Lieutenant General John Randolph Vines is the former commander of the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps and Multi-National Corps –Iraq.
The United States Army Special Forces (SF),colloquially known as the "Green Berets" due to their distinctive service headgear,is the special operations branch of the United States Army. Although technically an Army branch,the Special Forces operates similarly to a functional area (FA),in that individuals may not join its ranks until having served in another Army branch.
High-altitude military parachuting,or military free fall (MFF),is a method of delivering military personnel,military equipment,and other military supplies from a transport aircraft at a high altitude via free-fall parachute insertion. Two techniques are used:HALO and HAHO.
The 1st Commando Regiment is an Australian Army Reserve special forces unit,part of Special Operations Command with an integrated structure of regular (full-time) soldiers and reserve (part-time) soldiers,which together with the full-time Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment,provides the commando capability to Special Operations Command. 1st and 2nd Commando companies were raised in 1955 and were combined with 126 Signal Squadron (SF) in 1981 to form the 1st Cdo Regt. The regiment's two commando companies are the oldest sub-units within Special Operations Command. In 2008,the regiment deployed to Afghanistan to become the first Australian Army Reserve force element on combat operations since World War II. The regiment is the Command's capability lead for special warfare.
The green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos,a special-forces unit active during World War II. It is still worn by members of the Royal Marines after passing the Commando Course,and personnel from other units of the Royal Navy,Army and RAF who serve within 3 Commando Brigade and who have passed the All Arms Commando Course.
A parachutist badge is a badge awarded by armed forces or paramilitary forces of many states to personnel who have received parachute training and completed the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such an award.
Badges of the United States Air Force are specific uniform insignia authorized by the United States Air Force that signify aeronautical ratings,special skills,career field qualifications,and serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments.
Lieutenant General William Pelham Yarborough was a senior United States Army officer. Yarborough designed the U.S. Army's parachutist badge,paratrooper or 'jump' boots,and the M42 airborne jump uniform. He is known as the "Father of the Modern Green Berets." He was descended from the Yorkshire House of Yarborough. Yarborough was a distant cousin to such British noble figures as the Baron Deramore,Lord Alvingham,the Duke of Buccleugh and the Marquess of Bath.
Major General John Kirk Singlaub was a major general in the United States Army,founding member of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA),and a highly decorated officer in the former Office of Strategic Services (OSS).
Brigadier General Michael A. Ryan was a General Officer in the United States Army.
The 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (10th SFG (A),or 10th Group) is an active duty United States Army Special Forces (SF) Group. 10th Group is designed to deploy and execute nine doctrinal missions:unconventional warfare (UW),foreign internal defense (FID),direct action (DA),counterinsurgency,special reconnaissance,counterterrorism,information operations,counter-proliferation of weapon of mass destruction,and security force assistance. 10th Group is responsible for operations within the EUCOM area of responsibility,as part of Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR).
The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942,at the direction of Major-General Frederick "Boy" Browning,commander of the British 1st Airborne Division. It was first worn by the Parachute Regiment in action in North Africa during November 1942.
The tan beret,also known as a beige beret,has been adopted as official headgear by several special operations forces as a symbol of their unique capabilities.
In the United States (US) military,a beret flash is a shield-shaped embroidered cloth that is typically 2.25 in (5.72 cm) tall and 1.875 in (4.76 cm) wide with a semi–circular base that is attached to a stiffener backing of a military beret. These flashes—a British English word for a colorful cloth patch attached to military headgear—are worn over the left eye with the excess cloth of the beret shaped,folded,and pulled over the right ear giving it a distinctive appearance.
Guy Ludvic Sands-Pingot is a retired officer of the United States Army who has served as brigadier general of the United States Army Reserve. He served as commander of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command located at Fort Wadsworth,New York from 3 December 2005 through 6 December 2008.
David A. Morris is an American major general (retired) who is the founder and owner of Decisive Edge,LLC,a consulting firm focused on the development of business strategies for the Special Operations and intelligence communities.
David William Barno is a retired lieutenant general of the United States Army. He was commander of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005.
Major General Michael D. Healy was a general officer in the United States Army who spent 35 years serving in the military,completing tours in Korea and Vietnam. Healy began his career with parachute training in Japan,then attended a number of Army Colleges,including Ranger School. He entered the Korean War as a Company Commander with the Airborne Rangers,a newly formed unit of the Army. Most of his career was spent in Vietnam,where he served five and a half tours,leading the 5th Special Forces Group for almost 20 months,and earning him his first Distinguished Service Medal.
The U.S. Army Special Forces traces its roots as the Army's premier proponent of unconventional warfare from purpose-formed special operations units like the Alamo Scouts,Philippine guerrillas,First Special Service Force,and the Operational Groups (OGs) of the Office of Strategic Services. Although the OSS was not an Army organization,many Army personnel were assigned to the OSS and later used their experiences to influence the forming of Special Forces.
Jim Gant is a former United States Army Special Forces officer. He served for over 50 months in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and was wounded seven times. He was awarded a Silver Star for his actions in the Iraq War in 2007,and wrote an influential monograph on Afghanistan titled One Tribe at a Time:A Strategy for Success in Afghanistan. Following his last deployment in 2010–12,he was relieved of command and forced to retire after violating military regulations and conducting an extramarital affair with reporter Ann Scott Tyson at his combat outpost in Kunar Province,Afghanistan. Gant has been credited with inspiring the creation of the Afghan Local Police and the strategy of Village Stability Operations in Afghanistan.
United States Army