Is there someplace that lists how these elite Special Forces groups differ in their skill(s) training. In other words I know the Seals are extensively water trained, and Army Rangers do a lot of parachute work, but I’m sure it goes farther than that. Is there a breakdown of the respective skill sets they focus on?
http://www.specialoperations.com/Units/military.htm
There might be details there. From what I remember
Green Berets - go behind enemy lines and build up civilian support for the US military
Delta force/seal team 6 - Assassination, kidnapping and hostage rescue
Night Stalkers - helicopter pilots
There are probably alot of other special forces nobody outside the military knows about. I knew a guy in military intel who said there was a group of espionage soldiers who assumed fake identities in foreign countries. I don’t know how true that is though but it sounds plausible.
US Army:
Delta Force: Essentially very high end urban warfare/CQB/SWAT mutants
Special Forces: Depends on the teams: A, B, C. Basic purpose is to conduct and train in unconvential warfare.
Rangers:Originally high-end paratroops who did front-end work, also supports a scouting mission.
US Marine Corp:
Reconn: Scouting, forward work.
US Air Force:
Special Forces: Forward Air Controllers, Base and Perimeter ground operations, special extraction missions.
USAF & Coast Guard:
Para-rescue: Search and rescue operations, including air operations and diving.
D’oH!
SEAL(SEa Air Land): Marine Corps? and Navy. Evolved from WWII-era UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) doctrines. Initial mission involved diving/swimming to targets, then blowing them up, or sometimes shooting or knifing or otherwise killing them. Mission evolved to include Airborne delivery, including the HALO. Small team/High volume of Fire is preferred combat technique.
Delta does that all the time.
Pick up Inside Delta Force by Eric L. Haney, a founding member. YOu won’t be disappointed.
For the Air Force, the Special Ops guys are CCT (Combat Control Teams). These include the Pararescue guys (PJs) who did some of those dangling from the helo rescues over in Southwest Asia.
Even more “special” (and thus secret) are the USAF Special Tactics Squads. They train with Delta and the SEALs.
If you want to learn more, you can read No Room For Error by Col John Carney.
I’ve worked most often with Army SF and Navy SEALs, but I had to mention my Air Force CCT guys - they are the red-headed stepchild of SF!
I already read it. It was pretty good. I don’t remember anything about setting up fake identities in foreign countries though, but it wouldn’t suprise me.
Glad you liked it. Eric did some fake ID stuff IIRC, but I could be mis-remembering. I am so jazzed- I got to meet him and hang out with him for a few days last month. He’s incredible.
He’s got a TV show on CBS in January called The Unit, based on the book and his own life. David Mamet is executive producer. Should be very good.