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Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

Roberto E Vargas
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

Introduction
Special operation forces are the tip of the spear for the United States military. They are
the best of the best. Among some of the best trained soldiers in the world, they live up to the
standards that are required of them. For years after years, war after war, they continue to prove to
the world why they are the best. Not only do they live up to the standard, but they set the bar.
They set the bar as to what elite really is. They are professionals. They are extremely good at
what they do. They train on hours end. It is not easy trying to become one and it is even harder to
live the life of one, but it is completely worth it in the end. There is nothing to be more proud of
than living up to the standards of the incredible men who came before them.
They have had a huge contribution in the global war on terror. From Navy SEALs raiding
Osama Bin Ladens compound to Green Berets training Iraq and Afghanistan militia forces. I
picked this topic because since I was a little kid I have always been interested in the military,
specifically special operations. It is my military goal to become one these elite soldiers. This
paper will show the tremendous amount of contribution the United States special operation
forces have had on the global war on terror. Also, after looking at how they have made their
contribution, I will create something that will better educates people about special operation
forces and what they are designed to do.

Literature Review
O Connell does a great job at explaining how the United States uses the Special Forces
and how they can be of use in homeland security. He goes in detail into the different missions
that special operations perform and how they operate. He also states some information about the
National Guard Special Forces and how they operate. He talks about the core competencies a

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Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

Special Forces soldier should have. These competencies include: war fighting, Development of
human infrastructure, training, Interagency, Joint, Combined and Multinational Operations,
physical fitness, interpersonal and cross-cultural communications, problem solving, Clandestine
Infiltration and Exfiltration, political awareness, and Austere or Hostile Environments. Each SF
soldier needs to have these attributes in order to be an asset to the mission and to be successful
within the SF world. (O'Connell, 2008).
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) saw the United
States Army employ Special Forces (SF) on a scale not seen since the Vietnam War. (Peltier, 05)
SF soldiers used the skills they have mastered and used it for surrogate warfare. One of the main
missions SFs have is to train other military forces. In the Middle East, SF soldiers would train
Iraqi and Afghan militias who wanted to rebel against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. (Peltier, 05).
Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be
done. President George W. Bush. These are the words the president spoke to the nation after
the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers and The Pentagon. U.S. SF soldiers are considered one of the
best trained soldiers in the world. Having training in unconventional warfare (UW), Direct
Action (DA), Special Reconnaissance (SR), and more. One important skill for a SF soldier and
any special operation soldier is understanding the environment they are operating in. This is
more important on the global war on terror than in any other conflict. This includes knowing
things such as: military, political, economic, informational, and cultural. The tactics and
strategies of the enemy are dependent on the environment. (Moll, 2003)
In assignment one my first observation was my personal experience during basic training.
Although this is nothing compared to the level the SF soldiers perform on in gave me a small
insight on the lifestyle. My second observation was about the famous movie Black Hawk

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Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

Down. This movie was based the operation Gothic Serpent, or the Battle of Mogadishu. This
battle was very famous for the special operation groups of Army Rangers, Special Forces, and
Delta Force. My third observation was about the TV show Surviving the Cut. The show has a
special segment about Army Special Forces called Two Weeks in Hell. It follows what soldiers
go through during the Special Forces qualification course, or Q course. The first phase of the Q
course is the assessment and selection process. This is a two week process in which soldiers are
tested to their limits physically and mentally. Two weeks may not seem like a long time, but
combined with physical training, 20 mile road marches, lack of food, and lack of sleep, it will
seem like forever. The worst part of it is that you could make it through the entire two weeks and
not even be selected. There is no guarantee that all candidates will be selected. The people who
select which candidates move forward are looking for soldiers who are in excellent physical
shape, work in a team, step up and take charge if need, and are problem solvers. Candidates who
make it through the two weeks being selected do not yet receive their green beret. They have
about another year or year and a half (depending what job they are assigned) before they will be
considered green berets. (Vargas, 2016)
The United States has deployed dozens of special operation soldiers to Syria to advise
and assist the Arab and Kurdish rebel forces against ISIS. Bowman says that the U.S forces will
not be partaking in any kind of combat. An officer tells Bowman that they will be in a
headquarters, but still in harms way. U.S. forces will be assisting a group of around one
thousand Turkish, Arab, and Kurdish forces move forward towards the ISIS headquarters in the
city of Raqqa.(Bowman, 2015)
Special operational forces seized an Islamic state leader during a rain in Syria. The
Identity of the leader is not to be revealed according to the pentagon. They say it could affect

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Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

future missions in capturing ISIS leaders. This is a way that special operations have contributed
to the war on terror. The U.S. has a new strategy to send in the secret special operation group
Delta Force to go after ISIS leader in Syria and Iraq. (Ewing, 2016)

Entering the Conversation

Special operations play an important part within the U.S. military. They called upon for
the most important missions the military has. They are an elite force that are trained to survive
anywhere and overcome any situation. The most common special operations force that people
are familiar with are the Navy SEALs. One important operation where their fame grew was when
seal team six raided a compound for Osama Bin Laden. Although people have some familiarity
of the special operation world, most people dont know about the history behind them, or what
exactly they have to go through to become some of the best soldiers in the world.
I want to create something that will give people more insight on the world of special
operations. Something that will help people appreciate what these men have done and the
challenges that they have had to overcome. Something that will not only teach people leadership
traits, hard work, and sacrifice, but that will also inspire people to be the best that they can be.
To do this I plan to conduct a class in a classroom environment for a couple of weeks.
The course will go over a special operation group each week. These special operation groups will
include, Army Special Forces, Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Air Force Para rescue, and Delta
Force. Although these are not all the special operation groups within the military, these are more
of the main ones. The course will cover three major component of each special operation force,
history, training and requirements, and current contributions. It will go over when they were

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Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

created, how they were created, what they were primarily created for, and the contributions they
have made in past wars and conflicts. The training and requirement portion will cover what these
men have to do to even be considered part of special operations. It will also cover how long the
training takes to become part of the elite force and what kind of training they conduct before they
go on a mission. The requirements to get into these elite forces will also be discussed. For
example, for Army Special Forces you might at least twenty years old and be airborne qualified
before you are allowed to try-out. The last thing discussed will be current contributions. What
have special operation forces given us today. What role have they had on the global war on
terror? What strategy have they used in the fight against ISIS? How have they helped allied
countries and rebel forces in the war on terror?
Leadership is an important asset within the special operation community. Now not
everybody can be a leader at once, but every person with team must have the capability to step
up and fill the shoes if needed. For example, if you are in a firefight and your commander gets
wounded somebody has to be willing to step up and take lead. Same concept if that person gets
wounded, and so on. In the course we will look back on the great leaders who made a difference.
The ones who went above and beyond the call and the ones who sacrificed everything whether
that be family, friends, or the ultimate sacrifice: their life.
I want this course to inspire the lives of those who take it. People should feel inspired by
the people who are a part of the legend of special operations through the acts of valor these brave
men have committed. They are the epitome of greatness. They go beyond what most people even
think about, pushing their mind and body to the limit every single day. They show that nothing is
impossible. That if you want it go and get it. They show that the human body can take so much
more than what people allow themselves to take. If you have the right mindset you can achieve

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Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

whatever you want. They show that things are not just given to you, but you have to earn them.
Just as they had to earn the right into the brotherhood of special operations. And most
importantly to never give up no matter how hard things get. I think Marcus Luttrell, who was a
former Navy SEAL famous for his book and the movie Lone Survivor, said it best no matter
how much it hurts, how dark it gets or how far you fall you are never out of the fight.

Conclusion
The result from this course is my hope that this course can teach people and challenge the
lives of those who care to be a part of it. I hope it can give people more of an appreciation of
what these men do. They have made a huge impact in the world before and continue to make that
same impact today. Whether it is a direct action mission or training allied forces special
operation forces stand ready to deploy anywhere around the world at any time. I think the next
study I would like to conduct is not with the challenges soldiers face in war, but rather the
challenges they face returning home from war. Obviously it is two different lifestyles which can
be a very difficult transition. As is can lead to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) which can in
turn lead to suicide.
Let us not forget those who have served or are currently serving and the sacrifices they
have made for this great country. George Orwell put it this way, People sleep peaceably in their
beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

Reference Page

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Special Operations Contribution in the Global War on Terror

O'Connell, D. K. (2008, March). U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES AND HOMELAND

SECURITY OPERATIONS. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from https://www.hsdl.org/?
abstract
Ewing, P. (2016, March 2). U.S. Special Ops Troops Aim to Round up ISIS Leaders in
Iraq. Retrieved March 30, 2016, from http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwoway/2016/03/02/468956113/u-s-special-ops-troops-aim-to-round-up-isis-leaders-in-iraq
Peltier, I. J., MAJ. (05, May). Surrogate Warfare: The Role of U.S. Army Special Forces.
Retrieved March 26, 2016, from http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?
verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA436109
Vargas, Roberto (2016, February) Assignment One Observations
Vargas, Roberto (2016, February) Assignment One Compiled by Rick Cates, Interview
Bowman, T. (2015, October 3). Small Number of U.S. Special Forces Will Help Fight
ISIS in Syria. Retrieved March 30, 2016, from
http://www.npr.org/2015/10/30/453217038/small-number-of-u-s-special-forces-will-helpfight-isis-in-syria
Moll, D. C., MAJ. (2003). U.S. Army Special Forces Training for the Global War on
Terror. Retrieved March 27, 2016, from http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?
verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA416972