Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
17
GROWING THE FORCE:
Recruiters and the Center take action
to bring the best candidates to BUD/S.
20 Focusing on Families:
Learn how the FOCUS program
supports operators and families.
22 Third Location
Decompression:
A pit stop after deployment helps
warriors reintegrate into post-combat
life.
24 THE TACTICAL
ATHLETE:
Operators benefit from the same
medical support as pro athletes.
2 FOR A JUST CAUSE:
SEAL Team 4 remembers Operation 26
Just Cause.
SCIENCE ENTERS THE
3
FIGHT:
WHERE THERE’S A Defense scientists use cutting
RHIB, THERE’S A WAY: edge technology to help NSW.
NSW trains with Filipino counterparts.
4 STEALTH ON THE NEW
FRONTIER:
ON YOUR MIND
Unit 10 ramps up in support of SOCAFRICA.
28 TRUST ME:
6 A LONG-TERM HUMAN An essay about an essential
INVESTMENT: virtue from a retired SEAL.
New Anchor Units signify renewed commitment
to foreign partnerships and regional expertise. 29 Book Review:
10 DANGER OR DELUSION? A SEAL reviews Koran, Kalashnikov
and Laptop: The Neo-Taliban
A SEAL describes the Al Qaeda affiliate
Insurgency in Afghanistan.
group in Northern Africa.
COMMANDER > Rear Adm. Edward Winters PRODUCTION MANAGER > MC1 (SW/AW) Andre Mitchell
FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER > Cmdr. Gregory Geisen ASSOCIATE EDITOR > Ms. Mandy McCammon
DEP. PAO/EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS > Lt. Cate Wallace STAFF > MC2 (SW/AW) Arcenio Gonzalez, MC2 (SW) Shauntae Hinkle-
DEP. PAO/INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS > Ms. Patricia O’Connor Lymas, MC2 (SW/AW) Dominique Lasco , MC2 (SW/AW) Erika Manzano,
S TA F F
EDITOR > MCCS (SW/AW) Scott Williams MC2 (SW/AW) John Scorza
Ethos is an authorized official production of the Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs Office, 2000 Trident Way, San Diego, Calif. 92155-5599.
Send electronic submissions and correspondence to editor@navsoc.socom.mil or call (619) 522-2825.
Front cover photo by MC2 Michael D. Blackwell
Table of contents photo by MC2 Michael D. Blackwell
The Ever-Evolving
Art As we grow our end strength of
WAR
operators and expand their mission
sets, our technical enablers are mirroring
their efforts. New units are being organized
and fielded by the Support Activities. These include
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Troops, Multi-Purpose
Combat Canine Teams and Cultural Engagement Troops.
The Center is also in the midst of its own transformation in
training our future warriors. We are now seeing gains in the
quality and quantity of candidates completing BUD/S. Read
Naval Special Warfare is known for its ability to carry out the more about this beginning on page 14.
toughest missions and adapt to new threats with innovative thinking While this Ethos is very operationally focused, we are still paying
and dynamic action. 2010 will showcase these hallmark traits of our attention to how we can take care of the warrior and his family here
warriors and organization as we continually adapt our operations. at home. Beginning on page 20, read how Project FOCUS and the
This issue focuses heavily on our forward operations, highlighting third location decompression program that we initiated months ago are
the newly developed NSW Anchor Teams. As you read further on page maturing and evolving as we learn more about how to maintain and even
six, the Anchor Teams are our response to SOCOM’s requirement for improve our lives beyond the battlefield.
a focused, persistent presence in key geographic locations where we NSW is evolving like never before, and we will raise direct and indirect
expect to operate for the foreseeable future. Small teams of operators will special warfare capabilities for the fight to new levels. Operators, Sailors
provide continuity to our foreign and interagency partners by bridging the in combat support and combat service support roles, and civilian staff
gap between squadron deployments. They will be assigned to an AOR must recognize this transformation and continually support it with fresh
for a four-year tour, establishing relationships and learning everything ideas. I am committed to ensuring Naval Special Warfare remains flexible
possible about the local culture, language and customs. NSW has a and innovative, and building upon the legacy of honor we inherited from
legacy of serving in an ‘advise and assist’ role. Now it is time for a new our pioneers.
generation of operators to further the legacy. Rear Adm. Edward Winters
The first Anchor Teams roll out the door next month. I expect to see
our brightest and most skilled SEALs and SWCC step forward to take
on this new, challenging assignment.
To help bring NSW focus in Africa, read on page four how the
newly formed NSW Unit 10 will set the example of how we work
with our foreign partners in this new front against the enemies
of the United States. While we have tracked terrorist activity
in places like the Horn of Africa, there are emerging threats
in the northern region of the continent. Lt. Cmdr. Chris
Fussell, a SEAL and Naval Postgraduate School
student, wrote an excellent analysis of this new
threat for this issue on page 10.
ETHOS 1
n the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, four SEALs
died and eight were injured during an attempt
to secure Punta Paitilla Airfield, disable Gen.
Manuel Noriega’s plane and prevent him from
leaving the country.
In December 2009 and January 2010, both the White House and that the operation had been compromised, and he moved up the
SEAL Team 4 hosted remembrance ceremonies honoring service time to execute the operation by a half hour,” Carley said. “But
members who participated in the action, otherwise known as the clocks and safety and arming devices on the explosives
Operation Just Cause. were already set.”
Navy SEAL Capt. Adam Curtis did not attend either ceremony, “As they were doing so (attaching explosives to the patrol
but he will never forget what happened. boat), a fire fight was going on and grenades were falling into
It was almost Christmas, 1989, and Curtis was looking forward the water,” said Carley. “They (SEALs) thought that they were
to a great evening with his wife Bonnie who was visiting him in detected. But they finished attaching their explosive devices
Panama. Curtis was a lieutenant assigned as a riverine division before swimming away.”
officer at a special boat unit in Panama at the time. As the clock struck 0100, a large blast from the SEAL’s
“I transferred on an unaccompanied tour to Panama. I had been explosives shook the walls of buildings across Panama,
married a year and a half. I went down for what was intended to sending PDF soldiers scrambling for an imminent battle. This
be a 14-month tour,” said Curtis. part of the mission was a historic success — it was the first
Curtis and Bonnie had just finished eating dinner at a local time SEALs successfully executed an underwater swimmer
restaurant and were on the way back to his barracks when they attack against an enemy ship of battle.
reached a Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) checkpoint. At the same moment near Paitilla Airfield, more SEALs
The couple was questioned and their car was searched. Curtis were coming ashore in small inflatable boats. “We saw and
recounted. “While we were there, another group of Americans heard the explosion in Panama City while waiting for our swim
came to the road block, three Army guys and a Marine – all officers. scouts to signal the beach landing site,” recounted SEAL Capt.
They (the Americans) felt threatened, they gunned it through the Dennis Hansen, a lieutenant at the time, and platoon officer in
road block, and five PDF soldiers turned and fired at the car. The charge for SEAL Team 4.
officer in the back, an Army lieutenant named (Robert) Paz, was “As we advanced, I heard yelling,” Hansen said. “The plan
killed.” was to tell security guards to go away. This seemed to work
That night, the PDF held Curtis and his wife at a detention well until we got to Noriega’s plane hangar. There, a gun
center where they were interrogated for hours. Their ordeal was a fight broke out after a brief exchange of words. The platoon
moment that changed their lives and American history. adjacent to mine was directly in front of the hanger. They were
Tensions between the United States and Panama had been to disable the plane. About half of the platoon was wounded.
escalating long before Curtis’ situation and the PDF had been I sent my assistant officer in charge (AOIC) and his squad to
harassing Americans stationed there for a while, he said. According support the platoon that was in contact. They took effective fire
to Curtis, President George H. W. Bush made the final decision to also, killing my AOIC and wounding a couple of other men.”
invade Panama after hearing about how Curtis had been beaten Four team members died in the fire fight: Lt.j.g. John
during his interrogation, and particularly how wis wife was Connors, Chief Engineman Donald McFaul, Boatswain’s Mate
terrorized while they were detained. 1st Class Chris Tilghman, and Torpedoman’s Mate 2nd Class
By Sunday, elements of Navy SEAL Teams 2 and 4 had Isaac Rodriguez III.
infiltrated the country. The two teams were given the task of The SEALs who participated in Operation Just Cause
destroying Panamanian patrol boats and taking control of Paitilla endured a bittersweet ending. Bonnie and the other SEAL
Airfield. At that point, Noriega was the leader of Panama and one families remained in Panama, having to endure the nearby
of the world’s most scandalous dictators. fighting, while Curtis joined his teammates in the invasion.
At around midnight, elements of SEAL Teams 2 and 4 were Noriega turned himself into U.S. authorities 14 days after
on the move. SEAL Cmdr. Norman Carley, task unit commander SEALs invaded the country.
for SEAL Team 2, was with his men aboard combat rubber raiding MC2 Matt Daniels
crafts in a mangrove, waiting to launch his four SEAL swimmers MC2 Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas
to attach explosives to the Presidente Porras patrol boat. “The
commander of the whole operation, Gen. (Carl) Steiner, thought
2 ETHOS
Sharing the Knowledge
JSOTF-P SEALs assist in training
OUR GLOBAL
FOOTPRINT
ETHOS 3
OUR GLOBAL
FOOTPRINT
A
FORCE
MULTIPLIER
n emerging Navy component will focus on
foreign special operations partnerships in
responsibility for DoD activities in Africa was shared among U.S.
European Command, U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Pacific
Command. The establishment of U.S. Africa Command indicates
Africa. Naval Special Warfare Unit 10 (NSWU 10) the growing strategic importance of Africa and the need for a united
will stand up later this year to support Special approach when dealing with regional peace and stability issues.
Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA). Co-located with NSWU 2 in Panzer Kaserne, Stuttgart, Germany,
the command that will become Unit 10 is projected to grow to an initial
Rear Adm. Edward Winters, commander, Naval Special Warfare operating capability of 25 personnel over the next year. Currently,
Command, recently directed the re-commissioning of NSWU 10 to NSWU 10 has a unit identification code and billets; and over the
be the maritime component command of SOCAFRICA, a theater next few years, manning will grow to approximately 53 personnel,
special operations command. SOCAFRICA integrates SOF into U.S. mirroring other NSW units.
Africa Command (AFRICOM) theater security plans by matching the NSWU 10 is working with select partner nations to increase their
appropriate SOF with mission requirements, and maintains operational capacity to secure their coastlines by training and advising maritime
command and control over all SOF forces in theater. Immediately after counter terrorism units. Additionally, NSWU 10 is establishing the
SOCAFRICA establishment Oct. 1, 2008, it began listing its mission capability to rapidly deploy SEALs and SWCC as NSW task groups
requirements – many of which were tailored for SEAL and SWCC in support of contingency operations.
operators. NSWU 10 coordinates efforts from deployed NSW leadership and
AFRICOM, a unified command, gives DoD one military regional experts with U.S. diplomatic teams and host nation military.
headquarters focused on U. S. initiatives on the continent. Previously, Rotating NSW squadrons deploy to meet most of the operational
Cameroon
elite Battalion d’Intervention Rapide
forces are training with SEAL and SWCC
operators on basic boat handling skills,
waterborne patrols, GPS navigation and
vessel interdiction. The efforts have
already proven successful in halting
MCC Stan Travioli
terrorists’ actions.
4 ETHOS
Cameroon
Kenya
Africa
ETHOS 5
OUR GLOBAL
FOOTPRINT
Anchor Teams
ETHOS 7
Lt. j.g. Theresa Donnelly
Training with partner nation forces is a key mission for Anchor Teams. FID, SFA and combat advisement provides long-
term relationships with partner nation forces, which in turn gives them both the authorities and ground truth they need to conduct operations.
expertise and cultural knowledge they must A SELECT PERCENTAGE OF THE to that area,” said Newson. “They have to
attain.” SEAL AND SWCC COMMUNITY be adaptable, mature and professionally
“The complexity of the present strategic The total number of personnel assigned seasoned with an affinity for this kind of work
environment requires that SOF operators to NSWADs will remain a very small select – it’s a blend of rank, operational experience
maintain not only the highest levels of war- percentage of the entire community of and personality.
fighting expertise but also cultural knowledge SEAL and SWCC operators. Initial selection “This is a refining school for NSW
and diplomacy skills,” said Olson to JFQ. of personnel has already occurred at the unit leaders. It’s the refinement and
This would require “a multidimensional Group level and more than 100 operators professionalization of the SEAL/SWCC
force prepared to lay the groundwork in were considered for the few dozen available capability. If you plan on being a SEAL
the myriad diplomatic, development, and NSWAD billets. master chief in NSW, you should try to get
defense activities that contribute to the “Each of the Groups nominated a range of on an anchor detachment because that will
U.S. Government’s pursuit of vital national Sailors that fit a discrete profile,” said Cmdr. help make you competitive in the future
interests. Sam Havelock, commanding officer, NSW environment where an entire squadron is no
“If we do not commit a significant portion Support Activity 1. “There was a very long longer going to Iraq but instead distributed
of our personnel to living abroad in other list of nominees which was whittled down to across the globe.”
cultures for extended periods,” he continued, the most ideal people for the job.” NSWADs will also feature some limited
“and to specializing rather than generalizing What type of operator fits the description civilian billets. “We are
our skill sets, then we will fail to gain the of the ideal NSWAT member? looking at prior SOF guys
trust, credibility and faith of those nations and “We are looking for a guy who has deployed to be operations and
partners we claim to be fighting alongside.”
8 ETHOS
plans officers for the anchor detachments,
but they may also deploy,” said Newson.
“They could be on a multi-tour assignment
with that detachment. It’s an opportunity to
tap into that graybeard experience level that
we need to provide additional maturity and
continuity.”
The first deployment will happen no later
than April. The PCS transfer of personnel to
remaining NSWAD billets is expected to be
final by October.
ETHOS 9
Al Qaeda
in the land of the Maghreb:
Danger or Delusion?
Matthew Binard
n Sept. 11, 2006, senior Al Qaeda deputy Ayman al- focused strictly on the power struggle inside of Algeria with the goal
Zawahiri announced via video release that the Algerian- of putting an Islamic government into power; their transformation
based Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) into AQIM purported to represent a unifying jihadist banner for
would henceforth be officially affiliated with Al Qaeda. all movements in North Africa under the umbrella of the Al Qaeda
This was followed in January 2007 with an announcement from GSPC (AQ) global association. A merger such as this, to the reactionary
that its name had officially changed to the Organization of Al Qaeda constituency, represented the viral nature of the Al Qaeda organization
in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). At first glance, this and was a sure sign of things to come in the ongoing struggle to defeat
represents the manifestation of many Western fears about the Al Qaeda AQ. The merger and subsequent GSPC-to-AQIM name change could
organization. GSPC was created as a militant Islamic organization be read as a sign of Al Qaeda’s impressive ability for expansion and
10 ETHOS
suggested that AQ’s global jihad ideology would begin to turn once- would witness the violent deaths of 150,000-200,000 Algerian citizens,
regionally focused organizations such as GSPC into part Al Qaeda’s rebels and military personnel in the combined efforts of both camps.
ever-expanding global terror network. This view is captured well by The strongest element to emerge from the anti-government forces
analysis from Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Center: “The name was the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), but the atrocities they inflicted
change is indicative of the group’s desire to transform itself into an upon Algerian citizens during this period, combined with improved
Al-Qaeda regional affiliate, expand its aims beyond Algeria to create a counterinsurgency strategy on the part of the Algerian government, led
regional caliphate, and adopt a pan-Islamic, as opposed to nationalistic, to their slow delegitimization in the eyes of the Algerian citizenry. In
jihadist ideology.” 1998, then senior and seasoned GIA leader Hasaan Hattab broke away
But does such rhetoric overstate the importance of the GSPC-AQ to start his own faction, the Groupe Salafist pour la Predication et le
merger and the emergence of AQIM while missing the true meaning Combat (GSPC). Hataab’s breakaway was due, in large part, to his
of the evolution? In simplest terms, does this merger represent the discontent with GIA’s targeting of Algerian citizens that was, for all
emergence, in AQIM, of a new globally-focused jihadist organization; practical purposes, highly indiscriminate. In announcing the creation
or, is it simply a marriage of convenience resulting from the selfish of GSPC, Hattab quickly established the intent of GSPC was to focus
interests of both GSPC and Al Qaeda? The following analysis will on outside enemies and their collaborators in Algeria, not on innocent
address this question by tracing the membership, actions and tactics of Algerian citizens.
GSPC and AQIM to demonstrate that there is, in fact, little evidence But the counter insurgency of the Algerian regime was proving
of the emergence of a significantly more dangerous transnational effective, and following the GSPC’s establishment, the group quickly
threat as a result of the merger. What will be evident is a dominantly came under great pressure from the increasingly successful efforts of
Algeria-focused campaign, with minimal actions in the Maghreb and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Hataab would leave the organization
Sahel regions, that sees AQIM continuing on a very in 2001, and the organization would see a series of leadership changes
similar course as their predecessors. But while over the years following. By 2003, GSPC was in a position of relative
there is little evidence to support the alarmist view, weakness, having come under additional pressure following
the existence of AQIM as a transnational network the 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks as the United States increased
of contacts and relationships warrants close financial support to Bouteflika’s counter-terror efforts.
monitoring and continued dismantling efforts. From this position, GSPC began a campaign of overtly
Regardless of the demonstrated kinetic capability aligning themselves with Al Qaeda. This relationship
of the organization, the connectivity of the network continued to evolve for several years, culminating in
implies a latent danger that should be aggressively the 2006 announcement by Zawahiri that officially
disrupted as it does improve the global reach and welcomed GSPC into the fold of Al Qaeda’s global
information campaign of Al Qaeda. jihadist movement. The organization subsequently
changed it name, and AQIM was officially born.
History This analysis of AQIM will look at four aspects of comparison
between GSPC and AQIM activities: membership, the number
The history of Algeria from the late 1980s to the late 1990s of kinetic operations executed, the locations of these operations
is violent and complex. Along with radical political struggles, and the tactics utilized by AQIM. Taken in total, these variables
the decade saw the emergence of a series of Islamist groups will offer conclusions as to the actual threat posed by AQIM, and
whose ideologies were, in most part, expressions of discontent for demonstrate whether the transition from GSPC to AQIM created a
the ruling regime in Algeria. This is not, of course, an more dangerous entity.
uncommon pattern in the post-colonial Middle East,
where corrupt ‘democratic’ regimes have often served
as a catalyst for the creation of violent opposition
Membership
groups. The Algerian government, however, Given Hattab’s initial rhetoric concerning the
demonstrated a particularly poor approach to its creation of AQIM, one would expect to have seen
first encounter with the progenitor of Algeria’s anti- consistent efforts on the group’s behalf toward
regime movement, the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS). unification with other jihadist groups in the
The FIS was, albeit under the banner of excessively Maghreb. This has not occurred. AQIM has not
militant rhetoric, seeking power through legitimate become a coalition-led organization with Tunisian,
democratic channels and their electoral gains in the Moroccan and Libyan jihadist leaders joining the
early 1990s caught the Algerian regime by surprise. AQIM leadership circle. Nor has it been able
The threat of a legitimately elected Islamist element to establish a relationship with the other well-
gaining control of the parliament was too much for established jihadist organization in the Maghreb, the
the Algerian military leadership to accept and they Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) that waxed
chose to execute a bloodless coup in 1992, thereby and waned in its interest in establishing a similarly
blocking FIS’s legitimate avenue to political control. direct relationship with Al Qaeda. Ultimately, based
Five years of extreme violence would follow, as the on the membership variable, there is little evidence
military’s heavy-handed oppression tactics fueled that AQIM has had any success in creating the
the ideology of more militant Islamist groups who pan-Maghreb jihadist organization it is intended to
had believed all along that FIS’s approach had been represent. Instead, its leadership and membership
destined for failure. remains dominated by Algerian nationals. While
The ensuing conflict between the military regime this does not make the organization any less of a
and the Islamist groups, spanning most of the 1990s, threat within Algeria, it does suggest that there is
continued
ETHOS 11
little about its current make-up to differentiate it from what GSPC
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Michael would have likely evolved into.
Snodgrass, of 2nd Platoon,
Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron,
32nd Cavalry Regiment, 101st
Kinetic Operations
Airborne Division, speaks with Table 1 below from Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Center
Sons of Iraq members about Al provides a visual representation of the increases and decreases of
Qaeda activity in Abu Bakur, Iraq.
AQIM kinetic operations, within Algeria, from 2002 to 2009. The
figures are divided into micro and macro attacks, where macro attacks
are those specifically designed to kill more than 20 people, involve
explosive devises more than 100 lbs., or involve the destruction of a
major transportation asset (aircraft, train, etc.).
This shows a steady but not dramatic increase in both micro and
macro attacks following the 2007 named change to AQIM, with a
dip in macro-attacks in 2009. (Final statistics for 2009 are not yet
available, but numbers are trending down from previous years.) This
level of violence, while notable and warranting attention, pales in
comparison to the bloodshed seen in Algeria during the 1990s. As
noted by Hanna Rogan, “compared to [the violence of the 1990s], the
levels of violence and numbers of attacks that have taken place during
the last eight years [2001 – 2008] have been limited and relatively
constant.” On scale, this level of kinetic activity does not demonstrate
a radical increase in capability on the part of GSPC following its
transformation into AQIM in 2007.
Table 1 is limited to those AQIM kinetic operations within Algeria,
which provide the best picture of the majority of the organization’s
activities. AQIM has not demonstrated a high capability for executing
kinetic operations in parts of the Maghreb or in the Sahel. Table 2
below (AQIM area of operations) will provide greater data on these
strikes, but the numbers are minimal and the attacks have posed a
relatively small threat to governments in neighboring nations.
Area of Operations
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Micky M. Bazaldua
they by no means represent a of AQIM activity, there are actually very few fatalities associated
with these incidents. The vast majority of terrorism-related deaths in
legitimate capability to execute the Sahel are tied to local, nationally focused organizations (e.g., the
Taureg rebel groups in Mali).
an effective trans-national While AQIM’s rhetoric and publicized vision is trans-Maghrebian
and global in nature, its actual activities are strictly regional. They
kinetic campaign. are mostly limited to traditional strongholds within Algeria. Attacks
outside of Algeria have been sporadic, with single-digit occurrences
in 2008 and 2009, and limited mostly to countries of the Sahel with
marginal results. While these attacks likely represent a vision of where
12 ETHOS
the organization hopes to go, they by no means represent a legitimate
capability to execute an effective trans-national kinetic campaign.
ETHOS 13
OUR GLOBAL
FOOTPRINT
NSW’S
CULTURE
MOVEMENT
Since the early days of the Korean War and Vietnam, the
U.S. military has used a variety of different programs to
leverage the language and cultural awareness skills of foreign
nationals or foreign-born service members. Today’s combat
theaters also require these valuable enablers.
eaders at Naval Special Warfare recognized the demand and activities for theater task unit special operations commanders and
incorporated a new organization that will meet this need: interagency and host nation partners.
the cultural engagement troop (CET). Cmdr. Sam Havelock, “The concept is to recruit heritage-born language and regional
commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Support Activity 1, experts from specific geographical areas,” said Senior Chief Special
illustrated the reason for importing the talents of culturally-diverse Warfare Operator (SEAL) Daniel Gearhart, senior enlisted advisor for
Sailors. the program.
“When we show up to “The LREs will have
peoples’ villages and it’s deep organic regional and
the first time they’ve seen cultural expertise,” added
Americans up close, they’re Lt. Jason H. Booher,
usually terrified,” he said. commander of the CET.
“They don’t understand “We’re going to look at the
what’s going on and individual: his background,
contracted translators can’t his education level, his
really help because they tactical competency and
aren’t service members and his experience, then
don’t really know the full deploy him to the location
context of our mission. that will have the greatest
“If we want those who strategic impact.”
have been exposed to combat The idea is based very
situations to understand loosely off the Army’s
Scott A. Thornbloom
W ay NSW culture movement Kultura ng paggalaw ng NSW ay NSW utamaduni harakati Cultuur NSW beweging m
Filipino Swahili Dutch H
14 ETHOS
SO1 Joel Beam
BUDDY AID A member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Naval Special Operations Group participates in a battlefield exercise during a combat medic subject
matter expert exchange at Naval Base Cavite, Philippines. The new language and regional experts will be able to assist operators in specific geographical locations.
consisting of the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest The CET will be located away from other NSW units to limit
(MAVNI) and the Navy’s Heritage Language programs. The CET security risks. LREs will deploy and augment NSW operational units
program is a USSOCOM priority and aligns with the U.S. Navy upon successful completion of their individual qualification training
language skills, regional expertise and cultural awareness strategy, and security screening process.
said Booher. Some MAVNI candidates have already graduated recruit training
The MAVNI program is designed to encourage foreign nationals and are in the process of being received at Support Activity 1.
to join the Department of Defense by offering expedited U.S. Deployments are expected to begin next year.
citizenship in return for a four-year enlistment in the military. Prior to MC2 Kevin W. Clark
recruitment, the MAVNI graduates are subjected to extensive security NSWG 2 Public Affairs
screenings due to the sensitive nature of special warfare. This includes
an appearance before an oral board of NSW leadership. Then the
candidates attend recruit training with other Sailors prior to reporting
to the CET.
“The Navy has been very careful to develop a program with
high standards and careful screening to limit the risk,” said Lt. Cmdr.
Renee J. Squier, Navy Recruiting Command liaison to the Office of
the Chief of Naval Operations staff. “Because we want them to be
SEALs or in support of SEALs, we knew that security screening was
Lt. j.g. Theresa Donnelly
most important.”
“They’ll come from boot camp and begin training that will
prepare them to be area expert advisors as well as to shoot, move and
communicate,” said Booher.
The training pipeline will be similar to that completed by NSW
combat support personnel. They will learn weapons, communications,
AFTER ACTION An SO1 medic assigned to JSOTF-P critiques students
field medical procedures and everything else they’ll use on the from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Naval Special Operations Group
battlefield on top of what’s required for them to function as competent who are administering first aid to a victim with an arm injury during a field
LREs, said Gearhart. medical exercise.
mouvman kilti NSW a NSW se kultuur beweging NSW kulttuuri liikkuvuus Gerakan budaya NSW DCN’s diwylliant symu
Haitian Creole-Alpha Afrikaans Finnish Indonesian/Malay Welsh
ETHOS 15
OUR GLOBAL
FOOTPRINT
dm. Eric T. Olson, commander of USSOCOM, deployments. Approximately one quarter of the IAT students will be
directed all SOF forces to dramatically increase their selected to move on to advanced language training (12 or 24 weeks),
language and cultural abilities, building highly proficient with the goal of reaching a 2/2 in their target language. The Center
operators into the basic units of operations, defined for is formalizing a curriculum for immersion and other specialized
NSW as the SEAL platoon. “Our ability to communicate directly programs to sustain fluency and continue to grow an individual’s
with indigenous peoples in our highest-priority operating areas has capability. This will be flexible enough to support operators despite
withered significantly,” he said. “In order to regain this essential duty station and deployment rotation.
mission skill, we must revamp and reprioritize our language training LREC training will be provided to tactical units during the inter-
and management.” deployment training cycle that is specific to deployment location.
The Naval Special Warfare Center has been tasked with establishing Each unit will receive a two-week LREC primer during professional
local (East and West Coasts) language, development, unit-level training and
regional expertise and cultural awareness squadron integrated training. Role
(LREC) training and education players with regional language expertise
programs to support the NSW Groups. will be inserted into scenarios, enabling
LREC training will focus on developing units to continue to develop their LREC
individual linguists as well as provide capabilities in a simulated operational
deployment specific training support to environment.
every operational element. The goal is to Initially, NSW will build a capability
meet USSOCOM’s guidance of having in eight languages tailored to needs of
one 2/2 (DLPT score for listening/ the current fight while keeping the next
reading) and one 3/3 qualified linguist in ridgeline in sight. Operators attaining
every tactical element. A level two score proficiency in languages are eligible
indicates basic proficiency and ease of for additional pay benefits as incentive.
cultural comprehension. A level three Currently, the targeted languages include
score indicates fluent speaking, listening pay bonuses of between $100 and $500
and writing of target language. This per month based on language, assignment
fluency will include accent and the ability and proficiency. Up to three bonuses can
to form cogent arguments at academic be stacked for proficiency in multiple
and thoughtful levels, including abstract languages, to a maximum of $1500 per
concepts. month.
More than 400 NSW operators will receive initial acquisition NSW will develop robust, competent and adaptive language abilities
training (IAT) in foreign languages per year in order to reach the goal and cultural understanding across the force and at the tactical levels to
of developing individual linguists. Every new SEAL and SWCC remain at the forefront of special operations.
operator will attend the 12-week IAT training, as will a select group Lt. Frederick Martin
of current operators in order to meet the requirements of specific NSW Center Public Affairs Officer
16 ETHOS
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the need for SEALs to conduct
global operations has increased dramatically. In
response, Naval Special Warfare’s authorized
enlisted billets have doubled to support the
development of four new NSW squadrons as well
as Support Activities. This rapid growth caused
an immediate and dramatic difference between
authorized end strength and qualified personnel on
hand. This required the community to recruit and
train enlisted SEALs at a dramatic rate in order to
meet battlefield demand.
he growth goal of the community is to balance retention and
18 ETHOS
medical losses from training. It has a new medical and rehab facility
that is remarkably staffed to support the increased student load and
resultant increase in medical rehab demand. The medical facility
now has an X-ray machine for immediate diagnosis, which enhances
decisions regarding candidate retention in the event of injury. The NSW
medical facility has a direct link to Naval Medical Center San Diego
to rapidly review all specialist’s assessments and radiology reports.
The medical staff educates the instructor cadre on early detection
of injuries and contributing exercises or activities that exacerbate
the possibility of overuse and acute injuries. Curriculum activities
have been modified to lessen potential causes of catastrophic injuries.
For example IBS squats during Hell Week were reduced in response
to an increase in hip and pelvis fractures. The Center continues to
explore the edge of medical science, using a small pill, swallowed by
MC2 Dominique Lasco
ETHOS 19
What would you do if your daughter hadn’t spoken to you
in a month? She’s hurt and angry with you, that much you
know, but why? She won’t speak. When you ask, you fight.
And you’re leaving for deployment in three weeks.
With the current cycle of deployments within NSW, more
parents are faced with this or a similar scenario, more often a critical need for prevention and intervention services to foster resiliency
than ever before. within military families and initiated with UCLA Project FOCUS.
In the United States today, about 1.2 million children have FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress) for the Navy Bureau of
an active duty military parent, and within NSW, about 40 Medicine and Surgery’s (BUMED) is a psychological health resiliency-
percent of service members have at least one dependent building program designed for military families facing the psychological
challenges of combat operational stress during wartime. FOCUS is based
child under the age of 18. And since 2001, nearly every
on leading evidenced-based family intervention models for at-risk families
child has been affected by a recent or current deployment and has been shown to have positive emotional, behavioral and adaptive
of a parent to the combat zones of Iraq or Afghanistan, or outcomes for families. FOCUS services augment existing Navy Medicine
sometimes worse – location unknown. and Navy and Marine Corps community support programs in order to
Wartime deployment takes a toll on both the service member and provide a comprehensive system of care that supports family readiness and
family members on the homefront, with multiple deployments often wellness. In addition, FOCUS services are offered to Army and Air Force
causing additional stress. Research on parents with stress reactions has families at select installations through funding from DOD Office of Military
demonstrated that such difficulties interfere with parenting, family life and Family and Community Policy.
child adjustment across a range of contexts, disrupting family roles and The Marine Corps saw much success in the San Diego area and in 2008,
routines, and decreasing support within the family. To date, thousands of the FOCUS Project was brought to NSW.
military service members, their children and families are at risk and stand to “Communication between a child and a parent is so critical in life –
benefit from family-centered resiliency training. especially when you are living and dealing with multiple deployments in a
time of war,” said Cmdr. Dave Barnes, the family and community support
program manager for NSW. “We are very grateful to have Project FOCUS
The growing awareness of the significant impact of deployments on here in the NSW community.”
military family life and child and family well-being prompted a new initiative
from the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery of the Department of the Navy and
the Marine Corps. Resiliency is the ability to effectively cope with, adapt to and overcome
In 2007, the Defense Health Board Task Force on Mental Health identified adversity, stress and challenging experiences.
20 ETHOS
“FOCUS supports the mission of NSW by providing support to service Some of the
and family members in the form of resiliency training,” explained Mia ways FOCUS
Bartoletti, the NAB Coronado site director for Project FOCUS. “This includes helps families learn
working with parents and children to prepare for upcoming missions, trips to communicate are
and trainings, as well as to assist families throughout the deployment.” to :
Because of the unique nature of NSW missions, FOCUS staff work Help families
closely with family members to understand and adjust services in order to to identify and build upon
provide a highly customized level of family support. their existing strengths
Working with the existing teams of dedicated military family services and positive coping
personnel, FOCUS staff assists families in understanding how combat strategies ,
operational stress affects them and the service family member, how to Increase
manage stress, and how to strengthen their family. parents’ and children’s
understanding of how different
family members might react to
FOCUS uses a structured approach to facilitate engagement and wartime stress,
skill building across the family. Initial sessions focus on preparing family Help service members and
members to identify and share their concerns and understanding of family family members communicate and better
members’ deployment reactions. In separate sessions with parents and understand how each were affected by
children, family members are taught emotional regulation, problem solving, deployment ,
goal setting and communication skills. Work with spouses to better
Families then meet together to share their experiences using these skills support one another in dealing with the
and tools to enhance family communication and support. stressors that can arise from long separations ,
FOCUS works with families to strengthen their skills in meeting many of Assist couples to work more effectively as a team in parenting
the challenges and stressors commonly experienced by military families their children before, during, and after deployment, as well as increase
during wartime, including: parents’ skills in dealing more effectively with some of the emotional and
Children often become worried, sad or even angry about their behavioral reactions that children can have when experiencing stress.
parent leaving for deployment.
Children and parents miss sharing special events together (e.g.,
birthdays, anniversaries, child taking their first steps), as well as the daily Using some of the project’s core components, like parent and child skill
routines of their lives. building, dealing with deployment stress, and goal stressing, families can
Parents may have a hard time readjusting to their usual roles receive a variety of assistance to meet their specific needs.
upon return from deployment (e.g., the non-deployed parent may be used “Family members are provided with an opportunity to get trained and
to handling all the household tasks by themselves, the deployed parent may practice on core resiliency skills, including active communication, effective
have difficulty adjusting to being in a non-combat environment again). problem solving, setting and maintaining goal achievement strategies and
Children may show concerning behaviors, such as acting successful family emotion regulation,” said Bartoletti. “Results of FOCUS
argumentative, disruptive, aggressive, withdrawn or tearful. Similarly, program evaluation suggests that military family members benefit from
couples may argue more, have a harder time communicating, or may higher levels of overall satisfaction and lower distress and difficulties as a
withdraw from each other. result of participation in the program.”
“Our goal is to strengthen communication within the families,” “FOCUS is not the answer to all problems,” Barnes explained. “FOCUS is
Barnes explained. “We should not leave our families with the ‘bill’ from our a tool to help families overcome issues, and they do a great job.”
community being at war for essentially nine years.”
Mandy McCammon
Source information courtesy of BUMED
ETHOS 21
WarZone
Going from the
Home
to the
front
oming home from a deployment can be a Third location decompression (TLD). You might
happy occasion, however changing your think it has something to do with a new science to
decompress persons after a dive. However, it is
state of mind from the battlefield to home actually a program to emotionally “decompress”
life isn’t as easy as turning off a switch. special warfare operators and combat support
Sometimes, a break from both can make Sailors returning from deployment.
TLD was first tested by the Canadian Special
for a smoother transition. Forces with a goal of detecting Post Traumatic
22 ETHOS
Stress Syndrome (PTSD) early. The program seminars on topics such as dealing with stress, Despite some objections from both family and
later proved invaluable in not only detecting family reintegration and anger management. operators, feedback on TLD has overall been
PTSD early, but helping members switch from Although not all of the operators who go through positive and most understand why the program is
a high-stress mindset before returning home to the program have families, Celani said all necessary.
families. After hearing of the success, former personnel go through the same training. “I had a good time,” said Chief Special Warfare
Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, “Maybe one particular piece of info doesn’t Operator William Gibbens. “It was managed
now Vice Adm. Joseph Kernan, mandated the apply to one Sailor but it may apply to people who extremely well. The support staff there managed
program for the NSW squadron post-deployment you are working with or leading. You have to be both the force protection and the moving of
schedule and included it as part of the able to be sympathetic to that as a leader.” people so there wasn’t any trouble.”
Operational/Combat Stress Control program. They are also given a “checkup from the neck Gibbens, having previously deployed four
Before TLD, the cycle for a SEAL team was up” by the Group psychologist. times, said the TLD stop combined with a family
to deploy, return and take leave, start training, “They get a brief checkup by the psychologist retreat organized by Group 2 capped off a good
begin work ups and deploy again. TLD is now to give them the opportunity to talk about issues deployment. Other SEALs just enjoyed the time
mandatory between the team’s deployment and they might have after deployment and to address to relax.
leave period. them prior to going home,” said Cmdr. Eric “My favorite part was really just having a beer
Each NSW Group has a different TLD location Potterat, Group 1 psychologist. “The discussions with my meal, sitting back and getting a chance to
chosen for different reasons. are private and confidential, and it gives the relax and kick back with my friends,” remarked a
“They are in a city with military infrastructure operator a chance to talk about issues that they West Coast-based SEAL. “It’s nice to switch over
that they can tap into, but they are also may not talk about publicly because they don’t from that combat atmosphere to something more
completely out in the local economy, where they want to be perceived as weak or crazy.” normal.”
can begin reintegrating with non-military people,” This check up is one of the vital parts of TLD. It Currently it is each Group’s responsibility
said Lt. Cmdr. James Celani, Group 1 TLD officer allows for the early detection of PTSD and gives to monitor, organize and execute the training
in charge. the operator the knowledge of how to handle according to instruction. As of the end of March,
When returning deployers arrive at their TLD combat stress or PTSD once they get home. It all the SEAL teams will have rotated through
location, they are assisted by a support team to also provides information on further treatment if TLD at least once. The Groups closely monitor
help keep the desk work, such as checking in necessary. changes and feedback, and certain adjustments
gear and travel claims, to a minimum. After completing the mandatory training and have been made to accommodate the ever-
“They are afforded the opportunity to take exam, the operator has the next two days free “so changing deployment cycles of NSW squadrons.
a break from the work and the stressors that when they come back they have a clear head and As of now, only operators and support personnel
accompany that work,” said Celani. “We are they are fresh and are ready to tackle their next that have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq
setting up a designated travel claim point where set of requirements,” said Celani. “They are on go through TLD. Individual Augmentees and other
they can complete and process their claim within the buddy system, but formal group activities are DoD personnel continue a war fighter transition
a day. We have worked on the support team not part of the program. We have found people program elsewhere.
manning and are picking up gear that is sensitive want to not be part of the big group, they want The TLD program will continue for the
and making sure that it gets back (to San Diego).” a little bit of time to hang out with just a couple foreseeable future, and many operators agree
Deployers are given a hotel room rather people.” that continuing it would benefit the future of the
than a barracks to start the relaxation and Many spend it by sightseeing, dining or simply NSW community.
decompression process. “We are trying to get going for a jog. “The psychological benefits of TLD and the
them to relax without the annoyance of someone Some operators and their spouses were family retreats are going to create a more stable
asking for their ID card every time they go concerned when they found out the trip home person who can handle multiple deployments,”
somewhere,” said Celani. “It allows them time to was delayed. “My wife wondered why I was said Gibbens. “It is also going to create a more
take a shower in a room that has constant hot spending three days away to blow off steam, why stable home life that will allow the operator to
water or sleep in a bed that is more comfortable couldn’t I just come home three days early,” said handle the deployments better.”
than what they had been sleeping on.” one SO1. “Once I explained it to her though, she
Once they settle in, each Sailor attends training got onboard with the program.” MC2 Dominique Lasco
ETHOS 23
Illustration by MC2 John Scorza
It is commonly understood athletes, it’s a similar demanding lifestyle, for NSW tactical athletes to optimize injury
that over the course of a but probably more rigorous,” said Lt. Kirk recovery, physical training, and overall
career, most warfighters Parsely, medical officer for NSW Group 1. continuous performance and longevity,”
will experience some type of Lt. Cmdr. Jim Cowan, head of BUD/S summed Jonson.
injury. Naval medical experts physical therapy, said his patients today are “Our new program model is more in line
often compare warfighters to not regarded as “an injured military guy, but with a division one (collegiate) program or
professional athletes and refer to rather as an injured athlete.” professional organization,” said Cowan.”They
them as tactical athletes. A career With that in mind, NSW medical (NSW Groups) will have sports medicine
tactical athlete will typically professionals are investing in sports rehab personnel, a nutritionist, and really
complete 20 years or more of active medicine, human performance practices, move toward preventative and performance
military service. In comparison, the average and specialized staffing for treatment and types of programs.”
pro baseball player career span is a mere 5.6 prevention of injuries to special operations This year alone, SOCOM has funded
seasons and the average professional football personnel. According to Capt. Scott Jonson, WARCOM with $2.2 million to hire 15 civilian
player lasts only 3.5 seasons, according to NSW deputy force medical officer, this subject matter experts to aid tactical athletes
professional players associations. The tactical fiscal year SOCOM allocated funding to in performance and injury recovery. These
athlete may sustain a wide variety of injuries the components to begin Warrior Human specialists include strength and conditioning
during 20-plus “seasons” that sports athletes Performance and Sports Medicine programs coaches, nutritionists, rehabilitation experts,
would not expect, some similar, such as for operators. This initiative sprouted into and sports psychologists. Additionally, $15
torn knee ligaments and some unusual like NSW’s Tactical Athlete Program (TAP). million is budgeted for the program over the
gunshot wounds. “TAP is designed to combine sports next six years.
“If you compare SEALs to professional medicine and human performance initiatives “Ultimately, this will help us accomplish
our goal which is to expand the functional
our goal
rigors of the job for 20 years and still be able
us accomplish
to live a healthy life.”
In addition to getting more help at the group
24 ETHOS
“The human performance model was
designed to enhance the physical performance
capabilities of healthy individuals,” said
Jonson. “The sports medicine model was
designed to diagnose and treat injuries and
rehabilitate athletes.”
These two models, said Jonson, are
designed to work together to individually
tailor a road map for injury prevention and
recovery.
NSW experts agree that preventive care is
an essential part of keeping tactical athletes
ETHOS 25
NHRC’S WARFIGHTER
PERFORMANCE LAB
STUDYING THE MILITARY’S MOST COMPLEX WEAPON
Wouldn’t it be something if the Navy had a virtual reality (VE) system, dual-temperature chambers, Dual-Energy
simulator that could test a military member’s performance in battle X-ray Absorptiometers (DXA) and much more.
without putting anyone in danger? Or, test how warfighters are able NHRC ‘s $1.1 million VE system is one of only 15 VE systems in
to think in extreme hot or cold environments? A place where the latest the world, three of which are located in the United States.
equipment is tested to its limits? Wouldn’t it be something if there was The VE is a full biomechanics and exercise physiology lab on a
a research facility available where you could walk in, pose virtually motion platform that can pitch, yaw and roll by 25 degrees. On the
any question and have scientists find the answer? platform, is an integrated split-belt (side-by-side) treadmill and
This place is not a fantasy. Naval Health Research Center’s (NHRC) instrumented force plates to measure the pressures applied during
Warfighter Performance Lab, located at Naval Base Point Loma, is walking, running or marching. In front of the motion platform is a
that place. nine-foot tall screen that curves 180 degrees around the platform to
The lab’s goal is to provide Sailors and Marines with a warfighting view programmed simulations. The environment is also equipped
“
edge through advances in human performance, protection, autonomy with a full-motion capture volume to record the subject’s movements.
and power and energy. In the simplest terms, the lab helps to improve These movements are picked up from reflective markers similar to the
the warfighter. ones used in making video games.
The main research explored by the lab includes applied physiology “By placing little reflective markers all over their body, you can
and biomechanics, applied cognitive science, epidemiology, physical record exact movements in real time,” said Senior Chief Damage
therapy and psychology. Controlman Eric Duckworth, lab manager. “The markers control the
The Warfighter Performance Lab is an 8,100 square-foot facility interaction between the subject and the computer program. The system
equipped with state of the art equipment such as a Virtual Environment can also be integrated with other equipment such as reduced-oxygen
”
The VE research will be used to optimize warfighter
capabilities as well as advance the rehabilitation of
26 ETHOS
(bottom left) Senior Chief Damage Controlman Eric
Duckworth test out a program on the VE simulator used
to enhance the performance of warfighters and rehabili-
tate wounded warriors. (top left) Dr. Jessie Hascall and
Lt. Jamie Bartlett perform a load carriage test during a
study.(below) Sailors test out the joint-service aircrew
mask developed by NHRC.
Never-ending room City walk Simulation Virtual Afghanistan Boat driving simulation
ETHOS 27
chance, and have trusted us to keep striving and
to get better. They teach us to trust ourselves.
The LPO, the chief, the platoon commander, the
CO develop their subordinates, by trusting them
to do things they may have never done before.
The coach as leader takes risk by giving Trust.
In my own leadership, Trust is something I give
to subordinates initially and readily, and it is then
theirs to lose. I have rarely been disappointed,
but I have been disappointed. That’s part of the
deal.
Machiavelli: Machiavelli warns us against
trusting unwisely and counsels us to exercise
prudent caution in whom we trust. We must
protect ourselves from predators who would
manipulate or exploit us, who seek their own
ends at our expense. Yes, these people also
exist in the Navy and even in the Teams, though
in the crucible of life in the Teams, they are
usually found out. Machiavelli saw the world as
Mother Theresa, an unforgiving place, in which self-serving people
the Coach, compete, sometimes viciously, in the game of life,
eagerly preying upon those who are less clever
and Machiavelli or less wary than themselves. Without being
deceitful, one must be wary of those for whom
being trustworthy is not as important as their
TRUST IS an essential element in any high functioning organization, but especially in a small, personal ambition. This practical aspect of Trust
very inter-dependent special operations unit. I’ve always thought that an important part of pre- was reflected in Benjamin Franklin’s axiom, “Love
deployment training is sorting out Trust issues within a platoon, a Team, a task unit, a boat det. No thy neighbor; yet don’t pull down your hedge.”
one wants to deploy with someone they don’t trust; members of a Team must trust each other not But then, Will Rogers once said, “I would rather
only to do their job to the best of their ability, but also to put the Team’s success ahead of their own be the person who bought the Brooklyn Bridge
personal comfort and advantage. When we deploy overseas, for training or combat, we insist on than the one who sold it.”
deploying with others who will ‘have our back,’ no matter what the circumstances. This short essay Trust is a complicated subject; books have
is a simple look at three aspects of Trust I think are important. been written about it, to include “The Speed of
Mother Theresa: The Mother Theresa side of Trust speaks to that part of us which seeks to Trust: the One Thing that Changes Everything,”
be good. An essential part of being good is being trustworthy, in almost any context. Trust is recently published by Stephen M. R. Covey.
something we seek for ourselves, and when we’ve earned it, we’ll do almost anything to preserve Here I’ve distilled the complexity of Trust
it. That part of us which is ‘good’ is not deceitful, in word, deed or demeanor. If what we say is down into three simple dimensions: First, be
false or we fail to keep a commitment, it is either unintentional, or due to circumstances beyond our trustworthy; second, don’t be afraid to give Trust;
control, or because our initial commitment may be over-ridden by the dictates of honor, common third, don’t foolishly expose yourself by trusting
sense or a good greater than our own. In striving to be ‘good,’ we consider it a matter of honor to unwisely. Like so much in leadership and ethics,
be trustworthy – to never do anything that would cause anyone to question our integrity. good judgment and experience are necessary
The Coach: Being a good coach is a key function of effective leaders at all levels. All good to effectively balance these three imperatives.
leaders are coaches – we have all been developed by our mentors, and good leaders, in turn, Trust is (ideally) a two-way street; for the truly
develop others. The coach, the boss, the person in charge, develops subordinates by trusting trustworthy, the two-way street becomes a
them. Sometimes our coaches have pushed us and trusted us when we weren’t sure we were network of roads and highways which allow the
ready. Even when we have failed, good coaches have continued to trust us, have given us another rich flow of positive energy and collaboration
between and among trustworthy people. This is
what we strive for in the teams, in our Navy, and,
Trust is (ideally) a two-way street; for in fact, in our society.
Any special operator with a future deployment to Afghanistan would do well to read this
book. It is not enough that the general in charge understand the inherent complexities of
the insurgency in Afghanistan, the counter-insurgency practitioners must be the ones to
successfully engage the populace to achieve a real victory.
SEAL Lt. W. Jake Roberts
ETHOS 29
PREVENTING
SEXUAL ASSAULT IS
EVERYONE’S DUTY.
GULFPORT: NORFOLK:
228-596-0697 757-438-3504
HAWAII: SAN DIEGO:
808-722-6192 619-692-5909