"Black Hawk Down": question for soldiers?

[OldState]

Since WWII the US has had no peer in any conflict. Not even close. But people are still willing to fight us.

When I hear anti gun people say the 2nd Amendment is antiquated because the government has nukes I say tell that to the Taliban, the Viet Cong, etc.

[chuckman]

I was in a similar engagement in Iraq. You basically do not give into the fear. Mosul 2017 about the same fighting ISIS. You just keep going. I was lucky I was able to call CAS. I really do hate fighting at night.

Similar in Fallujah. But we are a whole lot better at it coming out that we were going in.

[OH58D]

I was in a similar engagement in Iraq. You basically do not give into the fear. Mosul 2017 about the same fighting ISIS. You just keep going. I was lucky I was able to call CAS. I really do hate fighting at night.

You don't dwell on it and just do the job. Only after an engagement do you have the time to contemplate things, or you put it out of your mind. It's a survival mechanism.

I can say with total certainty that when I am with my fellow former soldiers at annual reunions, I am at peace the most. These are brothers (and some sisters) who in many ways are closer than actual blood relatives. There's a bond that you can't describe, and you can many times communicate with each just with a look or glance when hearing a discussion about a particular time. Those who have never been in the US Armed Forces can never understand what I am describing.

[Sam]

OH58D,

Thank you sir.

[ramairthree]

There are some basics.
Also, full disclosure, all TICs I have been in have been over before needing to change magazines. I have no experience with multi-hour, multi-day fire fights.

From my experience, you have a bunch of guys who are selected for say the upper quartile of mental and physical capability. Then add factors to select out for grit, determination, intestinal fortitude, resilience, whatever you want to call it.
Then they go into a training or probational phase. Some more fall by the wayside. Then give them more training, equipment, etc.

You end up with a final product that can shoot, move, think, adapt, and perform well above the norm, with a fiery will determined not to let down or fail their fellow shooters. They will buddy carry their bud to safety even though their knee is blown out. They will get the tourniquet on tight enough to stop the bleeding even though their wrist is broken. They will crawl to position to provide cover when their legs are paralyzed. They will toss eight bodies on a helicopter, climb on top of them, bag breathe for another, while others defer evac so bodies will not be left behind. They will expose themselves to fire to get a buddy to safety. They will stack into a room fully knowing the savage has both a gun and a suicide belt because they have to get through the room to one of their own wounded.

There are a sprinkling of men like this from all walks of life, in various shapes and sizes. When an entire troop, squad, platoon, ODA, etc. is comprised of them-
Some pretty impressive things can happen.

Most think of this process as a montage of some getting yelled and screamed at, some push-ups, an obstacle course, etc. and then everyone gets to be a hero.

There don’t seem to be any movies or TV shows about the majority of those groups that failed RIP/RASP, INDOC, SFAS, BUDS, etc. or washed out of training. Nor much detail into the groups without the GT scores or initial physical tests to even go.

[Diamondback]

Most think of this process as a montage of some getting yelled and screamed at, some push-ups, an obstacle course, etc. and then everyone gets to be a hero.

There don’t seem to be any movies or TV shows about the majority of those groups that failed RIP/RASP, INDOC, SFAS, BUDS, etc. or washed out of training. Nor much detail into the groups without the GT scores or initial physical tests to even go.

Closest to it in general awareness is probably Sgt. Sadler's ballad:
"One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret..."

[glocktogo]

Various attributions, most probably erroneous, but it's still appropriate.

“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”

In cases like these, They've taken "the one", each from several hundred and put them all together. Woe be unto those who cross them!

[Pappabear]

Tit, great video. I never saw this one. Thanks

PB

[OH58D]

Mogadishu Airport, late September 1993, AH-6. Note the flight helmet on the right pylon.

[flenna]

Mogadishu Airport, late September 1993, AH-6. Note the flight helmet on the right pylon.

That is a great picture, thanks for sharing.