Quiet Professionals: The Primary Missions Of The Us Army Special Forces

The Special Forces is a vital service of the US Army because of the distinct missions that are demanded of them. The primary missions these quiet professionals fulfill are the following:

Counterterrorism

Whenever terrorist threats and activities occur overseas, Special Forces soldiers are deployed to fight and resolve insurgencies. It is also the team’s duty to combat terrorism by thwarting the formation of terrorist cells and training the military outfits of other states.

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Direct action

Direct action missions are short-duration strikes the Special Forces carry out to capture or destroy a target, or to recover information, materials, or personnel. Small units are typically deployed and stealth is given emphasis in raids or ambushes to deny enemy forces any time to react.

Foreign internal defense

Special Forces foreign internal defense teams are train the military and police forces of allied nations to protect themselves from local or foreign aggressors, including terrorist groups, drug warlords, and traffickers.

Special reconnaissance

As GI Joe popularized, “knowing is half the battle.” The purpose of special reconnaissance groups is to go behind enemy lines without being detected to gather as much intelligence as possible to ensure allied soldiers are provided with mission-vital information.

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Unconventional warfare

The original mission of Special Forces, unconventional warfare groups is penetrating a foreign land covertly and training local militia with different warfare strategies which can be employed against enemy threats.

An airline captain for one of the largest airlines in the world, Richard Earl Bucklew also served in the military as force reconnaissance Marine and a member of the 1st Special Warfare Group based in Mare Island, California. For more interesting reads about the US military, follow this Twitter profile.

The Preferred Assault Rifles In The U.S. Special Forces

The U.S. military is on its own, already a force to be reckoned with. From that already incredible display of power, there is an even greater pedigree of freedom fighters in the fold of the U.S. Special Forces. They are the all-stars of America’s finest, trained to survive the toughest challenges. They are also equipped with the most sophisticated tools, and the most legendary assault rifles. Here are some of their favorite pieces.

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M4 Carbine

Taking after the huge success of the M16A2 assault rifle, the M4 carbine is ably a lighter and more agile version. This time, the assault rifle has been designed to be air-cooled, ensuring almost no incidence of jamming. Its 14.5-inch barrel is just accurate for medium range engagement. Ably the preferred choice of the U.S. Armed Forces, this rifle is special because it can also mount the M203 grenade launcher.

M16A4

The M16A4 is the fourth generation from the storied M16 tradition. It comes with a Picatinny rail that serves to mount ancillary optics and other accessories. This particular assault rifle became a standard issue for Marine Corps recruits. For this group, the rifle is armed with a Knight’s Armament Company M5 RAS handguard, which also comes with lasers, tactical lights, and other utilities.

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Close Quarter Battle Receiver (CQBR)

While technically it is a receiver, this rifle set literally changes the M4 gun exponentially. The new rifle becomes a shorter 10.3-inch weapon, making it the modern equivalent of the Colt Commando short-barrel M16. This makes it easier to use in and around vehicles and in tight spaces. Special units like the different commando groups in the military simply prefer to use this assault weapon.

Richard Earl Bucklew also served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a force reconnaissance Marine. As a naval reservist later in his career, he was admitted to the 1st Special Warfare Group based on his prior work and combat experience with the Marines. For more information on him, follow this Facebook page.