Why and How are Special Forces more protective and supportive of each other compared to regular service members?

PO3 Aaron Hassay — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 03:02:29 -0400

maybe I am wrong and the same things happen in special forces also. I salute all service members especially ones who protect each other from harm.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 3:39 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 03:39:19 -0400

I would have to say it is the breed of the individuals within these units. Those that serve within these units put more sweat and blood into attaining a position within those units than the average Service Member does to get into their current unit, which they may or may not have wanted to be assigned to in the first place. Again I wish each and every Service Member had the drive, discipline and desire to excel, that you find within these units. Unfortunately, the people in these units are a small portion of the greater population that has a special mind set. These folks are the 1% of the 1 percent.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 12 at 2015 4:59 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 04:59:05 -0400

I'm going to echo what MSG Marshall Rader said, but take it one step further. While those men are our cream of the crop, it comes down to the individual. When push comes to shove, I do not have to like you one bit, but you can count on me to have your back if anything was to go down. It's how you are wired. I'm sure there are SF members who cannot stand the other, but would snatch a round out of the sky to protect their own. That's the mentality many in any service has; fight one, you're fighting all.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 12 at 2015 8:01 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:01:21 -0400

It's not necessarily the "type" of unit. It's more the amount of time you spend together within a unit.

A "line" unit has a lot of down time. Lots of opportunity to get away from each other. Lot's of "lost opportunity" for building community. You exist in two worlds, instead of single world. "Work Friends" and Home/Family, if that makes sense.

When you live with the people you work with, like a ship's crew, or a deployed unit, the protective/supportive nature increases exponentially. You are family. The SF community is "tighter knit" because of opportunity.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 12 at 2015 8:06 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:06:55 -0400

1st Recon Marines were an extremely tight knit group & probably because they know how tough it is to become a member of their unit.
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/media.php?do=details&mid=172

Marine Corps - USMC Community - Teamwork | Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan

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Response by SGT William Howell made Oct 12 at 2015 8:09 AM

SGT William Howell — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:09:35 -0400

I was kind of miffed when I read the title. I don't think anybody has ever or will ever be more supportive of my teammates than me. Then I started thinking about all the Blue Falcons I have served with over the years. I also thought about those above me that were more concerned about promotions than taking care of troops. Both of these were a small group of people over the years and were the exception never the rule, but a couple bad apples have the ability to crush a units groove.

All the SOGs have a couple things that we don't have in the regular units. The people that are SF/SEAL/PJs/Force Recon/Rangers all have to try out. They want to be in these units. The units have selection process and can wash people out. They also have the ability to get rid of those that don't fit in after training. Us normal Joes are stuck with what we get and have to make the best of these people we are assigned.

To go along with this, these people train together on very focused missions. Repetition breeds trust and familiarity with those you work close with. I have worked SWAT in both the civilian and military side. Room clearing is a dance, an art form. It only works if the team has trained over and over again. You know what the guy next to you is going to do for the most part. When you enter the door the plan is that the first man is going the opposite wall of where you stacked. If he don't for what ever reason then the next man will. It is a dance. We trust every one of these people. I would say the same thing happens with tank crews. These are very focused missions. Once you start bring in the support units and command staff it starts to get muddied.

Response by SPC Mara Manzer (Spurgin) made Oct 12 at 2015 8:38 AM

SPC Mara Manzer (Spurgin) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:38:24 -0400

This my take on this having never (obviously) been SF. I think that the level of discipline and the amount of effort put forth by one's peers is directly proportional to the level of loyalty and camaraderie one has for the guy/girl on their right and left. I was in a support battalion and we had a lot of malingerers, thieves, liars, and assholes and, unfortunately, that crap would just wear on everyone else who had a burning desire to do their job and then some. My two cents...

Response by SGT Philip Keys made Mar 13 at 2016 3:24 PM

SGT Philip Keys — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 15:24:39 -0400

I would think because they are the best of the best and have shed blood sweat and tears with their brothers in arms. The ones I have known have always been great guys. Maybe that's why they are referred to as special forces. These service members are special and the commitment they all have is something everyone in America can be proud of.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jul 4 at 2017 8:16 PM

TSgt David L. — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 20:16:35 -0400

I think it has to do with the small, tight knit community. Not comparing EOD to SF, but we are small and depend on each other and know that we have each other's back.

As most of y'all have said, the content and drive of those folks in all of JSOC seems to be above all in most regular units. Like I feel about most of the military, they make us proud.