Woodpecker Lips...

Takes a RPG to the thigh, keeps fighting.  Badass.  http://keysnews.com/node/21763

T'would be wise to not fuck with that guy.



 

"People are always asking me here, 'Man, what is that? Did a shark bite you or something?'

I just shrug and say, 'Yeah, something like that.'"

Quiet professional for sure.

Special forces unit members prepare to clear a building during an exercise at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Nov. 13, 2012. The range is one of Air Force Special Operations Command’s premiere training facilities and is utilized by multiple agencies and branches of the armed forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)


A special forces unit member fires down-range during an exercise at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Nov. 8, 2012. The range is one of Air Force Special Operations Command’s premiere training facilities and is utilized by multiple agencies and branches of the armed forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)


A U.S. military adviser looks at the target of a Jordanian Armed Forces member during a live-fire training evolution. Members participating are attached to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-300 during Exercise Eager Lion 12. Eager Lion 12 is an irregular warfare-themed exercise with 19 countries and more than 11,000 participants focusing on missions that our coalition partners might perform during operational deployments in support of global contingency operations. The intent is to strengthen military-to-military relationships through a joint, whole-of-government, multinational approach to meet current and future complex national security challenges. (Photo by MC1 Lynn Friant)


U.S. military advisors and a member of the special forces regiment of the Royal Brunei armed forces share a laugh during a break at a live-fire training evolution during Exercise Eager Lion 12. Members participating are attached to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-300. Eager Lion 12 is an irregular warfare-themed exercise with 19 countries and more than 11,000 participants focusing on missions that our coalition partners might perform during operational deployments in support of global contingency operations. The intent is to strengthen military-to-military relationships through a joint, whole-of-government, multinational approach to meet current and future complex national security challenges. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Terrence Siren)


A U.S. military advisor demonstrates weapons handling techniques for members of the special forces regiment of the Royal Brunei armed forces at a live-fire training evolution during Exercise Eager Lion 12. Members participating are attached to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-300. Eager Lion 12 is an irregular warfare-themed exercise with 19 countries and more than 11,000 participants focusing on missions that our coalition partners might perform during operational deployments in support of global contingency operations. The intent is to strengthen military-to-military relationships through a joint, whole-of-government, multinational approach to meet current and future complex national security challenges. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Terrence Siren)


A member of the special forces regiment of the Royal Brunei armed forces listens to a U.S. military advisor discuss weapons manipulation techniques at a live-fire training evolution during Exercise Eager Lion 12. Members participating are attached to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-300. Eager Lion 12 is an irregular warfare-themed exercise with 19 countries and more than 11,000 participants focusing on missions that our coalition partners might perform during operational deployments in support of global contingency operations. The intent is to strengthen military-to-military relationships through a joint, whole-of-government, multinational approach to meet current and future complex national security challenges. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Terrence Siren)


A U.S. Marine with Marine Special Operations Battalion (MSOB) waits for a Marine Vessel-22B Osprey to land near Coloardo Springs Colo., Sept. 27, 2013. The purpose of the joint exercise was to test the fleet readiness of the bi-annual update to the MV-22B’s software.  (Photo by Lance Cpl. Coleman)


U.S. Marines fron 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion (MSOB) extract U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Tim Welsh during a Tactial Recovery of Aircraft Personnel exercise near Coloardo Springs, Colo. Sept. 21, 2013. The purpose of this exercise was to test the fleet readiness of the Marine Vessel-22B’s bi-annual software update.  (Photo by Lance Cpl. Coleman)

After pages and pages of some serious heroes, this thread lacks "diversity".  How about some OpFor pics....

IDed as real NorKo Spec Ops....

So much for "Blend In".  Do some of them have their eyes closed ?    Sights are for pussies!




and their infantry support.........Welcome to muzzle sweep city....


The DPRK avoids these wasteful and useless dialogues about which camo to use  ( MC, ACU, DCU, Woodland, Marpat, AOR 1 or 2) and picks up free natural veg......

Although the white helmet dots and colored collar tabs make it easier to mil them.


Make up your own caption... but I think they got to see Dear Leader in the flesh.


Just goes to show that the NorKos biggest enemy is the DPRK leadership.  And as always, don't laugh too hard because stupid ones can you as easy as smart ones.

I say fuck diversity dude.

Jordanian and U.S. special forces zip line down a building at the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Centre during their "Eager Lion" military exercise in Amman May 27, 2012. The exercise conducted by the U.S. and Jordan includes more than 19 countries from five different continents and more than 12,000 participants, according to the United States Central Command. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji


A Special Forces Senior Mountaineering Course student scales a cliff during a course exercise in Estes Park, Colo. The six-week course is conducted three times a year, each summer, through the Special Forces Advanced Mountain Operations Course, based out of Fort Carson, Colo.


JIWOYO VILLAGE, Mali - A U.S. Army medic assigned to Joint Special Operations Task Force-Trans Sahara explains the daily dosage recommendations of medication to a resident of Jiwoyo Village community as part of triage during a medical civil action program May 11, 2010 as part of Exercise Flintlock 10. U.S. Army health care providers assigned to Joint Special Operations Task Force-Trans Sahara gave free medical care and medicine to nearly 400 local residents in the area who have limited or no access to medical care. Flintlock 10 is a special operations forces exercise focused on military interoperability and capacity-building and is part of a U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)-sponsored annual exercise program with partner nations in northern and western Africa. The exercise, which includes participation of key European nations, is conducted by Special Operations Command Africa and designed to build relationships and develop capacity among security forces throughout the Trans-Saharan region of Africa. (Photo by U.S. Army Master Sergeant Donald Sparks, Flintlock 10 Public Affairs)


OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – Burkina Faso's Defence Minister Yero Boly receives an update on operations from Colonel Chris Schmitt, Exercise Flintlock chief of operations, during his visit May 11, 2010, to Camp Bangare in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso May 11, 2010. Flintlock is focused on improving military interoperability and capacity-building of participating militaries from Northern and Western Africa, Europe and the United States. The exercise is conducted by Special Operations Command Africa's Joint Special Operations Task Force - Trans Sahara, a component of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and will run through May 23. (Photo by Staff Sergeant Amanda McCarty, U.S. Africa Command)


A Polish Special Operations Forces Command soldier, left, provides security alongside U.S. Special Forces Soldiers before exfiltrating on a Lithuanian Mi-17 helicopter as part of a downed aircraft exercise rehearsal held Oct. 14 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. The training, coordinated by U.S. Special Operations Command, allows U.S. and partner nation SOF soldiers the opportunity to train together and share tactics, techniques and procedures prior to deploying in support of International Security Assistance Force missions in Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Spark)



Maj. Gen. Ken Tovo, Combined Joint Task Force Spartan commander, and Jordanian special operations Col. Aref S. Al-Zaben pin their corresponding countries’ jump wings to each others’ uniforms after a friendship jump to kick off Exercise Eager Lion 2012. The exercise promotes cooperation and interoperability among participating forces, builds functional capacity, practices crisis management and enhances readiness. Eager Lion’s focus is on strengthening military-to-military relationships of participating partner nations through a joint, whole of government, multinational approach, integrating all instruments of national power to meet current and future complex national security challenges.


Maj. Gen. Ken Tovo, Combined Joint Task Force Spartan commander, hands out jump wing certificates to parachutists who participated in Exercise Eager Lion’s friendship jump May 10. The focus of Eager Lion 2012 is to strengthen military-to-military relationships of participating partner nations. The friendship jump is the first step in accomplishing this goal as parachutists from Combined Joint Task Force Spartan jumped together.

What's with the Airborne and SF tabs on the Jordanian?

He probably went to Ranger school and the Q-course, earning both.

+1, there was talk earlier about an Afghan SOF commander that did the same, earning both a long tab and a Ranger tab.



 

Shooting steel that close is he using regular ball ammo? I know it's angled down and all. Been thinking about buying forward facing steel for shooting at 10 yards with my ar. Want to make sure it's safe

Lol, I've jumped there. Good times.

Just wear your body armor and brain bucket, you'll be okay.



 

A U.S. Air Force pararescueman from the 352nd Special Operations Group based at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, U.K., help stabilize "patients" during a casualty evacuation scenario during the Jackal Stone 10 exercise at Swidwin, Poland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Marelise Wood)


Sgt. 1st Class David Hubler (left), the senior medic with 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Group (Airborne), practices placing a syringe in a vein on a training device while Maj. Andrew Morgan, battalion surgeon, looks on during the Special Operations Medical Association's annual conference Dec. 15, in Tampa, Fla.


A Morroccan soldier watches as Utah National Guard members from the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) train with the 1st Ski Battalion of the Royal Morroccan Armed Forces in March. At 10,000 feet, the altitude of the training location, the focus of the exercise was on disaster preparedness, snow movement and mountain-rescue techniques. (Photo by Lt. Col. Hank McIntire, Utah National Guard)


Capt. Matthew E. Baxley, right, a CH-46 pilot, briefs soldiers with 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), before the soldiers conduct a fast-roping exercise at the U.S. Army’s Torii Station Aug. 31. Baxley is with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (Photo by Sgt. Brandon L. Saunders)


BOEBLINGEN, Germany – A member of the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) explains the capabilities of the M-4 rifle to Army Gen. William E. “'Kip” Ward, U.S. European Command deputy and Earl G. Graves, Chairman of Earl G. Graves, Ltd., during a visit to K D Range here Dec. 19, 2006. Graves, who was named one of the ten most outstanding minority businessmen in the country, was previously assigned as a captain with the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He also served as a civilian aide to the Secretary of the U.S. Army from 1978 to 1980. (Department of Defense photo by John Tomassi)


U. S. Army Master Sgt. Scott Brumbaugh, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., practices jump procedures before a training mission at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 4, 2013. This training exercise was part of a friendship jump between the ROK army 7th Special Forces Brigade, 35th Special Forces Battalion, and U.S. Army 3rd Battalion 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) showcasing their combined commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marcus Morris)


Republic of Korea army 7th Special Forces Brigade, 35th Special Forces Battalion soldiers put on rough terrain suits for jump training at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 4, 2013. This was part of annual FOAL Eagle joint forces training with the U.S. Army 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., to ensure the peace and security in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marcus Morris)


Republic of Korea Army Lt. Col. Hyun,-Seung Woon, left, 7th Special Forces Brigade, 35th Special Forces Battalion commander, poses with U.S. Army Lt. Col. Patrick Douglas, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) commander after a joint exercise friendship jump near Iksan, Republic of Korea, April 4, 2013. The ROK and U.S. strengthened their alliance while practicing unique tactical scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marcus Morris)

Italian 4th Alpini Parachute Regiment

From my personal collection.....Dec.25, 2009, Karbala, Iraq. 10th SFG (A)

good looking pup!

Hey, it's DocSteve!

We've missed you in the .mil forums.

Jason Everman.  Kicked out of Nirvana right before fame and stardom, kicked out of Soundgarden before fame and stardom, joined the Army and found his way into the 75th and eventually SF.  Dude is a stud.

Dos equis should use him as the  most interesting man in the world

He went on to graduate from Columbia with a degree in philosophy.  Renaissance man

And his response to what he'd do with the degree "I'll probably end up bar tending somewhere"

I loved that part.  What a guy.  I'd love to sit down and buy him a cold beer.



 

until you get a ricochet in the neck like I did

You're still here, ain'tcha?!  It ain't a party until you're taking frag from your own ammo.

 

Ya I've been off and on with the forum. Looking for a job now so I've got some downtime, will be online more now.

An Operational Detachment Alpha from 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) move their zodiac up shore after exiting the back of a U.S. Navy CH-53E Super Stallion from Sea Combat Squadron 84 during Helocast training Hurlburt Field, Fl., April. 24, 2013. Green Berets from 7th SFG(A) participated in maritime operations with the U.S.Navy during Exercise Emerald Warrior, Emerald Warrior is an exercise designed to provide irregular training at the tactical and operational levels. The exercise involved all branches of the U.S. military and elements from allied countries. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven Young)


Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) teach mounted infantry tactics to soldiers from the Malian Army in Timbuktu, Mali. U.S. Army Special Forces, assigned to Special Operations Command Europe, are training selected military units in Mali and Mauritania on mobility, communications, land navigation, and small unit tactics.


U.S. Army soldiers from 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at an Afghan Commando training facility, ride in a humvee during weapons and humvee training at their base in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

very awesome pics..

Bullet proof neck most awesome proof paki-tape work Allah be great

Should I tourniquet my neck now or later

It varies. Some of the pics are newer and some are older. SOCOM issues weapons and accessories from the SOPMOD packages, which there has been at least two different ones since the GWOT started.

JSOC (CAG & DEVGRU) has more leeway than the regular SOCOM units. You will typically see HK416'S and weapons that are issuee to each specific unit.  Such as the Mk25, P239 and HK45CT are NSW issued items, where as Glocks are more of an Army thing.

You can also tell a difference between issued gear. DEVGRU is big on LBT, Arc'teryx and Outdoor Research, where other units in JSOC may prefer others. The guys in the "white side" get issued what SOCOM gives them.

that answer had to make columbia's eye twitch.

Black side SOF still has a list of approved weapons they can draw, they won't be taking their own. Not lately at least, I  have heard some good stories from back in the day. A lot of CAG guys use custom DI uppers--Noveske barrels are supposedly the most popular by far. Assaulters use the 416.

A lot of the variations are just older stuff that is still in inventory. It's also not uncommon for personally owned uppers to go overseas on government lowers. A buddy took 3+ ever time, eventually using a 12.5" Noveske for almost everything.

Thats the answer right there.

That's what I was trying to say. Black side guys do get their own stuff issued by their commands, which some of it is different (such as the 416's) than their "white side" counterparts.  

As you know, the JSOC guys get the latest and greatest in weapons, gear, equipment and clothing. The "regular" SOCOM guys are at least 4-5 years behind.

My question is if you're in SOCOM and feel like spending your own paper, can you purchase cool shit like Arc and OR and wear it on deployments and during training, and use personal uppers?  



I always thought personal uppers being used in the wild was cool as hell, like what FREE did with his Mk12 upper.



 

Yes....big boy rules.....honestly, most these guys don't get to hung up on the latest and greatest gear, kit, they use it because it's serves a function for their mission.  With the budget they have I seriously doubt they even need to spend their own money.

Right.  Wonder if it's the same for regular Joes...



 

 

I know what you meant. Joes are forced to spend their own money on a thousand different things. None of which they really want or use.

It's all up to the team/company/battalion guidance.

But, you would be surprised at the amount of shit a lot of SOF guys have to buy out of pocket.  These budgets aren't always as enormous as you think, at least not past the MTOE level on down to individual equipping/COTS.  They get a lot of cool shit they need, but as with any governmental entity, they don't get a of cool shit they need, if you can understand that.

A couple million dollars in thermal sights for a couple guys may be nothing, but a few of them still have to buy their own slings.  It's all about funding sources.


When I was in a line unit my command could have cared less about personal gear up to and including optics and uppers.  It all just depends.

Cool pics.

Thanks for your service!

One quick question, what the hell is "black side" and "white side" ?

White side = conventional SOF (SEALs, Rangers, SF, etc...)

Black side = Special mission units that are not "officially" acknowledged (Delta, DEVGRU, 24th STS, ISA)

U.S. Air Force Special Operations










Former Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Shelton prepares for a mission in Iraq in 2005.


U.S. Air Force special operations forces from the 22nd and 23rd Special Tactics Squadrons fast rope onto the deck of USS Alabama (SSBN 731) in the Pacific Ocean during a recent exercise to test special operations infiltration and rescue tactics. The joint effort also tests the capabilities of the SSGN class submarines entering service next year. The SSGN class submarines are being converted from ballistic missile submarines to guided missile submarines with new capabilities. (US Navy photo by FTCM (SS) Daniel J. Niclas)


U.S .Air Force Senior Airman Tim Brauch (left), and Staff Sergeant William O'Brien, both Pararescuemen assigned to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, prepare for a water drop aboard a USAF MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter, during a training flight conducted from RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom.


Master Sgt. Jake Chandler, back to camera; Staff Sgts. Matthew Pich and Christopher Vroman, front row from left; and Tech. Sgt. Robert Parra, Staff Sgt. Michael McCormick and Tech. Sgt. Daniel Nestor, back row from left, perform a military free fall from a 403rd Wing C-130J Hercules March 18 in preparation for Keesler’s Angels Over the Bay Air Show and Open House March 19- 20. Sergeant Chandler is a combat control instructor supervisor and Sergeants Pich, Vroman and McCormick are combat control instructors in the 334th Training Squadron. Sergeant Parra is a combat control instructor and Sergeant Nestor is a tactical control party instructor with the 342nd TRS, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Wesley Bonin)


Members of the U.S. Air Force 320th Special Tactics Squadron arrive at Japan’s Sendai Airport on March 16, 2011, to assess tsunami damage. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse, U.S. Air Force)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Repass, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Sekelsky, the senior enlisted leader for SOCEUR, visit with Milka Jerak, mother of the late U.S. Army Master Sgt. Ivica Jerak, a member of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, in her home in Debeljak, Croatia, Sept. 22, 2012. Repass and Sekelsky attended a memorial service for Jerak at an elementary school that was renovated in his honor in 2009.




Recon Team (RT) Idaho. MACV-SOG, 1971. Pho Bai Launch Site, After returning from mission. "One Zero" (Team Leader ILT Ken Bowra) Other U.S.: SGT Frank Polley, Standing Left, SFC "Paddy Jones" - 3rd Standing, ILT Ken Bowra 5th Standing


The Trojan spirit is on display in Mosul, Iraq. The Forward Observation Base, which is home to the SFOD-A 5313, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), has been dubbed Camp Trojan. Capt. Wes Williams, second from left, and troops from his Special Forces ODA display a Troy University flag under the Camp Trojan sign.








MSG Darrin Crowder, U.S. Army (Ret.)