Who are the green berets?

[munger 25]

I've been wondering recently about what exactly 'Green Berets' are. I mean, the US has various special ops groups like SEALS, Delta, Rangers, Marine Force Recon etc, and these seem to have well defined roles in terms of what sorts of missions they conduct, but to me 'Green Berets' has always been a kind of mysterious phrase connoting some kind of elite special forces with an indistinct role. At first glance they appear to be the equivalent of the British SAS, but then so do Delta Force (and indeed it was Delta Force that was originally created as an equivalent to the SAS), so what's the difference between them, and how come the other groups mentioned above seem to get so much more coverage in the media than the Green Berets? On this forum too, there are constant refences to those above but almost nothing regarding the Green Berets. I doubt it's due to the covert nature of most Green Beret ops since Delta and the SAS are probably equally low profile but are still mentioned frequently.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. I'm just interested in any knowledge or opinions anyone here might have on this.

[ralphwiggum 6]

they wear green berets.

[Tex -USMC- 0]

Green Berets are specialists in what you would call unconventional warfare. They are force multipliers, trained to go into a hostile area, build up a rapport with locals with a goal of either A) making it easier for the Beanies or other special ops groups to operate, or B) to put together an irregular guerrilla fighting force to cause problems for the enemy. They also consult with friendly countries' militaries, providing them training and equipment they would not normally receive from their parent forces.

[Guest]

US Army Special Forces. They are deployed all over the world. Fairly good for being landflubbers I worked with some of them in Kosovo and I keep in touch with one guy (well, he is in Iraq right now and I havn't talked to him for two months).

Old picture of their patch that I took for a similar discussion more than a year ago

[Tex -USMC- 0]

Yeah, I wonder how 11B's doing?

[ralphwiggum 6]

he hasn't been here for a long time.

maybe in Iraq?

[ran 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,20:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yeah, I wonder how 11B's doing?<span id='postcolor'>

he was national guard right ?

yeah , would be nice to hear from him again ..

[Tex -USMC- 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ April 13 2003,20:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,20:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yeah, I wonder how 11B's doing?<span id='postcolor'>

he was national guard right ?

yeah , would be nice to hear from him again ..<span id='postcolor'>

No, he was Special Forces.

[ran 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,20:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ April 13 2003,20:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,20:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yeah, I wonder how 11B's doing?<span id='postcolor'>

he was national guard right ?

yeah , would be nice to hear from him again ..<span id='postcolor'>

No, he was Special Forces.<span id='postcolor'>

national guard special forces ?

[Tex -USMC- 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ April 13 2003,20:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,20:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ April 13 2003,20:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,20:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yeah, I wonder how 11B's doing?<span id='postcolor'>

he was national guard right ?

yeah , would be nice to hear from him again ..<span id='postcolor'>

No, he was Special Forces.<span id='postcolor'>

national guard special forces ?

<span id='postcolor'>

You mean Redneck Special Forces? (I love those guys lol)

[munger 25]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,19:18)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Green Berets are specialists in what you would call unconventional warfare. They are force multipliers, trained to go into a hostile area, build up a rapport with locals with a goal of either A) making it easier for the Beanies or other special ops groups to operate, or B) to put together an irregular guerrilla fighting force to cause problems for the enemy. They also consult with friendly countries' militaries, providing them training and equipment they would not normally receive from their parent forces.<span id='postcolor'>

Ah right. Do they still fight then? I mean are they highly trained in CQB and general infantry tactics or do they only conduct the training operations and such that you describe?

Also, what differentiates Delta Force from Green Berets? I believe Delta are a counter-terrorist unit even though they are attached to the army? Does this make Delta more of a strike force, a la Black Hawk Down? If so, I guess the two groups each carry out operations that the SAS does as a single unit? But that would make sense since the US goes in for several specialist groups as opposed to more generalised forces.

[Tex -USMC- 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Munger @ April 13 2003,20:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,19:18)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Green Berets are specialists in what you would call unconventional warfare. They are force multipliers, trained to go into a hostile area, build up a rapport with locals with a goal of either A) making it easier for the Beanies or other special ops groups to operate, or B) to put together an irregular guerrilla fighting force to cause problems for the enemy. They also consult with friendly countries' militaries, providing them training and equipment they would not normally receive from their parent forces.<span id='postcolor'>

Ah right. Do they still fight then? I mean are they highly trained in CQB and general infantry tactics or do they only conduct the training operations and such that you describe?

Also, what differentiates Delta Force from Green Berets? I believe Delta are a counter-terrorist unit even though they are attached to the army? Does this make Delta more of a strike force, a la Black Hawk Down? If so, I guess the two groups each carry out operations that the SAS does as a single unit? But that would make sense since the US goes in for several specialist groups as opposed to more generalised forces.<span id='postcolor'>

Oh yeah, Green Berets are probably some of the best light infantry fighters out there, as almost all Green Berets go through Ranger and Airborne school, and spend time in Ranger and Airborne units. It's just that they are so much more effective through 'spreading the wealth', so to speak, rather than just fighting as grunts. How does the saying go? Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach him how to fish, feed him for a lifetime.

Right now, there are Special Forces A teams in Colombia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and probably anywhere else where there is a conflict that the US has a vested interest in. Think of a SF A team as miniature conflict starter; wherever they go, guerrilla conflicts and rebellions follow.

[ran 0]

THEY STOLEN OUR GREEN BERETS !

[ralphwiggum 6]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ April 13 2003,21:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">THEY STOLEN OUR GREEN BERETS !<span id='postcolor'>

but not the white flags.

ok ok ok......just kidding ran, just kidding.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

The SAS does all jobs of all US Special Forces units, apart from the SEALS. The SBS does everything plus the SEAL's jobs

Btw, SBS HQ in Poole is on war status at the moment, all cars are stopped at least 1 mile away from their HQ and the fishing boats aren't even allowed to use the harbour (even though SBS have their own part of the harbour)

EDIT: This is a second hand report btw

[ran 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (RalphWiggum @ April 13 2003,21:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ April 13 2003,21:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">THEY STOLEN OUR GREEN BERETS !<span id='postcolor'>

but not the white flags.

ok ok ok......just kidding ran, just kidding. <span id='postcolor'>

becarefull .... really , be carefull

[hellfish6 7]

The difference between the US SOCOM and British SAS/SBS is the fact that there are about 20,000 special ops troops in the US and only about 2000 or so SAS/SBS, if I'm not mistaken.

The US military can afford to have more specialized units than the Brits.

[PitViper 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ April 13 2003,14:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,20:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ran @ April 13 2003,20:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tex [uSMC] @ April 13 2003,20:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yeah, I wonder how 11B's doing?<span id='postcolor'>

he was national guard right ?

yeah , would be nice to hear from him again ..<span id='postcolor'>

No, he was Special Forces.<span id='postcolor'>

national guard special forces ?

<span id='postcolor'>

yes

...and I'm serious.

[hellfish6 7]

There are two National Guard Special Forces Groups - the 19th and the 20th. A unit from the 19th just happens to be a few miles away from me here in Chicago.

I think they've traditionally been considered non-combat ready when a crisis pops up, but I understand that several NG SF teams are currently operating in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Colombia. Probably elsewhere too.

[sanctuary 19]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Who are the green berets<span id='postcolor'>

They are the little guy in the middle-low part of the screen

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And what do they do?<span id='postcolor'>

If i remember well , they had to rescue hostages and survive to shots from other little guys, as the one you can see down left and climbing a ladder.

[Jinef 2]

There are 300 SAS members on active duty at one time, they are divided into four Sabre squadrons each with 4 troops that specialise, e.g. Air Troop or Mountain Troop

There are reserves but they are hardly used. The SBS also has 300 men but it is organised differently.

So that's 600 men on active duty, the best soldiers Britain has to offer. Lot's come from the Royal Marines and Paras.

The US has 42,000 soldier's in it's special forces. This includes the groups like the Rangers and Green Berets as well as Delta and Seals. The American policy is more orientated towards "if we call our soldiers 'special' then they will fight better with inflamed egos" and it works. The Royal Marines however are told to do the job to the best of their ability and live up to their reputation, their training is equal to that of the US Navy Seals and their physical fitness is superb, that's why the majority of the SAS is made up of former Marines.

[vade_101 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The US has 42,000 soldier's in it's special forces. This includes the groups like the Rangers and Green Berets as well as Delta and Seals. The American policy is more orientated towards "if we call our soldiers 'special' then they will fight better with inflamed egos" and it works. The Royal Marines however are told to do the job to the best of their ability and live up to their reputation, their training is equal to that of the US Navy Seals and their physical fitness is superb, that's why the majority of the SAS is made up of former Marines. <span id='postcolor'>

Now thats a little unfair, i'm a Brit myself and think that the SAS/SBS (plus those "specialist" SF units you just don't hear about, 14 Int, the FRU etc.) provide probably the best "counter-insergency" capability in the world, together with a fine battlefield support/recce/raiding capacity. especially given the small size of the units concerned.

As impressive as the Royal Marines are, i wouldn't say they have quite the range of range of capabilities of the SEAL teams, and of course you can't forget the RMs do have their own  "special forces" in the shape of 3. Commando Brigade's "Brigade Patrol Troop" (In the same way that 16AA have the "Pathfinder Platoon") and the Comacchio Group.

I think many Marines would also treat with some sceptism the remark that

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">the majority of the SAS is made up of former Marines.<span id='postcolor'>

with some sceptisim; Broadly speaking, the SBS recruit from the Marines and Navy (you cannot join the SBS without passing the RM Commando Course) and the SAS from the Army (Often the Parachute Regiment and the "light" infantry formations) and Air Force (usually the air force forward Air Controllers). The unofical "Division of Labour" between the two tends to see the SBS tasked with missions that do directly relate to the security of the United Kingdom, and the SAS more commonley operate in support of UK Interest abroad.

Its a little unfair to dismiss the US Special Forces quite so quickly, they have developed an impressive unconventional warfare capacity, as the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan show. There is a deal of the "if we call our soldiers 'special' then they will fight better with inflamed egos" syndrome among the US Light Infantry formations and Rangers, but the "actual" Special Forces units are an impressive formation, especially given the size of the units involved.

[munger 25]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Sanctuary @ April 14 2003,07:15)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Who are the green berets<span id='postcolor'>

They are the little guy in the middle-low part of the screen

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And what do they do?<span id='postcolor'>

If i remember well , they had to rescue hostages and survive to shots from other little guys, as the one you can see down left and climbing a ladder.<span id='postcolor'>

LOL.

I remember Green Beret. Is was possibly THE most infuriating game ever. One after another enemy soldier came at you and every one of them had a gun. If they touched you, you died. To defend yourself against this huge army you were equipped with... a knife.

So, do real Green Berets only carry knives?

[ran 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Munger @ April 14 2003,20:02)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So, do real Green Berets only carry knives?  <span id='postcolor'>

they've got forks and spoons too

spoons used to dig foxholes and forks to be used against vehicles

[Warin 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Sanctuary @ April 14 2003,08:15)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Who are the green berets<span id='postcolor'>

They are the little guy in the middle-low part of the screen

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And what do they do?<span id='postcolor'>

If i remember well , they had to rescue hostages and survive to shots from other little guys, as the one you can see down left and climbing a ladder.<span id='postcolor'>

Wooohooo!

This game was one of the first I found when I discovered MAME!

I fed so many quarters into this monster (cept it was called Rush'n Attack ) when I was young!