Kill "The Quiet Professionals"

A recent article said this about USMC Major General Hejlik

"Hejlik, MARSOC’s commanding general, acknowledged that the idea of the new command dabbling in unconventional warfare did not sit well at first with the Army special forces community. "Point of the fact was that was assigned to us by Gen. [Bryan] Brown, then the SOCOM [Special Operations Command] commander, and he stated I think pretty clearly up front, "Develop the capability to conduct unconventional warfare," and that’s what we’re doing," Hejlik said Nov. 29 during a breakfast with reporters."

We all know that the USMC invented public relations. SF can go to school on them even as they attempt to go to school on us. I should note USMC Generals are not the only leaders using this successful technique. Business leaders and business oriented organizations use the same technique of offering a breakfast, lunch or dinner to reporters along with CEO time, to get their stories in the news, thereby gaining popularity for whom they represent. US Army Special Forces used to do that too.

While Special Forces was reverting to promoting the concept of “The Quiet Professionals”, businessmen and the USMC were learning that "Secrecy" has never endeared any organization to the American people.

The mantra "The Quiet Professionals" is written in all of our SF literature. It is on posters in team rooms, and is worn like a badge of courage. Now the phrase is quoted often by non-SF USASOC, SOCOM, and other Army leaders. Simultaneously, SFers continue to recite it daily like a mystical incantation.

Am I the only one who recognizes this as a possible form of submission that may be opening the door to oppression? Has "Quiet" evolved into a noose around our own necks? Is SF being led (by that noose) down a primrose path to oblivion? Is there a gallows waiting for us at the end of the trail?

Does anyone ever think to ask why SEALS, MARSOC, Air Commandos, and Rangers are not "Quiet Professionals"?

How often does the SF CG and the SWCS CG have breakfast with reporters? I think we all know the answer. Why not begin such a breakfast program tomorrow? And have a monthly luncheon too. USMC and Corporate leaders are featured in advertising, and conduct regular press briefings because corporate America has learned that it increases business.

Why are Special Forces Commanding Generals not featured in Special Forces recruiting advertising along with Special Forces soldiers? Why are non Special Forces soldiers featured in Special Forces recruiting efforts? Using SFers is certainly more appropriate than the brown beret wearing army ranger and the aviator helmet-wearing soldier I see featured on the "Special Forces" page of the US Army recruiting web site. Go to this link and under "Find Your Strength" click on Special Forces. Then look at the first poster just below mid-page.

Does that look like an effective ad for Special Forces to you? If you agree it is not appropriate, who will fix it?

Troubled foreign countries and their leadership know more about US Special Forces than the US Congress. Those countries want SF to help them create and preserve their freedom like our kids want ice cream. Americans continue to rely on Special Forces for a unique and strategic defense capability, but they no longer know who we are. Our good name and heritage are being stolen by new start-ups who conveniently drop the word Operations from their official title of Special Operations Forces. That word trick confuses both the public and the Congress. Are we going to continue to stand around and wait for USASOC and SOCOM PAOs to end the swindle and inform the press of the error?

Wake-up. There has to be a reason they have not done that yet.

The stress of 6 years of back-to-back deployments is taking a toll. During the even longer Vietnam War, we had 10 Special Forces Groups backing the one SFOB deployed to Nha Trang. Today all of our SF groups are strained. They are fighting the four wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, The Philippines and Columbia. There is very little back up. The solution is not to spend $1.5 Billion to create a new USMC based Special Forces Lite. America can have more of the genuine Special Forces Heavy at a fraction of that cost. In 1970 we had 11 ½ Special Forces Groups. That is 4 ½ more than we have today. We must reconstitute that force.

My recommendation, to rid ourselves of the noose and end the public's confusion, is to announce to the world that Special Forces is going to kill “The Quiet Professionals”, and invite every American to come look at us. America deserves no less. In the 1960s and 70s, Special Forces had an open door policy called Area 2 and later the Gabriel Demonstration area. Reporters from around the world, members of Congress, and the Judicial and Executive branches of our own and foreign governments visited Special Forces every month. Recruiting was never an issue, nor was manning the force.

The excuse I was given when I suggested we consider reinstating this program is we don't have time and USASOC and SOCOM take care of PAO. Show me the PAO plan for Special Forces. Show me the promotional material that USASOC and SOCOM have developed and released to the American Public to enhance Special Forces and to tell the story of their magnificent successes since 9/11. I saw the USASOC 20 year birthday DVD. Special Forces was not even mentioned. I live in a sophisticated civilian environment of winners. I can tell you with absolute certainty no Special Forces promotional material can be found here. All I ever see is a magazine being distributed at the Green Beret Parachute Club when I visit Ft Bragg, and an occasional press release featuring USASOC’s Non-SF General Wagner presenting Silver Stars to real Special Forces heroes.

If Special Forces continues to find no time for an effective and comprehensive Public Affairs Program, I predict they will soon have lots of time for everything else but Special Forces. That will be a terrible loss for this nation.

Mike Linnane