With Thanksgiving and Christmas will you think of those deployed?

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:47:43 -0500

More deployments in the works;

Dozens of US special operations forces will arrive in Syria "very soon," as promised by President Barack Obama's administration, a senior official said Sunday.

The troops will have the task of organizing local forces battling the self-proclaimed Islamic State in northern Syria, according to special envoy Brett McGurk.

"They will be going in very soon," McGurk told CBS television's "Face the Nation" program.

In late October, Obama authorized no more than 50 special operations forces to deploy to northern Syria in a non-combatant, advisory role to help coordinate local ground troops and anti-IS coalition efforts.

It marks the first official deployment of US troops on the ground in Syria since an international coalition formed to counter the violent extremist group.

The US troops will assist an Arab-Kurd coalition that includes the main Syrian Kurdish militia the People's Protection Units (YPG), Arab groups and Syriac Christians.

These local forces "have been doing a very successful operation," McGurk said.

"This is focused on isolating the capital of ISIL in Raqa."

He said they have retaken about 1,100 square kilometers (435 square miles) in the last two weeks and killed about 300 IS fighters.

The US-led coalition aims to "suffocate and strangle them in the core" of IS in Iraq and Syria through multiple coordinated offensives, McGurk said.

The coalition is also trying to cut off access for IS to the Syrian border in order to cut off the main access route between Raqa and the Iraqi city of Mosul, McGurk explained.

US special forces traveling 'very soon' to Syria

Dozens of US special operations forces will arrive in Syria "very soon," as promised by President Barack Obama's administration, a senior official said Sunday.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Nov 23 at 2015 11:48 AM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:48:28 -0500

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member I always do and thank them for their selfless service.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Nov 23 at 2015 11:59 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:59:00 -0500

Pedro, I think about those who are deployed frequently...

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 12:02 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:02:32 -0500

Although I was never deployed to a war zone, I still think of those that are and pray for them and am thankful them daily.

I think almost every vet know the feeling of being away from family during the holidays. It is certainly not among my fondest memories.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Nov 23 at 2015 12:58 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:58:12 -0500

A hell of a lot for which to be Thankful!

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 23 at 2015 2:48 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:48:33 -0500

Hell yes. The reason that I am able to sit a table stocked with the things I love is because "my" military has sacrificed to allow me the options that I have.
I think about them all the time, and pray for their safe return.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 23 at 2015 3:29 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:29:03 -0500

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year is rough.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Nov 23 at 2015 4:06 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 16:06:11 -0500

The Thanksgiving I spent in Iraq was my favorite and most memorable. I feel for those with children back home, it hit them hardest.

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Nov 24 at 2015 3:58 PM

SPC Byron Skinner — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 15:58:45 -0500

Sp4 Byron Skinner. This is a senseless move on the Part of the US Chain of Command. The small number of Special Operations Forces is unlikely to make a difference in taking down the Islamic State and the new emerging independent Radical Islamic Groups. The maginatude of Radical Islam has grown exponentially and this is just a senseless act The Pentagon in 2000 had under 10,000 Special Operations troops totally. Now there are over 50,000, by Pentagon estimates made public. The American public and National Command authority have developed are infacthested love affair with the snake eaters. Since all of their activity is classified, there is no way to judge there effectiveness and worth as a military force. The few stories that have leaked out indicated that their success rate might be less then battle field failures that have occurred. These troops are expensive (one estimate is that they coast $5-10,000,000 each, a regular line 11B cost currently a million dollars). Many of the missions that have been attributed to Spec. Ops. are well with in the capabilities or the Infantryman (enlisted and officer) found in any Regular Army battalion that is well trained and lead. In short for the tax payer Spec.Op's are sexy, but expensive and we could get a lot more bang for the money by using the existing capabilities of well trained Infantry soldiers and officers.