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COL Randall C.
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I came across this joke a while ago, but had to search the internet for a bit to find it again.
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The Chief of Staff of the Army asked his Sergeant Major, who was both Ranger and Special Forces qualified, which organization he would recommend to form a new anti-terrorist unit. The Sergeant Major responded to the General's question with this parable: If there were a hijacked Boeing 747 being held by terrorists along with its passengers and crew and an anti-terrorist unit formed either by the Rangers or the Special Forces was given a Rescue/Recovery Mission; what would you expect to happen?

Ranger Option
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● Forces/Equipment Committed: If the Rangers went in, they would send a Ranger company of 120 men with standard army issue equipment.
● Mission Preparation: The Ranger Company First Sergeant would conduct a Hair Cut and Boots Inspection, while the officers consulted SOPs and held sand table exercises.
● Infiltration Technique: They would insist on double timing, in company formation, wearing their combat equipment, and singing cadence all the way to the site of the hijacked aircraft.
● Actions in the Objective Area: Once they arrived, the Ranger company would establish their ORP, put out security elements, conduct a leaders recon, reapply their camouflage, and conduct final preparations for Actions on the OBJ.
● Results of Operation: The Rescue/Recovery Operation would be completed within one hour; all of the terrorists and most of the passengers would have been killed, the Rangers would have sustained light casualties and the 747 would be worthless to anyone except a scrap dealer.

Special Forces Option
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● Forces/Equipment Committed: If Special Forces went in, they would send only a 12 man team (all SF units are divisible by 12 for some arcane historical reason) however, due to the exotic nature of their equipment the SF Team would cost the same amount to deploy as the Ranger Company.
● Mission Preparation: The SF Team Sergeant would request relaxed grooming standards for the team. All members of the team would spend a grueling afternoon at a quality spa ensuring physical abilities would be honed.
● Infiltration Technique: The team would insist on separate travel orders with Max Per Diem, and each would get to the site of the hijacking by his own means. At least one third of the team would insist on jumping in HALO.
● Actions in the Objective Area: Once they arrived , the SF Team would cache their military uniforms, establish a Team Room at the best hotel in the area, use their illegal Team Fund to stock the unauthorized Team Room Bar, check out the situation by talking to the locals, and have a Team Meeting to discuss the merits of the terrorists' cause.
● Results of Operation: The Rescue/Recovery Operation would take two weeks to complete and by that time all of the terrorists would have been killed (and would have left signed confessions); the passengers would be ruined psychologically for the remainder of their lives; and all of the women passengers would be pregnant. The 747 would be essentially unharmed, the team would have taken no casualties but would have used up, lost, or stolen all the "high speed" equipment issued to them.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
3 mo
I always thought of it in a fairly similar vein. SF/Delta gets sent in when they want some people dead with the minimum of public exposure. They send the Rangers in, often on similar targets, when they want some people dead and want everyone to know that you don't screw with the US. You send someone like 3rd Division to turn the country into rubble. And finally, use the Air Force if you just need a smoking crater.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
3 mo
SSG Paul Endes - It's in the same category as defining Suppressive Fire. In the Army and Marines, suppressive fire means to shoot in the enemies direction to make them take cover so you can maneuver. Again, the Air Force and Navy's version of suppressive fire is leaving a large, smoking crater on the site to be suppressed. Pays to know what package you are going to get when you call for fire.

I did a keep up tour with 82nd Engineers (Blue Babe), 3rd Engineer Brigade, 3rd Division Forward at Warner Barracks in Bamberg shortly after Desert Storm. Liked the duty and would have stayed if they let me.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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The Rangers Bats are elite and mobile infantry units to put kinetic power at appropriate places and time. They are not designed for prolonged operations.

The mission of the Green Berets is diverse. The application of kinetic power is relegated to small teams. They also deal with unconventional warfare and assist host countries in military matters.
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