When you know you are right, don’t hesitate to do the right thing. Be courageous. Even if you are punished, it will be glorious.
Think Like a Green Beret
Think Like a Green Beret: Think Big League
Against long odds, Nate Boyer had multiple NFL offers and chose the Seahawks, where he will be competing with veteran Clint Gresham for a roster spot. He has faced slim odds before. When he went to SF selection, 150 soldiers started; he and 10 others earned the coveted Green Beret. Green Berets think big and plan […]
Think Like a Green Beret: Be a Witch
On 19 September, 1994, U.S. forces were deployed to the Caribbean nation of Haiti to remove the illegitimate military junta installed by coup d’état and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. The mission of 2nd Battalion, 3rd SF Group was to support the Multinational Force-Haiti in establishing and maintaining a stable and secure environment in […]
Think Like a Green Beret: The CARVER Matrix
When you belong to the military of a wealthy nation state, there are many options to solve problems. Green Berets are taught to fight on the cheap, using what is available locally. This makes things a lot more interesting. There is a story I like to tell about a repair man that embodies the mindset and […]
Think Like a Green Beret: Be a Cowboy
On 19 September, 1994, U.S. forces were deployed to the Caribbean island of Haiti to remove an illegitimate military junta installed by coup d’état, and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. The 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group’s mission was to support the Multinational Force-Haiti in establishing and maintaining a stable and secure environment in […]
Think Like a Green Beret: Be a Hero When You Have to Be
A lot of Special Forces Green Beret training involves making decisions with limited information. Special Forces operations succeed or fail on the decisiveness of the men executing the plan. “If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for […]
Think Like a Green Beret: Tactics
Green Berets have extensive training in tactics. Phase three of the qualification is 12 weeks of “tactical skills.” In Afghanistan or Iraq, tactics mean the difference between taking fire and being overrun. The word has been diluted and overused. Green Berets know a few things about tactics. “Tactics mean doing what you can with what you […]
Think Like a Green Beret: Problem Solving
Green Berets rely on their problem solving abilities to survive in combat. Much of SF selection seeks to assess this talent and the Special Forces qualification course develops and improves creativity. Many times, military problems must be solved with the application of force. Green Berets are not afraid to get their hands dirty, but they […]
Think Like a Green Beret: Teamwork
From the dawn of man, our ancestors have trained recruits, established hierarchies, and cooperated to survive. Those skills are just as important today as they ever were. Green Beret soldiers are selected not only for their intelligence and skills, but also for their ability to lead and follow as the situation dictates. The Special Forces […]
