Warning: Some Violence and Much Strong Language.HE WROTE: Special Forces and SEALs
Jenny and I are doing a workshop in San Francisco this weekend titled: A Romance Writer and a SEAL.
So I guess she's doing it with someone else, because I am not a SEAL. There seems to be this obsession with SEALs. Not that I'm touchy about that AT ALL. According to the dictionary they are: Any of various aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Phocidae and Otariidae.
Which pretty much describes a SEAL.
Ok, factually, SEAL stands for Sea Air Land. Which means it should be SAL. But that didn't work. They are part of the Navy's Special Operations Forces (SOF).
The Army has several elements in its SOF, the primary one being Special Forces (SF). Also known as Green Berets because the girl scouts were having a sale.
Not really.
The Army also has Rangers (three battalions worth) and Task Forces 160 (the Nightstalkers who fly special ops helicopters). If you've read or seen Blackhawk Down that was Nightstalkers in the choppers with Rangers and Delta Force on the ground.
The Air Force has SOW-- Special Operations Wing-- that flies specially equipped planes and helicopters in support of special operations.
Back to SEALs and Green Berets. They're alike in that they are both SOF. But SEALs, because they're in the Navy, duh, are trained to operate in and around the water. Frankly, they are probably the most physically fit of SOF because operating in the water is very, very difficult. Tactically, they operate more in what we call a DA-- direct action- mode, which means they like to shoot bad people, blow things up, etc. etc.
Special Forces, aka the Green Berets, are somewhat different. We operate tactically as an A-Team. 12 men. Team leader, team sergeant, executive oficer, intelligence sergeant, 2 weapons men, 2 engineers (demo men), two communication mens, and two medics. An A-Team is, surprise, primarily designed to be a Force Multiplier. i.e. Teachers. It can conduct DA missions. But it's primary mission is Unconventional Warfare (UW). The best example, and perhaps best success recently, is what happened in Afghanistan where A-Teams hooked up with the Northern Alliance and worked with them to destroy the Taliban. Your average Green Beret is older than your average SEAL. We liked using our brains, not our muscles so much. That tends to happen when you get older.
I commanded a MAROPs A-Team. Maritime Operations. So I spent some time in the water, thus I have an idea how hard that enviroment is, thus my respect for the SEALs. Our team went to Danish Combat Swim School run by that country's frogman (fromandkorpset) corps. We didn't do scuba, but rather surface swimming, high speed casting (jumping off a boat moving very fast), high speed recovery (getting snatched back out of the water by a boat moving very fast), beach and pier infiltration, water parachute drops, etc. etc. To graduate we had to do a couple of tactical exercises and also do a 10 meter free dive, a 1 kilometer timed swim, I believe a 30 meter swim underwater, tie some knots underwater, and a 10 kilometer surface swim. BTW this was October in the North Sea. We wore dry suits, which were never quite dry.
Anyway, where was I?
SEALs and Green Berets. Both SOF. But different.
Ok. Back to writing my ex GREEN BERET character.
30 Comments:
Wow, good thing you AREN'T touchy about it at all. One can only imagine! ;-)
"The Air Force has SOW-- Special Operations Wing-- that flies specially equipped planes and helicopters in support of special operations."
I'm sure that no one has called them 'pigs that fly.'
I particularly like the novels whose protagonists are SEALs, who after they retire become brain surgeons, and in their spare time become a cordon blue chef, all by the time they are 25. ;)
Hey, The Flying Pigs! They must be from Cincinnati.
Am I the only one who found all this extremely hot? :)
My son is a Sargent in the 1st AD, 1BDT, 2-3 FA. On one of the training ops, his team took up defensive positions in 'play like' town. A Green Beret team came through and tried to find them and 'kill' them (paint balls) at which they were very successful. When the signal came for the Green Beret's to stop, they did. Then they did the same exercise with a SEAL team, when the signal came for the SEAL's to stop, they ignored it and continued until every man was dead or otherwise accounted for. My son was most impressed with that. He does not, however, ever want to become a SEAL. He made the mistake of killing one during the exercise.
So what's the difference between Green Berets, Rangers, Delta Force, and Nightstalkers? Other than the fact that they're NOT Navy or pigs with wings.
Wow, thanks Bob. That's really cool! My dad is a retired USAF fighter pilot...which if you know fighter pilots they never really retire, they just don't drive fast planes any more. : )
Now can you tell us about the SAS please?
Bob, I think you should be very, very glad not to have been a SEAL. SEALs end up in plots with Secret Babies. Nightstalkers sound like they should be in paranormal romances. Rangers belong in The Lord of the Rings.
And don't forget the Airborne Rangers' partners in combat--the Mole Rangers. Each Ranger has a special pocket in his jumpsuit to hold his Mole Ranger partner. In Afghanistan, the Mole Rangers specialized in exploring caves for hidden foes and in locating land mines, since they are too light to set them off.
The Mole Rangers can be recognized by their knitted Kevlar-and-wolverine-fur balaclavas and their kilts in MacTalpin tartan.
Also, they are somewhat shorter than most Special Forces troops...
Fifty-some year old Airborne Ranger driving by and seeing my fifty-some year old Airborne Ranger roofing partner on roof..."AIRBORRRRRRRNE, babeeee, AIRBORRRNE!" My partner, never looking up from task at hand, yelled back, "Airborne!" This has been going on for a few years now. The guy never stops to chat and my partner never bothers to figure out who it is. Rangers are weird people.
You know, I saw that in the schedule for the SFW program and it just didn't sound right. Bob, a SEAL? Nope, must be someone else. However, your name is in there so be prepared to clap your flippers.
Where and when will you be in Northern California?
And a very happy Valentine's Day to you too, Bob. This is such a romantic post...
I found that explanation of the different forces fascinating.
I don't think any of the other Special Forces ever had a hit song.
Ballad of the Green Berets
Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret
1st Chorus:
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men we'll test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Trained to live, off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand to hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage deep from the Green Beret
Repeat 1st Chorus
Delta Force and CIA
Marines and SOCOM clear the way
Covert missions now in play
Special OPS like the Green Beret
Repeat 1st Chorus
While back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her this last request
2nd Chorus:
Put silver wings on my son's chest
Make him one of America's best
He'll be a man they'll test one day
So have him win the Green Beret
Have him win the Green Beret
Hello Mr. Doherty. My name is Gregory Cote, and I am a very avid fan of your Area 51 series. I was first pulled in about three years ago with Area 51:Legends.Then last Easter my mother bought me the entirety of the remaining series, with which I quickly dove into. I have just completed reading Area 51:The Truth this evening and noticed that you would be putting out more books along the same thought line. I was so excited about this I decided some research was necassary. I'm writing to find out if and when the release dates are for any of those books. I'm dying to get more information o the series if possible and am avidly waiting for the follow-up. My e-mail address is bloodyinferno@hotmail.com and if you'd like to reply at all to me(knowing you're probably busy)I will watch this blog and my e-mail. I appreciate any help you can forward me, even if it's just a link, I would be more than satisfied with that. I look forward to hearing from you when you can, and I apologize that this was a little of topic from your above article.
Most Humbly and Sincerely,
Gregory J. Cote
Damn, Bob, you're such a badass. I can't wait for DLD. I have pre-ordered.
Gregory, there's a link on this site to Bob's own website, where you can probably find the info you want.
Mary Stella, of course the Green Berets also had Jeffrey MacDonald...
"So what's the difference between...Rangers, Delta Force...?"
When I worked at the Pentagon, the main difference, according to the Rangers was that Ranger units were fenced with barbed wire strung on top pointing out to keep out intruders. Delts, OTOH, had the barbed wire pointing in to keep the Delts from getting out. Heee.
Also, everyone seemed to be terrified of the Seals. We had one come through with an invasion-planning team. The guys all gave him a very wide berth.
And:
"Fifty-some year old Airborne Ranger driving by and seeing my fifty-some year old Airborne Ranger roofing partner on roof..."AIRBORRRRRRRNE, babeeee, AIRBORRRNE!" My partner, never looking up from task at hand, yelled back, "Airborne!"
Coming out of the Pentagon with my Airborne Ranger fiance, we passed an Air Force 3-star on his way in. "Rangers are always first, Sir," says the boy, earning him a dirty look. I burst out laughing, earning me two dirty looks. What can I say? Just not cut out for the military thing, myself.
Did you know MR. Rogers was a SEAL? He always scared me as a kid. ut hten I grew up in the land of Mr. Dressup
Sheryl
Cherry Magic
Mr. Rogers? Really? I always cowered under my blanket when he came on the T.V. Something about the way he spoke in that fake soft voice scared the bejeebers out of me. I kept expecting him to reach through the screen and steal me.
Until I heard that Bob was a Green Beret, I thought that group had been disbanded or something.
So, why is it that everyone's heard of SEALs and no one ever mentions Green Berets (except the Oldies stations who play the Song That Shall Not Be Mentioned but that makes me cry every time over the endless, cyclical stupidity of glorifying killing)?
Mr. Rogers was never in any of the services. That was just an urban legend.
Jen & Bob, Thanks for blogging more that once a week. I really enjoy reading your commments.
And if Mr. Rogers had been in service, he would have been too old to be a SEAL.
Talpianna - Mole Rangers? You've been reading Ringo, haven't you?
Wait til I tell my military brother that it was all a lie. And Captain Kangaroo didn't win the Navy Cross either. But Mister Rogers still scared me. It was the voice.
Sheryl
Cherry Magic
who knows better than to accept stories like that without running them past snopes
Inkgrrl, the Mole Rangers are all my own work. They first saw the light of day (they go in mostly for night and underground ops) on the Elizabeth Lowell BB.
Talpianna, I think the Mole Rangers should go play with Bun Bun. It'd be the end of the world as we know it. In a good way, like the song ;-) I shall go hunt the Elizabeth Lowell BB.
Sorry, Inkgrrl, the EL BB is no longer functional; but you can find out about the critters (though not the Mole Rangers) at www.murfling.com.
My godson served a year and a half in Iraq with the 182nd Airborne. He is a Ranger and I am very proud of him. He is now stateside, living with his lovely wife, and trying to regain some normalcy in his life. I've seen the pictures--war is ugly and sad. I can only imagine what it was like to live it day after day. May we never find out here in America on our own soil.... I am so glad we have people like Bob and my godson Sean who are willing to step between us and the forces that wish to destroy us. Thank you.
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