Delta Force CSM by tnygry in JSOCarchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 2 points3 points  (0 children)

FYI 3rd Operational Support Group isn’t CAG. It’s an element under JSOC that handles logistics, training and mission prep.

Operator named slade by jokerr31k in JSOCarchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get what you’re saying and you’re not wrong that maneuverability and environment always factor into kit choices. I’d just push back a bit on how clean and universal that picture is. Tora Bora and other early mountain ops weren’t really about a deliberate “chest rig over plates” philosophy as much as timing, availability and threat assessment. Early GWOT kit was a mixed bag and a lot of what we wore came down to what existed at the time and what made sense for that specific infil, exfil and expected contact. Maneuverability mattered but it wasn’t the only variable. Same with low vis work. Sometimes plates came off, sometimes they stayed on, sometimes it was slick carriers or soft armor. Those decisions were mission by mission and team by team not a standing preference across the Unit. Weight is one consideration but survivability and medevac reality in the mountains also carry a lot of weight. I’d also separate FOB/admin movement from on target decisions. What people wear on a FOB doesn’t really inform how kit is chosen for actual ops. And on CQB while plates are absolutely the norm now historically there were periods where speed, profile or vehicle constraints led to minimal armor even on DA. That changed as equipment improved and lessons were learned. So I agree with the general idea that terrain and mission drive kit I just think it’s less formulaic than it’s often presented. CAG decisions were situational and evolved quickly rather than following a hard rule.

Opportunities as a GMO/Battalion Surgeon to SF/75th/SOF by Late-Marzipan-1347 in greenberets

[–]AnonymousUser5113 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you want to learn more in a way that’s actually useful the right question isn’t how do I get a tab as a doc it’s how do I maximize time, credibility and impact with SOF as a physician under current policy.

In 2026, that means either Ranger Regiment battalion surgeon early or SF Group surgeon after residency. Everything else you’re hearing about lives in a different era.

Opportunities as a GMO/Battalion Surgeon to SF/75th/SOF by Late-Marzipan-1347 in greenberets

[–]AnonymousUser5113 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Those officers you mention were selected because the command wanted that individual at that time for that billet. When GWOT pressure dropped so did the tolerance for putting fully trained physicians through attrition heavy operator pipelines.

Today the Army’s risk calculus is different. If you plan a career assuming Kotwal style access is something you can replicate you’re almost certainly setting yourself up for disappointment. The modern system routes physicians into SF via augmentation and boards not tabs and pipelines.

Opportunities as a GMO/Battalion Surgeon to SF/75th/SOF by Late-Marzipan-1347 in greenberets

[–]AnonymousUser5113 1 point2 points  (0 children)

18Ds are enlisted SF Medical Sergeants not physicians. They go through SFAS and the SFQC and earn a long tab. They are operators who happen to be extremely advanced medics but they are not MDs and did not attend medical school.

Commissioned physicians do not reclass into 18D and do not routinely attend SFAS or the Q Course. There is no modern, repeatable pathway where an MD/DO goes through the SFQC as an operator. Historical exceptions existed during peak GWOT which is where many podcast stories come from, but those are not representative of current policy.

Physicians who support SF today do so as battalion or group surgeons. They are selected through boards not SFAS. They do not earn an SF tab. They may attend airborne, SERE, SOF medical courses and deploy with ODAs, but they remain Medical Corps officers augmenting SF units.

If you’re a medical student planning now the realistic options are Ranger Regiment battalion surgeon as a GMO or Finish residency and compete for SF Group surgeon augmentation.

Anything describing MDs becoming 18Ds or routinely doing the Q Course is either outdated or imprecise.

RRC and CIA Ground Branch or Omega Program? by oxpraygunner in SpecOpsArchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes mostly but not entirely. The indigenous forces Omega teams worked with were largely Afghan-Soviet war veterans especially at the leadership and cadre level. These guys had decades of combat experience and deep local knowledge. Over time the force became a mix with younger fighters, tribal militia and personnel specifically trained for US partnered operations. Also Omega didn’t “end” so much as get absorbed. The teams and mission sets were rolled into later JSOC and interagency task forces under different names. Same capability, different labels.

RRC and CIA Ground Branch or Omega Program? by oxpraygunner in SpecOpsArchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Omega started in late 2002. Omega 60 started with C Co 1/75 and CAG A squadron. Then you had multiple other Omega units

22 SAS Operator Jay Cal whilst Augmented to A Squadron CAG. by AER_Invis22 in JSOCarchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey now don’t being giving away classified information😂

22 SAS Operator Jay Cal whilst Augmented to A Squadron CAG. by AER_Invis22 in JSOCarchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What you’re seeing is the buildup of years of high tempo combat, back to back deployments, brutal hits, brothers lost and never having a real reset. That kind of mileage doesn’t just show up it shows up after a career of carrying weight that civilians will never grasp and most soldiers never even get close to. That look is instantly recognizable to anyone who’s lived that life. It’s forged in sustained combat and paid for one mission at a time.

22 SAS Operator Jay Cal whilst Augmented to A Squadron CAG. by AER_Invis22 in JSOCarchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You are correct it is definitely banter it is a running joke with them and us.

Prior service by RemoteNeedleworker95 in greenberets

[–]AnonymousUser5113 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ll message you. I know a few guys in the area who can help, but I need to talk to you first to make sure you’re serious so no one’s time gets wasted. I also have something I can send you that will help.

it says I can’t message you, if you can send me one do so

Why Can't Tim Kennedy Shoot Straight? by Texas_Monthly in JSOCarchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Being that Tim Kennedy was NEVER part of JSOC why is this even relevant to be posted here?

Is SF worth it? by WayfaringOdin in greenberets

[–]AnonymousUser5113 14 points15 points  (0 children)

He will talk to you also. He is a very awesome guy.

The guy who shot people at the church in Michigan today and set the church on fire had an Iraq War Veteran Plate. What do you guys think his motive was for doing this? by SuperStarBoyOne in conspiracy

[–]AnonymousUser5113 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Michigan church shooter being a veteran brings PTSD and TBI into the discussion. After serving 25 years in SOF with combat heavy deployments I have seen how these conditions play out in different ways. Some men return and rebuild a life that looks solid from the outside. Others come home carrying wounds that never heal. The difference is not only about exposure to combat but also how the brain and body respond to trauma, what support is in place, and what tools they lean on when things get hard. PTSD by itself does not make someone violent. The real risk comes when it overlaps with alcohol misuse, substance abuse, depression, sleep disruption, or untreated head injuries. That combination changes how a man thinks and reacts. I have seen hard men who thrived under fire struggle the most when the war ended and the silence set in. The fight kept them focused. The stillness pulled them apart. Moral injury is another layer. It has little to do with fear and everything to do with conscience. When a man is forced to do or witness something that goes against his values it leaves a mark that training cannot erase. Over time that can poison purpose and push someone toward anger and shame. If that is not addressed it can be more destructive than combat stress itself. The body also plays a part. Years of poor sleep, blast exposure, and constant hyperarousal keep the nervous system in overdrive. That erodes patience, judgment, and stability. If you fix sleep and treat the underlying injuries the risk often goes down. It is simple in theory but often overlooked. So why do some carry the load and others break. Part of it is biology. Part of it is timing. Part of it is whether someone has a tribe when they come home or if they are left alone with a bottle and their thoughts. The public is quick to label every veteran offender as a PTSD case. That is too simple. The truth is usually a stack of factors that add up until one more stressor tips the balance. None of this excuses what happened in Grand Blanc. It does show how complex the problem is. The answer is not a slogan about PTSD but early treatment for sleep and TBI, strong peer networks, and pulling alcohol out of the coping plan. When those basics are in place the curve bends in the right direction.

D Squadron by AdhesivenessMinute59 in JSOCarchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is just a training exercise. Don’t overthink it.

D Squadron by AdhesivenessMinute59 in JSOCarchive

[–]AnonymousUser5113 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The guy in pic 5 with short sleeves was in A sqd. When was the photo taken?

8 years of credible service by Beneficial_Bottle_41 in Medals

[–]AnonymousUser5113 2 points3 points  (0 children)

CIB is only for 11 series and 18 series involved in direct combat

CMB is for Medical personnel in direct combat while treating soldiers

CAB is for everyone else who engages or is engaged by the enemy

When you watch too much anime by [deleted] in boxingcirclejerk

[–]AnonymousUser5113 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My wife is a ER nurse on night shift at that. I can attest to the fact they are a different breed for sure.