U.S. Delta Force is well recognized for being some of the most advanced specialists in the world when it comes to training regarding a number of different vehicles, equipment, and weapons. Twenty-five privates and I were going to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment (Pt. Browns Mountain walks, instructor-led walks, admin walks, he was still with us. The whole thing reminded me ofwhenI graduated jump school at Fort Benning some nine years prior. I remembered he kept totally quiet and to himself in jump school, and especially on this endless bus ride. They both noted the eureka expression on my face, and mission complete: I slapped my forehead and busted out laughing. Hostage situations are therefore presented in a number of different locations from big buildings to aircraft or ships. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) I packed up my gear and configured my head light contraption in the dark, just like I had practiced at home so many times. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! volunteer. I had intentionally sought out that Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Search this website The Loadout Room Professional Gear Reviews They were stories about HALO malfunctions, night Dreagger infiltrations, all measure of hooah. How the Army Finds Out Who Has What It Takes to Join Delta Force Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. Despite the rules, I approached him and asked him how he was doing. Instead, we just expressed an affirmation of how much we both despised our lives at that moment, and our desire to extricate ourselves from our demise. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider I practiced putting it on and adjusting it many times in the dark of my house in Key West. DEVGRU recruits undergo SERE training. For instance, there was the guy from the Army band; I guess all the marching and flute playing got him in shape for the 30 days of humping through West Virginia. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4)dr phil what happened to colin 108/5 1 . . . 70160 There in the wetlands, I ran into an equally lost bud of mineMarkey-Mark Cuz C. We exchanged a few words, which was against the rules, but we had not tried to communicate any navigation details. He was not amused. It was an issued Maglite, so no harm, no foul. For the most part I was on the shoulder of the highway, but where it was possible I was down in the hinterland, where the movement was more arduous and challenging. Related Article US Army Grooming Standards. As you would expect, it is the elite of the elite so every operator that joins its prestigious ranks is very highly decorated. Less than halfway through the train-up it becameclear that I was not capable of the standards published by the Unit. My CO at Key West actually came from Delta, and yet he treated me like that. There was the good ol boy Hans H. He was a medic from 10th Special Forces Group. Ultimately, the Mountain Man, as I named him, would be promptly turned 180 degrees by the commanders board and vigorously dropped on his head. Main Menu In the candidate barracks, we were over 100 strong, and from every walk of the military. That status is due in large part to Delta's arduous, and at times brutal, selection process. To each his own, I always say. I pulled on a pair of standard-issue U.S. Army socks, OD green in color, one pair. He finally squashed his fag into the plate of seven-layer butt dip next to him, and told me the whole story of his brief relationship with my wife. It was dawn now, and bright enough to see without the flashlight. Surely the correct answer is to not dare speak to anyone. All Rights Reserved. Weeks later, we were in the throesof a basic combat divers course when one of my students came up to me during a break and asked if I was recently scheduled to attend tryouts in West Virginia. With that said, theres no way to to determine that with certainty. The next time I walked to my car to load my bags, I was strong and steady, and looking forward to my time away from Key West and the smug glances from the old man. Literally, it had a name tag posted on it with the name SFC George E. Hand IV. Read Next: Delta Forces James Nelson Sudderth Conan the Barbarian. Candidates aren't allowed to communicate with each other at any time. That being said, I continued to have at it alone. Army active duty, Reserve or National Guard. Reiterating thismay serve in some capacity to stress the irony in the fact that he would not support my train-up for selection during duty hours. . That graced me with a stiff bout of worry. The boots had to be military-issue as a hard and fast rule. We all spied each other but nobody spoke or gestured. Minutes later, after post-holing aimlessly through a seemingly misplaced Louisiana bayou, we stumbled onto a military M-880 pickup truck. Wait, did he say Camp Dawson? My gaze dropped to his shiny jump boots, and I was positive it couldnt be going well. Doing so would provide better grip and ultimately, some comfort. Selection often produces some hilarious stories. Key West is only a few feet above mean sea level and flat as a pancake. Notable operations include the rescue of Kurt Muse in. Having completed the first leg of the 40-mile forced march in twice the amount of time allowed to pass the selection phase, I was sure I was. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! During OTC, recruits are expected to maintain little to no contact with friends and family. I envisioned them mentally flipping the pages of the selection and assessment rule book, trying to determineif my device did or didnt qualify as accepted equipment for use in the selection course. The bottom line? Haney concludes that Delta Force OTC training concludes with a culmination exercise. Today, the majority of Delta Force operatives are selected from a pool of U.S. Army Special Operations Commands elite Special Forces Group (aka Green Berets) as well as the 75th Ranger Regiment. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) I reported in, plotted the next route of my journey on my map,and showed it to the cadre member. Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment: Part 1 | The Loadout Room I was stationed in Key West, Florida, at the U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Diver Academy as a SCUBA instructor. Tom Satterly is the epitome of the best America has to offer. Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment (Pt. Yes, eventually I did grasp the fact that the Marlboro Man had been married to my current wife for a brief few months while they were both in DLI. I faked a piss to steal one more glance at my orders. The routes and distances were a no-brainer for me: If the ruck march that week were 18 mileswell, Key West is mile zero, and I simply rucked up Interstate US 1 until I reached mile marker 18. Both of them remember the Marlboro Man from DLI, since all three had been there at the same time. Learn more about Delta Force, including the basic requirements, selection, training, how they differ from SEAL Team 6, and their weapons and equipment. I carried two canteens with me. It was all good. Required fields are marked *. Additionally, the Committee on Armed Services reported in 2006 that nearly three-fourths of all Delta operators originate from the 75th Ranger Regiment. Then, tactical rooms are setup for hostage takeover situations. I laced up my boots and started walking. My CO at Key West actually came from Delta, and yet he treated me like that. Theres been speculation that some soldiers are also considered from other special operations units of the U.S. Military, such as Marine Force Recon, Air Force Pararescue (PJs), and even Air Force Combat Controllers. The physical testing standards are reportedly similar. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. I had a genius inform me that the most state-of-the-art compass was entirely unnecessary, as the key to navigation in the mountains of West Virginia was an altimeter! I had spoiled his scenario. SEALs need similar training but also take it a step further with advanced skydiving. They sent me a letter., You moron, a Ranger leveled, We all got fuckin letters.. He makes it himself. There were mostly Rangers and GBs, but there were representatives from many other facets of the Army. My final selection of boots? I plotted my current position and then the position of my first rendezvous point. Haney, who managed to cover the discreet force in unprecedented detail. He sat in the student lounge nightly, clad in a long rider coat like Clint Eastwood and the boys wore in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. He wore shiny jump boots unlaced for his comfort, and he chain-smoked Marlboro cigarettes with such speed and precision that we joked that he must have little red pull pillows on his cigarettes so that when he was done with one, he could look, grab, and pull, and the cigarette would cut away automaticallybringing the next one to his mouth. I returned to duty as usual at the academy. He didn't know how to NOT be doing something physical. As we drew down to the last day before the final stress phase, where we would not be returning to the barracks at the end of our days, I discovered that my flashlight primary was no longer working, and my backup was mysteriously missing. There was a recommended training outline that Delta published to candidates. Selection and assessment for Delta takes place over a 3-4 week period. What a piece of junk that altimeter turned out to be, and what a dolt I was for buying it in the first place. The cadre before me that tried out and left for assignments with Delta all went in pairs. The proverbial hare had once again been beaten by the tortoise. We talked nightly about any measure of subject and at no time did he ever again attempt to bring up the subject of his former relationship with the ol ball and chain in an attempt to garner favor for his side of the epic tale. I stared at him momentarily and blankly, then in my own fashion of dealing with shock, I jokingly asked him if it had been a top bunk or bottom bunk. Today. The cadre before me that tried out and left for assignments with Delta all went in pairs. The 25 all immediately shoved pizza-head berets on their noggins. His glasses got darker and his voice got tougher. Qualifying soldiers are also tested from psychological point of view. He shook it hesitantly, and I left. "When I realized I was lost on day four I knocked on a hillbilly's door and asked him for help. We displayed thumbs up and chin-tipped each other from across the graduation formation. What now, then? I am finished with this walk, and I don't have an atom of energy left to entertain your bullshit! (You had to be there and be HALO qualified to get that one.). I reported to the cadre poncho tent at 0130 hours for my final departure brief. I applied a womans nylon shorty stocking directly to the tinctured foot. The cadre checked my two plots and released me from the poncho tent. Delta Force members must have already been in airborne training. Some of the specific elements of these tests include. I ran into the Marlboro Man on the end of a snowy spur somewhere out in the middle of West By God. The proverbial hare had once again been beaten by the tortoise. Delta Force is the Army's special-mission unit for counterterrorism and hostage rescues. Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment | SOFREP At the end of the day, it all came off, went into the trash, and the same procedure was followed the next day. Haney reports that new recruits will learn about marksmanship, demolitions and breaching, combined skills, tradecraft, and executive protection. Though every single branch of the U.S. Military is extremely important and carries out tasks on a daily basis crucial to national security, there are a few elite forces that tend to receive more attention. That dynamic, however, has gradually changed, with more Rangers and fewer Green Berets trying out for the big leagues. Instead, we justexpressed an affirmation of how much we both despised our lives at that moment, and our desire to extricate ourselves from our demise. During this phase, candidates complete individual ruck marches and instructor-led ruck marches, during which Delta Force operators will set the pace and candidates have to keep up or quit. As I threw my bags into the car, I paused to reflect on what the hell I had just done. As the Marlboro Man puffed away, he studied my face through the smoke screen that he had laid down between us. Neither wanted to explain to me who he was. Rather than get stuck in some miserable assignment, I went proactively after an assignment with the deeply revered academy. I foolishly bought a watch with an altimeter on it. Two of my good bros Pat Mac and Mike P. from way back were there at selection with me and both made it through to squadron assignments. Scores of other misfits went adrift. When the frat returned to the bus and we got underway, a two-legged shithead with chocolate ice cream on the corners of his mouth made his way back to me and said, Corporal, I would like to voluntarily terminate my status in SFQC. I regarded him with irritation and responded, OK stud, but could you please wait at least until we get to Bragg?. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) His reply was that he had just been there the previous month and washed out (failed), and he had seen there was an empty bunk with my name on it. Youre not? he puzzled. I went after Tito and recanted. Literally, it had a name tag posted on it with the name SFC George E. Hand IV. Read Next: How the Army Uses the West Virginia Wilderness to Find Out Who Has What It Takes to Join Delta Force. The Pentagon launched Delta force in the mid-1970s as Beckwith estimated it would take another two years to fully prepare the new unit for specialized missions. Go for it anyway and make the best of nearly a month spent away from Key West and the old man (my company commander)? Eventually I remarked to her in Spanish, No me recuerdo en qual piso me quedo. (I cant remember which floor I am staying on.) The elite unit which also is referred to as Combat Applications Group (CAG) or Army Compartmented Element (ACE), operates under the division of the U.S. Army and operational control of the Joint Special Operations Command. It was dawn now, and bright enough to see without the flashlight. "My class of Delta Selection had the highest graduation number in history to date," with 29 members, Hand said. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. Thats the last time I ever saw the lil guy. I had become lost when I got to low ground where the existing streams were swollen and previously non-existing rivulets appeared. 16.8k members in the SpecOpsArchive community. The U.S. Secret Service and DSS reportedly works with Delta Force during these training exercises. He was the Marlboro Man! Your email address will not be published. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment: Part 1 Yes, I was in fact there for the training at Dawson. I was pretty sure I would have to travel at least one time during the night hours. He shivered and held his map upside down. He shivered and held his map upside down. I observed that in Hans gear layout on his bunk, he had three Maglights. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Elie Piha served as a paratrooper in the US Army from 2008 to 2012. To be on that bus of jackasses was to be on the verge of vomiting for hours on end. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. I was LIMPING to selection and assessment. I stripped off my headlight, rolled it up, and stuffed it in my trouser cargo pocket. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ I was put in charge of the busload because, as a corporal, I was the ranking man. It was an issued Maglite, so no harm, no foul. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment | SOFREP Featured Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment by George E. Hand IV Sep 8, 2019 Share This: I was stationed in Key West,. I still have one of those pairs to this day, never having worn them again after selection. T-Bone had three magnificent daughters and gained even more of my respect and admiration for choosing in their favor. He became the butt of jokes. Delta selection is essentially a PT test, then a series of progressively more challenging ruck marches and navigating up and down mountains. There was also the Marlboro Man. A Delta Force candidate during the Stress Phase of Assessment and Selection. On my first couple of mornings at the BOQ, I kept running into a maid who would use the fire escape to move between floors. Delta Force is clearly one of the most advanced units in the U.S. Armed Forces. Related Article: Top 20 Reasons to Join the Military (and 7 reasons not to). Related Article Green Berets Vs. Rangers: 5 Major Differences. The Joint Special Operations Command was also created as the organizational and control department for all counter-terrorist units in the U.S. Military. Candidates must be eligible for a security clearance level of Secret. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Once again, Eric Haney and his book Inside Delta Force details the vast majority of what we know about Delta Force training. I plotted my current position and then the position of my first rendezvous point. He contracted a bout of walking pneumonia while he was there, being exposed to the drafty rooms, the cold snap in the winter air, and being in his state of other-than-impeccable physical health. In the history of United States military operations, members from both units have performed some of the most sophisticated, classified, and dangerous missions authorized by the U.S. National Command Authority. The equipment packing and carry techniques were pretty standard and straightforward: Pack heavy stuff low and toward the inside of your ALICE pack, close to your back. backpack (rucksack) twice a day, at lunch and after the duty day. Doing so would provide better grip and ultimately, some comfort. The boots had to be military-issue as a hard and fast rule. I stepped out into the darkness and rain, reached up, and gave my Maglite a twist on. According to some estimates, there are as many as 250 300 operators serving in a direct action and hostage rescue capacity. Trainees are expected to have extremely high accuracy rates. Believe it or not, the Marlboro Man and I became friends for the short amount of time we were in the barracks. Ahh the "Long March". There were about nine of us from all over the states: Rangers, Green Beret groups, and even a man from the 10th Mountain Division. It was during this time in November of 1979 that Delta Force executed its first highly publicized mission, known as Operation Eagle Claw. In his case, he chose the name Peter. There in the wetlands, I ran into an equally lost bud of mineMarkey-Mark Cuz C. We exchanged a few words, which was against the rules, but we had not tried to communicate any navigation details. In the barracks, there was the nightly ritual of the preparing of mind, body, and kit. I returned to duty as usual at the academy. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) Menu. Joining the ranks of CAG is very challenging and only a very small pool of U.S. Military members are ever considered for the elite unit. There was also the Marlboro Man. "In my time, it was usually about 60% Green Berets, 39% Rangers, and 1% random guys, such as cooks, chaplain assistants, and mechanics. We stopped once halfway through transit to eat at a Bobs Big Boy. They both currently only have male members. I was approached several times in the dining facility on the Naval Air Station and attheSafeway in town by strangers who asked me (words to the effect of), Arent you the guy/maniac I keep seeing rucking/backpacking along the freeway? Of course this was spoken in their most animated WTF tone of voice. Therefore, Delta Force weapons are highly customized with personal adjustments that account for everything from the stock and grips, to sights and other moving parts. For those who do manage to pass the commander's board, the journey has just begun. I had intentionally sought out that assignment to avoid a mandatory levy into the Special Warfare Center(SWC)duty that all Green Berets inevitably faced in their careers at some point. Moleskin and tincture of benzoin were the staple applications. When a Selection course starts, locals are usually briefed so they aren't surprised to see random men in fatigues with huge rucksacks roaming through their fields. For all of his greatness, I noticed he kept to himself and made no attempt to befriend anyone despite many positive gestures by the other candidates. I went after Tito and recanted. Limping is no way to approach this endeavor, I thought. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. I was stationed in Key West, Florida,at the U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Diver Academy as a SCUBA instructor. Initial candidates were screened from volunteers in 1978. That is, they were all missing one thing: a wall locker in a team room in one of the squadron bays of the Delta Force. Surviving Delta Force Selection and Assessment: Part 1 I would be wearing a heavy rucksack, carrying a rifle without a sling that, by protocol, must be carried in the hand, and a map. In his case, he chose the name Peter. My compass didnt know the first thing about altitude, but it knew everything there was to know about north, no matter where it was, and that is all that really mattered. I took to the highest structure that I knew of to trainthe bachelor officers quarters (BOQ) building across the tarmac from our campus. He stayed in the lounge because nobody would allow him to smoke in the sleeping bays. I contemplated the progression of the speeds, distances, and payload weights to be carried. We were, at that point, authorized to wear sterile green beretsberets with no unit identification or crest. He really had his act together for the most part. As God is my witness, I even saw a pair of jungle boots theresteel shank and all. I typically started the day off with an early mountain bike ride in the dark to the neighboring annex of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Boca Chica. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) Delta Force has origins that date back in America to the 1970s. He decked himself in field attire and kit that made him look more like he was in costume rather than uniform. Once all of my foolishness subsided, I surrendered to my military-issued M2 compass, lensetic, OD green in color, one each. It gave way to the eventual rise of Navy SEAL Team Six, which was founded by commander Richard Marcinko. Delta Force | SOFREP I climbed to the top of the 12-story BOQ building andonly 60 feet? He threw his things together and was gone in a flash. This guy was a beast. Did I mention that the old man came to Key West from Delta? "The [Delta] cadre are very professional. His reply was that he had just been there the previous month and washed out (failed), and he had seen there was an empty bunk with my name on it. After three years in Key West, and facing a deteriorating relationship with the company commander, I resolved to engage in a train-up regimen and requested to try out for the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta, the Delta Force, The Ranch, The Farm, Behind the Fence, or, as we jokingly referred to it in A Squadron, The After-Charlie Force or the Before-Echo Forceavoiding the secret letter Delta and opting for its left and right neighbors in the alphabet, Charlie and Echo. Camp Dawson had indeed been on my orders somewhere. Selection consists of a series of grueling exercises that test the candidate's physical fitness, stamina and mental determination. Due to the increased threat and focus on terrorism within the United States as well as abroad, the importance of ACE has only increased over the last couple of decades. I stripped off my headlight, rolled it up, and stuffed it in my trouser cargo pocket. I would tie a cravat on my head like a pirate, as a sort of saddle blanket, before I strapped on my Rube Goldberg of a device. I was put in charge of the busload because, as a corporal, I was the ranking man. What now, then? Explore. This guy from the 10th, while not being from a special operations unit, would prove to be the very fastest mover across the rugged West Virginiamountains in the entire class.