March 3, 2014

An Idiot Abroad and Cultural Awareness

Ever wonder what makes Army Special Forces guys different than most other US SOF elements?

If you’ve been a SOFREP reader for a while, you could probably put together a quick list of differences. If you put ‘cultural awareness’ anywhere on that list, you’ve just earned a handful of cool points, which are redeemable for a high-five and/or fist bump from me at any time.


or Log In


About the Author

is a former Army Special Forces soldier who spent time at 1st Special Forces Group and 20th Special Forces Group between 2004 and 2008. He currently works with the Green Beret Foundation, a non-profit charity focused on supporting wounded and killed Special Forces soldiers and their families. Blake is currently pursuing a bachelors degree in general studies... you know, just to get it over with. Twitter: @bmiles84

To comment on this article please join/login. Here's a sample of the comments on this post.

  • ARCoversight

    Great Stuff. It takes me backs to the Oops and I'm not eating that shit. Frogs, Hot Hot Peppers, meat on stick, and fish shake were all developed at SWC for phase III. Sick Bastards! Worst one, I remember coming back to N Iraq base camp once and one of the guys had marked all the kids that were working cleaning the camp up with a black magic marker. The non working kids got no mark. The plan was if marked, you worked, you get candy or better yet, a part of a MRE. The Families seeing their kid marked or not marked, went into a little WTF moment. Other times I loved how the host nation people or military tried very hard to show what they knew about our culture. I remember a guy questioning why I had only one wife and why she was so skinny. Also he said Dog is a very good meal.

  • YankeePapa

    Blake Miles YankeePapa, . "...I'd love to have seen the UW conversations and operations back in the days of steel and fire...." . ...Closest that I can get you... not to everybody's taste... but I re-read once a year... (Warning, Book acquisition Alert...) . http://www.amazon.com/Oblique-Approach-Belisarius-Saga-ebook/dp/B00BEQLTLS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394152229&sr=1-1&keywords=an+oblique+approach . ...Not Gibbon's "Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire...", but for the better part of a decade kept me waiting for each volume in the Belisarius series.  If you have already read it, then you know.  If you haven't, I envy you your first read. . -YP-

  • Blake Miles

    YankeePapa I'd love to have seen the UW conversations and operations back in the days of steel and fire.

  • dickftr

    Txazz HonestBroker247  The rule at our supper table,  take all you want and eat all you take and eat some of everything served.

  • Recon6

    YankeePapa   YP, always Educational brother....6