US Military Special Forces, the Fighting Elite
Within the five branches of the US military, there is an array of US military special forces. These elite soldiers are trained to do things that 99% of the rest of the human population (roughly) could never do. Imagine being pushed to the absolute limits of a human’s mental and physical capacity over and over again simply to train for what definitely will be highly treacherous combat against some of the most dangerous people in the world. It’s not something that the vast majority of people would want to do, and for those who do, the ability to do so is rare. As a tribute to these great men who serve in the US military special forces, here is a brief highlight of five of these troops that do the hardest, most specialized jobs in the military today.
The Green Berets
The Green Berets is the U.S. Army Special Forces. They are distinguished by the headwear that they don—green berets distinguished especially for them by President Kennedy in 1961. The Green Berets have five basic missions that include special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, direct action, foreign internal defense, and counter-terrorism. They have been tasked with various missions in places like the mountains of Afghanistan or the drug capitals of Colombia. Their motto of “De Oppresso Liber,” Latin for “To Free the Oppressed,” defines their serious mission.
The Night Stalkers
Also a part of the United States Army, the Night Stalkers are charged with the impressive task of offering aviation support for both general purpose and special operation forces. The Night Stalker’s official name is the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, often abbreviated as SOAR. Their aviation work is done through helicopters, and they work under the cover of night at high speeds and with short notice more often than not. Their choppers were involved in the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011.
Navy SEALs
As a self-described “unique breed of warrior,” the Navy SEALs is one of the most well-known special operations forces. These soldiers are trained to conduct operations in all parts of the world but especially around maritime areas. SEAL Team Six was the group of soldiers that killed Osama bin Laden, accompanied by the helicopters of the Night Stalkers. All members of the SEALs are male soldiers of the US Navy with the physical and mental strength that surpasses most other groups of people in the world.
Marine MARSOC
The Marine MARSOC, or the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, was officially formed on February 24, 2006, making it one of the most recently formed groups of special forces in the US military. The creation of this unit marked significant progress in the Marines with the integration of SOCOM, or the United States Special Operations Command. SOCOM heads various special forces units within all five branches of the military, and integration with the Marines has always been a controversial subject. The creation of MARSOC was a hugely positive step towards this integration goal. MARSOC units, once created, were almost immediately deployed to Afghanistan to assist in the war on terrorism. Members of MARSOC must undergo intense training and screening in order to be accepted to the unit. There are members of MARSOC deployed and working all over the globe. They work on various missions, including taking on ISIS in the Middle East.
Air Force Para-rescue
Members of this Air Force group of special operations are tasked with the mission of rescuing aircrews that have crashed in dangerous, adverse, or otherwise unreachable environments. The “PJs,” as they are called, are trained to be involved in all parts of a mission, including combat, search and rescue, and medical care. They are the military saviors from the sky.
As citizens of the United States, we are given the best protection that a nation can provide. Men and women in the military’s special forces exemplify this. If you have been a member of one of these aforementioned units or of other parts of the US military, give us a call or visit our website today to find out what benefits are available to you as a result of your service.