February 2012 - United States Special Operations Command

SEALs mark 50 years of service ... 10Tip of the SpearAdm. Bill H. McRavenCommander, USSOCOMCSM Chris FarisCommand Sergeant MajorArmy Col. Tim NyePublic Affairs DirectorMike BottomsManaging EditorMarine Master Sgt. F. B. ZimmermanStaff NCOIC, Command InformationAir Force Tech. Sgt. Larry W. Carpenter, Jr.Staff Writer/PhotographerAir Force Tech. Sgt. Heather KellyStaff Writer/PhotographerThis is a U.S. Special Operations Command publication. Contents are notnecessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government,Department of Defense or USSOCOM. The content is edited, prepared andprovided by the USSOCOM Public Affairs Office, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd.,MacDill AFB, Fla., 33621, phone (813) 826-4600, DSN 299-4600. Anelectronic copy can be found at www.socom.mil. E-mail the editor viaunclassified network at public.affairs@socom.mil. The editor of the Tip ofthe Spear reserves the right to edit all copy presented for publication.(Cover) May, 1970, Republic of Vietnam. This famous picture of a SEAL up to his knees in river mud was taken duringan actual combat operation in Vietnam by Navy Chief Petty Officer A. Hill. Photo courtesy of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.Tip of the Spear2

HighlightsDepartmentsSOF Around the WorldGallantry medals for 10th SFG (A) Soldiers ... 4HALO operations over the Republic of South Korea ... 8Naval Special Warfare CommandSEALs mark 50th anniversary ... 10United States Army Special Operations CommandWhere this brotherhood began ... 18Where this brotherhood began ... 184/3rd SFG (A) JISE receives national award ... 22Medal of Honor Recipient talks training, choices ... 24Soldiers endure SFAS Team Week ... 26Air Force Special Operations CommandCleaning up ... 28Sather Memorial rests at Lackland ... 32Combat Controller awarded Silver Star ... 30Special Tactics Airmen presented combat medals ... 31Sather Memorial finds rest at Lackland ... 32Marine Corps Forces Special Operations CommandMARSOC graduates newest Special Operators ... 35MARSOC graduates newestSpecial Operators ... 35HeadquartersFallen Heroes ... 39Tip of the Spear3

Gallantry, heroism of Soldiersrecognized during valor ceremonyBy Master Sgt. Donald SparksSOCEUR Public AffairsOne Soldier was rendered unconsciousby a bomb blast, but recovered andrepelled an enemy attack. One Soldierstrained both his hamstrings carrying aslain French officer down a mountain.One Soldier scaled up and down amountain three times to save his fellowcomrade. One Soldier was shot by enemyfire in the arm three times, yet continuedto aggressively engage the enemy. Andone Soldier ran through a burningbuilding to evacuate its residents.Four words sum up their actions –“leave no one behind.”All five men, assigned to 1stBattalion, 10th Special Forces Group(Airborne), were honored for theirgallantry and heroism in a valorceremony held at Patch Barracks inStuttgart, Germany on Tuesday.Capt. David Fox, Sgt. 1st Class McKenna “Frank”Miller and Staff Sgt. Matthew Gassman received SilverStars, the United States’ third-highest award for gallantryin combat for their heroic actions on Dec. 17, 2010, inKapisa Province, Afghanistan, in direct support ofOperation Enduring Freedom.Staff Sgt. Jeffery Musgrave was awarded the UnitedStates’ fourth highest award for gallantry in combat, theBronze Star with Valor Device, as well as the PurpleHeart, for his actions and wounds received from theenemy on May 17, 2010, while deployed to WardakProvince, Afghanistan.For risking his life to save 35 German citizens from aBöblingen, Germany apartment fire during the earlyAdmiral James G. Stavridis pins the Bronze Star with Valor device on Staff Sgt.Jeffery Musgrave during a valor ceremony. Courtesy photo.morning hours on July 3, 2011, Spc. Willie Smith Jr., wasawarded the Soldier’s Medal, the United States’ highestpeacetime award for heroism.Hosting the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Michael S. Repass,commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe,said the men being recognized would probably never telltheir story due to their humility.“These are real live friends, neighbors, teammates –people that we know,” Repass said. “They will humblyadmit that they had the opportunity to act outside the lineof duty, beyond the orders of superiors and perform anact of conspicuous bravery.”At the conclusion of the ceremony, U.S. EuropeanCommand Commander Adm. James G. Stavridis praisednot only the awardees, but the entire Special OperationsForces community at large.Tip of the Spear4

said. “Frank said, ‘hey I got it,’ bends down, puts theKIA in a fireman’s carry, picks him up and proceeds tomove down the mountain.”Miller had scaled the mountain just prior to arrivingon the scene, but he carried the KIA down the mountainto the emergency helicopter landing zone (HLZ) forevacuation.Soaked in the French engineer’s blood, Millerpainstakingly made his way down the mountain, all-thewhiletaking sustained fire from the enemy. Severaltimes he stumbled and fell due to the weight on hisback.Fox, now carrying Miller’s M4 carbine weapon,provided suppressive fire to shield Miller as they madetheir way down the near-vertical mountain. As Foxwatched Miller struggle, he thought, “This is serioustrying to get down.”As the men approached the dried up wadi at the baseof the mountain, Miller fell once more. He was now inagonizing pain due to his hamstrings being severelystrained. The team was able to seek cover behind a treeupon crossing the wadi.Laughing aloud as he recalled the events on theground, Miller said, “I do remember Captain Foxrunning across the wadi in the open to go get help andbringing me water.”Gassman made his way down the mountain under ahail of fire with the ANSF commander to the HLZ, buthad to abort because of too much enemy fire at thatlocation. The decision was made to establish anotherlanding zone 1,000 meters away.After loading everyone in an LMTV, Gassmandismounted and ran in front of the vehicle to suppressenemy fire and led the vehicle to the second HLZ whereFrom left to right, Silver Star recipients Capt. David Fox, Sgt. 1st Class McKenna 'Frank' Miller and Staff Sgt. MatthewGassman. Courtesy photo.Tip of the Spear6

the wounded ANSF commander and the fallen Frenchofficer were evacuated.Reflecting on why it was important to bring hismortally wounded French comrade down the mountain,Miller said, “We’re never going to leave somebodybehind. It’s not an option.”In Spite of Pain – May 17, 2010After completing a home search of a suspected IEDfacilitator, Musgrave and his SOTU were preparing tohead back to camp when they came under enemy fire.Three rounds ripped into his left bicep before he couldeven react.“I looked at my arm anddidn’t see any blood…myadrenaline just startedpumping,” Musgrave said. “Iwas more excited about thefirefight.”Musgrave informed theteam that he was hit, andcontinued maneuvering todifferent positions andreturned fire on the enemy.After expending his M-4basic load and ignoring incoming fire, he left his coveredposition to man a comrade’s M-249 Squad AutomaticWeapon and continued to engage in the fight.Despite bleeding profusely, Musgrave exposedhimself twice more, before finally being treated for hiswounds. As he was being treated by the medic, amember of his team yelled for assistance and againMusgrave maneuvered 300 meters into position toengage the enemy allowing two of his teammates toflank the enemy and kill two fighters.“It was something out of a movie,” Musgrave said.“On top of everything that was happening, it waspouring down raining. Anything and everything possiblethat could have went wrong – went wrong that day.”Fighting with only one good arm, Musgrave and histeam tried to depart the area, but their vehicle got stuckin the mud – all while getting peppered by enemy fire.He got out of the vehicle and formed a defensiveperimeter until the vehicle was recovered.“You don’t have time to think about what’s going“It was something out of a movie,”Musgrave said. “On top of everythingthat was happening, it was pouringdown raining. Anything and everythingpossible that could have went wrong –went wrong that day.”— Staff Sgt. Jeffery Musgraveon,” Musgrave said of his actions. “I may have got shot,but if the guy next to me, who was my medic, getsshot…then we’d really be in a bad situation. During thattime of mass chaos, someone had to step up to the plateand do what had to be done.”Saving Your Fellow Man – July 3, 2011Walking home in the early-morning hours afterattending a social event, Smith and a friend noticed abuilding engulfed in flames in Böblingen, Germany.After directing his friend to call the German authorities,Smith next did something that he said was instinctive onhis part.“I ran up and down threeor four stories to inform thepeople of what was goingon,” Smith said. “I justwanted to ensure I goteveryone out of thatbuilding.”Going door-to-door, heattempted to alert thesleeping residents of the fire.By the time the firedepartment and Polizeiarrived, most of the residents were evacuated, but thecrowd mentioned there was still an elderly couple inside.Smith ran back inside the building along with twomembers of the Polizei to retrieve the couple from harm.“The gentleman did not want to leave his wifebecause she had problems walking, so he stayed in thebuilding with her,” Smith said.Moving through thick smoke, Smith and the rescueteam located the couple, who were disoriented andhaving trouble getting out of bed. He took control of thehandicapped, elderly gentleman and escorted him downthe stairs, while the other rescue team members led theelderly woman to safety. Moments later the roof of thebuilding collapsed.Smith mentioned his motivation for going into theblazing building was that he didn’t want to see anyoneget hurt.“It’s inside of everyone to want to help otherpeople,” Smith said. “When I did it, I didn’t give anysecond thought about it.”Tip of the Spear7

Photos by Air Force Staff Sgt. Rasheen A. Douglas(Clockwise from top)An Air Force survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist from the 8th Operations Support Squadron (left), makes surea Soldier from Special Operations Command Korea's 39th Special Forces Detachment (Airborne) has his parachute ready togo before boarding a C-130 at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea.An Air Force SERE specialist from the 8th Operations Support Squadron (right), goes over landing coordinates with a Soldierin a C-130 flying over the Republic of Korea.Soldiers from SOCKOR jump out of a C-130 at the Gunsan-Saemangeum Airshow in Gunsan City, Republic of Korea.Tip of the Spear8

A Soldier from SOCKOR floats to the groundafter jumping 10,000 feet from a C-130 at theGunsan-Saemangeum Airshow in Gunsan City,Republic of Korea, Oct. 9, 2011.Tip of the Spear9

Tip of the Spear10Navy SEALs enter Kuwait City driving a threeseat Desert Patrol Vehicle. Photo courtesy of theNational Navy UDT-SEAL Museum

By Naval Special WarfareCommand Public AffairsThe Naval Special Warfarecommunity celebrated the 50thanniversary of theestablishment of Navy SEALteams Jan. 1.In the late 1950s and early1960, Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F.Kennedy determined a need for developing anunconventional warfare capability to counter amenacing Soviet threat, turmoil in places likeIndonesia and Malaysia, and rising insurgencyproblems in South Vietnam.In response to the demand for a maritime specialoperator, Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Arleigh A.Burke, authorized the creation of the first two SEALteams Jan. 1, 1962. SEAL Team 1 was established inSan Diego, Calif. to support the Pacific Fleet. The teamwas established under the command of Lt. David DelGiudice. SEAL Team 2 was established in Little Creek,Va., to support the Atlantic Fleet. SEAL Team 2 wasunder the command of Lt. John Callahan. These firsttwo SEAL teams were commissioned with acomplement of 10 officers and 50 enlisted men takenfrom the ranks of the Navy’s Underwater Demolitionteams who made their mark in World War II and Koreainvestigating and removing all obstacles, both naturaland man-made from beach landing locations.Shortly after establishment of the teams, theinaugural class of Navy SEALs took to the jungles ofVietnam for reconnaissance, ambushes, captures, raids,POW recovery, and other innovative and offensiveefforts to disrupt Viet Cong and North VietnameseArmy operations and infrastructure. The teams wereamong the most decorated units in the Vietnam War.While the character and mission U.S. Navy SEALscarried out then and now have not changedsignificantly, SEALs today have matured their tacticalskills and capabilities from the days of KA-BARs, M-16s and PRC-77s. The use of unmanned aerial vehiclesis paying huge dividends in intelligence gathering andtarget tracking. Navy SEALs communicate intra-soundand across the world in real-time, and with video. NavySEAL armories carry fearsome, hand-held weapons forevery environment and situation. From the MekongDelta to the Hindu Kush, deep at sea or far into thedesert, SEALs have conducted some of our nation'smost critical missions and are as relevant today, as theywere when they were first created.In spite of radical changes in technology and thetimes, the Navy SEAL of 2012 has the same doggeddetermination and exceptional toughness the 1962“plank owner” possessed. Navy SEAL teams have animpressive battle field record, having earned everysignificant military award, including five Medals ofHonor. Those successes do not come without countlessacts of heroism and profound sacrifice. “Never quit”and “always win” are qualities that define the teamsand its members vow to never compromise.In his remarks to the force Jan. 10, Rear Adm. SeanA. Pybus, commander, Naval Special WarfareCommand, emphasized the importance of continuingthe Navy SEAL legacy.“I would ask you to look at the future, make a pointto continue our successful legacy and keep our forcerelevant, continue to develop yourself personally,professionally, get education, get experience and lookto the future and make sure that we continue to besuccessful and relevant for our Navy, for the SpecialOperations Command and for our nation,” Pybus said.A Fountain High-Speed Boat (USB)operated by members of Special Boat Unit12 near Ras al-Mishab, Saudi Arabia, 1991.Photo courtesy of National Navy UDT-SEALMuseum.Tip of the Spear11

125Photos courtesy of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.31) Disguised as fishermen, Republic of Vietnam Navy SEAL,Kiet Van Nguyen, and U.S. Navy SEAL Tom Norris went behindenemy lines in a sampan and rescued a downed pilot. For theiractions Norris received the Medal of Honor and Nguyen theNavy Cross.2) Members of SEAL Team One move down the Bassac River ina SEAL Team Assault Boat during operations along the riversouth of Saigon in November 1967.3) The Viet Cong would not know of the SEALs approach untilthey were close by, literally at arm’s length. The Viet Cong sofeared the camouflaged SEALs that they dubbed them “the menwith green faces.”44) SEALs became proficient in anti-guerrilla and guerrillaactions. They quickly adapted to enemy practices, using smallgroups, light weapons, and special equipment to hunt downand capture required intelligence.5) Navy SEALs on patrol.Tip of the Spear12

Persian Gulf: 1987 — SOF’s first tactical operationinvolved SEALs, Special Boat Units, and 160th SpecialOperations Regiment (Airborne) aviators working togetherduring Operation Earnest Will. The Nightstalkers used“Little Bird” helicopters to disable the Iranian ship Iran Ajrwhile the ship was laying mines in the Persian Gulf.SEALs and Special Boat Units later captured the ship. ASEAL platoon and a demolition unit planted explosives onon a oil platform and destroyed it.Panama: 1989 — Photograph taken in General ManuelNoriega's backyard Beach House, Christmas Day 1989.The SEALs in the picture had recently blown up thePresidente Porras, a Panama Defense Force patrol boat aspart of the Task Unit Whiskey during Operation JustCause.Kuwait: 1991 — Navy SEALs on border patrol.Haiti: 1994 — Members of SEAL Team 8 patrolling thestreets of Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy.Photos courtesy of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.Tip of the Spear13

(Top to bottom)From left to right, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson,Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy, Petty Officer 2ndClass James Suh, Petty Officer 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, PettyOfficer 2nd Class Eric S. Patton, and Lt. Michael P. Murphy inAfghanistan. With the exception of Luttrell, all were killed June28, 2005, by enemy forces in Operation Red Wing. Murphy, Dietz,and Axelson died fighting on the ground. In a rescue effort ofMurphy’s team, Healy, Suh and Patton along with 13 other SOFOperators were killed in a helicopter crash downed by an enemyRPG. Murphy would receive the Medal of Honor for his actionsthat day. U.S. Navy photo.During Sensitive Site Exploitation mission, U.S. Navy SEALsdiscover a large cache of munitions in one of more than 50caves explored in the Zhawar Kili area, Jan. 14, 2002. U.S. Navyphoto.A U.S. Navy SEAL observes munitions being destroyed Feb. 12,2002. The SEALs discovered the munitions while conducting aSensitive Site Exploitation mission in Eastern Afghanistan.Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Tim Turner.Tip of the Spear14

(Top to bottom)SEALS conduct a combat operation to detain suspectedterrorist leaders of an insurgent force near Baghda, Iraq, June12, 2007. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Johansen Laurel.Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoorpatrolling the streets of Iraq while deployed in 2006. Monsoorwould earn the Medal of Honor posthumously as part of a sniperoverwatch security position with three other SEALs and eightIraqi Army soldiers. An insurgent closed in and threw afragmentation grenade into the overwatch position. The grenadehit Monsoor in the chest before falling to the ground. Positionednext to the single exit, Monsoor was the only one who couldhave escaped harm. Instead, he dropped onto the grenade toshield the others from the blast. Monsoor died approximately 30minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast.SEALs patrol the streets of Shuhaymiyah, Iraq, June 9, 2007, tomaintain a security presence throughout the province. Photo byPetty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Perez.A SEAL with Coalition Forces participates in a search for threemissing Soldiers near Baghdad, May 13, 2007. Photo by PettyOfficer 1st Class Michael Watkins.Tip of the Spear15

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Joseph Robert KerreyPlace / Date of Action:Near Nha Trang Bay,Republic of Vietnam,March 14, 1969Thomas Rolland NorrisPlace / Date of Action:Quang Tri Province,Republic of Vietnam,April 10 to 13, 1972Michael Edwin ThorntonPlace / Date of Action:Republic of Vietnam,Oct. 31, 1972Michael Patrick MurphyPlace / Date of Action:Near Asadabad, Afghanistan,June 28, 2005Michael Anthony MonsoorPlace / Date of Action:Ar Ramadi, Iraq,Sept. 29, 2006Tip of the Spear17

Then-Bolivian Army Corporal Rod Mendoza (left) watches as then-U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Fensom (center), of 7thSpecial Forces Group (Airborne), runs through reaction-to-contact drills during a 1997 Joint Combined Exchange Trainingexercise in Bolivia with the country's Manchengo ranger battalion. In the past 14 years, Mendoza has left the Bolivian army andjoined the U.S. Army's Special Forces regiment, served on several deployments and is now an instructor for the Special ForcesQualification Course. Fensom is now a sergeant major, and the deputy commandant of the David K. Thuma NoncommissionedOfficer Academy at Fort Bragg. Photo courtesy of Sgt. Maj. Patrick Fensom.Where this brotherhood beganOne small gesture of friendship by a team of Special Forces Soldiers set oneyoung Bolivian corporal on a path toward wearing his own American green beretBy Dave ChaceSWCS Public Affairs OfficeIn 1997, eight Special Forces Soldiers traveled toBolivia to train and advise a battalion of Bolivian armyrangers. Beyond running the battalion’s light infantrycertification training, the Special Forces team used theirdowntime to refine their own techniques and tacticalproficiency; and they allowed a motivated 20-year-oldBolivian Army corporal to participate in their teamtraining sessions.For then-Sgt. 1st Class. Patrick Fensom and histeammates on Operational Detachment-Alpha 716, partof the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), this trainingwas routine. A few hours of internal team trainingevents during a six-week Joint Combined ExchangeTraining deployment was usual, and if one or two hostnationsoldiers wanted to come along and see howAmerican forces did business, they were welcome.For then-Bolivian army Corporal Rodrigo Mendoza,however, this experience came to define the next 14years of his life. The Army’s Special Forces communityis small, and friends are often reunited throughout theircareers, but Fensom never expected to see Mendozaagain; let alone to see him 14 years later as a SpecialForces sergeant first class, training future ODAcommanders at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy SpecialWarfare Center and School.Tip of the Spear18

“In Bolivia, military service is mandatory, so I wasdoing my time [in the ’90s] and then I volunteered forranger training,” Mendoza said. “Real American SF guyscame to train us for a peacekeeping mission we werepreparing to do with the United Nations. When theyshowed up, I was like, ‘Whoa, this is awesome!’”Fensom, now a sergeant major and the deputycommandant of the David K. Thuma NoncommissionedOfficer Academy, part of the U.S. Army John F.Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at FortBragg, was a Special Forces weapons sergeant on theeight-man team assigned to train Mendoza’s unit,Bolivia’s Manchengo battalion.“With the Manchengo battalion our mission wasspecifically to get them to a level where they could getcertified by the United Nations to conduct peacekeepingoperations,” Fensom said. “The training incorporated alot of light infantry, medical and communications tasks,with equipment organic to their unit.”“We got along with a lot of the Bolivian soldiers, but[Mendoza] was one of the soldiers who wanted someextra training,” Fensom said as he flipped through an oldphoto album at his desk, pointing at photos of a youngMendoza on a rifle range. “[Our team] always took sometime to conduct team training during deployments, andMendoza was one of two Bolivian soldiers we invited totrain with us.”Mendoza said he wouldn’t have been able tobefriend the American team if it hadn’t been for theirability to connect with him on a cultural level.“[Our team] could converse pretty well in Spanish,and of course all our lessons were taught in Spanish,”Fensom said. “That really was a key to building thatrapport; and if you didn’t speak Spanish really well, youhad the Bolivian soldiers there to interact with.”“They spoke some good Spanish, like [then-Sgt. 1stClass Arthur Lilley],” Mendoza said. “He was a greatSpanish speaker, and it was a good way to establish afriendship.”At the end of the JCET, Mendoza gave Lilley hisBolivian green beret as a gift; Lilley reciprocated, givingMendoza his own American green beret, complete withthe 7th SFG(A) flash and the American Special Forcesregimental insignia.Mendoza finished his service in the Bolivian army in1998, and spent some time as a firefighter at theBolivian airport before moving to his wife’s home inPuerto Rico.A Dutch military officer (left) representing NATO observesBolivian Army training run by U.S. Army Special ForcesSoldiers in Bolivia during a November 1997 Joint CombinedExchange Training deployment. The Dutch officer attendedthe training to validate Bolivia's Manchego battalion toconduct peacekeeping operations on behalf of NATO; theSpanish-speaking U.S. Army Soldiers from 7th Special ForcesGroup (Airborne) spent six weeks training the Boliviansoldiers. Photo courtesy of Sgt. Maj. Patrick Fensom.“I didn’t know Puerto Ricans were allowed to jointhe U.S. Army, but as soon as I found out, I decided Ididn’t want to be a firefighter, I wanted to join the U.S.Army,” Mendoza said. He enlisted as an indirect-fireinfantryman and asked for an assignment with the 82ndAirborne Division at Fort Bragg, in order to be as closeas possible to the heart of the Army’s Special Forces.His experience in an infantry unit was a greatintroduction to the U.S. Army, he said.“I liked serving in the Bolivian army, but I alwaysTip of the Spear19

viewed the U.S. as having thebest army in the world – as it is,of course, with the quality of itstraining, equipment andcapabilities,” Mendoza said.“The first thing I did afterbecoming a U.S. citizen was togo to Special Forces Assessmentand Selection, because that was my dream,” Mendozasaid. “I was finally going to become one of those coolguys I saw while I was in the Bolivian army!” Mendozawas selected to attend the Special Forces QualificationCourse to become a Special Forces weapons sergeant.“Of course there were lots of things I didn’t know,and I quickly saw the diversity in the things SpecialForces groups can do and the areas they deploy to,especially after 9/11,” Mendoza said. “I saw thecapability and how much we can do with just a team of12 men. It’s amazing, and I’m so grateful to be here.“In a later JCET I learned how important it is foryou as a team in a foreign country to represent yourcountry; you actually build relationships with localsoldiers,” Mendoza said. “And that’s what [ODA 716]pretty much did to me, they were my inspiration to jointhe U.S. Army later on. I didn’t even speak English, butI dreamed of joining the Special Forces, and life tookme there.”Mendoza ran into Lilley, then a first sergeant in the96th Civil Affairs Battalion, after beginning the SFQC.“He couldn’t believe it – in fact, he thought I wasstill in the Bolivian army, because we were still wearingBDUs,” Mendoza said. “He was so excited, and said thathe was going back to 7th SFG(A) to be a team sergeant,and to stay in touch – maybe I could go to hisbattalion.”Mendoza invited Lilley to attend his graduationceremony from the SFQC, but Lilley couldn’t make it –he was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. Mendozawas due to report to 7th SFG(A) following hisgraduation, and as a sign of friendship, he donned thegreen beret he’d received from Lilley in Bolivia in 1997at his regimental first formation ceremony – theceremony where new Special Forces Soldiers are firstallowed to wear their beret.Soldiers from the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct medical training for Bolivian army soldiers during a November1997 Joint Combined Exchange Training deployment. Special Forces Soldiers are specifically trained and educated to work withforeign militaries. On this mission, the 7th SFG(A) team was training and validating a Bolivian ranger battalion to conduct NATOpeacekeeping operations. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. Maj. Patrick Fensom)Tip of the Spear20

Sadly, Mendoza never had the opportunity to servealongside his friend. Master Sgt. Arthur L. Lilley waskilled in action on June 15, 2007, of wounds sustainedfrom enemy small-arms fire in Afghanistan.“We’ve lost so many good men, and to see that Art’smemory is continuing in Mendoza and some other guys,that’s huge. That’s really honoring the memory of aquality NCO,” said Fensom, who wears a bracelet withLilley’s name as a personal reminder of his service.Mendoza went on to serve five years in 7th SFG(A),becoming a Special Forces intelligence sergeant duringthat time. He served three combat deployments inAfghanistan, but his first Special Forces deployment hadbeen as part of a JCET to Guatemala in Central America.His experience training with Lilley and Fensom’s team in1997 made him want to be a similar mentor andinspiration to other young soldiers.“[Guatemala] was a great experience for me becauseof my experiences in the Bolivian army,” Mendoza said.“We trained this Ranger-equivalent unit, and I waspicturing myself back them, so to me it was easy tointeract with those soldiers because I knew their lingo. Ithink we did a lot of good.”Mendoza reported to SWCS in November 2011 tobecome an instructor for potential Special Forces officersattending the SFQC. He hadn’t expected to run intoFensom again; Mendoza hadn’t heard about him foryears, and figured he’d gotten out of the military – untilhe saw Fensom addressing a group of Senior LeaderCourse students. Both Mendoza’s classroom SFQCtraining and Fensom's NCO Academy are located in FortBragg’s Kennedy Hall.“I recognized [Fensom’s] face – of course, he’d hadhair back in Bolivia,” Mendoza said. “I ran into him andtold him that he’d been on ODA 716 and served inBolivia, and he was like, yeah, how do you know that?”Fensom said that he remembered exactly who Mendozawas as soon as he found out he’d been a part of theBolivian army.“He’s an instructor, mentoring future Special ForcesSoldiers,” Fensom said.“This job is interesting, because I can talk to futureteam leaders, and tell them how important it is to get agood relationship with host-nation soldiers and leaders,”Mendoza said. “And I can speak from the perspective ofa member of the host-nation’s military.”“This is a tremendous story, but it’s not about me orour team, it’s about what we do in Special Forces,”Fensom said. “Not only did we communicate our lessonsin his language, but we were a tight team back then, andI think that was captured in our non-verbalcommunications.”Fensom said it was a proud feeling to see Mendozaserving at this level, as an NCO in the U.S. SpecialForces community.“It makes you realize that this is probably happeningat so many levels, daily, with what special-operationsSoldiers are doing,” Fensom said. “You see a guy achievehis dream, and he’s doing the same thing that we weredoing back then, and that’s just too cool.”Sgt. Major Patrick Fensom left, and Sgt. 1st Class RodMendoza stand outside the U.S. Army John F. KennedySpecial Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, N.C. Photoby Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika.Tip of the Spear21

‘Silent Professionals’ in Action:4/3rd Special Forces Group’s JISE receives national intelligence recognitionBy Capt. Joshua Bloom4/3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)“You may want to pack your bags… you’re leavingnext weekend.” Local nationals in a remote area ofAfghanistan had taken a stand against the Taliban andCoalition commanders were looking for a way toreinforce success. With only 10 days notice, 4thBattalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), wasselected to fill this vital gap.Little did they know that the work they did wouldgarner them much attention – so much so that then Gen.David Petraeus nominated them for one of theintelligence community’s highest honors: the NationalIntelligence Meritorious Unit Citation.Ms. Stephanie O’Sullivan, principle deputy to the Director of National Intelligence, presents the National Intelligence MeritoriousUnit Citation to the Joint Intelligence Support Element, 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Sept. 20, 2011. Photocourtesy of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.Tip of the Spear22

The NIMUC is the highest national intelligence unitaward given through the National Intelligence Awardsprogram and is bestowed on behalf of the Director ofNational Intelligence.The Joint Intelligence Support Element’s worth wasproven in December 2010 when Gen. David Petraeus,Commander International Security Assistance Force, andMr. Mark Sedwill, NATO Ambassador to Afghanistan,described the Special Operations Task Force’sunprecedented success as a “game changer” for thestrategic picture in Afghanistan. Over the next severalmonths, the JISE provided intelligence and products tokey decision makers from across the coalition. On severaloccasions, products that the JISE produced were briefedto the commander of U.S. Central Command, Congress,and the President. The JISE also briefed Ambassadorsfrom the U.S., Australia, and the Netherlands.Understanding that the success of the JISE was alsodue to interagency members of the organization,leadership at every level wanted to ensure recognition forthe entire organization and recommended the JISE toreceive the National Intelligence Meritorious UnitCitation. Awarded by the Director of NationalIntelligence, the NIMUC recognizes exceptionallymeritorious service on behalf of the entire intelligencecommunity.The JISE was the first organization within U.S. ArmySpecial Forces Command (Airborne) to earn the NIMUC.According to Master Sgt. Brandon Kilgo, the JISE’ssenior enlisted advisor, “at first I thought that’s good, theguys will have something to show for their time and hardwork. But later when I realized who all signed off andapproved the award, I realized it was much more thanthat. It was the intelligence community recognizing theaccomplishments, sacrifice, and hard work of the JISE,and I realized how special it was. I’m still speechlessover receiving the award.”On Sept. 20, 2011, the Director of NationalIntelligence held a ceremony in McLean, Va., to honor theawardees. Although the DNI was called away, hisPrincipal Deputy Ms. Stephanie O’Sullivan presented theaward. Because of the prestige of the award, severaldistinguished members from across the Special Operationscommunity were in attendance, including Brig. Gen.Steven Duff, deputy commanding general for USASFC(A)and Col. Thomas Miller, senior intelligence officer forEighteen members of the Joint Intelligence Support Elementwere on hand at McKellar’s Lodge, Fort Bragg, N.C. as the 3rdSpecial Forces Group (Airborne) commander presented themwith the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation ribbons.Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Crisp.USASOC. Following the ceremony, Lt. Gen. RonaldBurgess, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency,congratulated the JISE on a job well done.Unfortunately, due to ongoing mission and trainingrequirements, few of the JISE members were able toattend the ceremony in Virginia. In light of this fact, the3rd Special Forces Group held a dinner and awardsceremony at McKellar’s Lodge to present individualawards to members of the JISE.“This award was really the culmination of severalunique events: the creation and activation of a brand newSF Battalion (including the Military IntelligenceDetachment), the creation and activation of a brand newSOTF in Afghanistan, and the consolidation of anoutstanding group of individuals,” said Staff Sgt. FrankMuto, SOTF’s senior analyst. Going from non-existent tofully operational in such short order is a testament to thehard work of the individuals in the organization. It washumbling to see such hard work from young Soldiers andNCOs who were performing at their maximum level.They had a steep learning curve to overcome and they didnot disappoint. For intelligence professionals across thespectrum, it is common for our failures to be public andour successes to be private. It was a welcome reversal tosee one such success recognized. Though I am biased nowfrom working and living with the civilians, soldiers,NCOs, and officers I've come to count among my friends;every accolade is well-deserved.”Tip of the Spear23

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry told Soldiers in 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, how he lost his righthand from throwing a live grenade away from himself and two other Army Rangers during combat in Afghanistan's PaktiaProvince, during a visit to Fort Sill, Okla, Jan. 12, 2012. He stressed how important training is in staying alive in combat.Medal of Honor recipient talkstraining, choices to SoldiersStory and photo by Marie BerbereaFort Sill Public AffairsSgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry’s fate was stitchedtogether by Army training, a pre-determined plan, and aTip of the Spear24pineapple grenade.He came to Fort Sill, Okla., Jan. 12, to share hisstory with Soldiers as the second living, active-dutyservice member to receive the Medal of Honor foractions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On May 26, 2008, Petry was serving in the 2ndPlatoon, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th RangerRegiment, as they performed an unusual daytime missionto get a high value target in Afghanistan’s PaktiaProvince.He was shot through both of his legs and was takingcover with two other Soldiers when an enemy grenadelanded nearby.Petry had thought about what he would do if facedwith this situation before, and it was this thought processthat turned into action.“You hear stories of guys jumping on grenades andwhatnot. Well, being trained with grenades you knowthat it has up to a five-second fuse. And I had alwaysthought, why do people jump on them? Now granted, ifyou're in an enclosed space ina building, in a room, in avehicle -- you kind of cover itup to protect your buddies.Well, being in an outsideenvironment, I said if you havetime to see it, you have time tokick it, throw it, whatever. Andthat's what was in my mind atthe time,” said Petry.As the fuse was expiring,Petry picked up the pineapplegrenade to throw it away.“As I opened my hand itjust exploded, completely tookthe hand off. I looked at it for a second and in my mind Ithought, ‘Why isn’t this thing spraying in the wind likeyou see in the Hollywood movies?’ And the next thingthat kicked in was the reality of, well the hand is gone.What to do next? Put on a tourniquet.”He told Sill’s Soldiers that his training took over ashe kept performing his duties as a seniornoncommissioned officer on the team.“I think the adrenaline, but also the responsibilitythat I felt kept me mentally in the fight. I mean if Ididn’t have any of my limbs except for one, I could stillget on the radio. I could still fire commands. I could still“I think the adrenaline, but also theresponsibility that I felt kept mementally in the fight. I mean if Ididn’t have any of my limbs exceptfor one, I could still get on theradio. I could still fire commands. Icould still fight, as long as I’mcoherent. And so that’s the way Ilooked at it.”— Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petryfight, as long as I’m coherent. And so that’s the way Ilooked at it,” he explained.Petry also stressed the importance of discipline as hesaid there is no time to be lax downrange. While hisbattle buddies were worried for his safety, he told themto stay focused and keep pulling security.“Take the job seriously because when you getoverseas there's no second chances,” said Petry.He said taking the time to teach Soldiers will keepleaders from feeling any guilt over losing someone fromlack of training.After safely coming home to his wife and fourchildren, Petry was still ready for more. He chose to reenlistbecause he said the opportunity to still serve in themilitary was too great. It was something he had wantedto do since he was seven yearsold.“I kind of hit a wall whenI lost my arm of, ‘well I can’tdo the same job,’ so then I hadto find a new direction,” Petrysaid. “Then I found a job that Ilove doing -- helping woundedSoldiers -- and then with themedal it just brought moreupon talking and meeting withother Soldiers, so it’s apositive thing.”His heroism has beencelebrated all over but whenasked how he felt about his actions, Petry said he simplyhad no regrets and that his son summed it up the best.“They asked, ‘How do you feel about your dadreceiving the Medal of Honor and being at the WhiteHouse?’ He said ‘I’m pretty proud of my dad, but I’mhappy that he saved two of his friends and they’re stillhere.’”Petry is currently assigned to Headquarters andHeadquarters Company, 75th Ranger Regiment, at FortBenning, Ga., with duties as a liaison officer for theUnited States Special Operations Command CareCoalition-Northwest Region.Tip of the Spear25

Candidates push and pull a make shift vehicle during the Team Week phase of the Army Special Forces Assessment andSelection course, Jan. 22, in the woods of North Carolina near Camp Mackall. Team Week is designed to evaluate thecandidates’ behaviors to determine their potential to be a member of the Special Forces Regiment.Soldiers endure physical strain of SFAssessment and Selection Team WeekStory and photos by Staff Sgt. Marcus ButlerUSASOC Public AffairsSoldiers from throughout the Army come to FortBragg, N.C. with the dream and goal of joining the U.S.military’s “tip of the spear” – the U.S. Army SpecialForces regiment.To see this dream manifest, the Soldiers must attendthe three-week Special Forces Assessment and Selectionprogram at Camp Mackall. SFAS is a physically,mentally and emotionally rigorous test of Soldiers’courage, character and commitment.Within this process is the phase called Team Week,in which the candidates’ behaviors are assessed todetermine their potential to be members of the SpecialForces Regiment.“Team Week is both dynamic and complex,assessing an individual’s ability to navigate uncertaintyautonomously and as a member of a team,” said Maj.Brian Decker, the Army Special Operations ForcesAssessment and Selection company commander.During this week-long trial-by-fire, the Soldiershave to work in 16-man teams to successfully negotiateand complete various challenges within the deep woodsof North Carolina, often with minimal or ambiguousinstruction, which allows evaluators to assess acandidate’s ability to interpret intent and think forthemselves. All the candidates have are their buddies tothe left and right to help them make it through.Tip of the Spear26

These challenges may take place at any timethroughout a day, including the middle of the evening,and generally involve an entire team transportingequipment and contraptions across long distances ofrough terrain. Team Week events are changed for eachSFAS iteration, and the specific qualities being assessedare a closely guarded secret held by the SFAS cadre, inorder to prevent Soldiers from gaming the selectionprocess.Approximately 50 percent of candidates who beginSFAS are not selected to attend the Special ForcesQualification Course, and Team Week is one of thecandidates’ biggest hurdles. During this period, cadremembers observe and assess the ways in which eachindividual interacts with their peers in stressfulsituations.The SFAS cadre is made up of experienced Armyspecial operations Soldiers who have spent yearsoperating as members of highly skilled small teams, andwithin a couple years, they will complete theirassignment at SWCS and return to an operational unit.The cadre members are choosing their futuresubordinates, peers and leaders.“[Team Week] has been one of the most physicallychallenging events of my life,” said a candidateattending the January 2012 iteration of SFAS, which isrun several times each year. “My body and mind havenever been pushed like this before.”While the candidates execute their tasks despitephysical and mental exhaustion, the SFAS cadre keep avigilant eye on each candidate to make sure that theyare conducting their tasks efficiently and maintainingthe program’s strict safety standards.“Safety is paramount throughout the selection andassessment process,” Decker said. “The course hasinstitutionalized over 20 years of the best practices tomanage all aspects of risk, from environmental hazardsto the nutritional and hydration needs of thecandidates.”Despite the pain, the candidates all continue to pushthemselves and each other throughout the process nomatter what challenges that they face.“I know that the pain is going to be there, we allknow it,” said another candidate, after having rolled hisankle during a road march. “But that is not going to stopus. The cadre will come and check on us to make sure itCandidates work together to break down a make-shift vehicleduring the Team Week phase of the Army Special ForcesAssessment and Selection course, Jan. 22, in the woods ofNorth Carolina near Camp Mackall.is nothing serious, and then we move on with themission.”Teams of experienced Special Forces medics arepresent for each event throughout SFAS.At the end of Team Week the candidates will findout whether or not they have earned the right to returnto Fort Bragg to attend the Special Forces QualificationCourse – the path toward earning a Special Forces taband a green beret.“I just hope that I did everything I could to give methe best chance to be selected,” said one of thecandidates during a brief stop. “No matter what, I amnever going to quit. Even if I am not selected this time,I will be back.”Tip of the Spear27

Cleaning UpAn Airman dips his body in water to clean off dirt andgrass during Air Force Pararescuemen IndoctrinationCourse, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. During "HellWeek," Airmen simulate a real-world mission that couldinvolve air, ground and water survival. Airmen mustcomplete 62 weeks of training in addition to military basictraining to become an Air Force pararescueman. Photo byStaff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.Tip of the Spear28

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Tip of the Spear30By Capt. Kristen D. DuncanAFSOC Public AffairsThe commander of Air ForceSpecial Operations Commandpresented the Silver Star medal to acombat controller and more than 30other medals to Special Tactics Airmenduring a ceremony at Hurlburt Field,Fla., Jan. 18.Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel presented Tech.Sgt. Clint Campbell the Silver Star forhis actions during combat nearKandahar Province, Afghanistan,August 4, 2010. According to thecitation, Campbell “directed 22 airstrikes, including multiple danger close employments,resulting in 13 enemy(fighters) killed.“Without regard forhis own safety, he ran 300meters through a gauntletof enemy fire...(and thenagain) exposed himself toenemy fire to markinsurgent positions with a40-millimeter smokegrenade and directed anF-16 strafing run toneutralize the threat andenable evacuation of theCombat Controller awardedSilver Star, Special Tactics Airmenreceive more than 30 combat medalswounded. (His) bravery in the face of withering enemy fireturned the tide of the battle, defeated the ambush, saved threeteammates’ lives, and prevented certain additionalcasualties.”The Silver Star is the third highest medal, given forgallantry and marked heroism in connection with militaryoperations against an armed enemy of the United States.“This is more of an accomplishment for the team,”Campbell said. “You just help your friends that are hurt.They’re your brothers and you’d do anything for them.”Fiel brought Campbell’s parents on stage to take part inthe presentation. Dwight and Sandy Campbell said their sonacted true to form.“I was just so proud of him,” Sandy said. “It’s just thekind of person he is.”In addition, more than 30 medals were presented forcombat actions during the recent 23rd Special TacticsSquadron deployment. Special Tactics Airmen received sixBronze Star Medals with Valor, three Purple Heart Medalsand 22 Air Force Combat Action Medals. One Airman, StaffSgt. Joshua Craig, received two of the Bronze Stars forseparate engagements.“All of the Airmen in Special Tactics have incrediblededication and tenacity to serve our nation,” said Lt. Col.Chris Larkin, 23 STScommander. “Tech.Sergeant Campbell is likemost of our Airmen...it’swhat we’re trained to do.”Larkin commandedhis unit, the 23rdExpeditionary SpecialTactics Squadron,throughout the six-monthdeployment toAfghanistan. His unitreturned home in mid-December.Special Tactics Airmen are among the most highlydeployed in the Air Force and the most highly decorated.Combat controllers, pararescuemen, tactical air control partyand special operations weather team members make up theSpecial Tactics field. They work with Special OperationsForces conducting the nation's most dangerous missionsbehind enemy lines.“Without regard for his own safety, he ran 300meters through a gauntlet of enemy fire...(andthen again) exposed himself to enemy fire to markinsurgent positions with a 40 millimeter smokegrenade and directed an F-16 strafing run toneutralize the threat and enable evacuation of thewounded.”— Tech. Sgt. Clint Campbell’s Silver Star citation

Special Tactics Airmenpresented more than adozen combat medals“Whenever I speak with a recipient of one of these awards, I always get the response ‘sir, Iwas just doing my job, just doing what I was trained to do.’ But the reality is that all ofyou men do so much more than just ‘what you were trained to do.’”— Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, AFSOC commanderBy Rachel ArroyoAFSOC Public AffairsFourteen Special Tactics Airmen from the 22ndSpecial Tactics Squadron, Joint BaseLewis-McChord, Wash., werepresented two Purple Hearts and 15Bronze Stars, five of which werewith Valor.Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel,commander of Air ForceSpecial Operations Command,hosted the ceremony,presenting the medals to 10combat controllers and fourtactical air control partymembers.The Bronze Star is awarded inrecognition of bravery, heroismand meritorious service duringengagement with an armed enemy of theU.S. It is the fourth highest combat honorwithin the military. The Bronze Star recognizesmeritorious service while the Bronze Star with Valorrecognizes heroism.The Purple Heart is awarded to those injured orkilled in combat.Fiel commended the Airmen for tirelessly andhumbly sacrificing for their country.“Whenever I speak with a recipient of one ofthese awards, I always get the response ‘sir, I wasjust doing my job, just doing what I was trained todo,’” Fiel said. “But the reality is that all ofyou men do so much more than just‘what you were trained to do.’”Training is a building block,but these Airmen are not merelybeing recognized for puttingtheir training into play, hesaid.Fiel continued by saying,“They are being recognizedfor being leaders in theirsquadron and examples for thenext generation of SpecialTactics Airmen. They are beingrecognized for their belief in themission and for the preparation putinto planning their missions andexecuting them in theater. They are beingrecognized because they have strong familiesstanding behind them.”The Airmen recognized have deployed at least 42times. According to their award citations theircombined service has resulted in the removal ofmore than 600 enemy combatants from 2009 to 2011.Tip of the Spear31

Melanie Sather, spouse of Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, and a family member pay their respect at the unveiling of Sather'smemorial, Jan. 20, 2012, Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The 12,000 pound memorial wastransported from Iraq to Lackland, AFB, Texas. Photo by Senior Airman Marleah Miller.By AFSOC Public AffairsA memorial honoring Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, acombat controller, was unveiled, Jan. 20, 2012,at theMedina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio,Texas. Sather was the U.S. Air Force's first combatcasualty during Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a combatcontroller, he was assigned to the 24th Special TacticsSquadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.Pararescuemen, combat controllers and PararescueIndoctrination Course trainees attended the memorialunveiling ceremony honoring Sather. His memorial wascreated and displayed by civil engineers in Iraq to honorhis leadership and bravery. The memorial wastransported from Sather Air Base, Baghdad, Iraq, toLackland Air Force Base, Texas in March 2011.Tip of the Spear32

Pararescuemen, combat controllers and PararescueIndoctrination Course trainees attend the memorialunveiling ceremony honoring Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather.Sather's memorial was created and displayed by civilengineers in Iraq to honor his leadership and bravery. Hismemorial was then transported to Lackland AFB, Texas inMarch 2011. Photo by Air Force Senior Airman MarleahMiller.Staff Sgt. Dale Young, 342nd Training Squadron combatcontroller, bows his head in reflection during a memorialunveiling for Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, Jan. 20, 2012. Satherwas the United States Air Force's first combat casualty duringOperation Iraqi Freedom. Photo by Air Force Airman 1st ClassColville McFee.Pararescuemen, combat controllers and PararescueIndoctrination Course trainees perform "memorial pushups"during the memorial unveiling ceremony honoring StaffSgt. Scott D. Sather. Photo by Air Force Senior AirmanMarleah Miller.Tip of the Spear33

A Marine attending the Individual TrainingCourse patrols during the course'sculminating exercise, Raider Spirit. Photo byCpl. Thomas Provost.Tip of the Spear34

By Cpl. Kyle McNallyMARSOC Public AffairsAs U.S. and NATO forces, including up to10,000 Marines, start an accelerated troopwithdrawal from Afghanistan as early as next fall,U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special OperationsCommand knows that the withdrawal does notinclude them for now – in fact, MARSOC continuesto grow and will see a continued presence inAfghanistan.Tip of the Spear35

Marines attending the Individual Training Course plan their patrol during the course's culminating exercise, Raider Spirit. Photoby Cpl. Thomas W. Provost.With an increasing demand for special operators,MARSOC is fulfilling its charge to bring more Marines tothe unconventional fight – most recently by graduating 42Critical Skills Operators from itsIndividual Training Course at aceremony at MARSOCheadquarters, Dec. 2. ITC Class2-11 was the largest graduatingclass of CSOs to date, accordingto John Daily, deputy director ofthe Special Operations TrainingBranch. The smaller attritionrate of this class can beattributed to the majority of thestudents having completed theAssessment and SelectionPreparation and Orientation Course (ASPOC) – a 21-daycourse that better prepares candidates for the 19-dayAssessment and Selection process, he added. ASPOCTip of the Spear36“We are operationally engaged in everytheater but despite operationalpressures, our build plan adheres to theSOF truths that ‘quality is moreimportant than quantity’ and that‘Special Operations Forces cannot bemass produced.’”— Maj. Gen. Paul E. Lefebvreprovides a baseline of fitness training and instruction inskills that will be required of the candidates during A&S.“The benefits of ASPOC continue to be felt as the courseis refined,” said Daily. “ITCClass 3-11, which is currentlyin session, is performingexceptionally well.”Once selected throughAssessment and Selection, CSOcandidates attend the sevenmonthITC, which is designedto prepare Marines for duty inthe Special Operations Forcesenvironment. At the end of theevolution, Marines emerge asqualified special operators,indoctrinated thoroughly in MARSOC’s core tasks ofdirect action, special reconnaissance, foreign internaldefense and irregular warfare, and capable of

accomplishing such missions in austere environments,typically with little support. Because SOF often operatesautonomously, Marines in ITC are constantly analyzed ontheir sound judgment and their ability to make critical andtimely decisions.The course is divided into four phases. Students learncommunications and combat medicine in Phase I, whichculminates in survival, evasion, resistance and escapetraining. Phase II covers amphibious operations, tactics,weapons and special reconnaissance, and Phase III bringsthe students to the urban battlefield, where they train inmarksmanship, close quarters battle and urban combat.The final eight-week phase consists of irregular warfaretraining and the course’s culminating exercise, testing theMarines on everything they learned in the previous sevenmonths.“One of the advantages of drawing from the MarineCorps is that a lot of the guys who come to us alreadyhave a lot of experience,” said an ITC instructor. “Theyalso come from a wide background of (MilitaryOccupational Specialties), so they can really diversify theteams.”Efforts to right-size MARSOC continue, and alongwith the 44 percent increase as approved by theCommandant of the Marine Corps, which consists ofmostly combat support and combat service supportcapabilities, MARSOC must hit a target number of closeto 850 CSOs to outfit 48 fully operational Marine SpecialOperations Teams.“I think we have recently settled on a soundmethodology that will ensure we find the right Marines interms of quantity and quality,” said Maj. Gen. Paul E.Lefebvre, commander of MARSOC. “We areoperationally engaged in every theater but despiteoperational pressures, our build plan adheres to the SOFtruths that ‘quality is more important than quantity’ andthat ‘Special Operations Forces cannot be massproduced.’”“We will fully embrace MARSOC and capitalize onits unique capabilities, while we strengthen therelationships between our operating forces and SpecialOperations Forces,” said Gen. James F. Amos, 35thcommandant of the Marine Corps, in his 2010Commandant’s Planning Guidance. “More importantly, Ifully understand that MARSOC serves as a tremendousforce multiplier for any joint/combined force commanderand is a valuable part of what our Corps provides to theMarines patrol during the Individual Training Course tobecome a Critical Skills Operator. Marines graduate ITC asqualified special operators trained in the core tasks of directaction, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense andirregular warfare. Photo by Cpl. Thomas Provost.nation,” he said.“I believe Special Operations Forces have never beenmore valuable to our nation and to our allies,” said NavyAdmiral William H. McRaven, commander of U.S. SpecialOperations Command, during recent testimony before theHouse Armed Services Committee. “You have my promisethat we will continue to fight as long and as hard as youneed us to....“The world today is as unpredictable as ever,” saidMcRaven when he assumed command of SOCOM, Aug.18., 2011. “As such, the American people will expect us tobe prepared for every contingency, to answer every call toarms, to venture where other forces cannot and to winevery fight no matter how long or how tough. They willexpect it, because we are the nation’s Special OperationsForce…and we will not let them down.”Tip of the Spear37

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Navy Petty Officer 1st ClassChad R. RegelinExplosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit ThreeArmy Sgt. 1st ClassBenjamin B. Wise1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)Editor’s note: Honored are Special Operations Forces wholost their lives since December’s Tip of the Spear.Tip of the Spear39

The official U.S. Navy logocommemorating the 50th anniversaryof the establishment of the U.S. NavySEALs. U.S. Navy photo illustration.