you take into account the arc your bullet needs to travel to land at your projected site, that bridge could be lying directly in the path of what we call the bullet’s top arc. In other words, it could stop your bullet cold, halfway to your target. And in the kinds of circumstances a sniper will often be facing, you may not have the luxury of a second shot. You have to know your bullet’s maximum ordinate, that is, the maximum height that bullet will reach on its path to your target, and calculate for that.

Once we had mastered the M-14 we moved on to other weapons, starting with the .308 bolt action Remington, a very solid weapon and quite capable out to 800 or 900 yards, in the right hands. This was our first look at a real scoped weapon—and right away, I knew had a problem. There was a Leupold scope on one of my guns that just didn’t seem quite right. I pretty quickly realized that it wasn’t maintaining at zero: it was slipping off. There was no way I could shoot with a scope that wasn’t reliable.

These weapons are not delicate; they’re made to withstand the rigors of combat. However, they are pieces of precision machinery, and they’re not infallible. For example, the barrel of a .300 Win Mag is only good for a few thousand rounds, and then you shoot out the barrel and it starts losing accuracy. We were shooting thousands and thousands of rounds.

If your gun starts to malfunction in the middle of a shooting evolution, the instructor might assume it’s you. In a lot of cases, he’s right. In some cases, though, the weapon really is shot out, or there’s some kind of equipment malfunction. We had a few guys who were excellent shots but got flushed out of the course because they had the bad luck of getting a weapon that didn’t have a good log and was legitimately shot out, and they didn’t yet have the skills or know-how to deal with it right away.

I was determined not to let that happen. My first shooting test was coming up. No way was this faulty scope going to flush me from sniper school. I told my instructors about it, and when they didn’t do anything I kept bringing it up. I wouldn’t let it rest. Finally, they got an armorer out there from Crane, the navy’s ordnance testing division. He looked at the scope and said, “Yeah, you have a bad optic.”

Thank God. I easily could have flunked out in my first test because of a messed-up scope.

At the same time that we started working with scopes on the .308, we also started working in pairs, taking turns as shooter and as spotter. The shooter’s job is to put everything else out of his mind, take the information the spotter feeds him, and make a perfect shot, period. As we soon learned, the spotter’s job is in many ways more complex and more difficult.

As spotter, you are on the spotting scope, identifying and monitoring the target. Your job is to calculate windage and give target lead if necessary (that is, how much to compensate for the target’s movement). As spotter, you also watch the shot trace, which tells its own story and either proves the call dead-on accurate or gives important clues for correcting the next shot. Yes, even though it is traveling at speeds of 2,000 feet per second or more , you actually watch the damn thing. In most cases, you can literally see those vapor trails all the way in to the target.

The spotter has to take all these considerations into account—and we had to learn it all in a hell of a hurry, or we would be going home.

Even aside from the fact that we were friends, Glen and I soon found that we made an excellent sniper pair. Glen is a naturally gifted marksman. I don’t remember him ever missing a single shot, and most of his shots were perfect 10s. For my part, I seemed to have a natural gift for reading the wind and being able to calculate all the conditions and circumstances. Again, I think this had to do with my experience with navigation and having grown up in the water. Water currents and wind currents may be two very different things, but it is really the same basic concept, albeit in different media and moving at many different speeds. When you’re sailing or boating, you’re always thinking, What’s the weather doing, how is this affecting my point A to point B? It’s the same dynamic when you’re preparing to fire a bullet. I’m here, my target’s there—what factors are affecting my getting from here to there?

Reach your hand down into a stream or lake, and you might notice that it looks like it juts off as if your arm were suddenly bent at a sharp angle. Likewise, when you see a trout in a stream, it isn’t located exactly where it looks like it’s located. This is because the light is refracted by the body of water, creating an optical illusion. The same thing happens in the atmosphere. When the sun is low in the horizon, it creates the same kind of refractory optical illusion, and you have to compensate for that in your aim, maybe dial it down a minute of angle.

With my knack for spotting and Glen’s natural gifts as a shooter, we made a deadly pair. Plus, we were both new guys, and we felt the same pressure to get this right. We’d have a few beers at night, but we didn’t drink or carouse much. We were focused on staying locked on tight and getting through this thing.

Not that there was much in the way of nightlife anyway. Coalinga is a small town, with a prison, some farming, and not a whole lot more going on. On rare occasions, we went out for a drink or got a bite to eat in town. Most often, though, we’d make a big bonfire right there where we were camping, drink a few beers, and tell each other crazy stories.

One guy, Ken, had a Penthouse magazine and would lie there at night in his sleeping bag jerking off, thinking he had all the privacy in the world. Unfortunately, he had this headlamp switched on so he could see his damn magazine, and as a result, he would unintentionally be giving the whole camp a shadow-puppet show on the wall of his tent. “Goddammit, Ken, quit jerking off!” we’d yell out. “Or at least turn off the damn light!”

The range had a nice little grass campground complete with a kitchen and a restrooms/shower area. All the students were instructed to bring a tent and kit. Most of the guys traveled pretty light. I take just what I need, and it all fits in my pack. Guys in the teams had a saying, “Pack light and mooch.” My saying was “Don’t pack light—pack right.” Not Glen, though. As I soon learned, Glen liked to travel in comfort, which meant plenty of extras. He was like a one-man gypsy camp. He must have gone out and bought the biggest tent he could find at the local Kmart; that thing could have slept a family of 10. He had three fuel-burning lanterns, a radio, a coffeemaker, a generator—it was out of control.

We were partners, so my tent was right next to his. I love Glen like a brother, but this was torture. That son of a bitch would be up and about for a solid hour before the rest of us even started thinking about opening our eyes, and once he was up it was nearly impossible to stay asleep because his gypsy encampment lit up the whole side of my tent. First I was awakened by the blinding white glow and steady hum of his Coleman exploration power lanterns. Then the sounds would start: his percolating coffeepot, then some sort of eighties rock music blaring through his earphones, which he thought we couldn’t hear but in fact only made him even more oblivious to the extent of the racket he was making, messing around with all his stuff, clattering around and getting his coffee ready, burping and farting but not hearing himself because he had those earphones in, then followed by his electric toothbrush, endless loud gargle, and the invariable lengthy punctuating spit that made us all groan. After a week or so of this daily routine, the guys began referring to Glen’s morning ablutions as “Chernobyl.”

If I had my choice, I would pull myself out of sleep maybe twenty minutes before we had to muster up, giving myself just enough time to brush my teeth, throw some water on my face, and grab my gear. But no. I tried for days, but it was not possible. Finally, I succumbed and started letting Glen be my alarm clock.

NSW Prep: The First Hurdle in Becoming a Navy SEAL or SWCC

It is a long and thorough process to earn a contract to attend BUD/S or SWCC school. Those that do receive a contract go to Navy Boot Camp and are assigned to 800 divisions. These 800 divisions are comprised of SEAL, SWCC, EOD, Navy Diver, and Air Rescue candidates. The purpose of these divisions is to hold candidates to a higher physical standard and to begin grooming them for the tough training they are soon to endure.

Upon graduation from Boot Camp, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) candidates move right across the street from Great Lakes Recruit Training Center to the Training Support Center, in Illinois. This is where students get their first taste of the NSW training and lifestyle.

Although NSW hopefuls were in 800 divisions and “trained harder,” they are most likely completely out of shape after spending two months in Boot Camp — it is a shitty environment for maintaining and excelling in physical fitness; NSW Prep didn’t come into existence on accident after all.

The purpose of NSW Prep, if you didn’t put two and two together, is to prepare candidates for the real deal in Coronado, CA. The idea is to ensure that the individuals arriving in Coronado have a shot in hell at making it through training. NSW Prep weeds out the initial weak, hell even Boot Camp weeds out a few people. The prep course saves the Navy time, money, and frustration by preventing unprepared sailors from being sent to Coronado.

The Final Primer

Upon arrival to NSW Prep, candidates are required to complete a PST (Physical Screening Test), consisting of the usual push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, swim, and run routine.

Over the next two months, SEAL and SWCC candidates participate in physical training instruction. The candidates are introduced to and trained in topics such as swimming techniques, principles of running, and strength and conditioning, just to name a few.

Candidates are broken down into physical training groups, based on ability level. The training regimen is fluid and changes daily in an effort to improve the physical level of these wannabe operators. Physical assessments are conducted often, which helps in tracking improvement and setting goals.

In addition to the daily physical routine, students spend time in an academic setting: NSW needs more than basic knuckle-draggers. There, candidates are introduced to many subjects, including principles of team building, mental toughness, treatment of heat- and hypothermia-related injuries, and nutrition. Performing at a high level physically requires strong performance mentally and vice versa. Academic achievement in the SEAL and SWCC pipelines is just as important as physical performance.

Throughout the two months at NSW Prep, each candidate’s progress is tracked in order to determine their ability to improve and their desire to be there.

At the end of NSW Prep, students are subjected to a final modified PST, consisting of a 1,000-yard swim (with fins), push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and a four-mile timed run. If students fail this test, they may be rolled, but more than likely will be removed from SEAL or SWCC training.

Candidates participate in one final review board and then are put on a commercial airliner and sent to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, CA, where the real fun begins.

US Military’s working dogs are the worst nightmare for the enemy

Cry havoc…

Since the time of Greece and the Roman Empire, the dog has been a valued and trusted member of the military. The Romans used a breed of Mastiff that is now extinct. Then, they covered their canines in armor with spiked collars and used them to wreak havoc on their enemies.

The use of military dogs by the United States was largely an unknown to the general population until a Belgian Malinois named “Cairo” was thrust into the spotlight after the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by US Navy SEALs.

But the use of military dogs goes far back from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The first well-known military dog was SGT Stubby who was a stray Bull Terrier that was adopted by the 102^nd Infantry Regiment of the 26^th Infantry Division (The Yankee Division).

SGT Stubby with uniform coat and decorations in WWI.

Stubby was smuggled on the troop ship to France but quickly proved his worth. He could warn the troops of impending poison gas attacks, could hear artillery shells coming before human ears could detect them, he could find American wounded in no man’s land and even caught a German prisoner, grabbing the enemy by the seat of his pants and holding him until the soldiers made him a prisoner.

Stubby met three US Presidents, marched in numerous parades and even received a half-page obituary in the New York Times when he died in his sleep in 1926. But dogs have been used in every conflict since the Revolutionary War, but only officially used since World War II.

Today the training and use of military dogs are extensive and there are a few thousand serving in the armed forces. Many of them are in harm’s way in the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, among other hotspots and they’ve proved invaluable.

America’s military dogs can find illicit drugs, sniff out bombs and IEDs (improvised explosive devices), search out and find enemy combatants. They’re almost all trained at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland as part of the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program (MWD). The military has been training their canines there since 1958.

German shepherds and retrievers are commonly used, but the Belgian Malinois (i.e.Cairo) has proven to be one of the most outstanding working dogs used in military service. The vast majority of military working dogs are purchased in Germany or the Netherlands, where they have been breeding dogs for military purposes for hundreds of years. But because of the uptick in operational tempo as well as the demand, the breeding programs in the United States are flourishing.

The dogs must exhibit focused, aggressive behavior, with a heightened sense of smell and a strong desire to work for reward before they are assigned to operators worldwide.

Typically, pups begin their training very early. When they’re very young, (6-8 weeks of age), they’re sent to homes for socialization skills in a stable, home setting. They’ll come back to the school between 7-9 months where they’ll be observed for consideration as a working dog. The puppies must exhibit a strong drive, are adaptable to a host of different environments and respond to reward-for-work motivation before they can begin the pre-training program.

The training is long and difficult and only 50 percent of the dogs pass thru their dog school “Selection.” After the dogs are a year-old and pass their advanced training, they’ll have two primary roles. Either as an operator in search for explosives or narcotics detection or as patrol member for apprehension and search for the enemy.

Malinois’ are favored because of their agility, speed, focused aggressive behavior and the fact that their sense of smell is 40 times that of their human handlers. Military dogs frequently are used in airborne operations, rappelling, and helo-casting.

Dogs that work with Special Operations units are specifically trained in just a handful of locations. CBS’ Lara Logan did a story on former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland who trains dogs for the dangerous world of Special Operations as well as for the FBI and SWAT teams.

In the same story, Logan did a story on Chris Corbin from the 7^th Special Forces Group and his dog Ax. They both almost lost their lives on the same day in Afghanistan on their final mission. Ax had already found one bomb and the two were moving toward an area that had already been cleared.

Corbin missed Ax’s signal, thinking he was just smelling another dog in the cleared area when the bomb went off. Ax was shaken but ok, Corbin lost both of his lower legs. But a few months later he was back on active duty…with Ax and the two grew inseparable.

Corbin told Logan that the bond was there when his teammates brought Ax to see him at Walter Reed Army Hospital. “They brought him up for a visit. And I heard him, getting him out of the back of the truck. And opening his kennel, and he just being a stir-crazy dog, just, ‘Hey, let me out of here. Let’s do a look around.’ I just said something simple. Hey, where’s my boy at? and he stopped. He froze. He looked around. And he went into a panic until he found me and he jumped on my legs. Painful. Just– I was just happy to see him. I didn’t care how much it hurt.”

Some dogs, like their human counterparts, can suffer from the throes of PTSD. Many of the dogs are treated for such and return to have successful completions to their military careers. When one of these canine operators is wounded, they’re transported via medevac just like a wounded soldier would.

Sadly 42 dogs have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country and their handlers. But a good indicator of their worth is how the enemy feels about them. The Taliban and ISIS hate the military working dogs and have a healthy respect for them. The Taliban soldiers have orders to shoot the dogs first and American soldiers second.

The unfortunate footnote to this story is that prior to November 2000, military working dogs were euthanized upon the finish of their career. Now, most are adopted by their handlers. A few each year go to civilians who apply for adoption rights. The waiting list for an adoptable military working dog is about a year.

Our military forces continue to keep us safe, at home and abroad. And their four-legged counterparts are doing their share as well. And SGT Stubby? He’s being immortalized in an upcoming animated feature film that is being released in 2018.

Photos Courtesy DOD

US Navy SEALs: OSS

Infiltrating secret agents, supplying resistance groups and engaging in sabotage was the job description of The Office of Strategic Services Maritime Unit (OSS MU).

If we were to cite a single source that generated the attributes of modern day SEALs, and their missions, we wouldn’t need to look any further than the OSS MU.

On July 11th, 1941 a former Army colonel named William J. Donovan became what was called the “Coordinator of Information.” Working from his Law Offices Mr. Donovan established the first civilian run intelligence organization of the United States.

Located in room 3603 of Rockefeller Center in New York, Mr. Donvan began the relentless struggle of centralizing the intelligence community as he went up against the likes of J. Edgar Hoover.

Despite the power struggle which is inherent to the centralization of anything, Mr. Donovan persisted. After several trips to Britain Mr. Donovan began to model Britain’s MI-6 as he created a centralized intelligence capability for the U.S.

In 1942, the COI was retitled the Office of Strategic Services. Under, now General Donovan’s leadership, the OSS began successfully conducting collection operations around the world. As time went by the OSS grew organically and quickly established a Maritime Unit known as the OSS MU.

Besides espionage the OSS MU was also tasked with developing special equipment, tactics, techniques and procedures for other units. A duty very similar to the charter of famed SEAL Team 6 officially known as Developmental Group (DEVGRU).

The OSS MU pioneered the use of swim fins, face masks and closed-circuit diving equipment for military use. Besides the basics they also developed and used swimmer submersibles pioneering the way for modern day Seal Delivery Vehicles known as SDVs. This unit is amazing in itself; but, to consider that they existed in the 40’s makes their capabilities seem unfathomable.

Attracting some of the finest Watermen from Southern California the Operational Swimmers of the the OSS began training from Camp Pendleton Ca. From there they moved out to the clear waters of Catalina and then ultimately they settled for the warmer waters of the Bahamas.

These men developed the combat swimming limpet mine attacks used by Navy SEAL’s today. Their tactics, techniques and procedures are taught during the 2nd Phase of BUD/S training and mastered during a SEAL Platoon deployment work up.

In May 1944, the OSS MU was divided into groups. Group 1 became operationally controlled (OPCON’d) by Adm. Chester Nimitz to support his “Granite Plan” for Pacific operations.

Combine the rugged and combat proven nature of the Scouts and Raiders with the technical finesse of the OSS MU and one can see how these two organizations were catalysts sparking the evolution of modern day SEALs.

Missions of the OSS

Burma

OSS Detachment 101, the first unit of its kind, was responsible for intelligence gathering, rescuing of downed Allied airmen, producing target packages and the recruiting, training and leading of guerrilla forces.

Beginning in 1943 individuals and small groups would be parachuted behind Japanese lines to infiltrate small villages and recruit guerrilla forces.

Once on the ground these dynamic spies would organically grow resistance Armies as large as 3,000 strong to conduct Unconventional Warfare (UW) against the Japanese.

101 was credited with 5,428 enemy kills and the rescuing of 574 Allied personnel. Impressive standards setting the bar for today’s Special Forces.

OSS In Germany

The OSS, in the ultimate execution of Spy craft had constructed a 24,000 person operation in the heart of Nazi Germany. Employing Germans, Austrians, anti Nazi POWs and Jewish refugees the OSS significantly impacted World War II tilting the odds forever in the favor of Allied forces.

OSS 1st Lieutenant George Musulin behind German-occupied Serbia.

The “Man” of The OSS

Sometimes the account of a single person’s contribution to anything is the best the best way to understand it.

Walter Mess was one of General Donovan’s best. Four years prior to World War II, Mr. Mess was recruited by Mr. Donovan. This occurred during the time Mr. Donovan was in private law practice and was considered a “private” secret agent.

In 1938, Mr. Mess was dropped into Czechoslovakia where he recruited, and then brought to America, four teenagers for training and reinsertion as agents of the U.S.

In 1939, Mr. Mess executed a similar mission in Poland by recruiting and extracting three more young men.

In 1943, Mr. Mess became an official OSS operative and the Maritime Unit’s “Flotilla Officer Commander.” Mr. Mess, with his PT Boat P-564, conducted over 36 missions across the Bay of Bengal ferrying Swimmer teams and rescuing over 220 downed airmen from Escape and Evasion (E&E) points on the Burma coast.

April of 1944 Mr. Mess’s PT boat became the primary water platform for the OSS’s Operational Groups and Secret Intelligence missions. It was at this time that some of the first underwater missions were conducted.

In 1945 Mr. Mess was transferred to Det. 404 and conducted over 15 parachute jumps supporting OSS teams in Burma and Thailand.

With more than 100 secret missions under his belt Mr. Mess left a permanent mark on modern day Naval Special Warfare units.

In all of my research I can think of no other unit or individual that represents the genesis for modern day Navy SEALs better than this man or the OSS.

Walter Mess age 93

Basic Training Will Be A Breeze by Following Some Simple Steps

A friend is leaving in a matter of days for basic training, followed by Airborne School and then on to one of our Special Operations Units where, hopefully, after he navigates the Selection and Assessment courses, will get qualified and serve as a member of one of our very best units in the force.

But first comes basic training followed by advanced individual training, i.e. infantry school where they teach the basics of being part of the Queen of Battle. When all is said and done, the vast majority of us who’ve served in Special Operations units look back on the time in basic training as a piece of cake.

But it comes with challenges, mainly, this is all new. These young men and women are leaving home, most for the first time in their lives and are entering a realm that is totally alien to what they’ve been accustomed to. It is a culture shock, something the military plays upon to help integrate the boots into military life. It is an eye-opener for some when you first get off of the bus. “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”

So, for my friend, and the rest of those young people heading to basic training soon, here a few tips that will make navigating the first gate of your military career an easy walk in the park.

Tip #1 – Embrace the Suck: Trust me, the suck factor in basic is nothing compared to what you’ll experience when you begin your Special Operations journey. It will register about 0.2 on the Richter scale of suck factors. But this is all new and people will be screaming at you from every conceivable direction. Your head will be spinning at first.

For many of our readers, you’ll see that we always say that the breakdown of mental to physical factors for Selection is mental for the vast majority. In basic training, it is even more so. The Drill Sergeants will play a constant mind f**k with the boots. Don’t worry about it, don’t stress about it. It is going to happen regardless. Learn early on to roll with the flow and embrace what they’re throwing at you. It will just make you stronger and better prepare you for what ultimately lies ahead.

Tip #2 – Be a Team Player Now: It is imperative to begin building your military self from Day 1. And in basic, it is all about the unit, the whole, being successful. Another thing we always say is, “you’re always being evaluated.” And that is also true in boot camp. The Drill Sergeants will always look for the lone wolf that is only interested in himself. Don’t be that person.

While you’re all in the same boat, be the guy who helps along his fellow grunts when they need a hand up. They’ll do the same for you. The more your unit shows that they’re looking out for one another and are sticking together, the less mind games BS they’ll throw at you collectively.

The more you use the term “we” instead of “I” in basic, the better life will be. Some of the troops you serve with in basic may indeed become the guy that will sweat, bleed and share his last drop of water with you once you get to your unit.

Tip #3 – Remember, We Defend Democracy, Not Practice It: This above all else will save you untold heartache and massive amounts of pushups in basic training if you remember this one small fact. Much of what you will experience will seem grossly unfair. It may well be just that. But that just follows right along with Tip #1.

Never, ever talk back to a Drill Sergeant or any other member of the cadre. It is a losing proposition and you will lose every single time. A good rule of thumb is to never talk to a Drill Sergeant unless spoken to.

Remember the scene from “Full Metal Jacket”, Pvt Joker tells the Sr. Drill Instructor (The Gunny), “Sir, the private believes any answer he gives will be wrong and the Senior Drill Instructor will only beat him harder if he reverses himself, SIR!”

Of course, there are exceptions to this. If he’s teaching something and he asks for questions or you don’t understand what is going on, then ask. But always do so in a respectful manner and don’t try to sharpshoot the DIs. That won’t end well either.

Tip # 4 – Lead By Example: Now is the time (as stated above) to forging your own military identity. If you desire to become part of the Special Operations community, then you’ll already be familiar with or should be the term, “Quiet Professional.”

Do your absolute best at everything and give 110 percent with everything you do. But don’t beat your chest over every single thing you do correctly. Show the Drill Sergeants that you are a serious-minded individual that they and more importantly your unit can count on.

It could mean that you become a squad leader or platoon guide which puts more on your own plate. Because then you’ll be responsible for not only your own success but the rest of the unit as well. It doesn’t seem like much of a daunting task until the first time you’re put in charge of the group. Don’t run from it, embrace the leadership challenge and learn from it. You’ll be better off in the long run.

Tip #5 – Never Quit or Lose Focus: This is the first of several gut checks you will experience in the military but by the easiest. It may not seem like it at the time, but this is a relatively easy task to excel in. They get progressively harder down the road.

Remember to stay focused on your tasks in the short term. Airborne School? Nope. Selection? No way Jose. Worry about you are doing right this very minute and don’t deviate from that. What seems like a million light years away will be on you much faster than you’d have thought possible.

Everything you do or say is evaluated. Never quit or give in. A drill instructor today may be a leader of a Special Operations team in the future and they will remember the good troops and the poor ones.

Photo: Wikipedia

NSWC: About Naval Special Warfare

SEALs, an uncommon and extremely dedicated fighting force trained to operate in any environment. With an exceptional ability to excel in the most demanding, water, they have become known as the toughest warriors on the planet.

As a major component of the U.S Special Operations Command (SOCOM) the SEAL Teams entered to bring the demanding and highly skilled discipline of “combat swimming.”

Early in World War II the Italians and British demonstrated the incredible utility of underwater operations. From there the U.S saw not only the combative value, but also saw the strategic in regards to inshore reconnaissance and beach clearing in support of landing forces.

The name SEAL is actually an acronym standing for: Sea, Air and Land. These small elite teams of men work on our nations most important and secret missions. With nothing less than a global responsibility SEAL Teams are constantly deployed covering all reaches of the planet.

Intelligence operatives, commandos, demolition experts and teachers describe the men who make up the operational arm of Naval Special Warfare.

Now the largest combatant force of swimmers the SEALs have become Legendary in their status. With a training attrition rate as high as 80% SEAL training has become known as the toughest in the world.

To become a Navy SEAL requires incredible amounts of discipline, sacrifice and mental management. With SEAL Instructors standing guard there is no way to fake your way into this community. They accept nothing less than 100% commitment.

Some of the toughest men on the planet attempt to become a SEALs and find that they can’t. The extreme conditions, cold temperatures and mental fatigue catch many great men by surprise. To date there has been no way to determine who will make it or not. Study after study has been conducted and so far there has never been a way to measure someone’s level of commitment. No way besides putting them in BUD/S.

Graduating BUD/S does not make anyone a SEAL

To become a SEAL means that you will need to endure indefinitely and BUD/S is just the entry fee. After BUD/S there is another course, also ran by the center, called SEAL Qualification Training (SQT).

The training conducted during SQT is like a mini SEAL Platoon deployment work up. It includes Land warfare, Air Operations, Diving and Maritime operations phases. Tactics taught include survival, special weapons, parachuting, emergency medicine, diving and more.

It is after the successful completion of this course that a SEAL candidate earns the coveted “Trident” and becomes a designated 5326. From here he is assigned to his SEAL Team and that is where the real training begins.

As a command

The “Hub” of Naval Special Warfare is located on an Island just off of San Diego called Coronado.

In total there are about 9,000 personnel that make up the command structure of Naval Special Warfare. Out of the 9,000 only about 2,500 of them are actual SEALs. The rest are made up of support personnel ranging from administrators, armorers, intelligence analysis, and boat operators. Out of the roughly 6,000 support personnel about 1,200 of them are civilians.

As a command Naval Special Warfare is considered a “Flagged” command meaning that it is lead by an Admiral. Currently Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus is at the helm. By his side is Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli and leading the enlisted personnel is Master Chief Steven D. Studdard. All SEALs, all experienced and all dedicated to leading and overseeing the largest and most effective Special Operation force that the planet has ever seen.

At their disposal there are several other subcommands as follows.

Naval Special Warfare WARCOM

Responsible for all of the training and logistics required to support every member of Naval Special Warfare. This organization has been expanding as quickly as the role and accomplishments of NSW has.

This subcommand overseas the contracting and doctrine development and institution throughout all of Naval Special Warfare.

Naval Special Warfare Groups 1 – 11

Naval Special Warfare Group One (NSWG-1)

Located in Coronado California, Naval Special Warfare Group One (NSWG-1) includes all of the odd numbered SEAL Teams: One, Three, Five, Seven and Nine. In addition to the SEAL Teams Group One also includes Logistical Support Unit One (LOGSU-1) who is responsible for the supply and logistics of all West coast teams and supporting units.

Within any Naval Special Warfare Group there are also forward deployed command components tasked with supporting deployed SEAL teams and platoons while deployed. Group One has two such “Units”. One in Guam and the other in Bahrain. Between the two units they support operational areas in the Pacific as well as Asia supporting both the U.S Pacific Command (PACOM) as well as U.S Central Command (CENTCOM).

Forward deployed “Units” are essential to the movement and operational capabilities of NSW. When you arrive in country it is the Unit that has everything sorted and coordinated for you allowing you to stay focused on operational concerns.

Naval Special Warfare Group Two (NSWG-2)

Located in Little Creek Virginia, NSW Group Two includes all of the even numbered SEAL Teams: Two, Four, Eight and Ten. You’ll notice the SEAL Team Six is not represented here. I’ll let you guess why.

Group Two has the same supporting elements as Group One. Group Two is also responsible for supporting forward deployed units Two and Ten which are both located in Stuttgart, Germany. These units support the European Command (EUCOM) as well as the U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM).
In 2008, I remember arriving in Kenya and being greeted by several local drivers with their vans. They quickly picked us up from the airport and had us checked in and unpacked at our hotel in a matter of minutes.

Shooting ranges, food, dropzones, local connections, and more. The men and women who support the forward deployed units make all things possible. A famous General once said that war is more about logistics than strategy. These guys make things happen.

Naval Special Warfare Group Three (NSWG-3)

Located in Coronado California along side Group One. Group three commands NSW’s undersea assets known as SEAL Delivery Vehicles or SDVs. There are two SDV detachments. SDV Team 1 is located in Hawaii and SDV Detachment one is located out of Virginia.

Naval Special Warfare Group Four (NSWG-4)

Located in Virginia Group 4 overseas the Special Boat Units of known as SWCCs- Special Warfare Combat Crewman. This includes Boat teams 12 – 20 and 22.

The Special Boat Teams of Naval Special Warfare are an essential part of this fighting package. From high speed boats to Yachts these guys can drive it, sail it or even parachute it in.

Naval Special Warfare Group Ten (NSWG-10)

Located in Virginia Group 10 is made up of a new type of warfighter which falls under the name “Support Activity”. With a heavy emphasis on

Intelligence and strategy Support Activity One and Two enable all of the warfighting groups of Naval Special Warfare to function with high levels of efficiency and secrecy.

Little is known about the missions of Support Activity One or Two, but we can speculate that they are operating on the pointy tip of the spear.

Naval Special Warfare Group Eleven (NSWG-11)

Operating out of Coronado Naval Special Warfare Group Eleven makes up the Reserve aspect of the SEAL Teams. I’ve often heard that there is no such thing as a SEAL Reservist. While you can’t enter the SEAL teams through the reserves a SEAL, if he chooses to stay connected, can do so by entering the Naval Reserves.

SEAL Team Seventeen is located on the West Coast and Eighteen on the East. SEAL reserves can activate at anytime and join the fight seamlessly alongside their active duty brothers.

Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)

Located in Virginia DEVGRU, formerly known as SEAL Team Six, is officially tasked with the testing and evaluation of all technology, tactics, procedures and strategies used by Naval Special Warfare.

Founded by Richard Marcinko in the 80’s DEVGRU has risen to legendary status as the unit has successfully executed some of the most famous missions in Special Operations history.

Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC)

NSWC also referred to as “The Center” is located in Coronado California. Named after Phil Bucklew, the center oversees an incredible variety of training across the globe.

It is here, a seemingly innocuous place that basic SEAL training called BUD/S, Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training occurs. A simple 8 mile strip of the cold Pacific, an obstacle course and a rough, skin destroying, piece of cement known as the “Grinder” is about all there is to it. Add in a highly motivated and imaginative instructor staff and SEALs are created.

Besides BUD/S the center is also responsible for many other courses of instruction (COIs) around the world.

The Naval Special Warfare community is continuously growing as its role in the Global War On Terror (GWOT) increasingly grows in relevance. The world has changed a lot since our UDT forefathers fought for our country during World War II and Naval Special Warfare has been out in front of the fight the entire time.

US Navy SEALs: Missions

Elite Special Operations forces across the planet have several shared core functionalities (missions).

Though there will always be healthy discussions about who does what better we can all agree that each special unit brings a unique approach and level of talent and resources to each mission.

Over the past decade the men and women of Naval Special Warfare have stood out as some of the finest as they’ve executed some of the highest profile strategic missions around the world.

So that we all might have a better understanding of what SEALs do, here are some brief descriptions of some of the missions of Naval Special Warfare.

DIRECT ACTION

LIGHTNING FAST SURGICAL PRECISION

Direct Action missions are quick “SWAT” like assaults used to rescue hostages, seize oil platforms, over take ships, or destroy a targets. Often the enemy will have little to no warning of the attack.

While executing unique Direct Action missions taking down ships in the Gulf it was common that we would have the ship under our complete control before many of the crew even knew we were aboard.

Direct action missions can be the result of extensive intelligence work and planning. Some missions, such as the elimination of Osama Bin Laden, can take years to plan and several more weeks to rehearse.

Clad in black hoods and night vision goggles SEAL platoons quickly and quietly subdue their enemy. If and when contact is made these well rehearsed missions can quickly turn into an explosion of aggression.

COUNTER TERRORISM

BRINGING THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY

The counter terrorism mission is all inclusive combining all assets and capabilities of Naval Special Warfare and other government agencies (OGAs).

SEAL Platoons are deployed throughout the world supporting the Global War On Terror (GOTWA). Working to develop intelligence assets in efforts to identify and thwart attacks before they happen takes up a bulk of our resources.

Once targets are identified a SEAL team may be tasked with surveilling it, capturing it or, if necessary, eliminating it.

The counter terrorism mission has been going on for well over 30 years and will probably remain a central focus for years to come as pockets of power struggles continue to evolve.

FOREIGN INTERNAL DEFENSE

HOMEGROWN HELP

During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services was known for sending in highly trained and highly motivated operatives to recruit, train and lead “guerrilla” groups. Foreign internal defense is similar in nature as its purpose is to enable others to protect and defend their own nation. Where FID is different from guerrilla warfare is that it’s generally sponsored by a recognized host nation and done in the open.

Foreign internal defense (FID) missions can include training in weapons, demolitions, reconnaissance, surveillance, diving or parachuting. In special circumstances intelligence collection and tradecraft may included as well. There is really no limit to what we can arm another nation to do.

As a young SEAL these were not my favorite missions to conduct. You always had that nagging feeling that you might be training someone you could be fighting in the near future.

As I matured as an operator I began to see these missions as an opportunity to build relationships and knock down geographic and cultural barriers. I realized that the men we were training were also just trying to do their best to survive and thrive just like the rest of us.

SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE

SNEAKING AND PEAKING

Special Reconnaissance (SR) missions send SEALs behind enemy lines to observe and report on enemy size, activity, location, uniforms, time and equipment (SALUTE).

In modern day warfare these missions can vary significantly taking on multiple forms. These mission may be conducted in urban areas while wearing civilian clothes where the operatives will be required to blend into local populations, as well as build observation hides in hotel rooms and vehicles. Or this type of mission can be conducted wearing a Snipers Ghillie suit while hiding in a bush.

Regardless of the environment these missions will have a heavy focus on camouflage and concealment as well as high and low tech means of capturing information. SEAL Reconnaissance operatives become experts in digital photography, sketching, physical surveillance and technical surveillance as well as observation and reporting.

Prior to just about any missions or troop movement Special Reconnaissance is conducted to identify enemy movement, threats and even road conditions.

UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE

WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS WHILE STRENGTHENING THE FISTS

Unconventional Warfare (UW) has been a specialty of the U.S Army’s Green Berets for a very long time and it has been adopted by the SEAL teams as well.

Its purpose is to prepare the battlefield for follow on special operations missions and the occupation of conventional forces. A UW mission can last for months and often years as specially trained SEALs gain access to typically denied areas by building relationships through shared objectives, training and time spent together.

Much like a FID mission UW missions, also known as guerrilla warfare, are typically centered on the training and enabling of foreign forces. UW becomes very different than FID because it is executed under covert or clandestine conditions and it’s typically more aggressive in its nature and its purpose.

UW missions are essential for collecting valuable intelligence that often prevents nasty attacks as well as enables extremely effective offensive strategies. UW units are known to train and enable guerrilla forces in sabotage, intelligence operations, recovery operations and even direct action.

The above missions represent the “Core” capabilities of a SEAL team, but do not represent everything a SEAL can do. Dynamic and innovative these guys can “morph” into anything they need to get the job done.

US Navy SEALs: Overview of Development Group Team 6

The public description of Naval Special Warfare’s Development Group for years has reflected its name. An organization whose primary purpose was to develop tactics and strategies supporting operations from the sea, air or land. This was the accepted description of DEVGRU.

Naval Special Warfare Development Group was tasked with the management and testing of both current and emerging technologies relevant to all of Naval Special Warfare’s units. This is true, but recent events have taught us that “Testing” wasn’t the only thing they were upto.

While these duties do describe DEVGRU’s mission they don’t entirely depict what lies beneath.

Commanded by a Navy Captain (0-6) NSW Development Group is the Naval Component of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Formerly known as SEAL Team Six, until it was disbanded in 1987, DEVGRU and its Army counterpart, Delta Force, are the United State’s primary counter-terrorism units.

Originally DEVGRU was created as a maritime unit and has since been expanded, and accepted, as an entity which can operate in any and all areas. DEVGRU often works with the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA’s) Special Activities Division (SAD) as well as their Special Operations Group (SOG). Both highly secretive organizations with an increasingly impressive track record. The elimination of Osama Bin Laden not being the least of which.

DEVGRU, and the other units they support, have become famous for their high-risk personnel / hostage rescues and extractions as well as the elimination of terrorist and pirate threats.

In The Beginning

Between November 4, 1979 and January 20, 1981 for 444 days, Fifty-two Americans were held hostage after a group of Iranian students took over a US Embassy in Tehran.

The crisis was undoubtedly politically complicated and negotiations were failing. Just over 5 months into the hostages detainment a daring rescue was launched. On April 24, 1980 the United States military departed the USS Nimitz and USS Coral Sea to launching an epic rescue attempt. After the deaths of 8 American servicemen, one Iranian civilian and the destruction of two aircraft the mission was a failure.

Much like after the bloody beach landings of World War II the Navy was committed to learn and evolve from their misfortune. It was this mission, “Operation Eagle Claw” that led the Navy to develop a full-time counter-terrorisim unit and it would be Richard Marcinko who would do it.

The SEAL Teams are known, and not always appreciated, for their innovation. Even prior to the Iran Hostage crisis they had begun Counter Terrorism (CT) training. All 12 Platoons, East coast and West, were engaged; but, SEAL Team Two (East Coast) had taken it all a step further creating what was known as “MOB Six” (Mobility Six) the nucleus from which the legendary SEAL Team 6 would grow from.

Marcinko became the first Commanding officer of this new unit. Though at the time there were only two SEAL Teams, Mr. Marcinko chose to name his new team SEAL Team 6 in an effort, some say, to confuse Soviet intelligence officers as to how many SEAL Teams there actually were.

SEAL Team 6 Plankowners

Plankowners – Traditionally the original members of a ship’s crew when commissioned. This tradition has been carried forward to apply to any member of a newly commissioned command. In the world of Special Operations Plankowners are often the best and the brightest and in the case of SEAL Team 6 this was an absolute.

Since the unit would have a world-wide mandate and would have to continuously blend in and work among local populations Marcinko would need to hand pick the men. Given access to the best warriors on earth Marcinko plucked the best and the brightest from the existing UDT / SEAL community.

Those with combat experience and language skills made the top of the list and others with tremendous potential filled in behind.

Marcinko had only 6 months to make his new counter terrorism unit operational. Formly created in October of 1980 Marcinko and 75 shooters went to work creating the legendary SEAL Team Six.

Comprised of the best of the best the new unit was limitless when it came to resources. It has been said, and I believe it, that the annual training allowance for this new covert super unit was more than what was given to the entire Marine Corps.

The short and demanding work up emphasized and stressed shooting skills in every possible environment. This “Shooters” approach has permeated all of the SEAL Teams since creating the finest marksmen on the planet.

For what was no doubt a variety of reasons in 1987 SEAL Team Six was disbanded and a new unit was stood up under the title of “Naval Special Warfare Development Group” (DEVGRU). Comprised of former SEAL Team Six members, DEVGRU transcended beyond its checkered past.

Todays Team 6

As one would expect, and hope, details about DEVGRU are classified and unknown to the world. Recent operations such as the elimination of Osama Bin Laden, the rescuing of Captain Phillips and more have jettisoned their name and some details into the public domain, attracting more and more candidates to Naval Special Warfare.

Today’s DEVGRU is as selective and exclusive as ever. Only after someone has become an experienced SEAL are they even considered for this unit. For this reaso,n it’s typical that candidates will already be well into their 30s, producing a more mature operator for this elite group.

Since the men of DEVGRU come from the best operators of the SEAL Teams, it might seem as if DEVGRU is “poaching” from the SEAL community as they attract those with proven and valuable experience. While at a certain level this is true it’s important to understand that DEVGRU doesn’t get all of the top operators. Being that they’re stationed on the East coast limits them only to the candidates willing to relocate.

DEVGRU presents a demanding screening process. Only those who have produced an excellent reputation for themselves, and are in peak physical condition, are allowed to even try. Prior to selection candidates are interviewed by a very discerning board. Records are scanned and reputations checked. If they are “selected” the wannabe DEVGRU operator is put through a demanding training and selection process called “Green Team”.

The training inside of Green Team is of a high operational tempo and extremely demanding. Green Team carries with it an extremely high attrition rate. Candidates are constantly observed and scrutinized by DEVGRU instructors. Imagine being put into the highest pressure training scenarios known to man while having your every move observed by demanding and seasoned Tier-one operators. Stressful!

Besides the stress of constant observation there’s the matter of life and death. The job of a SEAL isn’t exactly “OSHA” compliant. The demands of war require all Special Operations forces to train and operate on the periphery of human existence. And the intensity and high-risk training conducted by DEVGRU is at the highest. From BUD/S to Green Team the SEAL Teams suffer serious injuries and sometimes deaths.

So only after a rigorous selection process and six months of dangerous training and constant observation will someone, who was already a Navy SEAL, be accepted into an operational squad within DEVGRU. It is literally “The Best of The Best.”