Download or read book Special Operations Forces written by Richard H. Shultz and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1995 with total page 307 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Apollo s Warriors written by Michael E. Haas and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1998-05 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presenting a fascinating insider's view of U.S.A.F. special operations, this volume brings to life the critical contributions these forces have made to the exercise of air & space power. Focusing in particular on the period between the Korean War & the Indochina wars of 1950-1979, the accounts of numerous missions are profusely illustrated with photos & maps. Includes a discussion of AF operations in Europe during WWII, as well as profiles of Air Commandos who performed above & beyond the call of duty. Reflects on the need for financial & political support for restoration of the forces. Bibliography. Extensive photos & maps. Charts & tables.
Download or read book Special Forces Berlin written by James Stejskal and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2017-02-15 with total page 383 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The previously untold story of a Cold War spy unit, “one of the best examples of applied unconventional warfare in special operations history” (Small Wars Journal). It is a little-known fact that during the Cold War, two US Army Special Forces detachments were stationed far behind the Iron Curtain in West Berlin. The existence and missions of the two detachments were highly classified secrets. The massive armies of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies posed a huge threat to the nations of Western Europe. US military planners decided they needed a plan to slow the expected juggernaut, if and when a war began. This plan was Special Forces Berlin. Their mission—should hostilities commence—was to wreak havoc behind enemy lines and buy time for vastly outnumbered NATO forces to conduct a breakout from the city. In reality, it was an ambitious and extremely dangerous mission, even suicidal. Highly trained and fluent in German, each of these one hundred soldiers and their successors was allocated a specific area. They were skilled in clandestine operations, sabotage, and intelligence tradecraft, and were able to act, if necessary, as independent operators, blending into the local population and working unseen in a city awash with spies looking for information on their every move. Special Forces Berlin left a legacy of a new type of soldier, expert in unconventional warfare, that was sought after for other deployments, including the attempted rescue of American hostages from Tehran in 1979. With the US government officially acknowledging their existence in 2014, their incredible story can now be told—by one of their own.
Download or read book U S Special Operations Forces in the Cold War written by Leroy Thompson and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This valuable addition to the G.I. Series traces the evolution of Special Operations forces during the chilliest aspects of the Cold War, from Korea to the dissolution of the USSR. Leroy Thompson documents the various airborne, infantry, recon, and amphibious sectors as they grow in response to conflicts in Vietnam, the Middle East, and Latin America, and to the increasing threat of terrorism on the home front. More than 100 rare and unusual photographs cover the uniforms, equipment, and insignia of formations such as Ranger battalions, LRRP units, Special Forces groups (airborne), USAF combat control teams, pararescuemen and PJs, Navy Seals, Marine Recons, and Delta.
Download or read book US Special Operations Forces in Action written by Thomas K. Adams and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 398 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work argues for a shift in expectations for "unconventional warfare" with a greater willingness to accept lengthy commitments and incremental progress.
Download or read book Special Warfare written by and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Apollo s warriors written by Michael E. Haas and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Into the Void written by James D. Kiras and published by Hurst Publishers. This book was released on 2024-06-06 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The moment in the sun for special operations sometimes appears to have passed, seemingly eclipsed by preparations for potential conflict under the guise of ‘great power’ competition, combined with failure in Afghanistan. Yet the war in Ukraine serves as a reminder that special operations play an even greater role today―before, during and presumably after conflict. The challenge remains dealing with current irregular and hybrid threats, at the same time as preparing for an uncertain future, as threats and technologies evolve at a dizzying pace. Focusing too much on the future of conventional warfare creates a void in national security discussions related to special operations. This book seeks to fill that gap, drawing on the expertise of scholars and practitioners in the field, from the Indo-Pacific, Europe and the United States, to answer what, if anything, special operations can or should seek to do, and how. The contributors explore such topics as proxies, non-state special forces, capabilities, innovation and transformation, artificial intelligence, and special operations in space and cyberspace. These chapters are united by their analysis that special operations will have future strategic and operational value, for allies and adversaries alike, provided that difficult choices are made in the present.
Download or read book Special Operations Forces written by John M. Collins and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1994 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this volume, John Collins speaks with the authority of one who was literally present at the birth of the low intensity conflict era. His long-term, intimate, and direct contact with the esoteric world of special operations has few parallels. Their roots go back in time and history considerably farther, but today's Special Operations Forces are largely products of the past three decades. Their development has been in response to the pressures of world-wide situations perceived to bear upon or which actually do affect American strategic interests. The use of raw military power may not provide solutions to the complex problems involved and may even be counter-productive. Special Operations forces, uniquely suited to fill the quasi-military gap, require the highest degree of professional competence in the application of the classical principles of war. This is a big order. It is difficult in a few words to pay John Collins the tribute he deserves for continuing efforts to educate both the Congress and the U.S. Armed Forces concerning the capabilities and limitations of special operations and the forces they involve. This latest addition to his carefully researched studies combines history, philosophy, factual data, and reference materials in a single document that should be on the desks of civilian and military leaders whose responsibilities relate in any way to special operations.
Download or read book Special Operations Forces FM 3 18 written by United States United States Army Special Operations Command and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-05-01 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There has always been a romantic fascination with special operations forces (SOF). The idea of secret commandos or Rangers striking from the shadows surprising the enemy with overwhelming speed, violence of action, and cutting-edge technology appeals to America's image of highly trained, elite Soldiers. There is, however, another Soldier who fights from the shadows. This one is perhaps less known and far less understood. His real weapons are a deep understanding of terrain, the relationships built, and the influence developed to motivate and train others to take up the fight. These Soldiers are the U.S. Army SF, the "quiet professionals" whom history and popular culture often overlook. Designed to organize, train, and support indigenous personnel in behind-the-lines resistance activities, SF belongs to an organization unique in the Army's history. Founded at the Psychological Warfare Center at Fort Bragg in 1952 and based upon lessons learned and formation used in guerrilla warfare during World War II, its sole purpose was UW. The experience in Vietnam gave SF a second purpose: countering a subversive insurgency. This brief history identifies the precursors and major developments that created modern U.S. Army SF. FM 3-18 is the principal manual for Special Forces (SF) doctrine. It describes SF roles, missions, capabilities, organization, mission command, employment, and sustainment operations across the range of military operations. Topics include: The History of Special Forces-World War II, The Cold War, and Modern Special Forces The Role of Special Forces Special Forces Guidance and Principal Tasks The Organization of Special Forces-US Special Operations Command and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Employment of Special Forces-County Teams, Theater of Operations, and Training Programs Unconventional Warfare and Foreign Internal Defense
Download or read book United States and Soviet Special Operations written by John M. Collins and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Oppose Any Foe written by Mark Moyar and published by Basic Books. This book was released on 2017-04-25 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The epic story of America's most elite warriors: the Special Operations Forces. Born as small appendages to the conventional armies of World War II, the Special Operations Forces have grown into a behemoth of 70,000 troops, including Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Special Operations Marines, Rangers, and Delta Force. Weaving together their triumphs and tribulations, acclaimed historian Mark Moyar introduces a colorful cast of military men, brimming with exceptional talent, courage and selflessness. In a nation where the military is the most popular institution, America's Special Operations Forces have become the most popular members of the military. Through nighttime raids on enemy compounds and combat advising of resistance movements, special operators have etched their names into the nation's registry of heroes. Yet the public knows little of the journey that they took to reach these heights, a journey that was neither easy nor glamorous. Fighting an uphill battle for most of their seventy-five year history, the Special Operations Forces slipped on many an occasion, and fell far on several. Presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama have enthusiastically championed Special Operations Forces, but their enthusiasm has often surpassed their understanding, resulting in misuse or overuse of the troops. Lacking clearly defined missions, Special Operations Forces have had to reinvent themselves time and again to prove their value in the face of fierce critics-many of them from the conventional military, which from the start opposed the segregation of talent in special units. Highlighting both the heroism of America's most elite soldiers and the controversies surrounding their meteoric growth, Oppose Any Foe presents the first comprehensive history of these special warriors and their daring missions. It is essential reading for anyone interested in America's military history-and the future of warfare.
Download or read book The US Special Forces written by John Prados and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2015-05-05 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The assassination of Osama bin Laden by SEAL Team 6 in May 2011 will certainly figure among the greatest achievements of US Special Forces. After nearly ten years of searching, they descended into his Pakistan compound in the middle of the night, killed him, and secreted the body back into Afghanistan. Interest in these forces had always been high, but it spiked to new levels following this success. There was a larger lesson here too. For serious jobs, the president invariably turns to the US Special Forces: the SEALs, Delta Force, the Green Berets, and the USAF's Special Tactics squad. Given that secretive grab-and-snatch operations in remote locales characterize contemporary warfare as much as traditional firefights, the Special Forces now fill a central role in American military strategy and tactics. Not surprisingly, the daring and secretive nature of these commando operations has generated a great deal of interest. The American public has an overwhelmingly favorable view of the forces, and nations around the world recognize them as the most capable fighting units: the tip of the American spear, so to speak. But how much do we know about them? What are their origins? What function do they fill in the larger military structure? Who can become a member? What do trainees have to go through? What sort of missions do Special Forces perform, and what are they expected to accomplish? Despite their importance, much of what they do remains a mystery because their operations are clandestine and the sources elusive. In The US Special Forces: What Everyone Needs to Know, eminent scholar John Prados brings his deep expertise to the subject and provides a pithy primer on the various components of America's special forces. The US military has long employed Special Forces in some form or another, but it was in the Cold War when they assumed their present form, and in Vietnam where they achieved critical mass. Interestingly, the Special Forces suffered a rapid decline in numbers after that conflict despite the fact that the United States had already identified terrorism as a growing security threat. The revival of Special Forces began under the Reagan administration. After 9/11 they experienced explosive growth, and are now integral to all US military missions. Prados traces how this happened and examines the various roles the Special Forces now play. They have taken over many functions of the regular military, a trend that Prados does not expect will end any time soon. This will be a definitive primer on the elite units in the most powerful military the world has ever known.
Download or read book Secret Armies written by James Adams and published by Bantam. This book was released on 1989 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Secret Armies gives a sobering and controversial assessment of special forces in action around the world. A highly readable, often shocking, comprehensive account of irregular warfare waged by special forces since 1945. 8-page photo insert.
Download or read book Special Forces written by John Hamilton and published by ABDO. This book was released on 2007-01-01 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book introduces readers to the elite special operations forces of each branch of the U.S. military. Historical information highlights the colonial scouts used during King Philip's War, Captain Robert Rogers' special forces during the French and Indian War, Colonel Thomas Knowlton, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, and Colonel Francis Marion's rangers and irregulars during the Revolutionary War, the Union and the Confederacy's rangers during the American Civil War, the Army Rangers formed during World War II, and the importance of special forces during the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the wars against terrorism. Readers will learn about the varied but intense training required of the few who qualify to become special forces, including navigation, first aid, parachuting, and weapons training involving pistols, sniper rifles, machine guns, explosives, hand grenades, and even night vision goggles, and their continued emphasis on excellence. Other chapters cover individual groups, including specialties such as desert and mountain training of the Army Rangers, missions, duties, and requirements such as foreign language skills of the Green Berets, the history and secrecy behind Delta Force and their job preventing terrorism, the advanced weapons and combat training, underwater and hostage rescue missions, and history of the Navy SEALs, the amphibious actions and unique perspective of Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, and the close air support, search and rescue missions, and close work with Army Rangers and Navy SEALs of Air Force Special Operations. Full-color photographs, sidebars, fun facts, a graphic timeline, a glossary, and an index accompany this easy-to-read text.
Download or read book Special Operations in US Strategy written by Frank R. Barnett and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Unconventional Warfare written by Susan Marquis and published by Brookings Institution Press. This book was released on 2011-02-01 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For four decades after World War II, U.S. Special Operations Forces—including Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Air Force special operations aircrews and Special Tactics Group—suffered from mistrust and inadequate funding from the military services. They were nearly eliminated from the active force following the Vietnam War. But in the past fifteen years, special operations forces have risen from the ashes of the failed 1980 rescue of American hostages in Iran to become one of the most frequently deployed elements of the U.S. military. They are now adequately funded, better-equipped, and well-trained. Special operations forces are often the nation's first military response when faced with a crisis in today's uncertain and unstable international security environment. What caused this dramatic turnaround? As this book shows, it was a long way from congressional outrage at TV images of burned bodies of U.S. servicemen in the Iranian desert to the establishment of a special operations force of nearly 45,000 active and reserve personnel. The drama of how this happened sheds light on how public policy is made and implemented. It illustrates the complex interaction between internal forces within the special operations community, as well as between the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. The implementation of legislation establishing a special operations capability is seen to rebuild and protect these forces to an extent never imagined by the early "quiet professionals." While offering insights into how the U.S. government makes policy, Susan Marquis also offers a revealing look at the special operations community, including their storied past, extreme training, and recent operational experience that continues to forge their distinctive organizational mission and culture. She describes the decade-long struggle to rebuild special operations forces, resulting in new SOF organizations with independence that is unique among U.S. militar
