Home » Special Operations » Micromanaging Special Forces ODA’s

Micromanaging Special Forces ODA’s

by · March 14, 2012 · Posted In: Special Operations
AFGHAN_ODA_SOFREP
We posted this video previously but I felt this needs another look. Jack was the first to dig this up and since this was tailored to the ODA community….here you go again for those of you that didn’t see it last week!

Related Posts

-Brandon

Here is the crash course on why a unit organized for unconventional warfare can’t be run like a conventional Infantry unit, no matter how bad Colonels feel they need to get in their “command” time:

‘



‘

Follow Sofrep on:
OR  rss
26 comments
  Livefyre
Newest | Oldest
Canopylight
Canopylight like.author.displayName 1 Like

Have you guys heard about the new 670-1 recommendations from SMA Chandler? I realize it's not about operations, but the premise extends to them. Basically the Army doesn't trust it's men and continually tightening the hatches until you're combat ineffective is their leadership guidance from the top down. We no longer have leaders. Even among the NCO corps their seems to be a thought process that you're suppose to just shut up and say roger that. I hadn't realized the regular Army was so full of the NCOs that were just yes men.

BoxOfGridSquares
BoxOfGridSquares like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

This is far more than a SF/SoF issue now days. It applies to anyone with a weapon being micromanaged unable to do their job. It's when politicians try to fight wars instead of the warriors who are there.

 

 

Tango9
Tango9

 @BoxOfGridSquares It has always been this way.  It will always be this way.  So what do you do?  Assault through it.

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior

 @Tango9

 Pres Johnson had a sandbox in the Oval office so he could personally give orders, please dont tell me we slid down that slope again in the last 7-8 years

Tango9
Tango9

 @ArcticWarrior I actually think our current CINC is AWOL.  He just doesn't care.  Actions speak, and his actions indicate a total disregard. 

Tango9
Tango9

 @ArcticWarrior It's easy to armchair quarterback this shit... but most of the guys here have been boots on the ground, freezing their ass off in the hindu kush. 

 

It is what it is:  we fucked it up, we're done, we need to exfil before any more of our brethren die.  I've been trying to find the reason we're still there and I'm not  a dumb guy.  I'm lost.

 

We killed assmunch (bin laden).  Zawahiri would be good but his ass in a penthouse in Karachi.

JC
JC like.author.displayName 1 Like

There are so many things that are wrong with the military starting with officers. O's who come out of OCS and do the basic school just dont have the experience to lead men. They just dont have the time in service. An optimal requirement for officers should be time as an enlisted man would be atleast four years time in service better eight. In my opinion they would produce better officers who have been there done that.

BrandonWebb
BrandonWebb moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

There's some damn good ones...

Connor31
Connor31 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

I disagree, I've seen some great officers come straight out of OCS and not all Mustangs turn out to be amazing leaders. Most Mustangs I know prefer being NCO's. You also have to consider that there is alot of political bullshit/ass kissing involved with being a commissioned officer and most enlisted want to stay away from that. 2nd Lt's may not have the experience to lead, but that's why NCO's are around to advise them if needed.

JC
JC like.author.displayName 1 Like

I must agree that being an O comes with ass kissing and other bs. Thats is why enlisted men hate it b/c they dont want to deal with that bullshit but a 2nd LT who 10 - 15 years on the enlisted side will make better decisions on the battlefield. At the end of the day advise is just that an advisement doestn't mean you have to do it. I prefer the person with most experience to lead the way then to have someone who been in for a couple of months lead me into battle.

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior

 @DinoD

 "young, aggressive, and competent officer who has the good sense to listen  to his experienced, professional NCOs" - Dino that right their says it all.

DinoD
DinoD like.author.displayName 1 Like

Haha, there's just as much ass kissing in the NCO ranks.  O's kiss O ass, and NCOs kiss NCOs ass.  I've never seen so much drama as in the the E-7 to E-9 ranks.

 

So, you'd rather automatically have a former 8-year enlisted man who was in Motor T or a boutique MOS lead you into battle over a straight-from-Infantry Officer Course no-enlisted time 2ndLt?  I'd rather see which one actually performs better before making judgements.  Too many (I didn't say all) mustangs are really shetland ponies who hide behind their Good Conduct Medals and service stripes, and whose so-called advantage of "enlisted experience" is quickly overcome by a young, aggressive, and competent officer who has the good sense to listen to his experienced, professional NCOs.

Tango9
Tango9

Special Forces Assessment and Selection (Phase I) AKA "Q Course" 24 daysGroup, specialty and language assignment (Phase II) still "Q Course" 18-24 weeks

Small Unit Tactics & SERE (Phase III) 13 weeks of "fuck?!"

Specialty training, ROBIN SAGE & graduation (Phase IV) 4 weeks of "are you shitting me?"

Power Point Training (Phase V)  75 weeks of "you are shitting me, and it's not a fucking question."

 

HunterG
HunterG

Holy shit,  I had to stop it 3 times b/c I was laughing so hard.  Classic!

justsome17yearold
justsome17yearold

I think micromanaging is not only a problem within the special forces but also within the "big army".

The reason why i say that is because one of my new JROTC instructors just retired from the army about a year ago and he was in the army for about 20+ years.

He spent most of his career being in the 82nd.

He strongly stressed to all the cadets on multiple occasions not to micromanage others and give them space to work and let them figure out some of the problems by themselves.

I guess when he was in the army he was on the short end of the stick when it came to micromanaging.

 

Anyways, what hell do i know? i'm just some 17 year old speculating.

 

 

P.S.

Thanks for the article!

Its a great thing to know

I'll keep this in mind when i become a Army officer.

 

RolandoSantiago
RolandoSantiago like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

LOL just get pregnant and they'll send you home. 

 

Old PH2
Old PH2

JackMurphy This is classic,what a way to wake up in the morning.  Turkish coffee, a bagel, and the Sunday Funnies!

Seriously, great lecture!  Awesome Ass Chewing,where you ever a DI?

JackMurphyRGR
JackMurphyRGR moderator like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

 @Old PH2 I didn't come up with that, I'm sure it was some frustrated SF troops overseas that made that video!

LCpl X
LCpl X like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @JackMurphyRGR 

 

Yeah, I saw one talking about reflective belts. LOL!

JackMurphyRGR
JackMurphyRGR moderator like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

 @Old PH2  @LCpl X I think the Army would love to just ban motocycles.  Motocycle safety is pretty much thier #1 garrison priority.  First it was reflective belts, then vest, then must have gloves, must have riding jacket, must have full sleeves.  Then they tell lies about how SGLI won't pay out if you are no within the regs...

Old PH2
Old PH2

 @LCpl X  @JackMurphyRGR  Were you around when the DoD began requiring Motorcyclists to wear reflective vests, helmets, and a Orange Bicycle type flag?  

Old PH2
Old PH2

 @JackMurphyRGR  I think I've seen the film this is from, German with English subtitles, on Netflix.  Just can't remember the title.  Y'all need to find more of this type stuff, Great MOTO!  Always a good thing to be reminded to get your head out of your ass!