Foreword to the Ultimate Special Forces

                                                                                                   

Special Forces have a much greater and far more important role to play in the many forms of warfare that face armed forces in the 21st century than they had in the 20th century. Since the two World War and the consequent Cold War (1945-1990), global terrorism has forced significant change. It used to be possible to predict most likely threats, then equip and train forces to deal with them. But today, military commanders must plan to be totally flexible and able to cope with everything from full-scale armored warfare to sporadic guerrilla operation in urban areas.

Just as there are no obvious threats, there are also no obvious responses. In the 21st century, it will not be possible simply to declare war and start sending in the tanks. And immediate and proper response is far more important, with imaginative thinking backed up by a wide range of military options-which is precisely what today's high tech special forces provide.

However, the general public perception of special forces has been influenced by a media hungry for heroes and victories. Their operation are often glamorized and inaccurately reported. Special Forces operations are kept secret (for obvious reasons), which upsets many journalists. Any hint that there could have been some kind of failure becomes a big story: total success is the norm required of military commanders by journalists, who do not understand that every special forces' operation continually lurches from crisis to near disaster until the troops are safely back at base. Special forces' troops can be illustrated either as arrogant, swaggering, psychopaths, or as gilded heroes achieving miracles of superhuman toughness. Both impressions are wrong.

As special operations become more frequent, which I believe they will, it is vital that the public understands much more of the reality of special forces and their capabilities, stripped of mythology and media hype. This blog shows how modern special forces operate, the weapon, skills, and equipment they use, and the methodological way in which they plan and execute their missions. Being masters of their trade, special forces choose the right tools for each particular job, so this blog also includes comprehensive section showing actual equipment they use. But the most interesting and critical aspect of special forces is the quality of its people. This books therefore show how they are selected and trained, and how the ideas, bravery, and actions of individual soldiers have created and shaped today's special forces' units.

Modern special forces grew in response to the rise of terrorism in the years following World War II (1939-1945). Their counter-terrorist role is now more important than ever. The relentless economic drive towards globalization has already stimulated regional opposition in most continents , and increasingly well-organized global terrorism. Future conflicts are certain to be politically complicated, with terrorists tactics and terror groups being used by political organizations and lesser countries to confuse and weaken greater nations. This "Asymmetric warfare", in which both the armed forces and political will of larger nations are eroded by a smaller enemy, requires a sophisticated, multifaceted response, which characterizes modern special force capability.

The Iraq War of 2003 was the beginning of a very new type of "effects-based" warfare, in which computer technology enables military commander to concentrate firepower and land forces with devastating speed-so called "network-centric" warfare. For the first tome, throughout the use of this technology, special forces are able to play a major part in conventional operations not just with their characteristic covert intelligence gathering, raiding, and sabotage operations, but by taking over and controlling entire zones of the battlefields, as we seen in 2003 with US special forces in northern Iraq. The range and speed of today's missile systems gives unparalleled power to just one man in the right place, with the right training, and the right equipment.

Battles used to be determined by destroying enemy forces, occupying ground, and controlling certain key points or assets. Modern effects-based warfare is radically different and uses military force to achieve a certain predetermined effect-which could be to force a political decision, or to immobilize an army. Creating this effect can be done in many ways; and once it is achieved, the military action switches to creating some other effect.

The potential for special forces in effects-based warfare is enormous. Special forces' operation have always achieved effects far greater than the numbers of troops involved-usually through daring and innovative planning. Fighting is only one way to achieve victory. A British Special Boat Service (SBS) mission in the 1991 Gulf War cut the Iraqi High Commander's fiber optic communications cable at a critical time. The occupation of Baghdad in Iraq in April 2003 was a masterly combination of covert special forces' activity and the careful maneuvering of armored forces. The predicted bloodbath of house to house street fighting never materialized.

Throughout history, special forces have always centered on the individual, making each person feel a member of an elite, with higher standards that other military units and capable of far greater achievements in combat. In many ways, this is a reversal of the usual military training process, which seeks to turn individuals into team members. Individuals are rigorously tested and carefully selected, then kept it to standard with every exacting training exercises on the principle of "train hard, fight easy".

Special forces are totally committed to achieving their mission, either as a group or as individual. If all else fails, just one man will continue to the target and attempt to execute the operation. Dedication and determination must be combined with a high level of common sense. Sound personal and psychological qualities are more important that fitness and psychic, particularly as injuries are a common occupational hazard that must be endured as part of the rigors of an operation.

Special operations are planned using a much greater input than normal from the soldiers taking part. Their personal experience and preferences are utilized to develop plans that stand the greatest chance of success. Special forces are particularly good at evaluating risks, then taking them as sensibly as possible. While knowing that all caution must be abandoned at times in order to achieve surprise.

Special forces have rapidly developing roles in modern warfare, as shown in Afghanistan (2002) and Iraq (2003), as well as in counter-terrorist actions. But, as their role becomes more accepted part of modern warfare, it is important to remember what they are and where they came from. Special forces were started by individuals with vision-mavericks who were very often opposed by their superiors. As their role becomes increasingly more important, it is vital that special forces continue to evolve-and above all else, avoid becoming conventional in their outlook.