As I strained for the next three hours through the rain, rocks, and timber, my path stayed well illuminated the entire time. Beckwith insisted on a long training period after being advised by John Watts from England who served as a Brigadier. He was the Marlboro Man! I am finished with this walk, and I don't have an atom of energy left to entertain your bullshit! Rather we all quietly accepted that none of us had a clue what to do next. One of the guys poked through the remnants and remarked, You know, all he took was the rice. You cant make this stuff up. The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), often shortened to Delta Force, is an example of one such elite special mission force. The U.S. government did reexamine its procedures after Operation Eagle Claw, and more soldiers were dedicated to counter-terrorism than before. They sent me a letter., You moron, a Ranger leveled, We all got fuckin letters.. One of the guys poked through the remnants and remarked, You know, all he took was the rice. You cant make this stuff up. 16.8k members in the SpecOpsArchive community. Just a short couple of days into the course, he received news that his wife was struggling with a complication to her pregnancy. Between long walks, I routinely took to rucking the 10 miles along the freeway to the Boca Chica Annex. I remembered he kept totally quiet and to himself in jump school, and especially on this endless bus ride. By fall of 1979 they were granted permission by the U.S. Armed Forces to begin missions, infamously not long before the Iran hostage crisis. These tests include a series of land navigation tests, during which Related Article: 6 Ways To Check If Someone Was In The Military / Verify Military Service. hessy wa kayole pictures. Haney, who managed to cover the discreet force in unprecedented detail. All Rights Reserved. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. Some applied as/when needed; some applied generously in a more prophylactic approach. I gawked at the stars in the ink-black West Virginia sky, and I thought of the valiant Hans, his superman cape flapping in the breeze behind him, his Batman belt of worthless trinkets around his waist, his brown scarf in sync with his flapping cape, his Robin Hood-shaped cap complete with feather, and his three Maglights shoved up his ass where he lay upside down in the bottom of some laurel-choked canyon. I observed that in Hans gear layout on his bunk, he had three Maglights. Potential Delta Force recruits are usually selected from the Green Berets, as well as the 75th Ranger Regiment. DEVGRU recruits undergo SERE training. When I hit the ground in Morgan Town, it was a very small airport, so it was easy to detect several other gents milling about in luggage claim that looked like they all belonged to the same outdoor-enthusiast club: sturdy foot gear, durable trousers with cargo pockets, Casio G-Shock-type watches, REI this and Mountain Gear that. An archive of photos for all Special Operations Forces units internationally Before that week was over, I had once again received my expected not no, but hell no from the boss on support for my train-up, and I was back up on the 12th floor of the BOQ, looking for my goddamned room.. When he returned home Beckwith acknowledged that the U.S. Armed Forces could serve to benefit from a highly specialized unit. That was about a 20 mile round trip, and I always wore combat boots on those rides. Support Veteran Journalism . Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. I foolishly bought a watch with an altimeter on it. I contemplated the progression of the speeds, distances, and payload weights to be carried. My final selection of boots? RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. I was pretty sure I would have to travel at least one time duringthe night hours. When a Selection course starts, locals are usually briefed so they aren't surprised to see random men in fatigues with huge rucksacks roaming through their fields. I faked a piss to steal one more glance at my orders. Notices tend to state initial signup requirements for consideration like: Though the exact requirements for Delta Force are not heavily reported since it is such a classified organization, there are some known additional requirements for considering to attend a briefing on admission. "In my time, it was usually about 60% Green Berets, 39% Rangers, and 1% random guys, such as cooks, chaplain assistants, and mechanics. Less than halfway through the train-up it becameclear that I was not capable of the standards published by the Unit. I contemplated the progression of the speeds, distances, and payload weights to be carried. I won a chuckle and a dismissal as the crazy gringo. Heres to you Hans. He was the Marlboro Man! He really had his act together for the most part. I stepped out into the darkness and rain, reached up, and gave my Maglite a twist on. He became the butt of jokes. For the most part I was on the shoulder of the highway, but where it was possible I was down in the hinterland, where the movement was more arduous and challenging. It had all but stopped raining as daybreak took charge of night. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. For the most part I was on the shoulder of the highway, but where it was possible I was down in the hinterland, where the movement was more arduous and challenging. The cadre checked my two plots and released me from the poncho tent. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Go for it anyway and make the best of nearly a month spent away from Key West and the old man (my company commander)? Surprised, I affirmed and asked how he knew. Classified in grade of O-3 captains or 0-4 majors for officer positions. What is really wild about Delta Force is they actually have their own distinct team of gunsmiths that develop weapons specially for the specialized ops unit first. His reply was that he had just been there the previous month and washed out (failed), and he had seen there was an empty bunk with my name on it. Candidates must meet requirements regarding: Candidates must also endure a series of land navigation courses that push the boundaries of every conceivable human condition from a physical, mental, and emotional standpoint. Delta Force | SOFREP Delta Force The Unit has seen extensive action in Grenada, Panama, Somalia, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria. I pulled the bags back out of the car and stood down, relinquishing my intent to try out in West Virginia. Yes, eventually I did grasp the fact that the Marlboro Man had been married to my current wife for a brief few months while they were both in DLI. When the frat returned to the bus and we gotunderway, a two-legged shithead with chocolate ice cream on the corners of his mouth made his way back to me and said, Corporal, I would like to voluntarily terminate my status in SFQC. I regarded him with irritation and responded, OK stud, but could you please wait at least until we get to Bragg?. T-Bone had three magnificent daughters and gained even more of my respect and admiration for choosing in their favor. Colonel Charlie Beckwith was a key member in helping create CAG. He took virtually the opposite direction and that was the last time I saw him. rucksack. What now, then? Received a high enough score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The proverbial hare had once again been beaten by the tortoise. He used. It was within the next 24 hours that a Ranger came into the sleep bay and announced, Sgt. Back to Delta selection. He would probably never see my boot prints. It was dawn now, and bright enough to see without the flashlight. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , Delta Forces James Nelson Sudderth Conan the Barbarian, PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. Having completed the first leg of the 40-mile forced march in twice the amount of time allowed to pass the selection phase, I was sure I was. I would open the back hatch on her car and collapse in, unfit to ride up front in the nice bucket seats of her Mustang GT. This guy was a beast. I took to the highest structure that I knew of to trainthe bachelor officers quarters (BOQ) building across the tarmac from our campus. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) Menu. I was LIMPING to selection and assessment. Back to Delta selection. Ahh the "Long March". Literally, it had a name tag posted on it with the name SFC George E. Hand IV. Surely the correct answer is to not dare speak to anyone. It was officially recognized on November 19, 1977. I reported to the cadre poncho tent at 0130 hoursfor my final departure brief. As I threw my bags into the car, I paused to reflect on what the hell I had just done. Limping is no way to approach this endeavor, I thought. Required fields are marked *. We all spied each other but nobody spoke or gestured. Many of the selection procedures are modeled on the British SAS selection, with which Delta's founder Charlie Beckwith served prior to founding the unit. Soldiers are carefully selected from a narrow pool after having proved themselves, sometimes for years. As bad luck would have it, there was snow the morning of the first walk. Joining the ranks of CAG is very challenging and only a very small pool of U.S. Military members are ever considered for the elite unit. He seemed to be coping with the phases of the training well enough. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. That would be a headlamp. There was the good ol boy Hans H. He was a medic from 10th Special Forces Group. There was this South Korean officer in our class whose name tag reflected that he was indeed from the Republic of Koreathe letters ROK were followed by his self-chosen American name. as well as other partner offers and accept our. By this point, candidates are already physically destroyed, having covered hundreds of miles during the previous weeks. He is somewhere out in Marlboro Country, I can only suppose. The survivors then go through the commander's board, where the Delta Force commander and his ranking men grill each candidate individually to determine if he is a good fit for the Unit. For that, he got my respectwhether he wanted it or not. Just a short couple of days into the course, he received news that his wife was struggling with a complication to her pregnancy. The whole thing reminded me ofwhenI graduated jump school at Fort Benning some nine years prior. In the beginning, I had my good bud Joe T-Bone T. to train with. Both of them remember the Marlboro Man from DLI, since all three had been there at the same time. Initial candidates were screened from volunteers in 1978. Minimum age : 21 years old. Officers and NCOs undergo the same arduous selection process and they must meet the following eligibility criteria : -. Eventually it came to a family decision that he would not try out for Delta after all. We would travel from Ft. Benning, Georgia to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina by charter bus. Twenty-five privates and I were going to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). The two elite forces have several comparisons and often operate together. U.S. Delta Force is well recognized for being some of the most advanced specialists in the world when it comes to training regarding a number of different vehicles, equipment, and weapons. I stepped back out in the terminal, where I was finally approached by a way-too-tall Latin American brother with a manchu stache, dark Ray Ban shades, a cartel leather jacket, and a tooth pick in his mouth. My gaze dropped to his shiny jump boots, and I was positive it couldnt be going well. It amuses me to this day how wound up I was over the type of gear I thought was essential to successfully pass selection. I carried two canteens with me. Nope, there wasnt a clue in there anywhere on what to do next. I packed up my gear and configured my head light contraption in the dark, just like I had practiced at home so many times. I plotted my current position and then the position of my first rendezvous point. I plotted my current position and then the position of my first rendezvous point. I reported in, plotted thenext route of my journey on my map,and showed it to the cadre member. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. Therefore, they are also highly trained and knowledgeable operating a number of different vehicles and weapons. Worse yet, Key West had a mean altitude above sea level of two feetnavigating the nose-bleed hills of West Virginiawould be tricky. He made it to the end and was non select because of the run at the end. I couldnt bring myself to be that presumptuous, and insteadstuck towearingthe usual garrison cap that looked like a baseball cap. One of my cadre in the qual course tried out for Delta. But the actual course was harder. It gave way to the eventual rise of Navy SEAL Team Six, which was founded by commander Richard Marcinko. Tom Satterly is the epitome of the best America has to offer. The realm of the feet was far more complex. There were about nine of us from all over the states: Rangers, Green Beret groups, and even a man from the 10th Mountain Division. On the last day of the physical assessment phase of the course, we would stagger-start our long, final 40-mile trek. Those unfortunate enough to finish Selection but not pass the commander's board return to their units with a certificate for finishing an advanced land-navigation course. DEVGRU forces are ranked slightly differently and also draft new recruits to their team. In the last few years, Air Force Pararescuemen, Recon Marines, and Marine Raiders have passed Selection and moved to the next phase, with some even making it into the Unit. My pace was 15 minutes per mile, so I could tell my wife to pick me up at mile marker 20 in 5 hours. There was one piece of gear that I agonized over long enough that I couldnt abandon the notion of being without it. I took to the highest structure that I knew of to trainthe bachelor officers quarters (BOQ) building across the tarmac from our campus. I was approached several times in the dining facility on the Naval Air Station and attheSafeway in town by strangers who asked me (words to the effect of), Arent you the guy/maniac I keep seeing rucking/backpacking along the freeway? Of course this was spoken in their most animated WTF tone of voice. It was a towering 12 stories high, and I commenced climbing up and down the outside fire escape 10times with a 50 lb. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Some of the specific elements of these tests include. What a piece of junk that altimeter turned out to be, and what a dolt I was for buying it in the first place. 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Group, commonly known as Delta Force, is the US Armys elite special mission unit tasked with hostage rescue and counter-terrorism. In the beginning, I had my good bud Joe T-Bone T. to train with. I pulled on a pair of standard-issue U.S. Army socks, OD green in color, one pair. Browns Mountain walks, instructor-led walks, admin walks, he was still with us. Some poor slobs take it as an in and figure selection is just some annoying red tape they have to endure en route to their locker in a squadron team room. What now, then? He stayed in the lounge because nobody would allow him to smoke in the sleeping bays. It is originally conducted during the aforementioned Operator Training Course, or OTC. Selection often produces some hilarious stories. Ever. Delta Force candidates do not during OTC. In the history of United States military operations, members from both units have performed some of the most sophisticated, classified, and dangerous missions authorized by the U.S. National Command Authority. I found him easy to talk to and pretty intelligent. DEVGRU was created as a result of Delta Force and has followed many of its methods closely. The logical solution was to get a headlamp. He sat in the student lounge nightly, clad in a long rider coat like Clint Eastwood and the boys wore in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. He wore shiny jump boots unlaced for his comfort, and he chain-smoked Marlboro cigarettes with such speed and precision that we joked that he must have little red pull pillows on his cigarettes so that when he was done with one, he could look, grab, and pull, and the cigarette would cut away automaticallybringing the next one to his mouth. Prospective operatives reportedly undergo an 18 mile all-night land navigation while beginning with a 40 lb. He envisioned extremely adaptable and entirely autonomous small teams that could operate with a broad array of skills in highly combative and risky situations. I won a chuckle and a dismissal as the crazy gringo. He planted himself squarely in front of me, totally shattering my concept of personal space, and asked in his toughest quiet-time voice, Are you here for specialized training at Camp Dawson? I flashed back to the fake piss gander at my orders. Thats the last time I ever saw the lil guy. In the barracks, there was the nightly ritual of the preparing of mind, body, and kit. I had a genius inform me that the most state-of-the-art compass was entirely unnecessary, as the key to navigation in the mountains of West Virginia was an altimeter! The whole thing reminded me of when I graduated jump school at Fort Benning some nine years prior. Despite the rules, I approached him and asked him how he was doing. Key West is only a few feet above mean sea level and flat as a pancake. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. Ultimately, the Mountain Man, as I named him, would be promptly turned 180 degrees by the commanders board and vigorously dropped on his head. Selection consists of a series of grueling exercises that test the candidate's physical fitness, stamina and mental determination. Most classes run in 90s percentile attrition. Delta Force is part of the secretive Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) alongside its Navy counterpart, SEAL Team 6, and some other special-mission units that specialize in intelligence gathering and covert and clandestine transportation. Although the points might be a few miles apart, the West Virginia terrain requires candidates to cover far more than the map distance between points. He decked himself in field attire and kit that made him look more like he was in costume rather than uniform. Operation Eagle Claw was ultimately aborted due to problems with helicopters, and turned out to be a real mess. "The attrition was 87.5%. Over the course of the tests candidates must carry heavy loads in their ruck sacks. At the end of the day, it all came off, went into the trash, and the same procedure was followed the next day. Heres to you Hans. His glasses got darker and his voice got tougher. Moscow Should Prepare For Probable US Nuclear Aggression: Reports Russian Military Journal, Destroying American Monster Abrams: Pro-Russian Group Release A How-To Video, Dr. Mary E. Walker: The First AND Only Female Medal Of Honor Recipient, Bakhmut on the Brink of Falling to Russian Troops, Decorated Navy SEAL Died in HALO Training Accident, Adam Brown: A SEALs Life of Courage and Redemption, Complete List: Ticonderoga-class Missile Cruisers To Retire By 2027, Nuclear Close Calls That Nearly Caused World War III, Russian Sausage Millionaire and Putin Critic Falls to His Death in India, Deadly Russian Rifle Brigade Wiped Out During War in Ukraine. The basic entrance requirements are similar including needing to be 21 years or older as well as having previous combat experience. They only get vanilla SEALs and SWCC guys," a former Delta Force operator told Insider. It amuses me to this day how wound up I was over the type of gear I thought was essential to successfully pass selection. After a brief while he finally slapped his knee, claiming he could get me where I needed to go. I was LIMPING to selection and assessment. The vast majority of what we know about CAG is based on the reporting found in Eric Haneys book Inside Delta Force. Minutes later, after post-holing aimlessly through a seemingly misplaced Louisiana bayou, we stumbled onto a military M-880 pickup truck. I foolishly bought a watch with an altimeter on it. We even had a flute player from the Army band try out in my Selection, but he didn't make it," George Hand IV, a retired Delta Force operator, told Insider. Nothing but pompous false macho bravado spewing from gaping cake-holes nonstop throughout the entire trip. After stress phase, and at the end of the long, 40-mile walk, I sat by the bonfire with my boots off and a canteen cup of hot Long Walker in my hand. The following morning, the fellows bunk was neatly stockaded and he was gone. Yes, eventually I did grasp the fact that the Marlboro Man had been married to my current wife for a brief few months while they were both in DLI. He seemed to be coping with the phases of the training well enough. As you would expect, it is the elite of the elite so every operator that joins its prestigious ranks is very highly decorated. Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. The initial formal training program for entry into Special Force. Too-Tall Tito completely lost his composure and came out of character momentarily. For that, he got my respectwhether he wanted it or not. Minutes later, after post-holing aimlessly through a seemingly misplaced Louisiana bayou, we stumbled onto a military M-880 pickup truck. Browns Mountain walks, instructor-led walks, admin walks, he was still with us. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ Before that week was over, I had once again received my expected not no, but hell no from the boss on support for my train-up, and I was back up on the 12th floor of the BOQ, looking for my goddamned room.. I found him easy to talk to and pretty intelligent. There is no yelling, no shouting. With an attrition rate historically hovering at 90%, Delta Force has one of the hardest and most selective selection and assessment processes in the US military. He took virtually the opposite direction and that was the last time I saw him. My pace was invariable and my wife was punctual, so I seldom had to wait more than just a few minutes post march for my ride back. Delta Force - Selection and Assessment. Well, after much anguish and gnashing of teeth, I ended up at a U.S. Air Force clothing sales store and purchased two identical pairs of basic leather combat boots, labeled them pair A and pair B, kept the basic black boot polish on them, and made sure I rotated them evenly throughout my training phase in Key West. There was the good ol boy Hans H. He was a medic from 10th Special Forces Group. He and I had a distinct rub. The day I was to leave, I picked up my duffle bags and I limped to my car to drive to the airport. Youre not? he puzzled. Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment: Part 1 | SOFREP Featured Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment: Part 1 by SOFREP Jul 3, 2019 Share This: I was stationed in Key West,. He almost made it through Delta selection. There would be no contact made, no attempt at communication at anytime while out on these practice walks. In order to join Delta Force, you first need to enlist in the Army and serve in the capacity of a special operations soldier. Every 15 minutes, I drank half of a canteen. A graduation of just two men was not unheard of, and there is even a class graduation of a single man, Ray P., the Million Dollar Man," Hand told Insider. To those in the military, I would respond, hooah. To the civilians, I would respond, Sorry no, you must be mistaken. To answer yes to civilians would have been a foolish invitation of a litany of pointless questions from a foreign species, so why would I subject myself to that? As the months went on, I discovered that I had gained a measure of celebrity from the local population, both military and civilian. Did I mention that the old man came to Key West from Delta? According to some estimates, there are as many as 250 300 operators serving in a direct action and hostage rescue capacity. During OTC, recruits are expected to maintain little to no contact with friends and family. While Delta Force is technically a branch of the US Army, they are a part of the Joint Special Operations Command, or JSOC. I practiced putting it on and adjusting it many times in the dark of my house in Key West. The physical testing standards are reportedly similar. They sent me a letter., You moron, a Ranger leveled, We all got fuckin letters.. There was one piece of gear that I agonized over long enough that I couldnt abandon the notion of being without it. A major first training requirement of Delta Force when it was first launched back in the 1970s was to teach members an advanced number of driving scenarios. Once all of my foolishness subsided, I surrendered to my military-issued M2 compass, lensetic, OD green in color, one each. There was a rather youngish, meek fellow from a conventional support unit: no combat patch, no jump wings, no SCUBA badge, nonothing.