In the military special operations world, some concepts are
considered universal truths that must be recognized in order to
maintain the fighting effectiveness of SOF. These are referred to as
the Special Operations Forces Truths. They apply just as critically
to the unconventional warfare paradigm. Take them to heart.
Humans are more important than
hardware. It doesn't matter which side has cooler tech. It doesn't
matter what kind of gun you run. It doesn't matter if they have armor
and air support. You have to be better trained, more highly
motivated, and more determined than your enemies. If you are, you
win. If you aren't, you die.
Quality is better than quantity. There
is a reason that an SF ODA can accomplish more than a conventional
force battalion can. It's not the cool gear. It's the quality of the
soldier. Do not be discouraged that you can't get more people to wake
up to the need for preparedness and training. Take the people you do
have and develop a training program that emphasize the quality of
expertise. Make them masters of the fundamentals. Use them later to
teach the newcomers, and you've created a force multiplier in each
man.
SOF cannot be mass-produced. Don't
think guys like myself or SFMedic, or Lizard Farmer can teach you a
weekend course and you'll be ready to go to war. We can teach the
fundamental skills and concepts, introduce you to teaching and
training methodologies, and even impart some experiential wisdom, but
ultimately, every individual has to go out and teach a small group of
like-minded friends and neighbors, continue his and their education,
and grow slowly.
Competent SOF cannot be formed after an
emergency occurs. If we wait until TSHTF to start developing training
cadres of right-minded people with the requisite knowledge and
training, it'll be too late. You need to be training and learning
NOW.
Special Operations require non-SOF
support. Don't think that, just because you're old, crippled, lazy,
or fat, female, or never been in the military, that you can't
contribute. Get the training. Even if you have no future running
commando-type direct-action raids, you will have the knowledge to
pass on to younger, fitter folks. If you foresee yourself functioning
as part of the subversive underground, get the training, so that you
can understand the capabilities of the paramilitary guerrilla force,
and know how to interact with them operationally. If you only intend
to be an auxiliary...get the training, so you can understand HOW to
support the needs of the more active resistance.
Hostile environment specials like to eat, need water, need rest, need a place to get warm/heal/study/fix gear, just like everyone. Friendly villagers can provide these things without hardship if they stock up while the getting is good and living is easy.
ReplyDeleteSome of us live in cities where physical supplies are cheap and easy to get. Thrift stores can be a source of supply at low cost if a person is making the rounds already. The basics of backpacks/tents/water containers/blankets/bicycles/sturdy-warm clothing are always available with some small defect that can be washed/repaired/ignored. Rural area thrift stores are often tragically understocked with low-quality/used-up/worn-out everything (due to frugal and/or low-income nature of area), so make a deal with your city/country cousins to do some stocking & swapping to get what you need in exchange for what you have.
Good piece.
ReplyDeleteMy father in law was trained by, and fought with, US Army Special Forces and SF veterans recruited by the CIA as paramilitaries in Laos via a Special Guerrilla Unit (really, light infantry).
Their nascent guerrilla army, started by a local White Star alum, was strictly "on the job training." As they networked with their contacts, they were brought into the fold of a CIA-sponsored program and went mainstream. Over eight years, they would engage in field operations for months at a time, and then either move back into very secure areas in Laos, or across the Mekong to Thailand, for further training. He operated in everything from barely-organized fighters who equipped themselves by taking out lone PAVN soldiers by blade, to four man road watch and intel gathering teams, to multi-company operations that he led as an officer - some of which are quite famous in the community.
I am helping him to compile his thoughts and memories, as well as familial history, and the key string is that their successes were dependent upon recruiting the best people and training the hell out of them out of the theater of operations.
How about some of our Seals and Rangers taking the time to start up a little civil spec ops training for the resistance. I wonder how many of them we will be fighting as will be fighting on our side. The Seals I new when I was in Buds support were straight up regular guys with families. Never new any Rangers.
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