are there any real navy seals

[TCDiver1]

http://www.mwtc.usmc.mil/

Did you really think the US had no mountain training? The Army has a mountain training facility also.

Jarhead is right on.

FYI, do a net search on the 10th Mountain Div., it's a very interesting story.

 

[Patience]

Clive,

I respect your patriotism, however . . . I have a little problem with your attitude. Feel free to resent mine if it suits you.

My mother was British. I'm a Yank. My dad served in WWII as both a Marine, and later, in the Navy. (He was disabled as a Marine -- his disability didn't prohibit him from serving on a ship, but it did end his career as a professional athlete.) My grandfather served in the Black Watch, and was decorated by the King for Bravery in the Field. My aunt was a WREN. So, I also have some interest and pride in the British military service.

I have a family member who is currently serving in the special forces. He's away from home right now -- where can only be a matter of speculation. He wasn't home when his Mum died. He missed his daughter's birthday, his grandfather's funeral, his sister's graduation . . . all so he can protect the interests of his country.

I know two former SEALs. They don't talk about it -- at least not in front of the uninitiated. One was very resentful to have been "outed" by an article in Soldier of Fortune magazine.

The show on television surprised me a little. I honestly believe it's part of what has been going on here since September 11. When a service person has been killed, they have shown photographs, and interviewed the families. They are trying to put human faces on these men and women who are putting their lives on the line for the freedom and liberty we all take for granted. You watch the show, you see these guys, you root for them (or maybe not) as they struggle through training.

If you think they are showing you everything, you're very naive.

I'm really upset that you are so quick to judge these folks. If certain other people on this board (and you know who you are) want to weigh in, that's okay.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't care what branch or service these people represent. We all owe them a debt. Thanks folks.

By the way, what branch did you serve in?

 

[landlocked]

Patience once bubbled...
By the way, what branch did you serve in?

Army and this thread cracks me up! Your right though Patience, my experience tends to make me think that Seals don't talk about it much to the uninitiated.

 

[clive francis]

Patience once bubbled...
Clive,

I respect your patriotism, however . . . I have a little problem with your attitude. Feel free to resent mine if it suits you.

By the way, what branch did you serve in?

I never said they were not appreciated i picked up on what other people said and i had seen on TV. (i said this in the previous quote as well, but feel free to ignore that!)

if you want to be sneaky beaky special forces, you don't advertise your face on international TV.

they are supposed to be unknown, not walk down the street and some one say i saw you on seals training, your missions and time in the seal or any other special forces are going to be limited.

I haven't served in any branch as you put it but have contributed my efforts on various projects that have been used by the MOD.

went for Navy and RAF, but it was during the late 80's when they were cutting back, passed all exams for engineering but no places.

Still got a Medal though for my time in Kosovo.

since when has an opinion been an attitude?

OK attitude:

my first job out of uni was on cruise ships installing/repairing/upgrading sat coms and TV systems (clue to my background) I was on a Radisson Diamond Catman cruise ship in the med oct/nov. (normally storms and cold) every morning faxed copies of newspapers were put under doors of guest (American paper can't remember), every time i went to the officers mess for food/drink i heard guests complaining that they didn't have CNN (they knew it wasn't going to be there before they went), and strolling around in shorts and t-shirts saying gee its cold in here put the heeting on!

the point of a holiday to a far away place is to sample the local culture, not sit in your cabin watching CNN (you can do that at home) and if you are cold you can always put on some clothes, not demand to have the heating turned up.

while in the US and carib i have met some very nice people, but i have met my fair share of the cruise ship type, rude, loud and everything is bigger and better in the US.

opinion:

now you can all call me a limey ba**ard or what ever, and i know not every one is the same.

perhaps i met the wrong sort of americans first and they have clouded my judgement, and bigger is not always better.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

So you were what we in the field called a REMF (ask around if you've never heard the term).

My favorite pastime in a hot zone was saluting REMFs when they found the field and sounding off with "sniper-check, sir".

No space is a pile of horse-hockey. I enlisted after engineering undergraduate school. Went through a few schools, came out as a squad sergeant with assault wings.

Funny how they always seem to have space for operators and shooters but not for button pushers or yet another tech-rep with a non-functioning product.

 

[Aquamaniac]

JamesK once bubbled...
Roak is right on that one. Lot's of fakes.

My OW instructor is an ex seal.

LG?

 

[trymixdiver]

My rescue instructor was a marine combat swimming instructor. We did our pool training on at the base he was stationed at as well. he wasnt a Seal, but i respected his abilites none the less.

Andy

My neighbor next door is a former Seal, he works for SurgicalShooting.com a training agency for law enforcement / military.

 

[clive francis]

i would have loved to join, get to see the world a bit more than i have done already but in technical.

and I am a pretty dam good shot as well, went along to an army open day near my parents and had a go on a small range (5 shots, 3 holes, 2 elongated in a small grouping) the squadie (GI) started giving me all these papers with a big grin on his face.

i asked him what they were for, he said to join, i told him i don't mind shooting the gun, but i am not joining the infantry and marching around a square all day, he looked really dissapointed.

 

[Patience]

Clive,

Sorry if I over-reacted. I think I was tarring you with EveryDiver's brush . . . :embarr:

I guess I'm just a little -- okay, a lot -- resentful of folks passing judgment on the special forces. It was a little odd seeing these guys on the television though, given that the ranks are usually closed pretty tightly.

Things here in the states have been sort of surreal since last September 11. We are under a sort of seige. To reiterate what I've already said, we as a people really needed to see the faces of the people who are protecting us . . . to know that they are as real as the people who died . . . just because they were Americans. They are real people, making real sacrafices, to protect my interests, and yours.

I've always had the greatest respect for any of the SF guys -- I don't care if they're Brits or Yanks. I think that for the most part what's good for one of our country's benefits the other.

I'm particularly touchy on the subject at the moment, as in my mind's eye I see one of these guys not as the hardened soldier that he is, but as the chubby, sweet, laughing toddler he once was. I respect the dedication that lead him to where he is today, and I'm deeply proud of him, but I hope and pray that he isn't called to make the ultimate sacrifice.

That said, the folks on your cruise sound like they were thoroughly obnoxious. Please, don't assume we're all like that. When I was living in Ireland as a teenager a little boy said he didn't think I was really an American. I asked him why, and he said because I didn't have blue hair, and I wasn't wearing an emerald green shirt and a camera, and I didn't talk funny! He thought all Americans either looked like JR Ewing or were elderly tourists.)

I may not have taken the typical "tourist" route either. I lived on a dairy farm. I stayed in B&Bs and youth hostels or with family, and travelled by bicycle and train. I felt quiet at "home" in my grandfather's village, where I was welcomed as if I'd lived there all my life.

'Nuff said. I'm even boring myself. Three cheers for the SEALs, the Green Berets, the Rangers, the Marines, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the SBS, the SAS, and anyone else in service to their country or the Crown. I hope everyone on the Board will join me in praying for their safe returns to hearth and home.


On a happier note, good luck with new baby on the way!

 

[clive francis]

Patience once bubbled...
Clive,

Sorry if I over-reacted. I think I was tarring you with EveryDiver's brush . . . :embarr:

On a happier note, good luck with new baby on the way!

no worries, if we were all the same the world would be pretty boring.

i know what it is like to live under seige, i missed several christmas trips to London as a kid because of IRA bombings.

My cousin had to go to northern ireland, and he was totally different when he came back.

and the army drove him to suicide/killed him, big debate in the UK at the moment with so many suspicious soldier suicides, some are saying they are murders, which is what we thought about my cousin, as he was leaving a week later to go into civ street.

one soldier who they say comitted suicide shot himself twice in the head, don't know how you can do that, an SA80 is like an M16, once is normally enough for a head shot....i digress

i met some real nice girls in Jamaica from the USA last year (before i was married and met my current wife)