Category: Well I thought it was funny!
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Some Clint anybody?
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 understand the power of working with and through others. A friend of mine, George, a Green Beret and a Ranger, told me this story. I don’t think it’s true, but it does explain the Green Beret and the rangers.
The story goes like this.
The new secretary of defense had been confirmed and was touring the Pentagon, taking briefings on the capabilities of his forces. He had a well-deserved reputation as a no-nonsense guy. After a briefing on Special Operations Forces, he was escorted to lunch by a Green Beret officer.
The secretary’s confused look did not bode well as they walked through the E ring. “I understand how SOF is different from conventional forces, but the Rangers and Green Berets seem just alike to me. You have a Special Forces Tab and a Ranger Tab. What’s the difference?”
“The units are very different, sir. While both units are composed of very capable soldiers, selected for intelligence and fitness, Rangers attack the enemy directly, while Special Forces work by, with, and through indigenous forces to accomplish tasks far beyond their numbers.” The Green Beret secretly hoped he would not be pulled into the eternal Ranger versus SF discussion for the 10,000th time. He prided himself on his teaching abilities, but this guy was being obtuse.
“They dress just alike, they are both ARSOF units, and they both have direct-action capabilities. How are they so different?” It seemed the secretary was going to force this. The next four years of Special Forces missions hinged on the new secretary’s understanding. As they walked through an area of temporary construction, the Green Beret had a flash of inspiration.
“Sir, humor me here; let’s do a little demonstration. Rangers are highly aggressive. They pride themselves on their toughness and discipline. They follow orders without question. You see that huge soldier with a tan beret? He is a Ranger.”
As the Ranger approached, the Green Beret called out, “Hey, Ranger! Come here.”
The Ranger moved toward them, sprang to attention and saluted. “Rangers lead the way, sir. How may I be of assistance?”
“Can you help us here for a moment? This is the new Secretary of Defense. He wants to know more about the Rangers. Will you help me educate him?”
Pointing to a new section of hallway, the Green Beret officer said, “Ranger, I need you to break through that wall.”
“Hooah, sir. Would you like a breach, or complete destruction?”
“A man-sized breach will be fine.”
With that, the Ranger removed his beret and assumed three-point stance six feet from the wall. With a grunt, he launched himself into the wall, punching his head and shoulders right through the drywall. Hitting a 2×4 on the way through, he was a little stunned, but he continued to work, smashing a hole wide enough for a fully kitted Ranger to pass through. Staggering to his feet with a trickle of blood running down his face, he appeared a little disoriented.
“Thank you, Ranger. Great job. You are a credit to the Regiment. You need to go the aid station and get someone to look at that cut.”
The secretary was incredulous. He had never seen such a display of pure discipline and strength. “That was astounding. What could Special Forces possibly do to match that?”
The Green Beret was also impressed but not surprised. “The Rangers are highly disciplined sir, but Special Forces selection and training also produces strong, disciplined soldiers. We deploy older, more mature soldiers in very small numbers. They understand that they are a valuable strategic resource and are selected for their advanced problem-solving abilities.”
The secretary seemed displeased. “Frankly, that sounds pretty bogus. It seems that these Rangers are the finest soldiers in the Army. What could Special Forces do that the Rangers cannot?”
As he spoke, a Green Beret staff sergeant walked by. Not as young or lean as the Ranger, he had a commanding presence, and a serious look filled with confidence. The Green Beret officer called him over.
“Hey Mike, can you help us here for a moment? This is the new Secretary of Defense. He wants to know more about the Special Forces; will you help me educate him?”
The staff sergeant shook the secretary’s hand and introduced himself. “How can I help you, sir?”
Pointing to an undamaged section of hallway, the Green Beret officer said, “Mike, I need you to break through that wall.”
“No problem. Would you like a breach, or complete destruction?”
“A man-sized breach will be fine.”
The staff sergeant removed his beret and stood for a moment in silence, six feet from the wall. He scanned the area and smiled broadly as he found the perfect tool for the job. “Hey Ranger,” he said, “Come here.”
Know your abilities, learn about your environment, and use your resources deliberately. Green Berets know that finding just the right tool can be the most important part of the job. The Ranger in the story can take down a wall.
The Green Beret can take out walls until he runs out of Rangers, and then one more. As a force multiplier in the real world, the Green Berets can enlist large units with local knowledge to fight beside them. A single 12-man A-Team can train and employ a 500-man infantry battalion. That is a significant return on investment for the taxpayer.
Value yourself and use your rapport skills to build partnerships. Many hands make light work; don’t do everything yourself. Green Berets know that there is no limit to what you can do if other people are doing the work.
Semper Paratus
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Boomers
My uncle Gary called me “Boomer” as a kid. I never knew why until recently. Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, following World War II. GIs came home from the war, married and had children. Many Children. There are a lot of us.
Wrist Rocket slingshots, cap guns and coon skin
caps are how we rolled back then.
Cause & Effect
Since so many kids flooded the school systems across the country, certain teaching styles were implemented to get through daily lessons. We were usually divided into groups, or teams, condensing the daily plans. Along with accomplishing given goals with everyone participating to complete the mission. What was implemented out of necessity turned out to be a great life lesson — knowing how to work as a team.
This explains why “Boomers” are more social and generally enjoy working in groups or playing on teams. Since families were larger, parents seemed more relaxed with boundaries. If you were home by dark, no one minded where or what you did during the day. Riding bikes 5 miles or more from home wasn’t uncommon. We learned to be independent. We also learned about taking risks.
Let The Games Begin
Even the games we played involved risk. Christmas involved getting slingshots, BB guns, wood burning kits, and Easy-Bake ovens. Did we ever burn ourselves with these toys? You bet your blistered red fingers we did we did! Nothing a napkin and ice cube couldn’t cure. Did we play BB gun tag? Sure thing! Luckily, we never shot an eye out.
Revenge?
I remember my older brother picking on me to the point of tears. Step in Handy Andy Tool Kit with the miniature hammer. Since I wanted to be an Indian, the hammer made for a fitting tomahawk.
I remember it like yesterday. He was in the neighbor’s yard, and I was in our backyard. With a blood curdling Indian yell, I let loose with the hammer, “TOMAHAWK!!!,” as I released it. It caught him behind the ear and dropped him like a stone. I was amazed I hit him and scared I might have killed him, at the same time. He was fine, minus getting his head shaved for his stitches. Heck, I wasn’t planning on scalping him. I got a pretty good licking myself from dad. Funny thing is my brother stopped teasing me after that.
Just an innocuous pair of death clackers, or perhaps
more accurately called smackers.
Other Dangers
Sure, our parents supplied us with other weapons, too. We had lawn darts, which were nothing but large spikes with plastic fletching’s, to ensure the dart always flew spike first. Getting bored with the round hoops you were supposed to try and throw the darts in, we’d get more creative. We’d see how high we could throw the large darts with an underhanded toss — and scatter! Much like shooting an arrow straight up in the air, another dangerous practice. No one wants a dart to the head, or arrow, for that matter.
Then there were clackers! Or, as we called them, smackers. Made with two large plastic balls, attached with a tough cord, and a handle, you’d “bob” the handle like jigging for fish. The balls would “Clack” against each other, picking up momentum with each hit. Before you knew it, the balls were hitting each other top and bottom, as the arc increased in speed and force. The force generated was hard enough to make the plastic balls explode. Other times they’d get tangled in hair, strangulate fingers or be tossed as bolos, South American style. Ralph Nader had a field day with them.
The picture Tank’s mom took a split second before he pet the bear.
Moms were cooler back then.
Not Just Your Average Bear
As mentioned, I had deep desires to be an Indian. My mom indulged me, and we went to the Great Smokey Mountains for vacation when I was going into third grade. We visited the Cherokee Indian Reservation and met real Indians. I loved it! Along the way, we noticed cars pulled over on a winding mountain road.
It was a bear! People were feeding him, tossing him slices of bread and other scraps. I figured since I was almost full-blown Indian now, I’d pet this bear, taming him for a pet. Be the first kid on the block kind of deal, right? I never said I was the smartest kid, but I did it. The bear didn’t like it much either, standing on his hind legs and snarling at me.
Mom even got a picture of it, which, years later begs the question … why? Why didn’t she stop me? Did she want a picture of her youngest child getting mauled, or eaten by a bear? Of course not, I hope! That’s just how things were back then. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world. We did the best with what we had and thrived. We developed keen senses of imagination and ingenuity. Maybe too much. Either way, it was fun, we survived, and we developed a great sense of adventure along the way. That’s something an electronic gizmo will never accomplish.