To be on that bus of jackasses was to be on the verge of vomiting for hours on end. "In my time, it was usually about 60% Green Berets, 39% Rangers, and 1% random guys, such as cooks, chaplain assistants, and mechanics. Heres to you Hans. He was diagnosed with a not-so-rare affliction that Delta cannot, and will not tolerate: He was a certified, laminated card-carrying asshole. One of my cadre in the qual course tried out for Delta. Despite the rules, I approached him and asked him how he was doing. He and I had a distinct rub. I went after Tito and recanted. Less than halfway through the train-up it becameclear that I was not capable of the standards published by the Unit. The proverbial hare had once again been beaten by the tortoise. As part of its recruiting effort, Delta sends recruiters to speak and show a hooah film to select groups of troops around U.S. military installations. Delta Force | SOFREP Delta Force The Unit has seen extensive action in Grenada, Panama, Somalia, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria. 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. I suggested the route I thought he should take. The 25all immediately shoved pizza-head berets on their noggins. That said, hewould soon find himself riding on the short bus with the flutist back to the airport. 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. To be on that bus of jackasses was to be on the verge of vomiting for hours on end. My foot preparation went like this: I painted my feet evenly withtincture of benzoin, all the way up to where the top of my boot would end. I ran into the Marlboro Man on the end of a snowy spur somewhere out in the middle of West By God. I remembered he kept totally quiet and to himself in jump school, and especially on this endless bus ride. I wondered what could there even be to think about? Rather we all quietly accepted that none of us had a clue what to do next. While Delta Force is technically a branch of the US Army, they are a part of the Joint Special Operations Command, or JSOC. George E. Hand IV. He really had his act together for the most part. What now, then? I was stationed in Key West, Florida,at the U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Diver Academy as a SCUBA instructor. Once all of my foolishness subsided, I surrendered to my military-issued M2 compass, lensetic, OD green in color, one each. All Rights Reserved. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a series of tests that every new recruit of the U.S. Armed Forces must complete. Not at all. Classified in grade of O-3 captains or 0-4 majors for officer positions. That was about a 20 mile round trip, and I always wore combat boots on those rides. I packed up my gear and configured my head light contraption in the dark, just like I had practiced at home so many times. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Eventually it came to a family decision that he would not try out for Delta after all. He decked himself in field attire and kit that made him look more like he was in costume rather than uniform. The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), often shortened to Delta Force, is an example of one such elite special mission force. Literally, it had a name tag posted on it with the name SFC George E. Hand IV. 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 believe I saw every measure of high-speed, low-drag footwear there. Me, I found it frankly riveting to finally take in the version of the saga from liar number two. 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. Go for it anyway and make the best of nearly a month spent away from Key West and the old man (my company commander)? It had all but stopped raining as daybreak took charge of night. In retrospect, every one of those Albrecht Einsteins had one thing in common. are used. Delta Force candidates do not during OTC. mtg play any number of lands; empower field at mile high club seats; palm beach school of nursing transcripts; dwyane wade wingspan inches. Candidates must be eligible for a security clearance level of Secret. We all spied each other but nobody spoke or gestured. Before that week was over, I had once again received my expected not no, but hell no from the boss on support for my train-up, and I was back up on the 12th floor of the BOQ, looking for my goddamned room.. They learn how to pick virtually all types of locks, not only on buildings but cars and safes too. As the Marlboro Man puffed away, he studied my face through the smoke screen that he had laid down between us. He sat with me and we looked over my maps carefully. I faked a piss to steal one more glance at my orders. Support Veteran Journalism . Not with those boots. For those who do manage to pass the commander's board, the journey has just begun. I was put in charge of the busload because, as a corporal, I was the ranking man. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! DEVGRU recruits undergo SERE training. I reported in, plotted thenext route of my journey on my map,and showed it to the cadre member. For that, he got my respectwhether he wanted it or not. The FBI and FAA, as well as other federal government agencies work closely with new operatives during OTC training to present methods for dealing with terrorists and hostage situations. The cadre before me that tried out and left for assignments with Delta all went in pairs. There is no yelling, no shouting. 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. Despite the rules, I approached him and asked him how he was doing. Related Article US Army Grooming Standards. On completion of OTC, the recruits become operational and are assigned to one of the active Delta Force squadrons. My two buds conversed among themselves intentionally within earshot of me so I could eventually pick up on what what happening. 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. Candidates are expected to go through a board of Delta instructors, psychologists, and a Delta commander in order to face a series of questions. 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Group, commonly known as Delta Force, is the US Armys elite special mission unit tasked with hostage rescue and counter-terrorism. Related Article CIA Special Activities Division (SAD): 12 Things You Never Knew. He took virtually the opposite direction and that was the last time I saw him. What is really wild about Delta Force is they actually have their own distinct team of gunsmiths that develop weapons specially for the specialized ops unit first. There was this South Korean officer in our class whose name tag reflected that he was indeed from the Republic of Koreathe letters ROK were followed by his self-chosen American name. I half shrugged and shook my head no. 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. Not just from the Army, but from other services as well. We all spied each other but nobody spoke or gestured. 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. The logical solution was to get a headlamp. They both currently only have male members. My commander granted zero quarter, insisting that I engage during my own time. Delta tends to carry out recruitment briefings at Frot Bragg just prior to it's bi-annual selection and assessment courses. Alas, the day came when we were to venture out into the hills for the first time all on our own. I sat in back where I could watch my crowd. He finally explained to me that he could not loan me his Maglight, being that I was probably not going to make it and he would be out a Maglight. 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. Carry the pack high on your back and secure it to your body with shoulder and waist straps to dampen rucksack cargo bounce. Thats the last time I ever saw Rich. They had both been to foreign language training at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monte Rey, California. 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. The few candidates that make it through Selection and Assessment enter the Operators Training Course (OTC), a 6-month course which turns the raw recruits into trained Delta operators. I found him easy to talk to and pretty intelligent. To those in the military, I would respond, hooah. To the civilians, I would respond, Sorry no, you must be mistaken. To answer yes to civilians would have been a foolish invitation of a litany of pointless questions from a foreign species, so why would I subject myself to that? 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. By fall of 1979 they were granted permission by the U.S. Armed Forces to begin missions, infamously not long before the Iran hostage crisis. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Each day the length of the route and the weight needed to be carried increases. In his case, he chose the name Peter. Thats the last time I ever saw the lil guy. The two elite forces have reportedly been involved in some notoriously famous secretive missions, as well as separate ones from each other. It was officially recognized on November 19, 1977. As the months went on, I discovered that I had gained a measure of celebrity from the local population, both military and civilian. Beckwith insisted on a long training period after being advised by John Watts from England who served as a Brigadier. I packed up my gear and configured my head light contraption in the dark, just like I had practiced at home so many times. Tactical Auction Pistol Case Ammo Cans Delta Force His name tag read, ROK Peter. We just called him hard dick. Hard Dick was married and his wife was pregnant. At the end of the day, it all came off, went into the trash, and the same procedure was followed the next day. Hand, the Marlboro Man wants to see you in the lounge, ASAP. Priceless. 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. Ever. Selection often produces some hilarious stories. The physical testing standards are reportedly similar. I returned to duty as usual at the academy. Selection is an individual effort. Explore. I pulled the bags back out of the car and stood down, relinquishing my intent to try out in West Virginia. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. The U.S. Army has actively recruited for Delta Force though it does not necessarily define it by the official title. At the time of application have at least two and a half years of service remaining. I couldnt bring myself to be that presumptuous, and insteadstuck towearingthe usual garrison cap that looked like a baseball cap. To each his own, I always say. Main Menu Then, tactical rooms are setup for hostage takeover situations. I reveled in the chance to get away from this fraternity and stayed on the bus. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. I plotted my current position and then the position of my first rendezvous point. The Joint Special Operations Command was also created as the organizational and control department for all counter-terrorist units in the U.S. Military. I remembered he kept totally quiet and to himself in jump school, and especially on this endless bus ride. I gawked at the stars in the ink-black West Virginia sky, and I thought of the valiant Hans, his superman cape flapping in the breeze behind him, his Batman belt of worthless trinkets around his waist, his brown scarf in sync with his flapping cape, his Robin Hood-shaped cap complete with feather, and his three Maglights shoved up his ass where he lay upside down in the bottom of some laurel-choked canyon. Well, after much anguish and gnashing of teeth, I ended up at a U.S. Air Force clothing sales store and purchased two identical pairs of basic leather combat boots, labeled them pair A and pair B, kept the basic black boot polish on them, and made sure I rotated them evenly throughout my training phase in Key West. 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?. In my mind, he was back-asswards on both accounts. 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. Delta Force is the Army's special-mission unit for counterterrorism and hostage rescues. It is just as well, as selection was entirely an individual effort. I stepped back out in the terminal, where I was finally approached by a way-too-tall Latin American brother with a manchu stache, dark Ray Ban shades, a cartel leather jacket, and a tooth pick in his mouth. There would be no contact made, no attempt at communication at anytime while out on these practice walks. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. I had just run out of hands to carry a flashlight. His glasses got darker and his voice got tougher. "My class of Delta Selection had the highest graduation number in history to date," with 29 members, Hand said. This guy was a beast. They also learn how to make bombs with common materials and other advanced demolition techniques. It is just as well, as selection was entirely an individual effort. There was the good ol boy Hans H. He was a medic from 10th Special Forces Group. 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. He was not amused. Before that week was over, I had once again received my expected not no, but hell no from the boss on support for my train-up, and I was back up on the 12th floor of the BOQ, looking for my goddamned room.. (You had to be there and be HALO qualified to get that one.). I had just gotten a leg up on the long walk. 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. "When I realized I was lost on day four I knocked on a hillbilly's door and asked him for help. I turned it around for him. Therefore, it is impossible to become a part of The Unit immediately after enlisting. He planted himself squarely in front of me, totally shattering my concept of personal space, and asked in his toughest quiet-time voice, Are you here for specialized training at Camp Dawson? I flashed back to the fake piss gander at my orders. We even had a flute player from the Army band try out in my Selection, but he didn't make it," George Hand IV, a retired Delta Force operator, told Insider. He stayed in the lounge because nobody would allow him to smoke in the sleeping bays. They teamed up and trained as a buddy team to keep each other motivated and have company. He makes it himself. The basic entrance requirements are similar including needing to be 21 years or older as well as having previous combat experience. Some applied as/when needed; some applied generously in a more prophylactic approach. With that said, theres no way to to determine that with certainty. T-Bone had three magnificent daughters and gained even more of my respect and admiration for choosing in their favor. Limping is no way to approach this endeavor, I thought. Candidates must be airborne qualified, or having volunteered for airborne training. He finally explained to me that he could notloan me his Maglight, being that I was probably not going to make it and he would be out a Maglight. There were about nine of us from all over the states: Rangers, Green Beret groups, and even a man from the 10th Mountain Division. Eventually I remarked to her in Spanish, No me recuerdo en qual piso me quedo. (I cant remember which floor I am staying on.) In the beginning, I had my good bud Joe T-Bone T. to train with. The day I was to leave, I picked up my duffle bags and I limped to my car to drive to the airport. 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. In the candidate barracks, we were over 100 strong, and from every walk of the military. As I strained for the next three hours through the rain, rocks, and timber, my path stayed well illuminated the entire time. The whole thing reminded me ofwhenI graduated jump school at Fort Benning some nine years prior. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. As I threw my bags into the car, I paused to reflect on what the hell I had just done. Although the points might be a few miles apart, the West Virginia terrain requires candidates to cover far more than the map distance between points. As you would expect, it is the elite of the elite so every operator that joins its prestigious ranks is very highly decorated. The U.S. Military launched the beginning of Delta Force as the first officially recognized, full-time counter-terrorism specialized force. Selection's final event is the "Long Walk," in which candidates have to finish a timed 40-mile ruck-march. Delta Force is the primary counter-terrorism branch in the U.S. Military along with Navy SEAL Team Six, or DEVGRU. surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) surviving delta force selection and assessment (pt 4) by. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. When the frat returned to the bus and we gotunderway, 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?. Surprised, I affirmed and asked how he knew. It was an unspoken expectation in those days that the unit commander of a Delta candidate would grant time off during the duty day to allow for the intense train-up for the selection and assessment course. As God is my witness, I even saw a pair of jungle boots theresteel shank and all. Rather than get stuck in some miserableassignment, I went proactively after an assignment with the deeply revered academy. hessy wa kayole pictures. My pace was 15 minutes per mile, so I could tell my wife to pick me up at mile marker 20 in 5 hours. Read Part 1 of Surviving Delta Force Selection here. I stared athim 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. Qualifying soldiers are also tested from psychological point of view. On my initial ruck march with my new altimeter, I noted that it had not budged so much as a foot of elevation, plus or minus the true elevation of Key West in the past ten miles of marching, and it never would! For my part, I did enjoy dropping a call to the little woman to tell her all was just peachy keen-o here in the land of steep mud, snow, and fallen timberand oh, by the way, guess who I ran into out here? As God is my witness, I even saw a pair of jungle boots theresteel shank and all. I stepped out into the darkness and rain, reached up, and gave my Maglite a twist on. 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. Founded by Colonel Charlie Beckwith, it was officially recognized on November 19, 1977. Literally, it had a name tag posted on it with the name SFC George E. Hand IV. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. They had both been to foreign language training at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monte Rey, California. There was a secret balance of ratio, I thought, between level of physical fitness and speed of cool-guy gear that was required to pass the course. Colonel Bob Black Gloves Mountel was tasked with building the new unit after having already served on the 5th Special Forces Group. I still have one of those pairs to this day, never having worn them again after selection. For my part, I did enjoy dropping a call to the little woman to tell her all was just peachy keen-o here in the land of steep mud, snow, and fallen timberand oh, by the way, guess who I ran into out here? Key West is only a few feet above mean sea level and flat as a pancake. If it were 20 miles, then mile marker 20 it was. ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, Army MOS List: A List Of All 159 Army Jobs, Top 20 Reasons to Join the Military (and 7 reasons not to), Green Berets Vs. Rangers: 5 Major Differences, 6 Ways To Check If Someone Was In The Military / Verify Military Service, CIA Special Activities Division (SAD): 12 Things You Never Knew, Navy SEAL Weapons and Gear: 24 Rifles, Handguns, Shotguns, and More, https://www.military.com/special-operations/delta-force.html, https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/us-armys-delta-force-how-secret-group-deadly-soldiers-came-be-55057, https://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/qualifications-and-benefits.html, https://thenewsrep.com/43573/surviving-delta-force-selection-assessment-pt-1/, Army Grooming Standards: Haircuts, Mustaches, Beards, And More, List Of 9 Army Patches And Their Meanings, Army Sharpshooter Badge: 6 Things To Know, Army Service Ribbon (ASR): 5 Things To Know, Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM): 8 Things To Know. Wasnt Jerry Boykin involved in the founding of Delta? Scores of other misfits went adrift. It is tasked with handling some of the most dangerous and specialized missions in the world. Finally, he shot a long, slow blast of tar and nicotine from his mouth and said in his best Marlin-Brando-from-the- Godfather-voice, I thinkits about time I explain to you who I am. I held a single pray tell finger to my lips and waited. 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. Selection consists of a series of grueling exercises that test the candidate's physical fitness, stamina and mental determination. Related Article Green Berets Vs. Rangers: 5 Major Differences. He decked himself in field attire and kit that made him look more like he was in costume rather than uniform. As part of its recruiting effort, Delta sends recruiters to speak and show a hooah film to select groups of troops around U.S. military installations. There was also the Marlboro Man. I took to the highest structure that I knew of to trainthe bachelor officers quarters (BOQ) building across the tarmac from our campus. My God, was it really that far away?