Day 1 - Special Forces Symposium

The US Army Special Forces Symposium has been reinstated and is being held at Ft Bragg this week. The attendees include the senior officer and enlisted leadership from each SF Group, SF Command and USAJFKSWC&S. The symposium runs all week, though the last 2 days are for active duty only. VSF Board of Advisor member, BG (R) Rich Mills, is also here. More VSF Board members will join us today.

Spent all day yesterday touring and being briefed in the SF training areas. We had group and individual opportunities all day long to engage with CSMs just back from successful Special Forces Unconventional Warfare missions around the world; and Group Commanders, senior instructor cadre, The SF CG and SWC DCG. There is no doubt whatsoever that today's Special Forces soldiers are the finest on earth. They are Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and Vipers in uniform.

I sat across the table from MG Csrnko at lunch. He relinquishes SF Command soon to take command of SWC&S. MG C discussed his ideas for the future of our schoolhouse. He is motivated to raise the status of SWC to Graduate University Level. I got to speak with MG Csrnko and BG Hector Pagan (SWC&S Deputy CG) several times throughout the day. These are men of vision, ideas and bold goals.

It was a magnificent day. The improvements at SWC are astounding. I cannot imagine being more impressed or prouder to be a member of the SF community.

The Honorary Commander of The Special Forces Regiment, COL (R) Roger Donlan, MOH is here. Roger has joined the VSF Board of Advisors.

As wonderful as the day was, there was a dark cloud. It was not part of the briefings. I learned about it in 2 different conversations I overheard. I came away more convinced than ever that the retired SF community must get actively involved in supporting our Special Forces Regiment. They need our help in particular ways, that only we can accomplish. I'll wait until the symposium is over before discussing the issue.

One important shortfall in the SF Regiment is the lack of a true senior champion. We have neither a Congressman nor a retired 4 star Career SF Branch General to advocate for Special Forces. That leaves only us the retired SF community. We can make a difference and we must.

At the end of the day, we had a snack and social hour at the Green Beret Club. CSM (R) Ronnie McCan, the next Special Forces Association President, was there. Ron and I found much to agree on. He told me he sees great opportunities for synergism between SFA and VSF. We agreed to look at various opportunities.

I'll close this with a few details. USAJFKSWC&S teaches 42 different courses. SWC&S has 1,330 personnel. The Camp McCall dining facility is the best I've seen anywhere - lunch was better than excellent. The weapons committee has a new facility that has nearly 2 acres under roof. The only things I recognized from the old days were the one remaining tar paper shack, left for fond memories for the old-timers, and the log cabin. Once past selection, SF students are told to read four books before reporting for training. They are "The Arab Mind", "Unconventional Warfare" by Galula, "White Tiger", and Aaron Banks book "From "OSS to Green Beret".

DOL
Mike Linnane