Military Topic; Exclude Civil War. (I Chose White Paper

military topic; exclude civil war. (I chose Special Forces) • All Research Papers 8 1/2 x

white paper, margins 1" x 1." • The Research Papers a minimum 4 pages typed information exceed 6 pages

There is much controversy concerning the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) and the missions that they perform on a daily basis because the mass-media tends to distort people's understanding about the military organization. Some might be inclined to consider that the Special Forces take most of the good men in the army and put them in a community that typically performs actions that most military groups would be capable of doing. Moreover, many believe that these people basically take advantage of the government's determination to keep the Special Forces in operation. However, most people fail to understand the training that these people go through on a daily basis, the fact that they have the ability to react rationally in critical reactions, and that they are largely responsible for putting down some of the world's most dangerous criminals.

II. SOF history

The SOF go back at the time of the French and Indian War, at the time when U.S Major Robert Rogers recruited several soldiers and provided them with a series of information concerning the Ranger Doctrine. These people would become specialized in unconventional warfare and would be trained to strike in places that enemies would not even think of. "Following Rogers' command, they would strike where the enemy least expected them to hit, and they would traverse terrain conventional forces would avoid" (Pushies, 10). The Major devised strict legislations for his men to follow and made sure that they had no problems rising up to the challenges that they would be provided with (Pushies, 10).

III. People's opinion on the Special Forces

One of the most intriguing assumptions concerning the Special Forces would be to consider that their existence means that other military groups are 'normal'. War heroes might be inclined to disagree by emphasizing heroic feats performed by 'normal' soldiers who knew exactly when to intervene and what to do. Even with this, people fail to understand that Special Forces sometimes have secret missions that are never going to be public and they are basically heroes without being publicly compensated for their heroic actions.

The Special Forces are different in comparison to typical army groups as a result of the fact that their operations are more precise and because they operate at a lower risk. These are individuals who are sent to perform missions and who are expected to complete these missions without experiencing the slightest difficulty. Sending a simple soldier to perform a similar task would be much riskier and would mean that he or she would risk his or her life in spite of the fact that there are individuals who have received special training to perform such missions.

The masses need to understand that some military missions require covertness and surprise instead of combat in open areas. "For these sensitive assignments, each military branch trains and equips elite groups of special operations forces" (Hamilton, 4). These communities normally work in small groups and infiltrate deep in enemy territory mostly with the purpose of sabotaging transport lines and weaponry. In some cases SOF work alone and they have especially difficult missions, thus the reason for their name. They are also presented with missions during which they either have to capture or murder an enemy leader .

IV. The USSOCOM

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was created by Congress in 1987 and was provided with the task of being in charge of protecting the Nation. The unit virtually has to look after the nation's most important interests and focus on making sure that they are safe. The 9/11 events have had a strong influence on this organization and have virtually made it one of the most active groups that the government uses with the purpose of removing terrorist threats."As a combatant command, USSOCOM synchronizes Department of Defense (DOD) operational planning for global operations against violent extremist organizations, and it is prepared to employ SOF worldwide when directed by the President or Secretary of Defense" (Olson 64). The USSOCOM plays an important role in fighting the U.S.' conflicts because it decides where, when, and how it is important for the SOF to intervene and protect the country's interests.

The American military has increased demand in SOF in recent years in an attempt to rule out failed missions throughout the world. The main purpose of the SOF is basically to avoid losing American lives and to complete important missions at the same time. It is not necessarily that this group is the most important in the U.S. military, as it is actually significant because it provides government with easier method of performing particular missions. In the modern day society it is essential for governments to have access to communities that are proficient in military strategies and that can complete missions at a minimum risk. The fact that the masses are generally inclined to oppose warfare makes it even more important for the SOF to exist, as these people can achieve goals that would normally require a small army to reach (Olson 65).

V. SOF from the perspective of soldiers

The USSOCOM provides SOF soldiers with everything they need ranging from training to survival kits. Even with this, the Special Forces soldier is actually the person that a mission largely depends on. "You would only have to spend a short amount of time with the men who wear that woolen headgear and have that tab on their shoulder to understand that the Green Berets are warriors par excellence" (Pushies 121).

Being a Green Beret means that one has to embark on a journey of self-discovery -- a journey that never ends and that provides him or her with constant information that he or she needs to accumulate over a relatively short period of time. Becoming a SOF soldier does not mean that one is automatically qualified to deal with virtually any mission that he or she is provided with. It actually implies having to go through extensive learning missions that build the person's character and that enable him or her to deal with future missions without experiencing significant problems (Schumacher, 9).

According to Schumacher (9), "if you seek attention, look for public recognition, think you'd like to tell people you are a Green Beret, enjoy showing your skill, are excited about the prospect of discussing your travels, or if you'd like to tell the world what it is you have experienced, then you need to explore a different branch of the military." As a consequence, working as a Green Beret virtually involves having to detach oneself from the rest of the world, to employ a somewhat antisocial attitude, and to have to hide the truth from most people that you interact with, even if this means that you have to lie to your loved ones. This is why being a Green Beret is difficult, as in addition to having to risk your life, you also have to be silent about everything that you do during work. It is basically as if one would have to have two personalities while working as a Green Beret: one that makes it possible for him or her to get out of some of the most dangerous situations and one that is perfectly normal (even boring).

Individuals working in the SOF are cutting edge in their field of work and they are responsible for protecting the interests of a whole nation. Having to work in such conditions certainly involves a lot of stress and pressure as a person comes to realize that it is up to him or her to 'save the world'. These persons are….....