This personal experience paper begins with an introduction of my enlistment into the Army and assignments with Special Forces. The intent is to provide a professional background to set the stage for the deployment to OEF. It concludes my first OEF...
During the spring of 2004, SFC Mike Herbes and Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 931 work with Afghan Security Forces in Kunar Province Afghanistan. His story tells of how the unit was selected, trained, and operated to counter Taliban...
This paper is in reference to an OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) rotation of SFODA (Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha) 745, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from September 30, 2002 to April 15, 2003.
During the early months of Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha (SFODA) 193's tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom IV, the Detachment planned, organized, and resourced a Medical Civil-Military Operation (MEDCMO) to develop intelligence on...
For five months in the year 2006 Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 361 lead a three hundred man indigenous force throughout the central-eastern border region of Afghanistan. In the early months of Operation Enduring Freedom, United...
The events leading up to and during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM gave me the opportunity to lead men at a level that most NCOs will never encounter. Not all NCOs will lead from the front in every war, but they all should know how to and be willing to...
From April through November 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan, Major Thomas Gravlee commanded the 763rd Ordnance Company (EOD). In this interview, he discusses the diverse range of explosive ordnance disposal missions his...
In 1994 the Australian Army purchased 347 Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMV) in a bid to develop a Motorized Infantry Capability. The IMV, a four wheeled armored vehicle, was designed and developed to provide organic protected mobility to...
The military/media relationship is historically tenuous. While both the media and the military play a role in the preservation of American freedoms, the military depends on operations security for many of its functions while the media demands...
This personal experience paper was prepared to historically document my first deployment to Afghanistan as a member of 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. During this deployment, I served as the Operation Sergeant, Operational Detachment Alpha...
Major Marc Dickinson, Special Forces branch, deployed his operational detachment alpha (ODA) to the Philippines to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Alerted while in Thailand on a joint security assistance training mission, Dickinson's detachment...
Major David Wakefield served as an ODA commander with 10th Special Forces Group in support of his second Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, in 2003-2004. Despite having only two months between deployments, that was enough time for him to reset and...
Captain Paul Toolan served as the assistant operations officer for 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group while deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. In this interview, he discusses at length four different battles fought by Special Forces (SF) in the...
Logistical air assets played an important role in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. Special Forces missions conducted out of forward deployed bases heavily relied on aviation support to conduct their operations. From the early stages of...
The United States Army Special Forces (SF) is a unique combat organization that no other American branch of service can duplicate. The Special Forces are known within the force as the "Quiet Professionals" due to the unwritten code of, get in and...
The United States Army Special Forces (SF) is a unique combat organization that no other American branch of service can duplicate. The Special Forces are known within the force as the "Quiet Professionals" due to the unwritten code of, get in and...
The United States Army Special Forces (SF) is a unique combat organization that no other American branch of service can duplicate. The Special Forces are known within the force as the “Quiet Professionals” due to the unwritten code of, get in...
The transition to becoming a First Sergeant in Special Forces (SF) is much different from many other Army units. Most SF Master Sergeants have spent multiple years working in 12 man teams with ranks ranging from Staff Sergeant to Captain. Having...
This paper follows my life in the Army from enlistment in the Army, initial entry and up to and including my first trip as a Special Forces (SF) Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) operations sergeant or ‘team sergeant’. The intent of the...
By late March 1993 Operation Restore Hope in the Eastern African country of Somalia was already into its fourth month. The United Nations sanctioned, American led intervention was aimed at opening and securing routes throughout Somalia in order to...