U.S. Army Special Forces,
affectionately referred to as the “Green Berets,”
are one of America’s most elite and capable special operations units.
They are military legends for service members and civilians alike.
They have been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism,
guerrilla war-style missions in foreign countries
and operate in any environment,
from city fighting to jungle warfare to desert scouting.
The Green Berets are designed to deploy and execute nine doctrinal missions:
unconventional warfare,
foreign internal defense,
direct action,
counter-insurgency,
special reconnaissance,
counter-terrorism,
information operations,
counter proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
and security force assistance.
The first two missions,
unconventional warfare and foreign internal defenses,
emphasize language,
cultural, and training skills in working with foreign troops.
Other Green Berets missions,
known as secondary missions,
include: combat search and rescue (CSAR),
counter-narcotics,
hostage rescue,
humanitarian assistance,
humanitarian demining,
information operations,
peacekeeping, and manhunts.
Many of their operational techniques are classified,
but some nonfiction works and doctrinal manuals are available.
The Green Berets soldier trains on a regular basis
over the course of their entire career.
The initial formal training program for entry Green Berets
is divided into four phases,
collectively known as the Special Forces Qualification Course,
or informally, the "Q Course".
The length of the Q Course changes depending
on the applicant's primary job field within Special Forces
and their assigned foreign language capability,
but will usually last between 55 and 95 weeks.
The Green Berets are today deployed worldwide,
displaying their dominance in full-spectrum operations
through their unconventional warfare expertise.
From humanitarian assistance and training of indigenous forces,
to direct action and special reconnaissance missions,
Green Berets Soldiers live up to the their motto:
De Oppresso Liber,
to Free the Oppressed.