A Look At The Green Berets (Photo Gallery)

Special Operations Command

Business Insider: Why Green Berets are the smartest, most lethal fighters in the world

Though the US Army celebrates its birthday as June 14, 1775, it didn't have the special operators with their distinctive green beret until much later.

Army Special Forces got its start on June 19, 1952, and since then its soldiers have been at the forefront of fights in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan and are now advising US-backed forces inside Syria.

They call themselves the quiet professionals, and they are one of the most elite fighting groups in the world.

Their mission is unconventional warfare — taking small teams to train and lead guerrilla forces.

Read more ....

Morale Problems In The Green Berets?

Registan

Washington Times: Green Berets have growing doubts of duties with skittish political leadership

They were the first troops to hit the ground in Afghanistan while al Qaeda’s dirty work still smoldered back in the United States.

On foot, helicopter and horseback, ArmySpecial Forces showed that if the U.S. was to win a long counterinsurgency war against Islamic extremists, the special skills of Green Berets would be fundamental.

Nearly 14 years later, these soldiers, some of the military’s smartest and best trained, are still creating lots of headlines, but not necessarily for heroics.

In recent months, the Army has disciplined, admonished and ended the careers of a number of Green Berets for actions that the soldiers themselves believe were part of combating an evil enemy. Pristine standards for fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda are not achievable, some in the community say.

WNU Editor: I suspect that what the Green Berets are going through is indicative on what many other military services are now experiencing. Morale is low .... and the brass along with their political masters have their priorities elsewhere.