Quote:
Originally Posted by romad
Even notice how everyone knows a guy and they all seem to have actual ops experience? There are millions of servicemen and thousands of special ops guys(ranger thru delta and everything in between) who never fired a shot in actual combat. Between 1973 and 1993 you could have done a whole 20 year career in special ops and never had a mission.
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I had a PSG who was ex special forces, and who'd served in Vietnam. Quite frankly, i never really liked him, he was downright mean. His last posting before coming to our unit was as a drill instructor, and it took him a while to shake all that off and mellow out to a more permanent party appropriate level. Later on I grew to respect him, but I never really liked him.
Also had a company commander that was a former NCO, and a tabbed Ranger. Very, very loud and boisterous, but IMO a great officer and leader of men.
My last Bn Sgt Major was an ex Paratrooper. He was definitely of the "larger than life" sort. Very loud, high spirited, and extremely likable. Really funny too. Always had a great line for anything you said.
Also, my favorite drill sergeant in basic was an ex 75th Abn Ranger that'd served in Grenada. He was one of the most braggardly men i ever met in my life, but he was the real deal with his CIB and right hand 75th patch at a time when very few troops had such things, so to me as a 17yo Infantry trainee, it just made him seem even more god-like. He was short and stocky and loud and demanding, but honestly, i really admired and respected him. Probably my favorite Sgt of my entire time in the military.
I think there is a
HUGE difference when you see these men operating among other soldiers in a unit, or out in the field, as a comrade in arms, as opposed to meeting them at a picnic or having coffee or a drink with one as a civilian.