12 Special Operations Imperatives

In the words of Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale, USN, “integrity consists of knowing one’s situation through education and thus understanding the limit of your responsibility.” Stockdale, a former Vietnam P.O.W., writes the importance of integrity in “The World of Epictetus.” In September of 1965, Commander Stockdale ejected from his plane only to be captured by the Vietcong during the Vietnam War. In eight years of captivity, the Northern Vietnamese tortured and isolated Stockdale; and in that time, he observed the actions of his men. He witnessed honorable, high-ranking officers cave into their oppressors, while common soldiers refuted any luxuries offered. Stockdale did not solely witness actions, but integrity; how a man acts when

This book puts emphasis on the transformation of an American citizen into a marine and the importance of sustaining the change. It is imperative because our war fighting ability depends on a lasting transformation not only during the time of the individual’s Marine Corps career but also when he or she returns to their civilian communities.

This book is about 1stSgt. Kasal’s life leading up to his most honorable moment while in the battle of Fallujah. The book starts out by telling how 1stSgt. Kasal grew up in Afton, Iowa. He grew up on farm like most other families in his hometown. But with farming becoming obsolete in the shadow of large corporations, Brad Kasal already knew by junior high that he didn’t want to slave on a farm to barely scrape by like his father. He already had the Marine Corps in his sights. January 1984, Kasal left his hometown of Afton, Iowa and got a plane destined for MCRD, San Diego. Kasal shined right away and became a squad leader and was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class by graduation and instructed

Throughout military history, there have been many leaders that can be considered either visionary or ethical. This paper will discuss how BG Robin Olds was a visionary leader, but not a very ethical leader. From the beginning of his career, he was a visionary in aerial combat tactics and a true believer of leading from the front. His vision of aerial combat was beyond his years, but often fell upon deaf ears due to his flamboyant nature. He never hesitated to say exactly what was on his mind, which is why his actions could be considered unethical. But, his men loved him, and would follow him to hell and back. First, this paper will discuss BG Olds’ visionary leadership abilities he displayed the Viet Nam

The book The Ugly American clearly demonstrates several of the established Special Operations Force (SOF) imperatives outlined in ADRP 6-22. As a Special Forces soldier I can relate these imperatives to stories illustrated in the book and apply them to real life situations that I have experienced in the field. The Ugly American is a goldmine of wisdom and a handbook for special warfare. All Special Operations soldiers should read it.

The purpose of this paper is to address how I, SSG Schumacher, have identified Major Robert Rogers as a legacy leader and a leader of influence in my military career as a non-commissioned officer and member of the military intelligence community. This paper will cover three main topics in which I will first discuss a brief history of the life of Major Rogers. Then, his impact on the evolution of warfare and leadership attributes on the United States Army. Finally, I will discuss how his leadership attributes led to him making an impact on the military today and Soldiers such as myself.

Special Forces soldiers work in foreign lands with situations which are not always completely clear from its beginning. The Special Operation Imperatives serve as the base for success by providing the framework to develop and assist the host nation in achieving their desired goals. Through this essay I will use the novel “The Ugly American” (William J. Lederer & Eugene Burdick) to provide context to the benefits of applying such imperatives and the consequences of improper application. I will bring to light the actions of the characters and depict the reasons why the application of the imperative made the character succeed or fail in his desired goal.

Deceased philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, “War does not determine who is right- only who is left”. Those left are the soldiers of the 1-502nd, specifically Bravo Company 1st plt, and the Janabi family and to a greater extent, the ever-changing global world we all live in today. The tragic events that conspired in a small Iraqi village became a microcosm of how leadership failures at every level shaped the actions of a few soldiers who committed atrocious acts. One can also see how a high operational tempo, along with prolonged violence and death, has on a person’s psyche. It is the ugly side of war that the average American citizen may not want to hear or talk about. For a soldier, it is inevitably what they train their

First, the author attempts to humanize his fellow soldiers by giving a backstory to most of them. This includes Specialist Alexander Fuller, who is almost a caricature of the hometown, Boston native. Described as using a “mix of ghetto street slang and a New England accent”, the author perfectly conjures an image that resonates with most—the good old boy. Sjursen goes on to describe Richard “Ducks” Duzinskas, the more experienced of the platoon. Ducks is shown as having all the potential in the world, but is held back by “personality conflicts” with a few sergeants. The reader is also introduced to Private First Class James David Smith, a young, impulsive, and hot-headed new recruit. A proud Texan, Smith

“Combat veterans are often alienated from the world around them and often become as barbaric and savage as those they oppose.”(Harry Siegel 1)Soldiers sent to war are sent with one goal and one goal only, to defeat the enemy by any means necessary, that also results in the mentality kill or be killed. That is the reality of the main character in “The Sniper”, a young man objectified by combat and the unknown. Through the use of irony, characterization and syntax O’Flaherty shows how the unpredictability of war dehumanizes soldiers.

Parts five and six bring together the personal and professional relationship between Marines themselves and the American public. These relationships, forged by the millions of men and women who have donned the Marine Corps uniform, are a result of training methods and careful selection. General Krulak gives the reader a taste of why Marines do what they have come to be known as America’s force in readiness. First to Fight has many good traits. The book, while easy to read and addictively interesting, never sugarcoats the intense conflicts between high level officials. General Krulak enhances the “official” record with personal accounts of events and people now legendary. His no-holds-barred approach to his writing makes General Krulak’s book both honest and educational. His explanations of the struggle to keep the Marine Corps alive and the early development of amphibious doctrine make First to Fight a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the modern Marine Corps. In parts of the book, General Krulak provides a mountain of detail. While these facts would be of great historical value for a reader who knows military structure and nomenclature, they tend to bog down the reader at points. The political volleys also tend to get tedious when the General describes the how the Marine Corps had to fight tooth and nail for institutional survival. These

Krulak's telling of the Corps' history is among the sections which retains its relevance. At all points, Krulak's historical reporting is clear, straightforward and in the cases of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, strengthened by the author's firsthand and experience-driven accounts. Certainly, Krulak's experience is among the text's most important virtues. Indeed, this also informs the sense of protectiveness and resentment that sometimes emerges in the text as a product of what Krulak characterizes as a sort of relegation and isolation within the broader American defense scheme. In a sequence

U.S. Army.2 With this memoir in mind, Junger wanted to reach the American citizens as his audience to show just what mindset the American soldiers were placed in during their time in Afghanistan. Junger states that the “moral basis” of the war didn’t seem to interest

The US cultural norm of portrayal of enemies as barbaric and abominably evil is shown in the film Iron Man through the depiction of the Gulmina terrorists that is presented through narrative, ideological, and compositional elements of the film. The scene highlights an interaction between Gulmina terrorists, the innocent families and civilians of Gulmina, and the hero who saves the civilians, Iron Man. By following these interactions, the narrative elements of the film showcase the inhumanness of the terrorists due to the terrorist’s heartless, cruel, and savage treatment of the civilians of Gulmia. By saving these innocent civilians, Iron Man is portrayed as a classic ‘American hero’ because he is fulfilling his duty to save the lives of innocent civilians even those that are not American.

Unconscious thoughts, coupled with the active thought process often creates a false sense of accomplishment for a human being. When a being is created with so much intelligence, the underlying thought often overlooked is what the parameters of that distinction truly are. Society often hears of heroes throughout history who sacrifice themselves for others, yet do not seem to acknowledge the brave men and woman in the army who sacrifice their most basic human need of survival to ensure the safety of Americans. When put into a situation where the need arises for a person to endanger himself to benefit the mass, it is important to consider what unknowing motive compels him to spring into action.