U.S. Special Operations Command: Force Against Terrorists
CHAPTER ONE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND AMERICA S FIT FIGHTING FORCE In the cold dark of a starless night a U S soldier crouches silently behind a wall His heart beats like a kick drum as he waits for word to move forward His breathing and concentration are controlled and steady He is poised ready to receive an order and carry it out with deadly force This is no actor in some action movie This is a Special Operations soldier A person trained to carry out difficult dangerous missions nearly anywhere on Earth with a steady hand a clear mind and an iron will The purpose of a Special Operations soldier is to protect the country against hidden and secretive enemies A soldier at Aberdeen Test Center aims an XM25 weapon system This grenade launcher is capable of hitting targets behind cover or dug into the ground 5
The United States has the world's largest military force The Army Navy Air Force Marines Coast Guard and Central Intelligence Agency all play rolls in defending the country against forces that would aim to harm the nation its people and its resources But within the military's ranks are groups of highly skilled and specially trained individuals They are the best of the best and they comprise the U S Special Operations Command or SOCOM 6
The sheer size of the U S defense force its annual budget and its wide reaching capabilities to influence international relations are part of what makes the United States a superpower nation LIFE IN THE MILITARY The V S military relies on a specific chain of command to streamline nearly everything it does There is little tolerance for individual or selfish action All members operate according to a code of conduct This means soldiers follow orders from superiors without question The military operates this way in peacetime as well as during times of war 7
