United States

Know a SEAL from a Night Stalker: a breakdown of US Special Operations units

While it could be said that every unit which falls under the “special ops” umbrella is comprised of operators who can move, shoot, and communicate with lethal efficiency, different units developed to address specialized challenges.

As the years wore on, and particularly since the onset of the Global War on Terrorism, lines may have blurred a bit between specialties in many cases, allowing various units to conduct similar operations. But, the specific nature of each continues to inform the internal culture of divisions that fall under the command of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), honoring their heritage as well as the prowess their service experience allots.

Many people who understand America’s special operations apparatus are usually most familiar with the elements of one of SOCOM’s subordinate commands, the Joint Special Operations Command, or JSOC. Officially, JSOC is tasked with studying special operations requirements and techniques in order to ensure the best methods of unit interoperability are employed, while fielding new equipment and conducting special operations exercises, training, and missions in the best interest of our nation. To be succinct, JSOC has the “best of the best.” It might help to think of them as America’s war-fighting All-Star team.

Units of JSOC include:

The Intelligence Support Activity, commonly called “The Activity”
The U.S. Air Force 24th Special Tactics Squadron
The U.S. Navy’s Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) or the recently popularized SEAL Team Six
The U.S. Army’s 75^th Ranger Regiment: Regimental Reconnaissance Company
The U.S. Army’s 1^st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force

However, listing these names does little to clear up potential confusion, so allow me to elaborate briefly on three of these four units.

DEVGRU, SEAL Team 6, and whatever their current (and classified) operational title may be are all referring to the same group of elite Navy SEALs. Team 6 recruits from within, choosing only the best of the already elite Navy SEAL community. Delta is often compared to Seal Team 6 in terms of operational capabilities and grueling indoctrination and training, but differs from its sea-based brethren primarily in recruiting tactics: Delta operators may come from any branch, and are sometimes even former SEALs.

The Air Force’s 24^th Special Tactics Squadron (24^th STS) is perhaps the least recognized of the three, which may be because pararescuemen, combat controllers, and Tactical Air Control Parties deployed by the 24^th STS usually serve alongside DEVGRU or Delta teams, rather than fielding complete teams on their own. These airmen synchronize and control elements of air support or provide medical assistance to other special operators in the field.

Beyond the elite units housed within JSOC, SOCOM boasts a number of other special operations teams that may be best addressed by dividing them by their representative military branches.

United States Army Special Operations Command

Know a SEAL from a Night Stalker: a breakdown of US Special Ops units — (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense)

Special Forces (Green Berets)

The term “special forces” is often misattributed to any military personnel working within America’s special operations community. However, the phrase is actually specific to the Army’s elite group of soldiers who specialize in unconventional warfare, reconnaissance, internal foreign defense, anti-terror operations, and direct action combat. Green Berets are considered unique from other special operators for various reasons, most importantly being put to use in times of peace and conflict alike. Their motto, “De Oppresso Liber” translates to “Free the Oppressed.”

The 75^th Ranger Regiment

Like the Navy SEALs, a highly specialized company of Rangers falls under JSOC, but the rest of Ranger Battalion answers to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Rangers are specifically-selected soldiers who must first complete an eight-week long Ranger Assessment and Selection Program—which replaced the Ranger Indoctrination Program, or RIP, in 2010—before reaching their assignment within the regiment. Once there, they must complete the even more arduous Ranger School in order to earn their Ranger Tab.

The 160^th SOAR (Night Stalkers)

The U.S. Army’s Special Operations Regiment (SOAR) provides helicopter aviation support for special operations troops, often flying into extremely hostile territory to deliver and extract elite operators from combat zones. Aviators in the 160^th are among the most highly-trained pilots on the planet, and use the latest in new and modified military aircraft to complete missions often deemed too dangerous for many other aviation units. It was the 160^th that delivered JSOC operators to the compound in Pakistan on May 2^nd, 2011 to kill Osama Bin Laden.

Other units or personnel that fall under SOCOM include skilled civil affairs soldiers, military information support operators, sustainment soldiers, and the training cadre responsible for assessing, training, and educating the Army’s elite war-fighters.

United States Navy Special Warfare Command

SEALs

Navy SEALs are probably the most famous special operations unit in the world. Countless movies have depicted the heroism of SEALs, and even more books recount stories told by individuals who earned the coveted Trident. Unbeknownst to some, SEAL is an acronym that stands for Sea, Air, and Land—acknowledging the heart of the Navy SEALs’ role as a multi-purpose combat force. SEALs conduct operations in any situation or location, from clandestine reconnaissance to direct action missions.

Special Warfare Combatant-craft (SWCC) Crewmen and Enablers

SWCC Crewmen belong to Special Boat Teams often tasked with operating small surface craft for coastal operations and to support special operations missions. Primarily focused on aiding in the infiltration and exfiltration of SEAL teams, these Crewmen work where larger vessels cannot operate, providing close fire support and medical care to special operators on mission. Enablers, like the SWCC Crewmen, offer technical assistance to special operations personnel, including everything from cryptologic support to explosive ordnance disposal.

United States Air Force Special Operations Command

Special Tactics Airmen

Special Tactics Airmen offer a wide variety of operational capabilities derived through diverse areas of training and expertise. Combat controllers are certified air traffic controllers that infiltrate combat zones undetected to simultaneously conduct air traffic control and coordinate air support while also participating in direct action missions. Pararescuemen, or PJs, specialize in both conventional and unconventional recovery operations. The Special Operations Surgical Team offers a rapid deploying and lightweight medical element for trauma life support.

Special Operations Aviators

The men and women assigned to the Air Force’s Special Operations Aviators are considered some of the most exceptional pilots in the military. Flying in specialized aircraft, they conduct operations primarily under cover of darkness, and offer varying levels of support to special operations missions, including reconnaissance, infiltration and exfiltration, and command and control operations.

Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command

Critical Skills Operators/Special Operations Officers

Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) recently reflagged with the historically-consistent moniker of Marine Raiders. They’re the latest addition to the SOCOM organizational structure. For much of the Marine Corps’ history, it operated without any formal association to SOCOM, instead establishing independent Force Recon units in a similar fashion while retaining organizational control. Since MARSOC entered the SOCOM fold, its operators conduct foreign internal defense operations, special reconnaissance, and direct action combat missions.

While this list offers a glimpse into the various facets of special operations units, it’s important to acknowledge that the nuanced differences in culture and conduct exhibited by operators within each can be difficult to quantify.

Each special operations group had to shed aspects of its parent branch in order to better integrate unique skill sets and capabilities with those offered by groups hailing from other branches. However, traditions and culture found within groups such as the SEALs or Marine Raiders remain intrinsically tied to their service birthplaces. There’s always been a fair amount of friendly competition between branches, but once a Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airman answers to SOCOM, they must work their way into the new combined culture of the service. SOCOM, in many ways, is an extraordinary beast all its own.

SOCOM operators come from all walks of life, and represent a variety of military occupational specialties established in each of the four branches of American service. Ultimately, these special operators are more than war-fighters: they’re diplomats, problem solvers, and instruments of foreign policy. Only by combining the best and brightest from America’s exceptional military infrastructure can they possibly accomplish so much.

The Colt 1903 service pistol

The Colt 1903 was the predecessor to the famous Colt 1911 that is still in use today in some small capacities. The 1903 was carried primarily by officers but also favored for concealed carry because of its small size and “hammerless” design; something that is not entirely accurate because it does have a hammer contained within the frame/slide assembly. Military generals and officers were often presented the Colt 1903 with their name engraved on the side. However, being of sleek and rounded shape made it extremely comfortable for low profile carry. The gun saw use in both World Wars with the United States military and, not surprisingly, in criminal organizations of the era because it could be hidden so easily.

The Colt 1903 is chambered in .32 ACP with a single stack 8-round magazine fed capacity. While rather underpowered by modern military ammunition standards it is still very effective with a muzzle velocity around 1,000 feet per second. Weighing 24 ounces, it has a barrel length of 4 inches and a total length of 7 inches depending on the generation. Grips were typically made of wood but later variants had plastic. The small G.I. style sights are unobtrusive but difficult to acquire quickly. The gun was also produced in .380 ACP with a 7-round capacity but was never as popular as the .32 ACP variant.

The Colt 1903 was designed by John Browning and features a contained hammer that actuates through the rear of the slide, essentially it is a contained action like the 1911’s on a smaller more vertical frame. It features a slide lock but will not actuate unless employed manually, this means the gun will go “click” when empty and a fresh round must be hand cycled after a magazine swap. The gun also features a grip safety on the back strap that must be depressed for the pistol to be fired, a magazine disconnect/safety was added to later variants. The magazine release is typical of the style found in that era, being a lever located on the butt of the pistol grip behind the magwell.

The barrel features 6 locking lugs near the chamber that mate with the slide during battery. To disassemble the pistol, the slide must be pushed back and the barrel rotated 180 degrees which allows the slide to separate from the frame. While it can be a little tricky to take apart, cleaning and routine maintenance is quick and easy. Overall, the Colt 1903 is an exceptional firearm and revolutionary gun that has paved the way for the pistols of the modern era.

All photos courtesy of the author

*Originally published on SOFREP

Bremont’s military program and S301 Supermarine watch review

The Bremont military program and S301 Supermarine watch review

Bremont was formed in 2002 by brothers Nick and Giles English. Their first watches appeared on the market in 2007. In the relatively short amount of time since then, Bremont has become one of the premier watch brands for military units across the globe. Initially popularized in part by Bear Grylls who wore a Bremont watch on his hit show Man vs. Wild. The military program would ultimately come about when the brand was approached by a U-2 aircraft pilot who had seen Grylls’ watch and wanted to create a watch for his squadron.

A collaboration with Martin-Baker on testing their watches solidified Bremont’s place in the market as a powerhouse. Bremont relied heavily on feedback from trusted military advisors and partners to ensure that every component of their watches met the highest standards. To date, Bremont’s military program has worked on several hundred special projects for units from multiple continents, and they feel that there are several key reasons for their success and loyal following.

Of the many reasons, the story of the English brothers and their passion for what they do resonates with many of their customers. Luxury watchmakers are often thought of as the snooty, white-gloved type. For Nick and Giles, that couldn’t be further from the truth. They live the active lifestyle that endears them to the military crowd. Cars, motorcycles, planes, and pursuing excellence in everything they do. This spills into their watchmaking.

Bremont also features only mechanical movement in their watches – no Quartz. When a unit approaches the military program about a project, they can expect an approximate 8-10 months for their watch to be available. Customized watches are exclusive to the members of that unit with no exceptions and may include things such as a unit logo, motto, engraving of an aircraft image, or even custom bezels in some cases. The customizations add value to the watches, although the unit members are offered a heavily subsidized price for those who may be otherwise unable to afford them. Unit members are not only paying for something that tells the time, but for the craftsmanship and a story to reflect their time in service to their country. Others see their watch as an heirloom to pass down to their children, while others who operate across the globe see their watch as a bartering tool if they ever find themselves in a bad situation that they need to bribe their way out of.

Bremont is deeply ingrained into military culture and they are invested on a personal level with each unit they collaborate with. Whereas some luxury watchmakers tend to make their clients feel as if they should feel privileged to buy their product, Bremont does the opposite. Not only that but they take pride in making sure to offer deep levels of customization that are an accurate reflection of the men, women, and aircraft involved to honor them.

I was able to review the Bremont S301 “Supermarine”, one of the retail watches that many of the military programs choose to make customizations to. Inspired by the Supermarine S.6B Seaplane, of all the incredible aspects of this watch the first thing that stood out to me was the crown. The quality and level of detail are incredible. When a company puts that much time into the crown, I know they’ve got quality elsewhere.

Like all Bremont watches, the S301 features automatic movement – specifically a Modified caliber 11 ½”’ BE-92AE automatic chronometer fitted with Bremont decorated rotor and 21 jewels, Glucydur balance and Anachron balance spring, with Nivaflex 1 mainspring. Rated frequency of 28,800 A/h with 38-hour minimum power reserve. If you are active and wear the watch regularly you shouldn’t have to worry about winding the watch. It has hour, minute, and second hands with a date window at 3 o’clock. The case is stainless steel (40mm diameter/13mm height) with a metal dial and Super-LumiNova® coated markers. Lug width is 20mm. Also features a laser engraved ceramic rotating bezel (uni-directional) that includes a Super-LumiNova® marker. The crystal is domed AR and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. It is chronometer tested and certified, and is water-resistant to 300 meters.

The watch has a simple overall look at a glance, but a closer look reveals fine details that show its quality. From the Supermarine image on the case back to the aforementioned crown, and the incredibly accurate movement, this watch is a subtle stunner. The lume is very bright and easy to read. The only item I would change if I had my pick would be a 22mm strap instead of the 20mm, although this 20mm strap looks great. It’ll take a bit of breaking in before you quit noticing it on your wrist due to the thickness and stiffness of it, but I view it as proof of durability. The crown features the Bremont prop logo (silver) with a black background, and again it is my favorite part of the watch. The bezel is crisp upon each click and very easy to grip. The diameter and height of the watch in relation to the weight are a perfect combination. Bremont got everything right on this one – in spite of my partiality to a 22mm strap.

With the $4,095 USD price tag, this watch is not for everyone. Watch enthusiasts will understand, but you’re investing in the craftsmanship of something that will hold its value over time. It will be something you’ll keep for a lifetime or something you’ll pass down to your children. People will pay half of their monthly income for an automobile they can’t afford, but they don’t care that it is losing value rapidly. A luxury watch is something that, if taken care of, will outlive you and will provide you with a lifetime of memories.

*Originally published on SOFREP and written by NICK COFFMAN