The U.S. Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, plays an integral role in obtaining the military objectives of the United States around the world. This force trains in techniques not commonly practiced by its standard military brethren, including counter-terrorism, infiltration behind enemy lines, deep cover and airborne attacks. The rigorous training endured by these soldiers is so intense that a large number of recruits fail or quit the training before it is completed.
History
Special Forces has a deep tradition in the United States, dating to the French and Indian War, when selected batches of rangers engaged in unconventional combat against their enemies. This informal tradition of elite soldiers taking on special missions continued through the years until World War II ,when the United States formalized its program into the Special Forces, which derived many of its ideals from the World War I-era Office of Strategic Services.
Function
The aim of Special Forces training is to prepare soldiers for stressful mission situations that might not otherwise be encountered by typical enlisted men. Apart from training for intense combat situations, the training of a Special Forces soldier allows him to become immersed in another culture, speak foreign languages fluently, gather intelligence effectively and train allied guerrilla forces in other countries in subterfuge that can prevent future conventional conflicts.
Types
Special Forces soldiers complete basic combat training like all other soldiers but then progress to advanced individual training, where they learn to use small arms, anti-armor guns and heavy artillery. A three-week course at the Army Airborne School is then undertaken, followed by a 30-day Special Operations Preparation Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From there, the soldier must complete the Special Forces Assessment/Assignment and Selection and a five-phase Special Forces Qualification Course before officially earning the title of Green Beret.
Expert Insight
An article published by "Newsweek" titled "Lessons In Survival" notes that a study carried out on Special Forces soldiers during their training shows that the training is indeed geared toward finding special men. The study, carried out by Yale Medical School's Dr. Andy Morgan, found that successful Special Forces soldiers produced high levels of the amino acid neuropeptide Y, which cuts down on anxiety in stressful situations. The soldiers also were found to have unusually rhythmic heartbeats that held a steady pace even when drowning and prisoner of war situations were simulated.
Benefits
Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Special Forces soldiers have played a critical role in the United States' military objectives in Middle East countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to the Army's website, Special Forces soldiers utilized their deep-cover training to gather intelligence on many al-Qaeda militants, topple Afghanistan's Taliban regime and continue the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
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