If it were 20 miles, then mile marker 20 it was. Reiterating this may serve in some capacity to stress the irony in the fact that he would not support my train-up for selection during duty hours. I had just gotten a leg up on the long walk. Created in the late 1970s in the image of the British Special Air Service (SAS), Delta Force has been at the very tip of the US military spear for decades. T-Bone had three magnificent daughters and gained even more of my respect and admiration for choosing in their favor. That was about a 20 mile round trip, and I always wore combat boots on those rides. I remembered he kept totally quiet and to himself in jump school, and especially on this endless bus ride. Soldiers are carefully selected from a narrow pool after having proved themselves, sometimes for years. There was a rather youngish, meek fellow from a conventional support unit: no combat patch, no jump wings, no SCUBA badge, nonothing. My God, was it really that far away? Classified in grade of O-3 captains or 0-4 majors for officer positions. The next time I walked to my car to load my bags, I was strong and steady, and looking forward to my time away from Key West and the smug glances from the old man. Moleskin and tincture of benzoin were the staple applications. He shook it hesitantly, and I left. He decked himself in field attire and kit that made him look more like he was in costume rather than uniform. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) 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,. Each day the length of the route and the weight needed to be carried increases. 90's TOMMY HILFLGER - hallticket.forumias.com Selection often produces some hilarious stories. There would be no contact made, no attempt at communication at anytime while out on these practice walks. Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment (Pt. The U.S. Secret Service and DSS reportedly works with Delta Force during these training exercises. 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. I applied a womans nylon shorty stocking directly to the tinctured foot. Me, I found it frankly riveting to finally take in the version of the saga from liar number two. He was not amused. He shook it hesitantly, and I left. Once all of my foolishness subsided, I surrendered to my military-issued M2 compass, lensetic, OD green in color, one each. They both noted the eureka expression on my face, and mission complete: I slapped my forehead and busted out laughing. CAG primarily deals with hostage rescue and counter-terrorism, as well as direct action and special reconnaissance work regarding high-value targets. I observed that in Hans gear layout on his bunk, he had three Maglights. I would be wearing a heavy rucksack, carrying a rifle without a sling that, by protocol, must be carried in the hand, and a map. One poor, disillusioned troop went on record as having lamented, Butthey sent me a letter. In retrospect, every one of those Albrecht Einsteins had one thing in common. The boots had to be military-issue as a hard and fast rule. ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, Army MOS List: A List Of All 159 Army Jobs, Top 20 Reasons to Join the Military (and 7 reasons not to), Green Berets Vs. Rangers: 5 Major Differences, 6 Ways To Check If Someone Was In The Military / Verify Military Service, CIA Special Activities Division (SAD): 12 Things You Never Knew, Navy SEAL Weapons and Gear: 24 Rifles, Handguns, Shotguns, and More, https://www.military.com/special-operations/delta-force.html, https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/us-armys-delta-force-how-secret-group-deadly-soldiers-came-be-55057, https://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/qualifications-and-benefits.html, https://thenewsrep.com/43573/surviving-delta-force-selection-assessment-pt-1/, Army Grooming Standards: Haircuts, Mustaches, Beards, And More, List Of 9 Army Patches And Their Meanings, Army Sharpshooter Badge: 6 Things To Know, Army Service Ribbon (ASR): 5 Things To Know, Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM): 8 Things To Know. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ Not at all. There was a recommended training outline that Delta published to candidates. I did notice, however (in all my own perfection, mind you), that he was a rather particular fellow and a bit quirky at thatvery fussy and fretful of germs and dirt and the like. Some of the most popular CAG vehicles include: Delta Force (CAG) has several noteworthy members. When he returned home Beckwith acknowledged that the U.S. Armed Forces could serve to benefit from a highly specialized unit. Karma is a motherfucker, aint it? 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. 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. As the months went on, I discovered that I had gained a measure of celebrity from the local population, both military and civilian. Army active duty, Reserve or National Guard. "Brothers of the Cloth" describes Hand's time in Delta, with operations from Mogadishu to the Balkans, and includes stories from legendary Delta Force operators. He threw his things together and was gone in a flash. He was not amused. Both of them remember the Marlboro Man from DLI, since all three had been there at the same time. Delta Force | SOFREP Delta Force The Unit has seen extensive action in Grenada, Panama, Somalia, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria. 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. Support Veteran Journalism . The U.S. government did reexamine its procedures after Operation Eagle Claw, and more soldiers were dedicated to counter-terrorism than before. I had just run out of hands to carry a flashlight. Read Part 1 of Surviving Delta Force Selection here. For example, a Navy explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) technician or a cryptologist could serve on SEAL Team 6 in a support role and go out on target, but they wouldn't go through the physically and technically arduous Green Team. It was dawn now, and bright enough to see without the flashlight. In those days, I had no children and an independent wife. as well as other partner offers and accept our. He was the Marlboro Man! Worse yet, Key West had a mean altitude above sea level of two feetnavigating the nose-bleed hills of West Virginia would be tricky. I had become lost when I got to low ground where the existing streams were swollen and previously non-existing rivulets appeared. I practiced putting it on and adjusting it many times in the dark of my house in Key West. I reported to the cadre poncho tent at 0130 hoursfor my final departure brief. Alas, the day came when we were to venture out into the hills for the first time all on our own. Too-Tall Tito completely lost his composure and came out of character momentarily. Anyone can volunteer for the course, formally known as Assessment and Selection, regardless of their service branch or status (active duty, national guard, or reserves). Assessment and Selection takes place in the mountains of West Virginia and last for about a month. Thus, skills like dead drops, brief encounters, load and unload signals, surveillance, and counter-surveillance are all reportedly taught to trainees. One of the guys poked through the remnants and remarked, You know, all he took was the rice. You cant make this stuff up. Literally, it had a name tag posted on it with the name SFC George E. Hand IV. In the barracks, there was the nightly ritual of the preparing of mind, body, and kit. I had just run out of hands to carry a flashlight. 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. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ I couldnt bring myself to be that presumptuous, and instead stuck to wearing the usual garrison cap that looked like a baseball cap. We consulted briefly over maps, mutually offering where we thought we were, and where we thought we needed to go. This isn't your Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) or Ranger Assessment and Selection Process (RASP). Delta Force candidates do not during OTC. He didn't know how to NOT be doing something physical. We would travel from Ft. Benning, Georgiato Ft. Bragg, North Carolina by charter bus. They're following a script. Delta Force - Selection - americanspecialops.com There were mostly Rangers and GBs, but there were representatives from many other facets of the Army. Delta Force (SFOD-D): Selection, Training, Motto, And More. On my initial ruck march with my new altimeter, I noted that it had not budged so much as a foot of elevation, plus or minus the true elevation of Key West in the past ten miles of marching, and it never would! He threw his things together and was gone in a flash. They had both been to foreign language training at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monte Rey, California. Then, tactical rooms are setup for hostage takeover situations. 16.8k members in the SpecOpsArchive community. Read Next: How the Army Uses the West Virginia Wilderness to Find Out Who Has What It Takes to Join Delta Force. 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. 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. Not at all. It has used other tactical terms to describe an elite, specialized unit considering new applicants. Candidates must be airborne qualified, or having volunteered for airborne training. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. 340 votes, 10 comments. Heres to you Hans. 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. I had intentionally sought out that assignment to avoid a mandatory levy into the Special Warfare Center(SWC)duty that all Green Berets inevitably faced in their careers at some point. 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. 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. I took to the highest structure that I knew of to trainthe bachelor officers quarters (BOQ) building across the tarmac from our campus. Yes, I was in fact there for the training at Dawson. He reported his findings to the U.S. Military after serving with the British Special Air Service during the Malayan Emergency. Officers and NCOs undergo the same arduous selection process and they must meet the following eligibility criteria : -. I had spoiled his scenario. The boots had to be military-issue as a hard and fast rule. Trainees are expected to have extremely high accuracy rates. There was the good ol boy Hans H. He was a medic from 10th Special Forces Group. I still have one of those pairs to this day, never having worn them again after selection. Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment | Delta force, Delta Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. SEALs need similar training but also take it a step further with advanced skydiving. Surprised, I affirmed and asked how he knew. Every 15 minutes, I drank half of a canteen. Two of my good bros Pat Mac and Mike P. from way back were there at selection with me and both made it through to squadron assignments. The Special Forces soldier trains on a regular basis over the course of their entire career. Scores of other misfits went adrift. My final selection of boots? Literally, it had a name tag posted on it with the name SFC George E. Hand IV. On my initial ruck march with my new altimeter, I noted that it had not budged so much as a foot of elevation, plus or minus the true elevation of Key West in the past ten miles of marching, and it never would! Hand has written one of the few accurate accounts of life inside Delta Force. Delta Force is the primary counter-terrorism branch in the U.S. Military along with Navy SEAL Team Six, or DEVGRU. I won a chuckle and a dismissal as the crazy gringo. Every 15 minutes, I drank half of a canteen. That being said, I continued to have at it alone. I pulled the bags back out of the car and stood down, relinquishing my intent to try out in West Virginia. Once all of my foolishness subsided, I surrendered to my military-issued M2 compass, lensetic, OD green in color, one each. I would tie a cravat on my head like a pirate, as a sort of saddle blanket, before I strapped on my Rube Goldberg of a device. It was a towering 12 stories high, and I commenced climbing up and down the outside fire escape 10 times with a 50 lb. I had no lead on where to procure such a luxury. Worse yet, Key West had a mean altitude above sea level of two feetnavigating the nose-bleed hills of West Virginiawould be tricky. He seemed to be coping with the phases of the training well enough. What now, then? In order to join Delta Force, you first need to enlist in the Army and serve in the capacity of a special operations soldier. Many of the selection procedures are modeled on the British SAS selection, with which Delta's founder . Selection is an individual effort. There is little surprise that many soldiers aspire to join what some members simply refer to as The Unit. I stared at him momentarily and blankly, then in my own fashion of dealing with shock, I jokingly asked him if it had been a top bunk or bottom bunk. 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. The realm of the feet was far more complex. Today. Delta Force is frequently compared to U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 (DEVGRU) and rightfully so. Just a short couple of days into the course, he received news that his wife was struggling with a complication to her pregnancy. The Unit, as Delta Force operators refer to it, has been involved in all major and minor US military operations and campaigns since its formation, including in Iran, Panama, Grenada, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Not with those boots. I, thinking this was going to be fun, winked at my buds and went to the lounge with my most sincere what-the-fuck-is-this-all-about look on my face. I turned it around for him. As God is my witness, I even saw a pair of jungle boots theresteel shank and all. It was during this time in November of 1979 that Delta Force executed its first highly publicized mission, known as Operation Eagle Claw. Youre not? he puzzled. 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. The logical solution was to get a headlamp. They also screen records to determine eligibility for service with the unit in terms of rank, time in grade, time in service, record of conduct, etc. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. They teamed up and trained as a buddy team to keep each other motivated and have company. Theres been speculation that some soldiers are also considered from other special operations units of the U.S. Military, such as Marine Force Recon, Air Force Pararescue (PJs), and even Air Force Combat Controllers. destroying the spirit and covenant of death with scriptures The following morning, the fellows bunk was neatly stockaded and he was gone. Stay up to date with what you want to know. That alone is enough to unsettle seasoned guys who are used to an 'in-your-face' approach during Selections," the former Delta Force operator added. "In my time, it was usually about 60% Green Berets, 39% Rangers, and 1% random guys, such as cooks, chaplain assistants, and mechanics. Camp Dawson had indeed been on my orders somewhere. It was all good. Browns Mountain walks, instructor-led walks, admin walks, he was still with us. 2): If Boots Could Talk Read Part 1 of Surviving Delta Force Selection here. By this point, candidates are already physically destroyed, having covered hundreds of miles during the previous weeks. It amuses me to this day how wound up I was over the type of gear I thought was essential to successfully pass selection. Hand, the Marlboro Man wants to see you in the lounge, ASAP. Priceless. I had just gotten a leg up on the long walk. He made it to the end and was non select because of the run at the end. Related Article Green Berets Vs. Rangers: 5 Major Differences. None of the enlisted cadre at Key West like him, and as we barged into his office to tell him so, I noticed I was suddenly all by myself. On completion of OTC, the recruits become operational and are assigned to one of the active Delta Force squadrons. I would be wearing a heavy rucksack, carrying a rifle without a sling that, by protocol, must be carried in the hand, and a map. Since Delta Force remains a confidential unit, not everything about OTC is known for sure, with much of the information being speculated upon. As part of its recruiting effort, Delta sends recruiters to speak and show a hooah film to select groups of troops around U.S. military installations. Between long walks, I routinely took to rucking the 10miles along the freeway to the Boca Chica Annex. The demanding six month training teaches a variety of counter-terrorism and counterintelligence techniques. One month of pre-phase, one month at Camp MacKall, one weapons phase, and one Robin Sage later, the only two remaining of that contemptuous mob were one Private First Class Richard Rich P. and one Sgt. As God is my witness, I even saw a pair of jungle boots theresteel shank and all. That is, they were all missing one thing: a wall locker in a team room in one of the squadron bays of the Delta Force. Haney, who managed to cover the discreet force in unprecedented detail. Delta Force members must have already been in airborne training. for Officers. I reported to the cadre poncho tent at 0130 hours for my final departure brief. We can rest easier at night knowing these highly trained individuals continue to watch after our well-being as they handle high stakes terrorism missions. Moleskin and tincture of benzoin were the staple applications. 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. The routes and distances were a no-brainer for me: If the ruck march that week were 18 mileswell, Key West is mile zero, and I simply rucked up Interstate US 1 until I reached mile marker 18. Go for it anyway and make the best of nearly a month spent away from Key West and the old man (my company commander)? When the frat returned to the bus and we got underway, 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?. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. As the months went on, I discovered that I had gained a measure of celebrity from the local population, both military and civilian. Limping is no way to approach this endeavor, I thought. They also learn how to make bombs with common materials and other advanced demolition techniques. I reveled in the chance to get away from this fraternity and stayed on the bus. It was all good. Back to Delta selection. The proverbial hare had once again been beaten by the tortoise. Ever. Those eligible would get a form letter inviting them to try out. In fact, he would turn out to be someone very significant to me shortly. Learn more about Delta Force, including the basic requirements, selection, training, how they differ from SEAL Team 6, and their weapons and equipment. 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. Therefore, they are also highly trained and knowledgeable operating a number of different vehicles and weapons. I believe I saw every measure of high-speed, low-drag footwear there. 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. According to Haney they begin with stationary targets before progressing to moving targets. The cadre checked my two plots and released me from the poncho tent. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. Alas, the day came when we were to venture out into the hills for the first time all on our own. 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. Delta Force Selection is divided into three phases. 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! There was one piece of gear that I agonized over long enough that I couldnt abandon the notion of being without it. My compass didnt know the first thing about altitude, but it knew everything there was to know about north, no matter where it was, and that is all that really mattered. Surprised, I affirmed and asked how he knew. To be on that bus of jackasses was to be on the verge of vomiting for hours on end. Therefore, Delta Force weapons are highly customized with personal adjustments that account for everything from the stock and grips, to sights and other moving parts. hessy wa kayole pictures. The whole thing reminded me ofwhenI graduated jump school at Fort Benning some nine years prior. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) I couldnt bring myself to be that presumptuous, and insteadstuck towearingthe usual garrison cap that looked like a baseball cap. I was approached several times in the dining facility on the Naval Air Station and at the Safeway 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. Delta Force - Selection and Assessment. It was a towering 12 stories high, and I commenced climbing up and down the outside fire escape 10times with a 50 lb. To each his own, I always say. Tito twisted around and went after the next Cabelas poster boy. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. My two buds conversed among themselves intentionally within earshot of me so I could eventually pick up on what what happening. I went after Tito and recanted. Some of the specific elements of these tests include. I configured a head harness out of straps and Velcro, a cradle to grab and hold a Maglite securely for at least eight hours, a horizontal stabilizing strap, a vertical stabilizer, and a final anchoring chin strap. As I threw my bags into the car, I paused to reflect on what the hell I had just done. Beckwith insisted on a long training period after being advised by John Watts from England who served as a Brigadier. He seemed to be coping with the phases of the training well enough. I packed up my gear and configured my head light contraption in the dark, just like I had practiced at home so many times.